Ashe Vernon's Blog, page 154
September 5, 2015
fallen leaves
a scent that triggers a positive memory
The smell inside a tattoo shop–it always makes me think of my first tattoo, and how I felt completely terrified and on top of the world, how that sort of tender stinging sensation of a fresh tattoo is the most triumphant kind of pain in the universe, how I had just taken the first step of reclaiming my body as something I could love again, how that smell lingers for the whole day and makes you feel invincible and electric
fireplace: one of your favorite stories, books, or poems
sweater: a favorite comforting thought
pumpkin pie: a favorite comfort food
apple cider: a favorite comfort drink (alcoholic or non, either way)
fallen leaves: a scent that triggers a positive memory
maple: a kindness or sweet sentiment you've done or that someone has done for you
oak: something or someone that encourages strength in you
elm: what your dreams are like
cornfield: a reason you want or don't want to be a parent
corn maze: something you need to figure out right now
full moon: something about yourself you feel is unusual
"It’s been one week since my father died and
you won’t stop talking about your..."
It’s been one week since my father died and
you won’t stop talking about your ex-girlfriend–
the one you broke up with six months ago
and never really liked in the first place.
I can feel my heartbeat in my teeth
while I pick at my nails and pretend
I’m listening.
I don’t know how to ask you to help me.
You keep wanting my advice.
I have nothing new to tell you and
I’ve heard this story seven times.
Not so long ago, I watched them put
my father in a body bag.
You never asked if I was alright.
”- ON BEING THE ONE WHO HELPS EVERYONE ELSE by Ashe Vernon
September 4, 2015
latenightcornerstore:
My favorite slam on earth, wanpoetry,...
My favorite slam on earth, wanpoetry, posted a video from workingonhumble and I’s feature during our tour. This was day 3 of a month and a half long tour and still the venue that holds all of my heart.
You can find this poem in my newest book, Wrong Side of a Fistfight.
September 3, 2015
"There is a lake in Tanzania
That turns everything it touches into stone—
Petrified animals washing..."
That turns everything it touches into stone—
Petrified animals washing up on shore.
I’ve known people like that:
Who drag loved ones into their waters
And send out dead things with the tide.
People who walk into your life
With poison fingers and Midas touches
That leave hearts hardened and calcified.
People who spit back love covered in salt.
.
I have walked back alleys and lost loves
That looked red and cracked like the water.
I have seen people
Who are calm and flat like the lake.
I have watched Beauty
Break Trust over her knee
And lay her, gentle, on the shoreline.
I have been among the bodies
Left crumbling in the waves.
Because sometimes, no amount of knowing
Is enough to keep you from the water.
Sometimes, the desire to drink
Is stronger than anything else.”
- Lake Natron, by Ashe Vernon
I'm so in love with red-haired Ashe *.* you have beautiful eyes. When did you start up writing and what/how was the first things you used to write about? Who made you want to write?
Aah, thank you, sunspot!! I miss my red hair; the only reason I don’t go back to it is because all my lipstick shades clashed with it and that was SUPER annoying.
I’ve been writing ever since I can remember, to be honest. It’s always been a part of who I am. The earliest thing I can remember is a little short story I wrote in 1st grade about a cat who jumped into a watermelon and went to an alternate dimension–cleverly named Watermelon World. [you can tell where tiny-me’s priorities were]
Like I said, I’ve always been writing, so I don’t think one singular person inspired me to start. However, I had a teacher in second grade who was so unbelievably enthusiastic and supportive about my writing and I think that made a big difference on me in my formative years as far as believing it was something I could really pursue for a living.
Oh, and when it comes to poetry, 100% alonesomes was the reason I got into poetry, and I think richardsiken-poet and goodghostbill were the reasons I stayed in poetry. That and the fact that I’m madly in love with it and don’t think I could ever leave, now.
How much do signed copies of your books count? (And on a less important note, do you know how much shipping is from Texas to, say, British Columbia?)
Hi! Signed copies cost the same as regular copies–$15 + shipping.
I’m fairly certain that shipping to British columbia is about $5–the “calculate shipping cost” section of the USPS website is HORRIBLE but I want to say it’s about that much.
Upon finding out that I couldn’t afford the entry fee for the Texas Grand Slam poetry competition,...
Upon finding out that I couldn’t afford the entry fee for the Texas Grand Slam poetry competition, one of my old professors raised the money in less than three hours and sent it to me so I could compete and I’m kind of crying about it, oh my god
So, I'm thinking of posting my poetry on tumblr, but I'm worried about the possible consequences. What would you, as a professional poet who blogs their poems (which are pretty amazing) recommend?
Hey! So, I totally understand your hesitance. I must have had 10000 different discussions with Cailtyn [ alonesomes ] before finally deciding to put my work online. And I think it’s a very personal choice and probably not right for everyone, so let’s look at it from a fairly objective standpoint (because I’m obviously biased in my own direction).
Notable Cons:
*potential for theft
*inevitable mal-attribution [somewhere down the line, sOMEONE is going to post your work without credit, or with improper credit, or even crediting a DIFFERENT author ((I’ve had a couple of my poems get credited to Caitlyn and vice versa)) How you deal with it is up to you. Honestly I ignore ones that lack credit bc I don’t have the energy for them but I usually address improper credit bc I’ve had people get mad at me for “stealing” Caitlyn’s poems when they were always mine to begin with.]
*most magazines and publications will not accept works that have been published online, even on a personal blog
*sometimes people reblog your poem but delete everything except the verse they like best??? that sucks
Notable Pros:
*exposure. Exposure, exposure, exposure. This is where my bias comes in, because both of my publishers approached /me/ about publishing with them, which would have been literally IMPOSSIBLE without me building my online presence, first
*incentive to produce more/better/more often [some people would see this as a con but I think it’s a really good personal challenge]
*feedback – now, of course, this is tumblr so most people don’t give /concrete/ feedback like critique, but once you have a little bit of a following, you can tell what works and what doesn’t based on the notes.
*community; the tumblr writing community is unbelievably accepting and gracious. It’s full of lots of very kind individuals who care about each other’s success. It’s a very healthy community for growth as both a writer and as a person
So those are my thoughts. Let me know if you have any more specific questions and I’ll try to address them
Dear everyone who has ordered and paid for a signed copy of Belly of the Beast in the last week: I...
Dear everyone who has ordered and paid for a signed copy of Belly of the Beast in the last week: I will be mailing out your orders tomorrow!! <3
