for original writing of self and others
Rhonda Esakov is a sister member of Story Circle Network. I met her when we both belonged to an SCN online support group. You can read her Story Circle Network reviews online. She’s kindly responded to my call for April poems. Here’s her introduction to “The Sparrow,” which she refers to as “my little novice…
Enlightenment is a Bitch by Dane Cervine published in The Sun Magazine, March 2010 At first it isn’t so bad — a taste of ecstasy, the world covered in honey. Even snails scrawl the names of buddhas with their silvery trails. But then, too much. Pears become unbearable, wet white flesh so tender one could…
by Billy Collins from The Apple that Astonished Paris During my Poem-of-the-Day series on Riehlife we’ll have a mixture of named poets & others just like the rest of us. My friend Stephanie Farrow in Albuquerque, New Mexico chooses the Big Name Poets. She sends her picks out via email every day. I’ll be scooping…
I met William T. Dawson in Mountainair, New Mexico, in August 2007 for the 10th annual Sunflower Festival centered at the historic Shaffer Hotel. First, I’d attended the Sunflower Poetry Writing workshop, then participated as a featured reader in the Mountainair Poetry & Writers Picnic. This spoken word event is sheltered in the tree-shaded garden…
Dear Readers, This message and poem comes from our Man in Pakistan, Ernest Dempsey, who edits Recovering the Self among many other writing contributions. Ernest asked me to post it on Riehlife. That way all my regular readers can enjoy it while Ernest also will send the link his writing world buddies shortly before New…
I arrived in Lake County a few days before Thanksgiving in order to visit friends and one of the landscapes of mountain and water that hug my heart. The weather was unseasonably warm with blue skies and intense light. My host loaded up our kayaks into his truck. We paddles from the county park over…
THAT DAY AT GETTYSBURG The date was 1863, at Gettysburg This day, I stand upon the quiet field Now all is silent, All eyes upon the purpose here. It was a fragile moment In a meadow lost in thought And then the words were spoken With care and watchful heart. His words became the paint…
The ides that our sense of self, which we usually assume to be relatively stable and enduring, is actually constructed anew each moment out of a ceaseless flux of thoughts images and sensations may be an interesting concept when we read about it, but when seen directly in meditation it becomes undeniably clear, and by…
And now…something a little different. Here’s a contemplation from the connective mind of my blogging buddy and friend Hal Manogue who writes both poems and essays. His books include: Short Sleeves Insights Short Sleeves Spirit Songs Short Sleeves A Book for Friends (2007 & 2008 collections) Check out his website and his blog. –JGR Janet…
Matilda Butler and Kendra Bonnett’s blog supports women writing their memoirs. They just gave me a wonderful compliment by announcing that they have chosen Riehlife as one of their five top picks for the Superior Scribbler Award. Here’s how they described Riehlife: Janet Riehl — an artist in the best and broadest sense of the…