‘Poetry’ Archives
New CHAPBOOK Seeking Submissions of Poetry
ILLUSTRATION: Jake Ryan Don’t we think about our ancestors a lot? Where they came from, how they struggled and triumphed, what they would say to our world today? Our community knows the power of ancestors: from visits to the historic Pioneer and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery to Day of the Dead celebrations to streetside memorials at places of tragic deaths. “Writing With Our Ancestors” is a chapbook* focused on poems written to ancestors or from ancestors in their voice. It will be published in the summer, and submissions are now open. Poems should be no longer than 40 lines, and can be written in any style. Poets of any level are encouraged to submit. The only requirement is that they be poems written to ancestors or from ancestors in their voice. Poems about ancestors will not be accepted. Editors of the chapbook are Patrick Cabello Hansel, the author of three books of poetry including “Breathing in Minneapolis,” and Dralandra Larkins, an award-winning spoken word [...]
Even though you can’t see us, we never left
By MARCIE RENDON From Bdote rise Wic’ahpi OyateFrom the sky to the waters, the Star people riseFrom the birthplace of the people38 plus 2, their spirits ride September 22, 1862 Emancipation Proclamation ‘on this day…all people held as slaves Shall be free…’ December 26, 1862 ‘Anxious to not act with so much clemency… nor with so much severity as to be real cruelty… I ordered…’ 38 plus 2 Dakota hungFrom Mississippi Bluffs to Bde Maka SkaTheir warrior spirit’s rideAt Cloud Man’s Village, restTheir people exiledto the prairies of the west38 plus 2, their spirits rideEast to west, now back again In plain sight, in exileGreat-great-grandsons, soul weary, sit in Denny’sbrush black strands of hairOff foreheads lined with prison worryThey don’t let on they can hear38 plus 2, horse hooves clackJourneying east to westGreat-great-granddaughters from Little EarthPush [...]
REFLECTIONS
By FRANCES TRAPHAGAN The time came when there was a release of all that had been. Forgetting it wasn’t in the release. The release of all the anger and hatred that spewed out into things of no concern.The gentleness towards myself, the forgiveness of past injuries and the looking to today. Living in today not in the past and not in the future; now expressing the care and concern towards those I meet. Welcoming the kindness from them-- not taking their kindness for granted and not letting it dictate my choices. Not all kindness displayed towards me is in my best interest, but a lure for victimization. Today I welcome kindness but watch for hidden agendas. Questions in my mind----What do they want? As my inquiring mind touches on the experiences of my life, I learn to question and receive what is wanted and needed with reserve.It’s a new day with a new dawn, but the experiences I’ve had temper the day and I plan to have a good day. Frances Traphagan is a writer and a poet as [...]
