Out into another wet morning after spending some time preparing for my Wednesday morning writing group. Warming up to what I’ll lead as a prompt today, I’m acutely aware of current events, and I know these women writers will be as well: a secret revealed by a woman who kept it for decades until she was compelled to reveal it, even facing the highest of stakes – public shaming, being discredited, and even death threats for sharing her truth about a powerful and priviledged white male judge. I find this poem, “Secrets,” by a little known female poet, Lola Ridge, born in 1873. This poem, and the prompt, led to some of the deepest, most honest and authentic sharing and writing this group has ever produced. Each writer listens, so compassionately, and writes, so creatively and honestly. We will not let our stories be erased.

All photos and text ©Kelly DuMar 2018 unless otherwise attributed