#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream

Late winter sun

“Today I feel grief and rage. Innocent workers making minimum wage just lost their lives ‘cause their skin color’s beige––let me start from the very first page. . . “ ~ Sherry Cola

Rain was promised, and delivered, but not until later in the day, long after my walk. At the river’s edge, there was no ice. No swans. A steely sky. But I felt cheerful under it! I walked through the wetlands, the snow is gone, most of the ice, and the old brown grass is thick and flattened and tattered and spongy and it was a pleasantly moist venture. Two mallards lifted off. I felt satisfied that I had sent my poem in for workshop. Then, when I got to workshop, no one had received it! (I had, in my haste yesterday, neglected to push SEND. It worked out all right, thought, I got to share my poem, and received helpful comments, immediately after I revised it, and I feel it’s done. Done. And I sorted so much out in my own mind. It’s true, that’s what revision is: figuring out what we know and feel. This poem has brought a resolution for me. In the afternoon I was pleased to moderate a “Pop Up” open mic for the IWWG, and we had quite a strong showing of both listeners and writers. There was wonderful writing shared, and so many risks taken––painful losses shared in moving poetry and prose. It was quite remarkable.

Want to hear (watch) a powerful poem written by Sherry Cola about the hate crime against Asian women that I found on Instagram? Viewed about 426,000 times since yesterday? Go here.

shrrycola

#StopAsianHate💛

”a poem i wrote last night. devastated for my community. sending love and strength to all of you.”