InSpiritry

April was National Poetry Month, and what a heart-warming celebration the past few weeks have been for me:

• First, I had the pleasure of judging several poetry contests for groups from Pennsylvania to Texas and meeting hundreds of poets who shared their special thoughts on the page.
• Early in the month, I was part of an affirming bookstore reading of socially conscious poets in San Antonio with Synergy Foundation founder and one of my inspirations, Beverly Monestier.
• Next, I had the honor and delight of editing the 2008 issue of the annual poetry collection, Di-verse-city, and the joy of this year’s Austin International Poetry Festival with its celebration of poets from around the world and venues all over the city. Featured poets included Cyrus Cassells (U.S. and France), Eran Tzelgov (Israel), Jericho Brown (Califormia), Agnes Meadows (United Kingdom), John Row (United Kingdom), Afaa Weaver (Massachusetts), Vievee Francis (Michigan), Stefanie Petrik (Australia), Bob Mud (Australia) along with Texas poets Olga Samples Davis, Robert Wynne, Robin Cravey, Melissa Lumpkin and Ken Fontenot. I enjoyed getting to host the AIPF reading at BookPeople and reading my own work at Ken Follet’s Intellectual Property.
• A week later, I kept my ten-year tradition of coordinating and hosting the Rusk County Poetry Society Poetry in Schools Awards Ceremony with nearly a hundred student poets reading their prize-winning poems from grades 1 -12. For all the parents, teachers and poets in the audience, it was a reminder of the many things young people carry in their hearts.
• Later in the month, current Texas Poet Laureate and dear friend Larry Thomas visited me in East Texas for readings at Stephen F. Austin State University and University of Texas at Tyler. At SFA, my alma mater, Larry spoke to creative writing students and gave an evening reading. At UTTyler, he was our guest for the university’s Muntz Library Student Poetry Awards. (What a whirlwind year that guy has had!)
• Last weekend, I was blessed by the heart-healing experience of another year of Poetry at Round Top, a retreat and celebration of the power of words at the magical  and beautiful Festival Institute tucked in the countryside east of Austin. This year’s feature poets, Naomi Shihab Nye, Olga Samples Davis, Tony Hoaglund, Marie Howe, Cyrus Cassells, A. Van Jordon, Judith Kitchens and Stan Rubin, along with many fine Texas poets shared their work and ideas as we laughed, cried, listened, read, wrote, ate and danced together.
• Finally, I gave out the poetry awards for the East Texas Writers Guild, a group of dedicated writers based in nearby Tyler.
• Between all that, I enjoyed a couple of author nights and book-signings and a day speaking with school librarians about how poetry and story can empower us. 

It has been an amazing few weeks with poetry!

But Why Poetry?

Poetry. Verse. Memory-Meaning-Music. Socially, celebration of the word. Biblically, the Word. Spiritually, creative experience. Psychologically, self expression. Sociologically, emotional and intellectual communication. Academically, fine art. Linguistically, language. Scientifically, human sound.

While it is possible to simplify poetry down to dry definitions, it is harder to describe the magical power of the careful distillation and artistic presentation of sound and symbol. It is indeed a soul thing! Cultures in every land since language began have found their own versions of this thing we call poetry: some written-some oral, some serious-some playful, some sophisticated-some common, some pleasant-some painful, some silent-some sung-some chanted-some shouted. Spiritual traditions have especially used verse in powerful ways, as have politicians and teachers and historians and children.

What About You?

Do you think you dislike poetry or that it’s just for English class? I invite you to rediscover the power of poetic words. Poetry is more than Shakespeare and John Donne (although those two set a high standard). There are poets writing today who speak as if they are in a sidewalk conversation. They understand how you feel–whatever that is– and can help you consider life’s compelling questions.

If you like poetry, when is the last time you read a poem? I invite you to come back to enjoying poems! Settle in with a favorite poet for a few minutes. You’ll be amazed at the thoughts, feelings and memories that spill from the sealed vaults of your heart! Your day, maybe even your life, will be transformed!

Does poetry already have a space on your bookshelf? Why not venture out to explore new poets and new kinds of poetry? Being creative means being open to new experiences — I invite you to meet the hundreds of poets waiting to speak to you! Check out the bookstore lists. Expand your horizons. Go global!

Are you a poet yourself? I invite you to recommit your life to your art. Celebrate your gift. Honor your craft. Pick up your pen. You can find inspiration in every moment, every person, every place. Your job is to see the world in inspired ways, and then offer that gift to others. Write! Write! Write!

We all need to connect with one another. When we write and read poetry, that connection happens at the most personal level. It is good for us to affirm the power of our words in our Passion for the Greater Good!

If you are looking for poetry resources, check out both my poetry page and my links list. I also always welcome poetry emails!

When We Open Our Hearts, Poetry Can Be a Blessing!

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 6th, 2008 at 10:04 am and is filed under InSpiritry, Anne McCrady, Greater Good, Writing, InSpiration, Texas, Poetry. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.