Artaud: Poetry layer beneath the poetry
“Beneath the poetry of the texts, there is the actual poetry, without form and without text.” –Antonin Artaud, poet, essayist, playwright, actor & director
Riehlife Poem of the Day: Genie Keller’s “Director!”
Genie Keller, along with being a fine poet, is a longtime family friend. –JGR ___________________ DIRECTOR! by Genie Keller Within my heart, my very being, throbs the chords of endless music. In dreamy sections of my thoughts, my hands and arms direct the stream of notes. I am engulfed, my heart beats fast, I plunge…
Snowbound: Filling the Feeder (a new poem by Janet Grace Riehl)
A foot of snow atop our bluff: Evergreen Heights, Jersey Township, SW Illinois. Mother, that which you filled and then emptied, we fill again as best we can. Your chair hold us at the wheelhouse hub, yet a glance windowward unfolds and holds worlds beyond. This morning’s world insulated in a snowy rug. Cardinal families…
SCN Caberet: Musical Memories & Anecdotes with Sue Bilch & Paullette McDougal
My father has a phrase for it in his beautiful poem: “Music brings memories.” Yes, indeed it does. Working from that premise, Sue Bilch and Paullette McDougal presented a thrilling cabaret performance for the Story Circle Network Saturday luncheon. It occurred to me during the performance, as I listened, enjoyed, and looked around the room,…
Aaron Belz’ brand new poem “Swan Song”
Among just one of my pleasures at the St. Louis Writers Guild Loud Mouth Open Mic last week, was meeting Aaron Belz and becoming introduced to his “gravely hilarious” poems, as Denise Duhamel describes them. I bought a copy of “The Bird Hoverer” spent some enjoyable time with his hovering birds over several afternoons. Aaron…
Riehlife Report Card Year One
Janet seated on Copper, our family American Bred Saddle Horse, riding tall at 15 hands My web log “Riehl Life: Village Wisdom for the 21st Century” has grown into my vision of it more fully over the course of the year. I run it as a magazine format, in which you hear several voices, and…
Happy First Birthday, Riehlife! Celebrating a reprise of “Write Pen! Connecting to Our Wisdom Selves”
I just went back in my blog archives to find out…when did I really start blogging? Here’s what I dredged up from the deep:
“Water Ceremonies,” Part II, Africa—a poem by Janet Grace Riehl (Tales from Maun, Botswana; Okavango Delta in Northern Botswana; Kalahari Desert in Western Botswna)
II. Africa Maun, Botswana Afternoons, I teach schoolchildren to swim in the flooded waters of the Tamalakane. Two fingers support wiry bodies that sink every chance they get. “Arch your back! Spread out your limbs! Float! Kick! Paddle!” Until one student travels under her own speed. We collapse on the bank, gasping with sputtered water…
Water Ceremonies, India: Rishikesh & Hardwar (part I) a poem by Janet Grace Riehl
I. India Rishikesh Strolling on the banks of the Ganges Sacred gravel crunches underfoot. A sadhu* stretches boldly over high drop-off to collect holy water in just-cleaned leather pouch. I finger the rushing stream just delivered from melting mountains. Then, pull out my finger, fast. Frozen hot pink, finger drips a blessing to forehead, throat,…
Announcing Prince George’s Short Story Contest for Conceit Magazine…Black Writers Guild…Afrocentric Book Expo
Conceit Magazine (conceitmagazine2007@yahoo.com) announces Prince George’s Short Story Contest sponsored by the BLACK WRITERS GUILD OF MARYLAND—in support of the magazine. DEADLINE: February 16, 2008 JUDGE: Judine Slaughter, Moderator of the Black Writers Guild, Inc. Winners announced at the 2008 Afrocentric Book Expo Saturday, February 23, 2008 10:00 am ET – 5:00 pm ET