for original writing of self and others
Learn more about Laurie Wagner Buyer’s work at her two websites including Working Words Guide. See her essay “Finding Poetry in Everyday Life” in the Artists & Writers category below. And the anthology “Come Back Wolves” in the announcement section. –JGR _________________ Copper Bracelet by Laurie Wagner Buyer Who bent these links one by one,…
I had the pleasure of sitting next to Emil Wilbekin, manager digital editor for the online extension of Essence. The occasion? The National Bar Association’s 30th Annual Gertrude E. Rush Award Dinner at the Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri. One of these award recipients was Emil’s mother, Cleota Proctor Wilbekin, Esquire…
“The Apple Factory,” is the third poem in this series of reprising Arletta Dawdy’s poems which appeared on Riehlife in its early days. Read “The Apple Factory,” a poem by Arletta Dawdy–1914 Sharp turns in Russia and China…apples, war, and rivers. “The Apple Factory” grew out of a conversation in the 1970s with an elderly…
Yesterday you read Arletta Dawdy’s poem “Clara’s Air.” In “White Girl, Black Heart: summer ‘59″ Arletta Dawdy deals with the doubts and misgivings that concerned her going in her first Sunday service at a Black Church. “Believe me it was a “moving” experience as the church rocked! This was Lincoln Avenue Methodist Church in Pasadena…
Arletta Dawdy and I both belong to Women Writing the West. We became writing friends when we both lived in Northern California. My flash fiction piece “Triptych: Jeweled Bones” (in 3 parts) inspired her to write “Clara’s Air.” She sat down before bed and dashed off the story of Clara’s Air which captures an era,…
In the spring of 2008 Nigerian poet Obi Nwakanma filled my Gathering Room with talk that made the world right for the hours he shared himself and conversation. In the days that followed our encounter, I stayed in my cave and read “The Horseman and Other Poems,” often calling friends to read sections of the…
“Basho & the Crickets” is Riehlife’s poem of the day written by Stephen Kuusisto–Professor, Author, Speaker, Poet, Blogger, and Disability Advocate. With his guide dog Nira, he roams the world giving readings and workshops–when he’s not teaching at the Iowa Writing Workshop. Here’s how the poem and Stephen came in my life, and then bobbed…
I met Catherine Rankovic through a women’s poetry gathering known as “Loosely Identified,” or “Looslies,” or simply (in a hurry) “L.I.” She’s a bang-up poet, author, editor, teacher, and facilitator. Read more about Catherine’s career as a word woman after her witty, insightful poem, “Hide & Sex.” HIDE & SEX Let us play Hide &…
Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer is a word woman of the finest caliber. On Ryezome, a delicate on-line tracery of her poem-a-day practice, you’ll find accessible well-crafted poems that will make a difference in how you view your life. Susan Tweit introduces her as a favorite poet of real life. Of those who think of themselves as…
Susan Tweit posts a Haiku a Day on Twitter and Facebook. If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, then what would you say of a Haiku a day? Make sure you see the Riehlife companion post Susan wrote on her haiku Twitter practice. Read more about Susan Tweit’s rich background and accomplishments below….