Riehlife Poem-of-the-Day: “Miles | Stones | Epiphany,” by Eden Maxwell

Eden Maxwell joined us earlier this month by sharing his mother Adele Richter’s poem “A Child’s Regret.” Here Eden introduces his poem “Miles | Stones | Epiphany,” another Dharma autobiography. –JGR After reading Susan Ollar’s poem “Autobiography in Fourteen Lines,” I recalled a poem I wrote over a decade ago–a snapshot of a life in…

Creative Process essay by Colleen McKee

I met Colleen McKee through a St. Louis poetry workshop “Loosely Identified.” Colleen, a St. Louisan, is the author of a collection of poetry, My Hot Little Tomato (Cherry Pie, 2007). She also co-edited Are We Feeling Better Yet? Women Speak About Health Care in America (PenUltimate, 2008). Her Riehlife Poem-of-the-Day “Natural Causes” originally appeared…

Riehlife Poem-of-the-Day: “Natural Causes” by Colleen McKee

I met Colleen McKee through a St. Louis poetry workshop “Loosely Identified.” Colleen, a St. Louisan, is the author of a collection of poetry, My Hot Little Tomato (Cherry Pie, 2007). She also co-edited Are We Feeling Better Yet? Women Speak About Health Care in America (PenUltimate, 2008). “Natural Causes” originally appeared in Criminal Class…

Riehlife Poem-of-the-Day: “tonight it seems Moon will never,” by Gaye Gambell-Peterson

I met artist-writer Gaye Gambell-Peterson through a St. Louis poetry workshop “Loosely Identified.” Gaye is indeed gay…in the old sense of the word…carefree, happy, and bubbly. She’s the kind of gal that matches the spirit of her red shoes. In Gary’s newest book MYnd mAp Gaye’s collages and poems speak to each other across the…

Riehlife Poem-of-the-Day: “Autobiography in Fourteen Lines,” by Susan Ollar

I met Susan Ollar eons ago it seems, at a Rigpa Tibetan Buddhist retreat. We spent the summer together at Lerab Ling in France. Since then we have become Sangha Sisters. Susan marked her 60th birthday this April. Pondering what to do about it, she decided to celebrate. Susan recalled a conversation of ours. I’d…

Poetry & Paradise:Mary Oliver’s thoughts on poetry

What is poetry? How do we read poetry? What distinguishes poetry from other forms of literature or art? Perhaps “more intense use of language– “higher voltage” per word (Perrine)? Here are two glimpses of Mary Oliver’s view of what poetry is: “The thoughtful machinery of the poem…” Mary Oliver’s introduction to Poetry, 1994 “If poetry…

Riehlife Poem-of-the-Day: “For Lucille Clifton & Progeny,” by Ruth-Miriam Garnett

Lucille Clifton was an American poet, writer, and educator from New York. Her poetry of African-American heritage and the female body gave insight and hope. Lucille was the first person in her family to finish high school and attend college. She started Howard University on scholarship as a drama major, but lost the scholarship two…

Riehlife Poem-of-the-Day: “Without You,” by Janet Muirhead Hill

I met Janet Muirhead Hill through Women Writing the West. Janet is the author of several novels for children ages 8 – 14, including the Miranda and Starlight series of six book about the bond, formed in tragic circumstances, between a horse (Starlight) and a young girl. (Miranda.) I’m a huge fan of her work….

Riehlife Poem-of-the-Day: “Janet,” a limerick by Nancy Beyer

I met Nancy Beyer, along with her mother, at the Story Circle Network in Austin. Her creative work runs from piano, to fabric arts, to watercolor artist, to poetry. She’s currently writing a story about her views of growing up. She told me a lovely story of a party where every woman received a limerick…