Kelli Russell Agodon's Blog, page 29

Postcard from Denise Levertov: Poem "The Secret"

The Secret


Two girls discover
the secret of life
in a sudden line of
poetry.

I who don't know the
secret wrote
the line. They
told me

(through a third person)
they had found it
but not what it was
not even

what line it was. No doubt
by now, more than a week
later, they have forgotten
the secret,

the line, the name of
the poem. I love them
for finding what
I can't find,

and for loving me
for the line I wrote,
and for forgetting it
so that

a thousand times, till death
finds them, they may
discover it again, in other
lines

in other
happenings. And for
wanting to know it,
for

assuming there is
such a secret, yes,
for that
most of all.






~ By Denise Levertov







~ Kells



 

~ Don't Miss a Post ~ Subscribe to Book of Kells by EmailKelli Russell Agodon
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Postcard from Edna Millay

An absolutely beautiful portrait of poet, Edna St. Vincent Millay














~ Kells



 
~ Don't Miss a Post ~ Subscribe to Book of Kells by EmailKelli Russell Agodon
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Confession Tuesday on Wednesday-- The Crazy Poets Edition (aka the NO LIST Edition)

Dear Reader,



If you're not a poet, you couldn't care less about this post. Or could you? I always forget...





You wouldn't even need to address this post because it's about poetry and seriously, besides mimes and opera singers, we're a small group.



In the last couple days there have been lists made about poets.  "Movers and shakers." "Influential poets." And these lists have been shared...as if they *mean* something.



Here's the deal, people on the lists love that they are on the list and people not on the list feel bad about themselves.



In reality-- lists suck.



People make lists to show they are "in" (or want to be "in") or know the right people.



People make lists because they want to feel important.



But in reality, it brings us back to an "us" and "them" world, when really it is "us" and "us."



So I'm making a list and we're all included because-- guess what Einstein-- poets are poets are poets and poetry is for everyone and not an elite group.



And if you're writing poetry, consider yourself a "mover or a shaker" (whatever the eff that means) or consider yourself "influential" in poetry, because your neighbor and her neighbor are reading poetry at night because you mentioned you wrote poems and they are not watching the Kardashians or Breaking Bad or not caring what the poets are doing.





Dear Reader,


So you can see I am somewhat, a little, a tad bit, annoyed that there are many of us writing poetry and someone is making a list without your name on it.



And that sucks.



In the real world, no one knows how much you are doing or how you are sharing poetry, or writing poetry, or dedicating yourself to your art or anything.



The lists are created based on appearances.



I know a thousand poets who live and die for poetry and weren't on a list this week.  Does that mean they don't matter?



No. They matter.



What it means is that people aren't paying attention.  What is means is that you live in a small town, or you're an introvert, or quiet, or you don't announce everything you do. or that life doesn't have to be a list with your name on it.  It means you don't live near where said-listmaker lives or you haven't blogged about yourself lately.



I confess I am tired of lists.



Lists of influential poets or any list with my name on it or not, means nothing.



List suck.



What matters if you care about what you are doing or writing or that your art is something that matters to you.



I'm tired of people being neglected.



I'm tired of seeing a list and realizing that half of the frigging country isn't on it.  And "frigging" is an understatement.



Understand, people will always try to put you into a group-- don't let them.  Be the narwhal.  Be the meteor across the sky, so fast and sparkly, no one can catch you when someone says, "Look."



Some of the most beautiful things are seen only by a few people.



That doesn't mean they aren't important.

This doesn't mean you aren't important.



I'm writing a list with your name on it.



When you're not on a list, it just means that some people weren't paying attention. And that's their problem, not yours.  You?  You just keep writing.



And that's their fault, not the fault in our stars. (Did you see how I did that?)



Relax, baby.  Things will all work out.



I'm making a list and you're all included.



Amen.







~ Kells



 
~ Don't Miss a Post ~ Subscribe to Book of Kells by EmailKelli Russell Agodon
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Beautiful Flapper Portrait of Zelda Fitzgerald

This is just a beautiful portrait of Zelda.  I love her hat.



In my best world, we all dress like this--











~ Kells



 

~ Don't Miss a Post ~ Subscribe to Book of Kells by EmailKelli Russell Agodon
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Poets on the Coast: Opportunity for Guest Visual Artist or Jewelry Maker or . . .

Susan Rich has a call for a Guest Artist at our lovely Poets on the Coast Retreat for anyone who is interested.



Here's the post from her Alchemist's Kitchen blog:



Opportunity – Guest Artist for Poets on the Coast

For our 3rd annual Poets on the Coast we will feature one guest artist. We are especially interested in visual artists who have an interest in promoting women in all the arts.

If selected, your work (postcards, business cards) will be featured in all conference packets; you will also be listed on our donor list. We will also have your photo and bio displayed.



If you live near Nye Beach, Oregon, we’d love to meet you as well! We are asking for a piece of art (a picture, a pin, earrings, a few notecards) to be distributed to all our women participants. The theme of Poets on the Coast this year is “Collaborative Arts”  and so your work will be seen in this context. We are choosing only one visual artist to be represented at the conference. 



You can live anywhere in the world as long as you can mail us your work by September 1st.

Please send me an email at Susan Rich (srich18(at)gmail.com) outlining what kind of art you make and what you would want to contribute to the poets attending our Poets on the Coast event in September. Our call for visual artists must be in by Monday, August 19th so that we can make a decision by Monday August 26th.

Thanks so much for supporting women artists and Poets on the Coast!
 





~ Kells



 

~ Don't Miss a Post ~ Subscribe to Book of Kells by EmailKelli Russell Agodon
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Postcard from Mail Art

One of my favorite things is Mail Art.  This is by an artist named Danielle Maret.













If you want something creative to do today, send a letter (maybe with a little mail art) to someone you've been thinking about...





~ Kells



 

~ Don't Miss a Post ~ Subscribe to Book of Kells by EmailKelli Russell Agodon
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Show, Don't Tell:

~ Kells



 

~ Don't Miss a Post ~ Subscribe to Book of Kells by EmailKelli Russell Agodon
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Confession Tuesday (on Wed.): The Find Your Tribe Edition

Dear Reader, 


It's been two missed confessions and a lot of everything else going on.  Apologies.


But with that apology, I realize I owe you two weeks worth of confessions, or perhaps, just to be even more honest, a little more vulnerable.  



Because you waited two weeks, I will not tell you how when making a chocolate sundae at a sundae bar, I hide huge amounts of chocolate sauce under the ice cream so people do not think I'm being piggy, however, there is no way to hide my gluttonous use of whipped cream. I confess, when it comes to sweets, I love more.







So that's not what we're going to talk about.  Let's get to the passion. To the confessional--



I confess last night I returned to my MFA program taking place in the beautiful Pacific Lutheran University.  I was a student there in 2004, almost ten years ago.  I started my MFA program 3 weeks after my stepfather, who I loved, passed away unexpectedly from a stroke. I was a younger mother leaving her 3 1/2 year old to attend school.  All of it felt overwhelming and scary, and yet, I showed up and began.



Returning to school to get my MFA made me realize how much more comfortable I am with writers, or maybe it's a bigger group-- artists, people who are not satisfied with just being one thing--a mother, a wife, a husband, a teacher, a father, a worker, a ____________ (fill in the blank) and create.



I love being with people who are so passionate about something so much that they need their own time.  And they get cranky when they don't have it.



Last night, just walking into this new group of people, I felt completely comfortable even though I didn't know everyone and in fact, there were so many I didn't know.  



I saw some of my favorite faculty members-- Peggy Shumaker, Brenda Miller, David Biespiel, Kevin Clark, Ann Pancake, Linda Bierds, Sherry Simpson, and of course, the director of the program Stan Rubin & Judith Kitchen, some alums now working for the program - Katrina & Rebecca -, a few students in the program I recognized, but a lot of people I didn't know, but who oddly, I felt a connection with even though we had just met.



This is what it means to find your tribe.


This is why it's important whether online or in-person (in-person is so much better) that you connect with other writers.



Last night my good writer friends laughed at my "problems" --I was half-complaining that all my book deadlines have fallen during summer and how much editing work I've taken on and how I've hardly gone out and paddleboarded. They said, "Yes, those are terrible problems-- you're publishing your 3rd book and you're getting paying work, we feel for you."  It's always nice to have friends call you out on your BS.



And they did this in the sweet way and an understanding way.  Saying things like, "Sometimes I feel as if I'm not using my summer correctly either" and "I get it, you need to let stuff drop away so your own writing time can come in."



People either love your writing tendencies or despise you for it.


They think you're selfish, whiny, narcissistic, introverted, or completely in your crazy dreamland, or they love you for it.



Sometimes when I'm out in the world without my friends who are writers, I feel awkward.



I confess I hate small talk and just want to get to what really matters.  I can't talk about the weather anymore.



We need to surround ourselves with people who support our quirkiness and weird creative needs.



I confess, I am currently photographing garbage.  



Yes, I go to the beach each day, pick up garbage, bring it back to my home and photograph it.  It's crazy, but I feel as if I'm creating something larger, it's become a side project.



My family does not think it's weird that there are plastic bottles on our walkway and not in the garbage can.  They realize this is me. They know if I don't do my creative projects, I am cranky.  I get all tense and want to be alone.  Need to be alone.



Some people don't understand this.  They will say you're being rude or selfish.  They will say you should be 1) keeping a lovely home  2) working more overtime so your family can have nice things  3)  hanging out with more friends.



Don't believe them.  



Believe we are all put on this earth to do something more and if you don't know what that is, quiet down and listen to your inner voice.  


Sometimes it's hard to hear because of all the chatter in the world.  That's the challenge.


But we are not put on this earth to create a body without cellulite or to fit in a pair of size 8 jeans.  We are not put on this earth to worry about dustbunnies or have a weed-free yard.  



We are put on this earth to do something greater.  

You might not have the level of Oprah to touch a billion viewers, but no worries, that job is taken. Your job is not.  



Your position on earth has not been filled until you fill it.



Dream bigger.


If there's a weird nagging voice inside of you that is calling you to write, then do it.  It's not there for the heck of it.



If you get the urge to paint, do it.

If you get the urge to start a group that helps abandoned dogs, go for it.


The goal is to create.  



We each have something we're passionate about.  



Sometimes we're afraid to follow that passion because we're afraid it won't work out.  Here's the deal-- doing what you don't love is when it isn't working out.  Living a life you don't want to lead is when it's not working out.



Yes, it's scary. I'm freaked out most of the time, but at least I'm happy. Happy with the occasional freakout is better than unhappy in a unsatisfying comfortable life.



I confess returning to my MFA program reminded me how much better I am when I am being a writer in the world.


Sometimes you don't know the impact your having on others.  Most of the time you don't know the impact you're having on others.   Quality over quantity every time.



I confess I have to work on this all the time.  I quit my corporate job in 1997 and I'm *still* constantly reminding myself I don't have to live my life like other people.  


I can be one of those kids doing her own thing.  And that's okay.  And for me, it's better.



Amen.







~ Kells



 

~ Don't Miss a Post ~ Subscribe to Book of Kells by EmailKelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon

Poetry Books by Women Needed: A Request

Susan Rich & I are putting together our famous "Welcome Baskets" for the poets of Poets on the Coast and want to include one book of poetry by a woman poet for each of them.



We will be creating a Reading List / Donor List for our participants and your name & book title will also be included here.



We see this as a sort of "weekend mentorship" for your book to connect with another writer over the weekend and to be there with her when she returns to her room to write.



If you have a book (or 2 even) of poems you'd be willing to donate, we'd love include you.


Our participants come from all over the country and we'd love to share your work with a new audience!



If you're interested, you can mail your books to me (before August 31) c/o Crab Creek Review at:





Kelli Agodon

c/o Crab Creek Review

PO Box 1524

Kingston, WA  98346





Thank you in advance for all who participate.  And if you want, drop me a note at kelli (at) agodon .com  to let me know you're sending a book.









~ Kells



 

~ Don't Miss a Post ~ Subscribe to Book of Kells by EmailKelli Russell Agodon
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Postcard from a Book Artist

This beautiful artwork is by Thomas Allen.  You can see more here.



I love them.







~ Kells





 

~ Don't Miss a Post ~ Subscribe to Book of Kells by EmailKelli Russell Agodon
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