Heather Strang, Writer & Coach

November 11: Barnes & Noble Vancouver Presents Heather Strang

2009-11-04T22:25:00.000-08:00

I hope you'll join me (and many other poetry lovers) for a reading of Anatomy of the Heart: Love Poems as part of the Barnes & Noble Poetry Series in Vancouver, Wa.

Here's the Scoop:
Nov. 11, 2009
7pm - 9pm

Barnes & Noble - Vancouver
Vancouver Plaza
7700 NE 4th Plain Blvd.
(360) 260-3854

An open mic will follow, so please bring your love poetry to share.

Can't wait to see you there!

Much love & blessings,
Heather

Poetry Review: At night, the dead by Lisa Ciccarello

2009-09-14T21:27:00.000-07:00

I avoid horror films.
I've never seen Nightmare on Elm Street or the Jason series.
Even the hokey Scream films freaked me out a bit.
Bottom line, I don't do scary.

And then, because I love poetry and I'm part of the kick-ass Read Write Poem community; (founded by the fabulous Dana Guthrie) I agreed to review At night, the dead by Lisa Ciccarello.

I was forced to face my nightmarish fears, as Ciccarello calls the dead out, revels in their beauty and isn't at all bashful about the freakishness of it all.

The dead lose nothing. Here is this curtain. Everything they ever wanted: the window view, soap that floats, someone pressing down hard. Lips made out of paper. A smile that shines (just a flame at his mouth & so what). In the dark there’s the swamp & the sound of the swamp & the lightning that balls above it. The dead want to grow here, the dead plant the bad vegetables that rot before they eat them. I want a space beneath the boards, something I can put in the floor, I want a root cellar full of fruit that lasts. He knows it’s not enough: home. With each exhale our hands move farther apart.

Ciccarello dances lightly around what we're all afraid of - death and the dead. And suddenly its not so scary, suddenly it's rather (dare I say it) fascinating. That's not to say some of the poems featured in this chapbook didn't send shivers up my spine; they did. But, that's what good poetry is meant to do - make you feel. Even if that feeling results in keeping all the lights in the house on, 24/7.

At night, the dead is a perfect gift for any lover of Halloween and all things ghoolish. In fact, you should probably order one now for your upcoming Halloween party. Or if you happen to love horror, you will love this lyrical, creepy compilation of all things dead.

Happy Reading!

-Heather

P.S. This review is part of the Read Write Poem virtual book tour. Love it!

September 19th: North Coast Writers Series Presents: Heather Strang

2009-09-14T08:34:00.000-07:00

Please join me for a reading of Anatomy of the Heart: Love Poems as part of the North Coast Writers Series in Seaside, Ore.

Sept. 19, 2009

12pm - 2pm

Seaside Public Library
1131 Broadway
Seaside, Ore.
503.738.6742

In addition, poet and writer Edith Lee Schwartz will share from her latest book, My Mother's Trunk: Poems & Essays.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Much love & blessings,
Heather

Check Out Photos & Video from Third Thursday Poets Featuring Heather Strang

2009-08-22T09:45:00.000-07:00

My reading in Salem, Ore. for Third Thursday Poets was a huge success! The bookstore sold out of my books and the people in Salem were so gracious and lovely. I had an absolute blast! Thank you to Maureen of Third Thursday Poets (you rock!) and Joanna at Tea Party Bookshop. And of course, a BIG shout-out to Jen Powers - my bestest friend - for taking video and then keeping the celebration going. Thank you Elaine & Alex for showing up and taking photos. Muah!

Stay tuned for my next reading, Sept. 19th at the Seaside Library from 12-2p. Woo!

Much love & blessings,
Heather :)

Third Thursday Poets Features Heather Strang, August 20th

2009-08-15T13:24:00.000-07:00

Third Thursday Poets

Third Thursday Poets is a monthly series celebrating the art of poetry and giving prominent area writers a chance to share their favorite poetry, whether it's their own or someone else's.

V a c a t i o n

When: Thursday, August 20, 2009, from 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Where: The Tea Party Bookshop, 420 Ferry St., SE, Salem, OR 97301

Please join us as TTP celebrates idyllic August with Heather Strang

Heather Strang is a writer, poet and coach. Her writing has appeared in blogs, books and a host of print and online publications, including 20-Something Manifesto, Four and Twenty, Women's eNews, The Oregonian, Amaze Magazine, NW Women's Journal and many others. In addition, Heather teaches workshops on a variety of conscious living topics. When she's not writing, you'll find her meditating on the beach, creating new recipes and exploring the possibilities of the Universe. To learn more, visit: www.HeatherStrang.com.

As a special summer treat, the TTP Open Micers will also be featured this month. There will be a sign-up sheet at the door or please e-mail maureen@thirdthursdaypoets.org to be placed on the list.

For more information, please contact Maureen Clifford @ maureen@thirdthursdaypoets.org

Check Out My Poetry As Healing Group on Read Write Poem

2009-08-02T17:41:00.000-07:00

Read Write Poem has gone all social networking crazy on us.
And guess what?

It's awesome!

Check out my Poetry as Healing Group and be sure to join. We will be sharing poetry and discussing it's healing effects.

And even if you don't join my group, sign up on Read Write Poem. You'll network with other cool writers and be able to participate in a variety of forums and groups.

Look forward to seeing you online,
xoHeather :)

Anatomy of the Heart Featured in Oregon Bookstores

2009-07-26T21:58:00.000-07:00

Anatomy of the Heart: Love Poems was a true work of my heart. It feels pretty amazing to have it out in the world right now!

I've received incredible responses from readers across all demographics - from a 27-year-old editor who's heart ached when reading The Weekend to a 40ish writer who spent an evening reading my poetry out loud with his girlfriend and a good bottle of wine. Thank you for all the lovely words - it still blows me away when I hear people are reading (and enjoying) my work!

I thought you should also know that Anatomy of the Heart: Love Poems is available at two bookstores right now - in addition to being featured on Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com and Booksamillion.com.

Pick up your copy of Anatomy of the Heart at:

Godfather's Books in Astoria, Ore.
New Renaissance in Portland, Ore.

Soon to be featured (as of Aug. 20th) in:
Tea Party Bookshop in Salem, Ore.

Oh, and check out this lovely post from coach (and upcoming author of Oh, Shift! Jennifer Powers).

Spread the love!
Order your copy today and pass it along.

Much love & Happy Writing,
xoHeather :)

Anatomy of the Heart: Love Poems Reading at Barnes & Noble

2009-07-17T15:28:00.000-07:00

I had such a great time at the Barnes & Noble Poetry series on Wednesday. Big shout-out to the illustrious Sage Cohen and everyone who attended. Below is a clip from the reading of my favorite poem - 4pm Wednesday. You only get a snippet of it (the camera died), but it's a good taste of my work. Happy Writing! xoHeather :)

July 15th Anatomy of the Heart Reading at Barnes & Noble

2009-07-05T18:35:00.000-07:00

Hope you can make my upcoming reading of Anatomy of the Heart: Love Poems at the Barnes & Noble, Lloyd Center. Below are the details:

Barnes & Noble
1317 Lloyd Center // Gift section
Portland, OR
503-249-0800
7pm

Presenting Tiel Aisha Ansari, M and Heather Strang

Tiel Aisha Ansari is a Sufi, martial artist, and computer programmer living in the Pacific Northwest. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in several print and online venues including Islamica Magazine, Mezzo Cammin, The Lyric, Raintown Review, and the VoiceCatcher anthology from Portland Women Writers. Her poetry has been featured on Prairie Home Companion and MiPoRadio. She is the author of the poetry collection Knocking from Inside, published by Ecstatic Exchange. You can visit her online at knockingfrominside.blogspot.com.

M has served as an Associate Poetry Editor for the online magazine Stirring: A Literary Collection for the past one hundred years or so. More than a few editors have found her poems intriguing, and included them in their journals. She received her B.A. in Literature so long ago, she's pretty certain her diploma has crumbled to dust. In addition to her work for Stirring, she is an Administrator of an online poetry critique website called Wild Poetry Forum, and serves as Co-Chairperson of the Portland Unit of the Oregon State Poetry Association (OSPA). She is currently working on a poetry manuscript that focuses on the twentieth-century Italian immigrant experience.

Heather Strang is the author of the book Anatomy of the Heart: Love Poems and is a professional writer for a host of print and online publications. Her poetry has also appeared in Four and Twenty. When she's not writing, you'll find her meditating, creating new recipes and exploring the possibilities of the Universe. Learn more at: www.HeatherStrang.com.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Happy Writing,
xoHeather :)

Debut Release of Anatomy of the Heart: Love Poems

2009-06-21T18:06:00.000-07:00

It's here!
I went to Kauai to write a book (among other things) and returned with a book that I could not be more proud of. It is raw, 100% authentic and really allowed me to be completely vulnerable.

Below is the official press release. I hope you'll not only read it and love it, but also share with your friends and family.

From here on out I plan to dedicate my blog to my poetry. Who knew I would have to cross an ocean to find my truest heart's desire - writing poetry. I've been writing since I was 12, but never in a million years would have imagined it would be such inspiring, passionate work for me. Why? I always imagined work had to be "hard". Turns out, it doesn't.

Enjoy!
Happy Reading (and writing),
xoHeather

DEBUT INDEPENDENT BOOK RELEASE: ANATOMY OF THE HEART: LOVE POEMS BY HEATHER STRANG

For Immediate Release

Heather Strang
Phone: 503-522-9799
heather@heatherstrang.com

After 13 years of writing poetry detailing the beauty of love, the depths of lost love and the heartache of desiring a former lover, writer and poet Heather Strang is now sharing her experiences in her debut poetry book, Anatomy of the Heart: Love Poems.

Anatomy of the Heart features more than 50 original poems for lovers of both words and relationships. Walk with her through the beginning stages of love, sink into the depths of the experience, reminisce over lost love and join in the heartache of wanting a former lover back. Readers will also uncover the surprising similarities between the physical heart and the emotional one. Strang showcases how the two work together like mirrors, illustrating all we need to know about love and ourselves.

"Ultimately, true love is a process occurring within each one of us. I hope readers will find comfort and inspiration in these shared experiences. To experience love in any form is a beautiful thing. As Rumi says, love is within us - long before a lover enters our lives," said Strang.

Heather Strang is a writer, poet and coach passionate about conscious living. Her writing has appeared in blogs, books and a host of print and online publications, including 20-Something Manifesto, Four and Twenty, Women's eNews, The Oregonian, Amaze Magazine, NW Women's Journal and many others. When she's not writing, you'll find her meditating on the beach, creating new recipes and exploring the possibilities of the Universe. To learn more, visit: www.HeatherStrang.com.

A poetry sample from Anatomy of the Heart:

Bend

I breathe into you

My inhale sweet

With the scent of your kisses.

You on one knee

A blade of grass poised gingerly

for my ring finger.

Love and marriage and all

our hopes and dreams

In unison

In one breath.

# # #

Read My Poetry on Four and Twenty

2009-06-16T11:27:00.000-07:00

I'm so pleased to announce that two of my poems are featured in the June 2009, Volume 2 issue of Four and Twenty.

This is an amazing literary publication and so much fun to read.

Hope you'll enjoy it!

Happy Writing,
Heather :)

P.S. And yes, I'm back in Oregon - on the coast - to promote my poetry book. Stay tuned for more info!

Tapping Into Your Intuition

2009-05-27T00:06:00.001-07:00

During an interview this weekend for my upcoming book about love, one of the interviewees shared a great method for tapping into your intuition.

I thought I would share it.

When trying to make a decision by following your intuition, ask yourself the question at hand and pay attention to the feelings that come up. You're likely to feel either an opening or a closing in your heart chakra area.

If you think of one option and feel a tightening (which is how I experience it), then it may not be the right choice. If, when you think of another potential choice, and feel an expansion or opening - typically with a bit of excitement/relief/joy - you know you're on the right track.

The trick is - taking the time to stop, get quiet and observe this within yourself. Doing so will allow you to observe either the expansion or contraction within you.

Happy Intuiting!
-Heather :)

Update: Life and Homelessness

2009-05-25T02:36:00.000-07:00

Of course, I'm not truly homeless, but that's certainly the feeling I've had of late. Check out Karen Bishop's latest update to get more in-depth information on this, especially if you're also feeling this way.

It's a new moon today (pacific time, that means yesterday as I write this) - which often means new energy and bringing new, great stuff in. In fact, the angel card I pulled this morning was "New Opportunity" - so all signs definitely point in that direction.

But, back to the homelessness, or at least the feeling of such. Kauai is beautiful and in just 4 short months I accomplished what I came here to do. I have a solid feeling that this isn't my spot, but no place else feels right either. I love the Oregon Coast (I've had a "condo on the Oregon Coast" on my intention list for about 7 years now!) and moving there would certainly put me close to my family (my sister is having a baby!) and within close proximity to my small, yet powerful group of soul friends. However, it doesn't feel right to step into that just yet either.

So, here I wait. For a sign. For a nudge, for the knowing. Karen Bishop says it's coming, my intuition says it is as well, but my mind and ego are in a hurry. They would really like me to make a decision NOW. They want to know what my plan is and where I am going.

The trouble is, I simply don't know. And my ego/mind HATES not knowing! But, during my meditation today I surfaced with the resolve that I will not make a move of any kind until I do know. This is, of course, totally counter to how I had been living my life - following my head and going at a break-neck pace. I love the slower pace of my life, the warmth, the ocean and my tan. :) But Kauai is odd and simply a place of growth for me. I've started a deep healing journey here and finished my first poetry book (out this summer - turning final edits into my publisher this week!). In addition, I'm writing more poetry than ever before - it flows out of me effortlessly. I feel more connected and centered than I have - ever - in my entire life.

At the same time, I feel a shift coming soon. My dreams are vivid and often leave me clues. During a recent healing session, I received guidance to bring greater transparency to a couple of my relationships - the next night I had a detailed dream as to how that transparency should come about. I'm journaling, meditating, walking, stretching, processing, asking, crying, getting angry and then writing some more and doing the whole process over again. I'm cleaning things up, shining light on areas within myself I had avoided or simply hadn't the time for. It is a fascinating process, and when I look at it like this - from a detached, objective point of view - it seems rather beautiful. At times, I'm deeply connected to this beauty, other times I'm so irritated with the slowness of things, I can barely stand it. :)

And so, I continue to write, while I wait.
Below is a poem I wrote (And I really shouldn't say "I" wrote it - the words just start tumbling out of me and I have to scramble to get pen to paper to capture it. I can't even tell you if what I write is true poetry - it simply comes out and I write it down.) the other night - at Brennecke beach while the sun went down:

Island

On an island
in the middle of
the Pacific

I am alone.

The beach stretches for miles
The ocean lays out as far as the eye can see

Yet, there is only me here.

Darkness has fallen
The couples, kids and families
are safely tucked
away

Only I remain
to write
to feel
to ask
and to receive.

I thought myself an island
But then, I came here
and realized that no one person
can ever be an island,
no one person can ever sustain
all alone in the darkness.

So, I pack up my journal, pen and books
Blow a kiss to the butterflies and palm trees
And I head home
to an ocean that is not an island
to a place where I no longer have to
pretend to be one.

It is time
Time to heal what
has not been lost
Open myself up -
wide and free,
Just like the mainland.

© 2009 Heather Strang
All rights reserved.

Happy Writing and Much Love to YOU!
xo

NaPoWriMo - Day 30 - Wouldn't Publish! 2nd Try

2009-05-02T01:27:00.000-07:00

I tried to get this to publish all day yesterday and today. Sorry folks! But here's the anti-climatic last poem for National Poetry Month. xo

Sleep No More

4:30am on a
Thursday morning.
Sound asleep
Until
A scratch on
My arm.
A nightmare
flits through my
head.
I fling it across the room
Suddenly awake,
screaming.
COCKROACH!

ON MY ARM!

IN BED!

No more sleep
for me.
Tossing,
turning
planning my return to
Oregon.
Where there are no
COCKROACHES.

© 2009 Heather Strang
All rights reserved.

Today marks the end of NaPoWriMo. :(
I can't believe I wrote a poem, almost every day of the month. Almost.
It was fun, although challenging and I think I actually wrote some good ones.

I'm going back to my regular one week blog schedule to write about my journey in the tropics (which as you can see from above, took a dramatic turn for the worse), my writing and anything else that is on my mind.

I'm such an Oregon girl. Damn!

Much love,
Heather :)

NaPoWriMo - Day 29 - Friends Among Strangers

2009-04-30T00:19:00.000-07:00

Friends Among Strangers

Peace
Washed over me
Gently, gracefully
As your story unfolded
It was sad, but rang so true
I felt the comfort of friends
Even among strangers
Here, in this strange place
I discovered my truth
The truth I had searched for
My entire life
Right before my very eyes
In the eyes of strangers
Who are now friends
Every ache, ounce of pain
And misery was confirmed,
Understood and acknowledged
My entire life made sense
And peace,
Peace was my
only emotion.

© 2009 Heather Strang
All rights reserved.

NaPoWriMo - Day 28 - Words

2009-04-28T23:17:00.000-07:00

Words

It escapes me
mid-thought
I ask it to wait
just give me time
to find a pen
or something to write on.
But, it doesn't care
I can be driving
In a meeting
Or in the midst of dispensing advice
and there it will be.
The words, the sweet words
for this blog, for a book
for an article.
There's no stopping this flood
of words.
They do not have any particular
concern about my whereabouts
or the location of a writing utensil,
they simply bust out and,
I am lucky to catch any of them
at all.
I will recite the first line over and
over hoping to cement it into my
memory.
Sometimes it works,
Sometimes it doesn't.
And then I am left with a feeling
a feeling that something beautiful
passed through me
something of note.
It's on the tip of my tongue.
I lay my head in my hands
and beg it
to come back.

© 2009 Heather Strang
All rights reserved.

NaPoWriMo - Day 27 - Some Days

2009-04-27T22:51:00.000-07:00

Some Days

Some days are meant for this
For snuggling on the couch
For forgetting there's any work to be done

Some days are meant for lounging
Quietly by the pool
Sun caressing the plants, trees and skin

Some days are meant for creating
All alone, in the zone
Cookies, poems and news articles

Some days are meant for love
With a stranger, a good friend or a partner
Smiling, laughing and lingering on

Some days are simply meant to be.

© 2009 Heather Strang
All rights reserved.

NaPoWriMo - Day 26 - Gratitude

2009-04-27T01:37:00.000-07:00

Gratitude

And the winner is...

Me.
Figure eights
Oranges
Ocean healing
Meditation on red rocks
Green smoothies
120 lbs
And ginger snaps
For days
Jessie who drives like
a dream
Brown boys who send
shivers up my spine
Sexy dances
Books that inspire
Best friends
Chakra clearing
Garden walks
Sunsets
Organic
For real.
Reality TV
People mag
Endless poetry
Writing from my heart
Fresh avocados
Pineapple
Chickens
Bright, bright sunshine
80 degrees
Rumi
12-steps
Kathy Freston
And
Cooking, cooking, cooking.
Waterfalls
Bed & breakfasts
Sleeping in
Naps
Photographs
New, new, new, new.

I am so grateful.

© 2009 Heather Strang
All rights reserved.

NaPoWriMo - Day 24 - Naked

2009-04-25T00:35:00.001-07:00

Naked

She was
naked
and lovely.
I could not tear
my eyes
off of her.
Passerby's diverted
their gaze
Seemingly intent on
the tiles on the floor
rather than the
naked goddess
before them.
Her hair was
heavenly white
with tinges of silver
scattered delicately
throughout.
Her body was
round and full
with freckles gently
covering her cafe
colored skin.
She was poised,
and graceful
lying there.
The pool sparkled in
front of her
while bikinis and
speedos zipped by.
She noticed none of this.
In fact, it's possible
she didn't notice any
of us.
She was a goddess
and we were merely
lowly servants
scuttling
around her.

© 2009 Heather Strang
All rights reserved.

NaPoWriMo - Day 23 - Magic

2009-04-24T00:08:00.000-07:00

Magic

Observing oneself
is fascinating stuff.
Watching the mind
scurry around
like an ant eager for
food, seeing it grasp onto
anything it can
to continue the madness.

Humanness is a perplexing
conundrum.
Always seeking to
define
make sense of
categorize
and judge -
people
places
and experiences.

Synchroncity is magical.
The continual surprise
Of the stars aligning,
Of two seemingly
random events
bolting into one another
in a way no one could have
predicted.

Observation lends itself
to our humanity.

Synchronicity reminds us
we are magic.

NaPoWriMo - Day 22 - Make-Up Poetry

2009-04-22T23:02:00.000-07:00

I wanted to give everyone plenty of time to read the beautiful interview (and poem) from the lovely Sage Cohen. And guess what? I turned in my first book - of poetry - to the publisher last week. Sage actually inspired me - she encouraged me to trust myself, my voice and to believe that modern day poets are absolutely relevant in today's world. Thanks Sage!

Onto the poetry...

Meditation

Whispers echo across the cliff
I turn with a start
And the ocean breaks ferociously
The red rock crumbles softly

My eyes close effortlessly
But then, the thoughts come
Fast and furious with fears
And hopes and dreams

Voices carry me through the fear
Into the quiet and deeper still
Suddenly, it stops
The ocean, rock and whispers on pause

I feel the universe shift
Shivers cover my body
And images flash before me
We go deeper still

Fear is gone
Peace is its replacement
I know what to do
I know exactly what to do.

I open my eyes.

---------------------------------

Support

In a group full of strangers
We all tell our sad, sad stories
We cry
Shake
And comfort one another.

I am not shaking.
I am watching them.
Careful to not be exposed
Careful so they do not see
the resonance within me.
It is my turn to talk and my voice
Cracks and breaks.
I will not cry
I will myself to stop the tears
I am not ashamed
I tell myself, but my face tells another
story.
Sipping my tea
Hands cupped around it
As though it were my last hope,
I lie.
I say that I am fine.

We all know I am not.
Shaking our heads in silent
understanding,
We continue on.

For National Poetry Month: Q&A with Sage Cohen, Author of Writing the Life Poetic

2009-04-19T00:18:00.001-07:00

Q&A with Sage Cohen, Author of

Writing the Life Poetic: An Invitation to Read and Write Poetry

a new book from Writer’s Digest Books

How does poetry make the world a better place to live?

I think poetry fills the gap left by the so-called objective truth that dominates our media, science and legislation. Many of us want to comprehend and communicate the complexity of human experience on a deeper, more soulful level. Poetry gives us a shared language that is more subtle, more human, and—at its best—more universally “true” than we are capable of achieving with just the facts.

How has integrating the reading and writing of poetry into your life impacted you?

I will risk sounding melodramatic in saying that poetry saved my life. I stumbled into a writing practice at an extremely vulnerable time in my early teenage years. Poetry gave me then, as it does today, a way of giving voice to feelings and ideas that felt too risky and complicated to speak out loud. There was a kind of alchemy in writing through such vulnerabilities...by welcoming them in language, I was able to transform the energies of fear, pain and loneliness into a kind of friendly camaraderie with myself. In a way, I wrote myself into a trust that I belonged in this world.

Do people need an advanced degree in creative writing in order to write poetry?

Absolutely not! Sure, poetry has its place in the classroom; but no one needs an advanced degree in creative writing to reap its rewards. What most people need is simply a proper initiation. I wrote Writing the Life Poetic to offer such an initiation. My goal was that everyone who reads it come away with a sense of how to tune into the world around them through a poetic lens. Once this way of perceiving is awakened, anything is possible!

Why did you write Writing the Life Poetic?

While working with writers for the past fifteen years, I have observed that even the most creative people fear that they don’t have what it takes to write and read poetry. I wrote Writing the Life Poetic to put poetry back into the hands of the people––not because they are aspiring to become the poet laureate of the United States––but because poetry is one of the great pleasures in life.”

Who is Writing the Life Poetic written for?

Practicing poets, aspiring poets, and teachers of writing in a variety of settings can use Writing the Life Poetic to write, read, and enjoy poems; it works equally well as a self-study companion or as a classroom guide. Both practical and inspirational, it will leave readers with a greater appreciation for the poetry they read and a greater sense of possibility for the poetry they write.

What sets Writing the Life Poetic apart from other poetry how-to books?

The craft of poetry has been well documented in a variety of books that offer a valuable service to serious writers striving to become competent poets. Now it’s time for a poetry book that does more than lecture from the front of the classroom. Writing the Life Poetic was written to be a contagiously fun adventure in writing. Through an entertaining mix of insights, exercises, expert guidance and encouragement, I hope to get readers excited about the possibilities of poetry––and engaged in a creative practice. Leonard Cohen says: “Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash.” My goal is that Writing the Life Poetic be the flame fueling the life well lived.

What makes a poem a poem?

This is one of my favorite questions! I’ve answered it in my book, but it’s a question that I’m answering anew every day. And that’s what I love about poetry. It’s a realm where invention is not limited entirely by definition; there is room enough for the endless possibilities of the human. Every time we try to draw a line around what a poem is, something spills over into the next frame, shifting the point of view and demanding new names: olive, token, flax, daffodil. A poem is all of these, or none of them, depending on the quality of light and how the blade in the next room stirs the night.

What do you think people’s greatest misperceptions are about poetry?

I think the three greatest stereotypes about the writing of poetry are:

That one has to be a starving artist or deeply miserable to write great poetry.
That reading and writing poetry are available only to an elite inner circle that shares secret, insider knowledge about the making of poems.
That poetry does not fund prosperity.

I hope very much that Writing the Life Poetic helps offer alternatives to some of these attitudes and perceptions.

I’d love to conclude with a poem of yours. Would you be willing to share one?

Of course! Happy to!

Leaving Buckhorn Springs

By Sage Cohen

The farmland was an orchestra,

its ochres holding a baritone below

the soft bells of farmhouses,

altos of shadowed hills,

violins grieving the late

afternoon light. When I saw

the horses, glazed over with rain,

the battered old motorcycle parked

beside them, I pulled my car over

and silenced it on the gravel.

The rain and I were diamonds

displacing appetite with mystery.

As the horses turned toward me,

the centuries poured through

their powerful necks and my body

was the drum receiving the pulse

of history. The skin between me

and the world became the rhythm

of the rain keeping time with the sky

and into the music walked

the smallest of the horses. We stood

for many measures considering

each other, his eyes the quarter notes

of my heart’s staccato. This symphony

of privacy and silence: this wildness

that the fence between us could not divide.

About Sage Cohen

Sage Cohen is the author of Writing the Life Poetic: An Invitation to Read and Write Poetry (Writers Digest Books, 2009) and the poetry collection Like the Heart, the World. An award-winning poet, she writes four monthly columns about the craft and business of writing and serves as Poetry Editor for VoiceCatcher 4. Sage co-curates a monthly reading series at Barnes & Noble and teaches the online class Poetry for the People. To learn more, visit www.writingthelifepoetic.com. Drop by and join in the conversation about living and writing a poetic life at www.writingthelifepoetic.typepad.com!

NaPoWriMo - Day 18 - The Fixer

2009-04-19T00:07:00.000-07:00

The Fixer

The air is
sticky
and hot
like the tears
streaming down
my face.
Oxygen is in short
supply,
the car windows
remain sealed to
stifle my cries.
I cannot possibly
understand
my predicament
or what to do
next.
I am,
after all
an expert fixer
with the ability to
solve even the most chaotic
of life
circumstances.
It is my specialty
if you will.
But, this one,
this conflict is
one that foils
even me.
It is the fight within
myself
It is the desire to
go deep
Go where I have
yet to go before
To solve the mystery
of who I really am
All
By
My
Self.
Is there anything
more terrifying?
I drive on,
Sticky tears
and all.

© 2009 Heather Strang
All rights reserved.

NaPoWriMo - Day 17 - The Glow

2009-04-17T18:00:00.000-07:00

The Glow

Laying amidst the
glow
Of our love
I ponder
Several important
concerns:
What if
this were
It?
What if
my life,
my precious life
consisted of only
these
intimate moments?
If I never
knew more than
a handful
of folks?
If I only ever
wrote
poetry from my heart
and chatted
on the phone
with strangers
the rest of my life?
Would I be
complete?
Would your name be enough
for me to utter?
Would our life be
enough for
my soul?
If only I
knew the
answers
to these pressing questions.
Perhaps then
I would not lay
in the glow of our love
my mind racing
with these
thoughts,
while you
slept.

© 2009 Heather Strang
All rights reserved.

NaPoWriMo - Day 15 - Blue

2009-04-15T23:57:00.000-07:00

The Color Blue

Blue
The color of
the ocean
the garden pool
my favorite shirt
and your eyes
Blue
How I feel when
you don't call
or you do call
and have nothing
to say
Blue
Radiates
from my eyes to
yours
Immersed in a
pool of deep
Blue.