Haiku U and Other Stuff

Hi Folks: Last night I visited a gallery at W. 26th and Lorain for an opening exhibit that included the work of my friend, fine arts photographer Donald Black, Jr. He'd spent some time going in and out of abandoned, foreclosed properties all over the area including the southeast side of Cleveland and Shaker. His black and white images, sparse as a pine box--inspired this rough draft that came this morning. Would appreciate any and all feedback. Peace, Mary

Insecurity

For: Donald Black, Jr.

With or without my chain
I’m as impotent as a long old man
Handless, my skin chips drop
to a floor left like an unwashed
body. Splinters are tears
floating through this house, my core
wounded like a soldier’s spirit at war—
no noticeable scars.

I see cars drive by, a driveby,
the last U-Haul truck hauling
the last load away, hastily tossed
kid-shoes, mama curlers, housecoat,
running shoes, icebox with door
removed, stove with one pot,
dressers as weary as the face of my
lover, a side door, her name
the sound in this house as she closes
and locks, leaving me—a nude
front man—signifying nothing.

Mary E. Weems

Every Goodbye Ain’t Gone

Cleveland is a place for artists of all mediums. Most hone our craft with limited resources, take pride in our work, enjoy each opportunity to share what we do with an audience and even make a few bucks on occasion.

The long conversation that comes up for me at times like this though is the one that goes you catch hell tryin’ to make a livin’ here, but you learn everything you need to know if you’re paying attention to be even more successful elsewhere. I’m both happy and sad to share that Kelly Harris, award winning poet, performer, consummate volunteer, poetry workshop facilitator, and Cave Canem Fellow is getting married to what I already know is a wonderful man because she picked him, and moving to New Orleans—one of my favorite places to be in the world.

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Kelly for about ten years and remember being struck by her good vibe, and tight, funk-driven, proud-to-be-Black and Christian driven poetry, her way of always being inclusive, and welcoming, her way of selflessly serving our community.

A native Clevelander, Kelly has stayed busy in other ways too—a member of our winning National Slam team, completing her MFA from Lesley University, 2007 Akron Art Museum’s New Words Winner, and honored as an emerging voice by Writers and Their Friends, are among a host of other things I could mention that this young, African American woman has accomplished.

When asked she always gives her mentor, Mwatabu Okantah credit for inspiring her to perform her work. We are blessed that he did—Kelly truly knows how to bring words to life. Kelly says that her “great-grandmother whom [she] never met dreamed to be a poet. I am living her dream.” Yes you are Kelly, yes you are. I’ll miss you, but know that this is not goodbye. I plan to visit you and your new family in New Orleans, and I’m certain I speak for many of us when I ask you to make certain to keep in touch—let us know how you are, and share details about the wonderful work I know you’ll continue to do.

Peace,

Mary Weems

Here is the text of Kelly's farewell posted at our sister list serve:

Dear Cleveland Poetics,

I will be leaving Cleveland for love and relocating near the New Orleans area this fall. My fiancé works for the media there. He’s also freelanced for Time, Essence and most recently, the Boston Globe. Who knows where life will eventually take us! Certainly New Orleans and the surrounding areas have challenges, but there are some wonderful opportunities awaiting me/us.

Most importantly I will finally have time to be write, complete Cave Canem, and do some volunteering for worthy organizations. Also there is a great community of writers there.

It has been my pleasure to work with some many of you whether it was for a slam, community project or serving as a board member for the Lit. Thank you all for your mentoring and support of me as a poet.

I’d also like to thank so many of you for your support during my mother’s bout with cancer. She is doing very well now.

In the future my husband and I will be offering a small poetry award to female poet in Cleveland. It will be administered by the Lit.

I am sure I will see many of you either at Writers & Friends, the Anisfield Book Awards or at my reading at Mac’s on September 10th.

Cleveland will always be home.

Kelly A. Harris, MFA

P.S. I've been in two great publications recently: www.pluckonline.com or ww.pms-journal.org (shameless plug for cool poetry and publications)

Haikuu and Other Stuff

Hi Folks: Here's the 2nd China Love Notes haiku. Has anyone else written haiku or other kinds of poems in response to this tragedy? Peace, Mary:

Day and night names drop
from why? One man walks miles arms
open for missing son.

Haikuu and other stuff

Hi! Thanks again to all who posted to blog #1. This time I'm posting the first haiku in a series I wrote in response to the earthquake in China. The series is titled "China Love Notes." Again I ask all interested poets to post their own haikus in response to this one. Thanks and Peace,


Mary


China shifts like a grave.
Brave people pretend it's over
help tomorrow come.

Haiku U and other stuff

Blog #1 --

Hi folks: I've been writing a lot of haiku lately...Not sure why...Could be because I'm getting a greater sense of time and how fast it passes...haiku has the power to say a lot in 17 syllables.

I share the following, taken from my forthcoming book "An Unmistakable Shade of Red and the Obama Chronicles" with Bottom Dog and ask poets so inclined to respond with a haiku of their own, or by someone else. Peace, Mary:

Murder

At night, crows enter rooms
of sexually molested daughters.
Make fathers eat them.