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inkberry.org: InkBlog Feed http://www.inkberry.org What's new on the Inkberry Blog en-us Inkblog has a new home! http://www.inkberry.org/blog/828.html http://www.inkberry.org/blog/828.html Rachel Barenblat:<p>Inkblog has a new home on wordpress, <a href=http://inkberry.wordpress.com/>here</a>!</p> <p>Inkberry’s blog has picked up shop & moved to a new home on wordpress. That new home is <a href=http://inkberry.wordpress.com/>here</a>, and we hope you’ll update your blogrolls, your bookmarks, and your aggregators / feed readers. </p> <p>In the new year we’ll be making use of inkblog in a bunch of new ways. Soon this old blog will quietly disappear, and the new one will take its place. We hope you’ll join us there, and be a part of inkberry’s continuing adventures.</p> <br /><a href="http://www.inkberry.org/inkblog/828.html">[read more]</a> An evening with MassPoP http://www.inkberry.org/blog/820.html http://www.inkberry.org/blog/820.html Rachel Barenblat:<p>On a hot September night, ten poets gathered around the big table in the Inkberry office, beneath the giant inkberry painting, to talk about poetry in our region. The roundtable (er — square table?) was convened by Charles Coe of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, as part of the MassPoP (Massachusetts Poetry Outreach Project — learn more <a href=http://masspoetry.com/>here</a>.)</p> <p>The purpose of the MassPoP is “to create resources to aid and support the Massachusetts poetry community.” Their first project is the creation of a statewide database of poets, presenters, and programs; their second project has been a series of focus groups around the state, each designed to gather information about who Massachusetts poets are, what we want and need, and what our priorities are.</p> <p>We talked about our lives and work, what organizations we’re involved with, venues and reading series’es, and the state of poetry in our corner of the state. Around the table were poets who spanned the county (and beyond) — Great Barrington to North Adams (even to the hilltowns and Greenfield) and everything in between. A number of the faces there were familiar to me, but not all; a number of the folks there were longtime residents of the region, though at least one was brand-new.</p> <p>For me, the most interesting part of the evening was when Charles asked us to read a list of possible MassPoP projects and rank our top five priorities. When we shared those priorities aloud, it became clear that for almost everyone in the room, poetry education topped the list: bringing poetry into the schools, introducing kids to the reading and writing of poetry, helping educators learn how to teach poetry. (For a few of us, the top priority was bringing poetry to people on the margins — in hospitals, prisons, substance abuse centers, shelters for battered women and so on.)</p> <p>Good things will come out of the meeting, for sure. For one thing, MassPoP is poised to do some really good work. For another, it was sweet to see Inkberry be the meeting-place where lovers and writers of poetry from around the region could gather, share a meal and conversation, and leave fortified for the important work of making our poems come to life. </p> <br /><a href="http://www.inkberry.org/inkblog/820.html">[read more]</a> Gloria Gets Motion Sickness (or, meet Seth Brown) http://www.inkberry.org/blog/798.html http://www.inkberry.org/blog/798.html Jill Gilbreth:<p>Doing something literary when you’re inspired is great. But doing something literary consistently, even on days you’re not inspired? That’s hard work.</p> <p>When I first heard about Inkberry, I was very excited. Granted, this was because I thought it was something I could eat. But even after someone explained to me that it was a literary cabal generally consisting of people who didn’t want to be eaten, it still seemed like a pretty neat idea — even moreso than digital watches. I’m glad there’s a literary force in the Shire (as I like to refer to the Berkshires), and doubly glad that it happens to be headquartered in my city.</p> <p>It’s not easy to keep literary things going for any significant period of time. I had a political poetry column in the Providence Journal for a few years, but it ended in the middle of my college career. I co-founded a humor magazine at Williams, but then I foolishly graduated. I have a blog on <a href=http://RisingPun.com>RisingPun.com</a> that I mean to update regularly but end up updating in fits and starts. Mostly fits. I used to do improvised verse at the 413 poetry slams until they ended. Sic transit gloria. (Or for those who don’t speak Latin, “Gloria gets motion sickness”)</p> <p>The point is, doing something literary when you’re inspired is great. But doing something literary consistently, even on days you’re not inspired? That’s hard work. Sometimes, it’s even too great a task for one writer to face alone.</p> <p>So, what do you do when faced with an overwhelming task? Well, you have two options. The first is the option I take: Cheat. I’m not inspired for a post on my blog right now, so I’m going to steal this Inkberry blog entry of mine to paste on my website as well. But that’s not a long-term solution. The other option is to seek help. How fortuitous that you have a local literary cabal that puts on events and even offers a wide range of courses.</p> <p>Me? I pretty much just offer humor. As a course when there’s demand, on my website even when there isn’t, and in my column in the Transcript until the editor wakes up one day and announces he’s leaving for Bennington. (Seriously, if it happens a third time, I’m going to suspect a conspiracy.)</p> <p>In conclusion, buy low and sell high. And feel free to replace “low” with “my books”.</p> <br /><a href="http://www.inkberry.org/inkblog/798.html">[read more]</a> Reflections on a joint workshop with the Elizabeth Freeman center http://www.inkberry.org/blog/794.html http://www.inkberry.org/blog/794.html Rachel Barenblat:<p>Today was the first session of a new poetry workshop — a collaboration between Inkberry and the Elizabeth Freeman Center.</p> <p>It was an amazing and inspiring experience. I posted about it on my own blog; if you’re interested, you can read that post <a href=http://velveteenrabbi.blogs.com/blog/2007/04/poetry_and_tikk.html>here</a>.</p> <p>Thanks, Inkberry, for extending this invitation to me. In a lot of ways, this workshop reminds me of the early days of the organization — and just how exciting it felt to be sharing our love of writing and the written word with so many different folks from around our community.</p> <br /><a href="http://www.inkberry.org/inkblog/794.html">[read more]</a> Get ekphrastic! http://www.inkberry.org/blog/775.html http://www.inkberry.org/blog/775.html Sarah Russell:<p>The next WordPlay event on 4/14 at Papyri Books is concentrating on Ekphrastic Poetry, in response to <i>The Mood is Broken</i> exhibit at WCMA. Poet Paula Orlando writes about her ekphrastic experience.</p> <p>I�ve been writing poetry since I was eight years old, but didn�t get serious about it until I moved to San Francisco and became involved with the Poetics Program at New College of California, where I studied with Tom Clark and was one of the founding editors of the college�s literary journal Prosodia. I received my MFA in English/Creative Writing at Mills College in Oakland and then moved to upstate New York to join the graduate program in English at SUNY Albany. Currently, I am a grant project manager at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and live at the Eclipse Mill Artist Lofts, where I am enjoying my involvement with the local arts community. The Inkberry Thursday night writer�s group has inspired me to begin working on a series of short stories. </p> <p>At Inkberry�s Thursday night writer�s group, Jill suggested that we visit the Williams College Museum of Art and compose an �ekphrastic� poem in response to one of the photos in The Moon is Broken exhibit. I felt a bit apprehensive about this exercise because much of the imagery is abstract, and a lot of my past writing has tended toward the abstract and has been received as inaccessible. But when I saw the surreal Robert D�Alessandro photo of an elephant walking among the clouds I was quite taken with it because elephants are such ponderous, earthbound creatures. I immediately thought of the elephant in the photo as a kind of sky god, oddly light and airy. And then I thought of the elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha, widely popular in India as a benevolent god of good fortune. So, instead of writing a poem, I wrote a one-page �fable� about Ganesha, in which I drew upon some of the traditional stories and tweaked or reversed them, so that Ganesha, rather than staying with the people on earth and helping them out with their daily woes, rather selfishly returns to his mother in paradise. It is we, not this elephant, who are bound to the earth. This piece is consistent with much of my recent writing, which has focused on deconstructing religious motifs and symbols in an effort to problematize them or get closer to the spiritual �truths� that they sometimes obscure or distort. I also like experimenting with different �voices,� and, for this piece, I adopted the tone and stylistic mannerisms of the traditional fable. The ekphrastic poetry exercise turned out to be a lot of fun, and I am pleased with the piece that it inspired.</p> <p><i>�In what dream,� he asked �would you hope to walk securely with two faces, one in front and one in back, like those who wear papier-m�ch� masks to confuse my cousin tiger? The tiger is the mind, and he is always following you.</p> <p>�I cannot return,� he said, �to a place I never really was.�</i></p> <p>-excerpt from Paula’s poem</p> <br /><a href="http://www.inkberry.org/inkblog/775.html">[read more]</a> Hello, Lois http://www.inkberry.org/blog/774.html http://www.inkberry.org/blog/774.html Sarah Russell:<p>Meet Lois Daunis, the owner of Papyri Books. The new location of Papyri Books on Eagle Street is a spacious, welcoming and relaxing space. Stop by and meet Lois in person!</p> <p>As an English major at Clark University in Worcester, MA I worked very part-time for an antiquarian bookseller back in the late 70’s. Upon graduation, I managed two different bookstores in Central Massachusetts. I took a 25 year hiatus to pursue teaching and education administration. At the same time I enjoyed raising a son and later becoming stepmother to three very talented daughters - all of whom love to read. <br> A hope of mine was to someday slow the pace of life and become proprietor of my own bookstore. Over thirty years of workng for others has given me a taste for relative quiet and solitude on a daily basis. Purchasing Papyri Books from Karen Kane has been a means to that end. However, the first 18 months of ownership has been anything but quiet. My oldest stepdaughter, Emily, and her fiancee, Dan, ran the business during year one while my husband and I juggled several jobs, a move to North Adams, two graduations, and the purchase of a new business space on Eagle Street. It became clear, very early into ownership of the business that remaining on Main Street, and paying exorbitant rent did not lend itself to longevity. So … Papyri Books and our family now reside at 45 Eagle Street. We moved thousands of books during January and February of 2007 and are just now reopening! Now it’s time to read and relax!</p> <br /><a href="http://www.inkberry.org/inkblog/774.html">[read more]</a> The newest of the newbies http://www.inkberry.org/blog/767.html http://www.inkberry.org/blog/767.html Alexandra Woolner:<p>So I�m the newest of the newbies to Inkberry. For a brief bio I�ll say that I�m from MCLA studying English and graduating this Fall. For a longer bio feel free to go here: <a href=http://www.inkberry.org/people/staff/>here</a>. Nice picture, huh? I�m reading Langston Hughes. <br> Actually, I�ve been reading more and more graphic novels recently, and I�ve branched out from my typical style of writing poetry into some short fiction. Other recent events concerning the artistic side of my life include drinking almost exclusively red and tazo black chai as far as tea is concerned, writing my valentines this year on construction paper, and fully completing a doggy sweater in about 24 hours for the Toy Fox Terrier of my fellow intern, Sarah. Through a friend I also just acquired a new camera, a Lubitel (which translates into Black-Cross-eyed- Toy-Box in Russian), and I�m entirely too enthralled. Hopefully all of this translates into some great writing. <br> I like hanging out at local caf�s in the North Adams area because I feel like that sets me with the right amount of background noise, hot beverage, and general atmosphere to write. My suggestion to any writer who wants to improve their work environment is to switch up those small elements occasionally, you never know what might work. For instance, I�ve found that I love writing with either lots of sunlight in the room, or just one small lamp. <br> One of my goals for the rest of this academic year is to keep up my writing as much as possible, even if I say I�m having a busy week. So far so good. <br>Wish me luck. <br></p> <br /><a href="http://www.inkberry.org/inkblog/767.html">[read more]</a> Tea and Calligraphy http://www.inkberry.org/blog/757.html http://www.inkberry.org/blog/757.html Sarah Russell:<p>The MCLA workshop has a new name and day!</p> <p>Come to the Tea and Calligraphy workshop at Inkberry. Enjoy a cup of tea and good company and bring a piece to read and workshop; it is free! Workshop your poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction with fellow student writers outside of the classroom. Whether your aim is to finish a work in progress, revise a draft, or read your work for a class or publication, this forum will connect you with other college aged writers who can help you grow as a writer. </p> <p>The workshop is hosted by Inkberry Workshop Facilitator intern, Sarah Russell, for more information contact her at <a href="mailto:Sarah@inkberry.org">Sarah@inkberry.org</a></p> <br /><a href="http://www.inkberry.org/inkblog/757.html">[read more]</a> Coming Onboard! http://www.inkberry.org/blog/731.html http://www.inkberry.org/blog/731.html Leanne Jewett:<p>My move from the sensory overload of Los Angeles to the simpler life of the smaller city of North Adams was a welcome change, and, happily, thanks to Inkberry, fears of a possible sense of creative isolation were totally unfounded.</p> <p>I was thrilled last July when my husband, Brian, and I found an available loft for rent in the Eclipse Mill in North Adams. At the same time, however, as I continued work on my first novel, I missed the camaraderie and support of my writing group in Los Angeles. </p> <p>The Internet came to the rescue when I searched writer’s organizations and found Inkberry. By August I was a member and in September joined the Thursday night writer’s critique group. There I have found serious writers doing good work and helping each other to do even better work. Through Inkberry I have also been able to attend readings and take a mystery-writing workshop from Beth Saulnier.</p> <p>A few weeks ago, Jill asked me to join the Board of Inkberry. In a very short period of time Inkberry has become an important part of my writing life and I was very pleased to accept her offer.</p> <p>I am looking forward to being on the Board. I volunteer in the office on Wednesday afternoons and, in addition to being a great resource for me, I see that Inkberry is a dynamic organization, not frozen in time but still developing. The chance to contribute to that development is what most appeals to me.</p> <p>I also look forward to meeting more members of the vibrant local writing community and becoming acquainted with their work as they become acquainted with mine.</p> <br /><a href="http://www.inkberry.org/inkblog/731.html">[read more]</a> WordPlay: MCLA College Critique Reading! http://www.inkberry.org/blog/721.html http://www.inkberry.org/blog/721.html Sarah Russell:<p><b>Where:</b> At <i>Papyri Books</i><br> 49 Main Street<br> North Adams, MA<br> <br> <b>When:</b> December 9th at 7:30 pm <br> <br> <b>Who & What:</b> Come enjoy literary entertainment and refreshments as MCLA students present their poetry and fiction! And <b>OPEN MIC</b> is to follow, so bring something to read!<br> <br> Hosted by workshop facilitator Sarah Russell, for more information contact her at: <a href="mailto:Sarah@inkberry.org">Sarah@inkberry.org</a> <br></p> <br /><a href="http://www.inkberry.org/inkblog/721.html">[read more]</a> Sock Eating Monsters and a Land Stranger than Oz http://www.inkberry.org/blog/716.html http://www.inkberry.org/blog/716.html Sarah Russell:<p>Meet Sarah Russell (author of said monsters) and Courtney Llewellyn, two terrific writers who’ve been interning at Inkberry this semester…</p> <p>I am Sarah Russell, the current workshop facilitator intern at Inkberry. I�m a senior at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, majoring in English with a concentration in Writing. I hope to attend graduate school next fall and to get my Master�s in either Writing or Literature. <br> School aside, I�ve been writing since I was very young. Beginning with outlandish fantasy stories about sock eating monsters and a land stranger than <i>Oz</i> and moving on to poetry inspired by <i>Lifetime</i> movies by the time I was 12. As I got older I moved away from short fiction and into poetry; writing was an emotional outlet for me as a typical angst ridden teen. I now write poetry, it seems, exclusively; I�ve put together several portfolios for various classes and I am currently in progress with yet another. I�ve recently been published in <i>Other: <em>_</em>_</i> magazine, a publication by Albany Poets, a non-profit writers organization located in Albany, New York. Outside of writing, I like to spend time with my two dogs, Sassafras and Schnookie (a Chihuahua and Toy Fox Terrier, respectively), my fianc� Carl, and my friends and family. I also enjoy old-lady activities, such as window shopping, going to flea markets, bingo, arts and crafts, and going to bed at 10 o�clock. <br> Interning at Inkberry has been a wonderful experience, and I will continue to intern next semester. Some plans for the future are an upcoming poetry and fiction reading at Papyri Books on Dec. 9 at 7:30 pm, and an upcoming chapbook featuring the students in my workshop to be published next semester. <br> Courtney Llewellyn would like you know the following about herself: <br> I enjoy short walks on the beach, puppies, unicorns (specifically, unicorns named Charlie), and my favorite author of all time is Aimee Bender. In high school, I was a nerd/drama dork/choir geek/punk rock outcast, which made for some good times. I participated in quiz team competitions, acted in plays and musicals, sang in concert choir and jazz choir, and skipped school many times to drive three or more hours for a show. I graduated fifth in my high school class and then went on to a prestigious community college. After that, I transferred to MCLA where I�m majoring in English/Communications with a concentration in journalism. <br> I�m no longer quite as active as I was in high school, although I am a member of the bowling club and I attend a lot of on-campus events. Although journalism is my intended field of work, I seriously enjoy fiction (and poetry to a lesser extent). I haven�t had much of a chance to write any lately but reading it is always fun and! you can find me the first Wednesday of every month at Caf� Latino either participating in or judging the 413 Poetry Slam.</p> <br /><a href="http://www.inkberry.org/inkblog/716.html">[read more]</a> Poems. Short stories. Memoir. Sudden Fiction. Novel excerpts. We love to read and discuss them all. http://www.inkberry.org/blog/695.html http://www.inkberry.org/blog/695.html Bill Belcher:<p>The novelist Mario Vargas Llosa said, �Writing a book is a very lonely business. You are totally cut off from the rest of the world, submerged in your obsessions and memories.� Jessamyn West said, �Writing is a solitary occupation. Family, friends, and society are the natural enemies of the writer.� Still…</p> <p>It’s true�writing is hard work, and it’s done alone. There are no water coolers, no staff meetings, no corporate conferences, and no team building exercises to guide from one chapter to the next. Still, there are resources like Inkberry that help to bring kindred spirits together. And, there are times when a writer needs to come out from behind the desk and talk to other writers, get feedback, and discuss the craft. That is where Thursday Night Critique comes in. <br> On the first and third Thursday night of every month, a group of writers meets at Inkberry to discuss their work, tackle writing exercises, solve problems, and have fun. It�s free and open to writers of all levels and all genres. So far, this season has been wonderful�full of new faces and new work from workshop veterans. Poems. Short stories. Memoir. Sudden Fiction. Novel excerpts. We love to read and discuss them all. So, if you are compelled to come out of isolation and participate in workshop or if you just want to hang out, feel free to drop in on Thursday Night Critique. Email me at <a href="mailto:bill@inkberry.org">bill@inkberry.org</a> or just show up. (Upcoming dates: Nov. 2 and Nov. 19.)</p> <br /><a href="http://www.inkberry.org/inkblog/695.html">[read more]</a> Remembering Inkstrav http://www.inkberry.org/blog/659.html http://www.inkberry.org/blog/659.html Rachel Barenblat:<p>Inkstravaganza! was ten days ago, and already it’s receding into the mists of memory. The whole thing is a blur now, from the radio interview we did on WAMC to kick off the official tenth anniversary celebrations, to the list of groovy literary cocktails we dreamed up for Ink Slink, to the afternoon we spent setting up the Cup and Saucer for the party, to the party itself.</p> <p><center><table cellpadding="1" border="1"> <tbody><tr><td> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/inkberry/164958179/in/set-72157594162537513/"> <img src="http://static.flickr.com/62/164958179_1b572585d4_m.jpg" /></p> <p></a></td></tr></tbody></table></center></p> <p>It was terrific fun, though. The party was even more of a success than we had imagined it might be. The place was packed — I know that during most of the evening it was hard to make oneself heard because there were so many people conversing in that space! (Emily had made a lovely iTunes playlist of literary songs — like “My Baby Loves a Bunch of Authors,” by Moxy Fruvous, and Rufus Wainwright’s recording of a Shakespeare sonnet — but we were talking too loudly to hear it, most of the night.)</p> <p><center><table cellpadding="1" border="1"> <tbody><tr><td> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/inkberry/164958184/in/set-72157594162537513/"> <img src="http://static.flickr.com/48/164958184_c6bb1ec73a_m.jpg" /></p> <p></a></td></tr></tbody></table></center></p> <p>Our special guests are fabulous, and it was fun to get the chance to reconnect with all of them. The two poems we premiered that night (<a href=http://www.risingpun.com/> Seth Brown</a>’s <a href=http://inkberry.org/inkblog/657.html>Apologies to Poe, Thanks to Inkberry</a>, and my own <a href=http://inkberry.org/inkblog/658.html> Berry Sestina</a>) were both a hit, as was <a href=http://bernicelewis.com/> Bernice Lewis</a>’ song about the writing process.</p> <p><center><table cellpadding="1" border="1"> <tbody><tr><td> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/inkberry/164961929/in/set-72157594162537513/"> <img src="http://static.flickr.com/68/164961929_61f579430d_m.jpg" /></p> <p></a></td></tr></tbody></table></center></p> <p>The food was great. The wine was great. The magnetic poetry was great. But mostly what was great was the chance to celebrate with so many friends and neighbors. My former boss, from <i>The Women’s Times</i> (the monthly paper I edited, before founding Inkberry) was there — I hadn’t seen her in years, and it was really exciting to get to show off my baby to her. Many of our board members were there. Many of our students were there. Many of our friends were there. Many of the artists who created amazing alphabetical art (which you can see online <a href=http://www.flickr.com/photos/inkberry/sets/72157594160828747/> here</a>) were there.</p> <p><center><table cellpadding="1" border="1"> <tbody><tr><td> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/inkberry/164974276/in/set-72157594162537513/"> <img src="http://static.flickr.com/58/164974276_96356e29ca_m.jpg" /></p> <p></a></td></tr></tbody></table></center></p> <p>I know I made some remarks, midway through the evening. I can’t remember what they were (so if you can, please tell me!) I know I ended by raising my glass to Inkberry’s eventful past, delightful present, and auspicious future. Thanks to all of you who were there to celebrate with us — and all who celebrate with us just by reading these words now. We couldn’t have done it without you.</p> <p><p>See all the pictures from the evening <a href=http://www.flickr.com/photos/inkberry/sets/72157594162537513/> here</a>.</p> <br /><a href="http://www.inkberry.org/inkblog/659.html">[read more]</a> Berry Sestina http://www.inkberry.org/blog/658.html http://www.inkberry.org/blog/658.html Rachel Barenblat:<p><b>BERRY SESTINA<p></b> <br> <br> The best bush we know, the staunch inkberry:<br> “Even by roadsides and in waste places,” its hall<br> -mark is blooming and bearing fruit to pluck,<br> Like a writer never short on ink to pen<br> A deeply-rooted ode. We planted one, just five<br> Short years ago, chasing down a dream.<br> <p> <font size=1>(read more…)</font><br></p> <p>Who could have known, in those days of dream<br> How many late nights would arise at our ‘berry,<br> Or early board meetings, waking at five,<br> Carrying the Box o’Joe down the silent hall.<br> Rainy mornings we’d leave the windows open,<br> The scent of lilacs near enough to pluck.<br> <p> Starting this nonprofit took a lot of pluck.<br> No idea what we were doing; we didn’t dream<br> Of budgets or IRS forms, scrawled over with pen.<br> We fantasized poets, novelists, Wendell Berry…<br> (His refusal was polite.) What hallowed hall<br> Would someday hold our posters, framed, five<br> <p> Years’ worth? We couldn’t fathom turning five.<br> Yet here we are, the strings we first plucked<br> Reverberating gloriously through this hall.<br> This sweet machine runs like a dream.<br> Mark Doty, Alicia Ostriker, Bob Hicok, Drinkberry…<br> (To think we considerd the name “Mountain Pen!)<br> <p> A female swan, too, is called a “pen”<br> And this duckling is turning swan, at five.<br> So many writers have come here to bury<br> Their seeds in our soil. Plays, plots of pluck,<br> Poems: our pages unfurled like dreams.<br> We’ve come a long way since Donald Hall<br> <p> Set foot in the Main Street Stage’s hall,<br> Autographing books with the rector’s pen.<br> The house that night was packed — what a dream!<br> So nervous, we picked him up at five…<br> If we’ve learned anything about roses, it’s “pluck,<br> But leave some blooms to fruit into berries.”<br> <p> Down the hall, more years. May the next five<br> Give rise to pages from our pens, the pluck<br> Of following a dream…and joy in our berry.<br> <p></p> <br /><a href="http://www.inkberry.org/inkblog/658.html">[read more]</a> A poem for Inkberry! http://www.inkberry.org/blog/657.html http://www.inkberry.org/blog/657.html Rachel Barenblat:<p>One of the coolest things that happened at Inkstravaganza last night was that <a href=http://www.risingpun.com/>Seth Brown</a> read a poem written in honor of Inkberry. It was fabulous. With his permission, we reprint it here!</p> <p><b>“Apologies to Poe, Thanks to Inkberry”</b> <p> I<br> <br> Hear the writers with their words—<br> Silver words!<br> Litanies of literary merit will be heard,<br> As they’re writing, writing, writing,<br> On a worn and wrinkled page<br> While the dogs outside are biting<br> And the children all are fighting<br> Since they never act their age.<br> Ink will fall, fall, fall<br> As they write their scribbled scrawl<br> From the ink and inspiration which on them has been conferred<br> To write words, words, words, words,<br> words, words, words—<br> Their creation and formation of the words. [read more!]<br></p> <p>II<br> <p> Hear the poets with their words,<br> Golden words!<br> When a metaphor-y story of one’s death is writ as birds!<br> As they wrestle with their muse<br> For the perfect word to choose<br> In their careful-crafted lines<br> That they will write<br> From their ever-churning minds<br> As they try to pack these feelings into lines<br> Very tight!<br> And while seeking inspiration for their writerly vocation<br> They had found that their location had a bit of isolation<br> There were three with motivation to create a congregation<br> That gave writers information which would help them fight frustration<br> Thus this literary station long ago had its formation.<br> It’s been now five years duration, hence our current celebration<br> As we show appreciation and our ardent admiration<br> For this wonderful foundation — hopefully with a donation<br> To Inkberry.<br> It’s the personification of a literary friend,<br> Helping us to let our words run free, to frolic and transcend,<br> Pretty words, words, words, words,<br> words, words, words—<br> It’s instruction with production of our words.<br> <p> Thank you, Inkberry. <p></p> <br /><a href="http://www.inkberry.org/inkblog/657.html">[read more]</a>