Cynthia Sharp's Blog, page 2
January 17, 2020
Garden Ballerina
The pink umbrella fairy dances in the sun as well as the rain, strawberry curls at one with the wind,her three-year-old arabesques and pirouettesever a poem for the soft orange catwaiting in lavender and chives by the clay birdbath,the day’s bright yellowresurgence of permission to be.
December 1, 2019
Pandora's Collective Annual Poetry Contest
The Pandora's Collective Annual Poetry Contest is officially open! It's one of the most affordable contests going and your entry fee supports the charitable outreach work of the organization :)Deadline: January 15, 2020
Winners announced March 1, 2020Entry Fees:
$5/poem (or 5 poems for $20)Prizes:
1st: $100 & publication, 2nd: $50 & publication, 3rd: $25 & publication.
Publication is for one year, on the Pandora's Collective website.
This year's judges are Cynthia Sharp and Trevor Carolan:Cynthia Sharp is the City of Richmond’s 2019 Writer in Residence. She is a full member of The League of Canadian Poets and The Writers’ Union of Canada and on the executive of the Federation of British Columbia Writers. She’s featured at Word Vancouver, The Simon Fraser University Reading Series, Spoken Ink, Words on Fire in Port Alberni, Poesic Fest in Denver, the Writers Read Series in Toronto and other literary events through North America. Her work has been published and broadcast internationally and is used in classrooms in Canada, the U.S. and Scotland. Poems from her book Rainforest in Russet can be found in journals such as CV2, Lantern Magazine and untethered, among others.Trevor Carolan’s work includes many books of non-fiction, poetry, translation, and anthologies, as well as journalism and interviews. He served as literary coordinator for the XV Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, and has been Coordinator of writing and publishing programs at the Banff Centre. He has also worked as media advocate on behalf of Aboriginal land claims and Pacific Coast watershed issues. A former elected Councillor in North Vancouver, he holds a PhD. for studies in Literature, Ecology and ideas of the Sacred in International Relations. His documentary film Cascadia: The Life and Breath of the World features appearances by many distinguished eco-writers. He teaches English and Creative Writing at University of the Fraser Valley, and is Co-editor of Pacific Rim Review of Books. His eco-lit collection Cascadia: The Life and Breath of the World received a Best American Essays Citation in 2013. You can find out more on the Pandora Outreach Society's website: Enter Here
Winners announced March 1, 2020Entry Fees:
$5/poem (or 5 poems for $20)Prizes:
1st: $100 & publication, 2nd: $50 & publication, 3rd: $25 & publication.
Publication is for one year, on the Pandora's Collective website.
This year's judges are Cynthia Sharp and Trevor Carolan:Cynthia Sharp is the City of Richmond’s 2019 Writer in Residence. She is a full member of The League of Canadian Poets and The Writers’ Union of Canada and on the executive of the Federation of British Columbia Writers. She’s featured at Word Vancouver, The Simon Fraser University Reading Series, Spoken Ink, Words on Fire in Port Alberni, Poesic Fest in Denver, the Writers Read Series in Toronto and other literary events through North America. Her work has been published and broadcast internationally and is used in classrooms in Canada, the U.S. and Scotland. Poems from her book Rainforest in Russet can be found in journals such as CV2, Lantern Magazine and untethered, among others.Trevor Carolan’s work includes many books of non-fiction, poetry, translation, and anthologies, as well as journalism and interviews. He served as literary coordinator for the XV Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, and has been Coordinator of writing and publishing programs at the Banff Centre. He has also worked as media advocate on behalf of Aboriginal land claims and Pacific Coast watershed issues. A former elected Councillor in North Vancouver, he holds a PhD. for studies in Literature, Ecology and ideas of the Sacred in International Relations. His documentary film Cascadia: The Life and Breath of the World features appearances by many distinguished eco-writers. He teaches English and Creative Writing at University of the Fraser Valley, and is Co-editor of Pacific Rim Review of Books. His eco-lit collection Cascadia: The Life and Breath of the World received a Best American Essays Citation in 2013. You can find out more on the Pandora Outreach Society's website: Enter Here
November 7, 2019
The Softness of Autumn
I step into the dayamong trees who quietly hold our wonder the questions I once sought answers tonow rest as poemselegant in the mysteryof existencelike a soft light over the Italian countrysidean appeal to dance in the rhythms of nature restored to self reasonable expectations an invitation home
October 26, 2019
Sleeping with Books
Inhaling the exhilaratingbouquet of new printby the golden glowof the reading lamp,I taste little pieces of prose,then fall all the way in,comforted in the texture of pages, soft as sun-warmed Belinda’s Dream roses,inviting the inscription offree verse rhythms in the sleeve.
Highlighters and ink starsbleed wild flowersacross aqua-colouredEgyptian cotton sheets.Water lilies blossomin the sapphire satin blanket, spirals of petals and sepals arising like northern lights over Greenland.
Sipping jasmine tea,in bed with my books,my soul unto itself,I speak aloudmy deepest revelationsof passion and awe,how much I lovethe home they are to me.
Dedicated to Robert McKee's Story, a screenwriter's dream
Highlighters and ink starsbleed wild flowersacross aqua-colouredEgyptian cotton sheets.Water lilies blossomin the sapphire satin blanket, spirals of petals and sepals arising like northern lights over Greenland.
Sipping jasmine tea,in bed with my books,my soul unto itself,I speak aloudmy deepest revelationsof passion and awe,how much I lovethe home they are to me.
Dedicated to Robert McKee's Story, a screenwriter's dream
August 6, 2019
Following Your Passion
before interruptionthe sound of trees
the way it feels to enter morningon a sacred writing dayskin cleansed in soothing raw honeytiny increments of movementdandelion seed sailing in sea airspiderwebs resilient in cold dawn all the aspects of peace within
you are always allowedthe wind in July leavesyourself stories freedom strong from the mountaintop
the way it feels to enter morningon a sacred writing dayskin cleansed in soothing raw honeytiny increments of movementdandelion seed sailing in sea airspiderwebs resilient in cold dawn all the aspects of peace within
you are always allowedthe wind in July leavesyourself stories freedom strong from the mountaintop
New Webinar Writing Tips Series
Hi Everyone,
My latest collaboration is co-hosting a new webinar series, Behind the Keyboard. Writer Nicolle Browne and I will be interviewing poets, along with authors of all genres to bring you their tips of the trade.
The first episode will launch September 26th, 2019, 7–8 PM PST. We are thrilled to bring you outstanding mentor Eileen Cook as our first guest. She’ll be reading from You Owe Me A Murder, followed by an interview and then a mini workshop to get you on track with your own writing.
Eileen Cook is a multi-published author with novels appearing in nine languages. Her books have been optioned for film and TV. She spent most of her teen years wishing she were someone else or somewhere else, which is great training for a writer. She’s an instructor with The Creative Academy and Simon Fraser University Writer’s Studio Program where she loves helping other writers find their unique stories. Eileen lives in Vancouver with two very naughty dogs.
To register, just click on this link: Sign up for Behind the Keyboard
My latest collaboration is co-hosting a new webinar series, Behind the Keyboard. Writer Nicolle Browne and I will be interviewing poets, along with authors of all genres to bring you their tips of the trade.
The first episode will launch September 26th, 2019, 7–8 PM PST. We are thrilled to bring you outstanding mentor Eileen Cook as our first guest. She’ll be reading from You Owe Me A Murder, followed by an interview and then a mini workshop to get you on track with your own writing.
Eileen Cook is a multi-published author with novels appearing in nine languages. Her books have been optioned for film and TV. She spent most of her teen years wishing she were someone else or somewhere else, which is great training for a writer. She’s an instructor with The Creative Academy and Simon Fraser University Writer’s Studio Program where she loves helping other writers find their unique stories. Eileen lives in Vancouver with two very naughty dogs.
To register, just click on this link: Sign up for Behind the Keyboard
August 3, 2019
I'll Be on UK Radio Today!
My 9 minute author interview will be broadcast on Chat & Spin Radio Listen to Cynthia at 12:30 PM Pacific Time at this Link today, August 3rd at 12:30 PM Vancouver time, 8:30 PM UK time. If you miss the broadcast, you can catch the interview again on the Chat and Spin Facebook Page on Sunday: Find the interview in the podcast. Thanks for tuning in!
July 3, 2019
Breathing With Trees, The Novelist’s Peace
I stretch into morning,my own dreams and voice,free of extraneous clutter,pausing with pine and cool air, engage in the yoga and walks and exercise,we are allowed every day,remove the barriers,that never belonged between the universe and our gifts,write with trees,a miracle worth pursuingfor all the beautyour fragile selves can find, stand in the radiance of eveningwhere quiet meets healthand energy rests in spring sunsets wrapping the earth,traversing time, as all is renewed,the moon by my sidewhether or not I ever finish,starlight on the wind.
June 2, 2019
To Lie Down in Green Pastures by Cynthia Sharp
Dedicated to Jude Neale who came up with the prompt, "Add a day to any month and tell me what you'd do with it" and insists that I give myself daily writing time.
If I could add a free day to any month, I would give it to May so I could see you tomorrow.I would read Harry Potter all morning in bedinscribe dreams in its pages, then don the coral Italian silk blouse,the one with billowing sleevesthat I paid too much forand paint my nails cherry tree floralwith lime leavesbecause I deserve to be pretty.I would breathe spring lightand wear pink petals in my hair,let the wind weave ocean mist through my curlsas I inhale the aroma of fresh sea salt,ferrying over to your love.I’d travel to friends who make me write poems,who pick me up and drop me off at the shoreand share the afternoon reciting verse on comfortable couches,who serve me white wine with homemade cauliflower soupand invite me to peruse wedding albums of Hawaii, lifetimes of story,with only a labradoodle to keep time.I would taste the starlight in royal blue skies,aquamarine blossoms travelling deep in the nightand live solely on my terms.
If I could add a free day to any month, I would give it to May so I could see you tomorrow.I would read Harry Potter all morning in bedinscribe dreams in its pages, then don the coral Italian silk blouse,the one with billowing sleevesthat I paid too much forand paint my nails cherry tree floralwith lime leavesbecause I deserve to be pretty.I would breathe spring lightand wear pink petals in my hair,let the wind weave ocean mist through my curlsas I inhale the aroma of fresh sea salt,ferrying over to your love.I’d travel to friends who make me write poems,who pick me up and drop me off at the shoreand share the afternoon reciting verse on comfortable couches,who serve me white wine with homemade cauliflower soupand invite me to peruse wedding albums of Hawaii, lifetimes of story,with only a labradoodle to keep time.I would taste the starlight in royal blue skies,aquamarine blossoms travelling deep in the nightand live solely on my terms.
To Lie Down in Green Pastures
Dedicated to Jude Neale who came up with the prompt, "Add a day to any month and tell me what you'd do with it" and insists that I give myself daily writing time.
If I could add a free day to any month, I would give it to May so I could see you tomorrow.I would read Harry Potter all morning in bedinscribe dreams in its pages, then don the coral Italian silk blouse,the one with billowing sleevesthat I paid too much forand paint my nails cherry tree floralwith lime leavesbecause I deserve to be pretty.I would breathe spring lightand wear pink petals in my hair,let the wind weave ocean mist through my curlsas I inhale the aroma of fresh sea salt,ferrying over to your love.I’d travel to friends who make me write poems,who pick me up and drop me off at the shoreand share the afternoon reciting verse on comfortable couches,who serve me white wine with homemade cauliflower soupand invite me to peruse wedding albums of Hawaii, lifetimes of story,with only a labradoodle to keep time.I would taste the starlight in royal blue skies,aquamarine blossoms travelling deep in the nightand live solely on my terms.
If I could add a free day to any month, I would give it to May so I could see you tomorrow.I would read Harry Potter all morning in bedinscribe dreams in its pages, then don the coral Italian silk blouse,the one with billowing sleevesthat I paid too much forand paint my nails cherry tree floralwith lime leavesbecause I deserve to be pretty.I would breathe spring lightand wear pink petals in my hair,let the wind weave ocean mist through my curlsas I inhale the aroma of fresh sea salt,ferrying over to your love.I’d travel to friends who make me write poems,who pick me up and drop me off at the shoreand share the afternoon reciting verse on comfortable couches,who serve me white wine with homemade cauliflower soupand invite me to peruse wedding albums of Hawaii, lifetimes of story,with only a labradoodle to keep time.I would taste the starlight in royal blue skies,aquamarine blossoms travelling deep in the nightand live solely on my terms.
