In the Raven’s Wood

Marianne Szlyck’s blog, The Song Is.., features me with four poems, two from Ghost Light, one a reprint, and another a small poem (with a long title) that I hope helps divert you from your own pain and drama if only for a moment. 

 

Trouvaille Review will be publishing “Bone Depot” (which also appears in GHOST LIGHT) on September 12. This one bridges the gap between my speculative and non-speculative work.

One of my rare instances of a formal poem, “Hospice Sonnet,” has been accepted for the September issue of Not Very Quiet; and “Canvas,” “Act V,” and “Late Afternoon in Socrates Sculpture Park” have been accepted by Newtown Literary. 

Delighted to announce that my new book, “Ghost Light,” a non-speculative quarantine journal in verse (but not solely about the coronavirus), has just hit the internet. You can order a copy from you know who for $10.44 at this link: 

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GFX3NM2/ref=sr_1_17?dchild=1&qid=1598129395&refinements=p_27%3ASandi+Leibowitz&s=books&sr=1-17&text=Sandi+Leibowitz

 

Thrilled to announce that “Ghost Light,” my collection of poems centered on the pandemic and recent events, will soon be published by Alien Buddha Press. Thank you, Red Fochs, for this tremendous opportunity!

“White as Sorrow, Black as Gone” and “The Hedge-Wife’s Payment” have been accepted by Polu Texni. Thank you, Dawn Albright! The magazine publishes beautiful work.

“Love-School” and “Peeling an Orange” are now live on Verse-Virtual.  My kids’ poem “Sock Explorers” has been offered a second reprint in the School Magazine of Australia. 

My little poem, “Resurrection,” about my dog Gershwin (based on an actual dream), is now pardon the expression live at Trouvaille Review. A happy coincidence as this is the birthday of my other dog, Ceili. 

I’ve been busy writing and submitting non-speculative poetry during the pandemic. Here’s what’s been newly published:

 “Fading to Sepia” – Frost Meadow Review

“sparrow courtship” and “The Amateur Astronomer’s Wedding” – Alien Buddha Gets Rejected (available on Amazon)

These poems have received acceptances:

The Song Is… : “Memorial Day, 5/25/20,” “The Boat,” “The Word”, “After the Dentist….”

Trouvaille Review : “Resurrection”

Alien Buddha Press – garden poems: “Seeds of Love”

Alien Buddha Press – horror collection: “Suicide Forest”

Verse-Virtual: “Love-School,” “Peeling an Orange”

One of the good things to come out of the pandemic is the wealth of incredible programs available now on Zoom, Youtube, Facebook Live, and elsewhere. I’ve participated in a number of poetry readings, open mics, yoga classes, meetings with the fellow sopranos in my chorus, meetings (and even a virtual birthday party) with a group of women who are living through the pandemic alone, concerts, Shakespeare’s birthday celebrations, classes in Gaelic-language songs, and Revels sing-alongs, even though the only voices I could hear were mine and the host’s.

At a recent First Tuesday reading, both readers spoke so wonderfully about poetry that I wanted to share their words. 

Duane Esposito said that to create poetry is “to follow words till life gets said. It takes a while. It takes a lifetime. “

Ralph Nazareth said that writing poetry was to pay attention although “it is a terrifying thing to pay attention. But it is necessary–to be alive.”