Uncertainty: Poetry by Susan Elliott

(c) Clarita

I.

I carried the future with you:
promises,
dreams,
expectations.

II.

Those first few months I learned who you were,
and you learned the soft thump of my heart.
I remember you running hand to hand
gently touching everything in sight for support.
You were strong and beautiful.

Time pushed forward I learned who you were,
and you learned the grasp of my hand.
I remember you singing and clapping
carefully turning your hands to butterflies.
You were kind and wonderful.

As if in a whirlwind I learned who you were,
and you learned my devotion.
I remember you striving
through year after year
you were a leader and leading.

III.

Yet, the looking glass has darkened; I don’t know who you are,
and somewhere you’ve forgotten who carried you this far.
I see that your lost, confused, alone,
but unwilling to harken
you won't look toward home.

So I sit and I pray, as time rushes by
my heart full of pain, tears concealing my sight.
That someday you’ll turn and look toward me
and know when you’re drowning
you don’t have to be.

The lamp that was lit in your tender heart
is waiting to burn, you carry the spark.
I beg that you listen and look to his light.
The Savior is waiting.
He calms the night.

Finally on The Mend

Public Domain

By Susan Elliott

Well, it has been a long hard road but I think I am finally on the mend. I started getting sick in October, and now it's the middle of November. WOW!

I just want to thank everyone for the prayers and the well wishes. I still have a bit going on in my chest, and the early morning and early evening hours are hard on my breathing, but today I realize I have not had one coughing fit, and I could not be more thankful.

Because of the illness I've been suffering (bacterial lung infection), I've gotten way behind on my book of the month club posts, so please bear with me and I will get to them as soon as possible. (I have to catch up on my reading, too.) I also pray that my voice is good enough to start recording again this week, so be on the look out for new devos and author interviews on YouTube.

I wanted to mention that I have a huge announcement that I plan to make in the next couple of weeks, and I hope you're going to be as excited about it as I am. (Let's just say, brush off your short stories and poetry!)

Anyway, thanks for reading and sharing your books with me. I look forward to hearing from you.

Susan

Magnetic Poetry Words: A Successful Tool for Teaching Teens to Write Poetry

One thing I love doing more than most anything is teaching high school students creative writing. I can not describe the joy it brings me to hear how their minds think and how they create. I love to watch their eyes light up as they see the words they've written, and the confidence they acquire once they realize they can be writers.

It may seem harsh, but all students in my creative writing classes are required to participate. They are also required to read what they've written before their peers -- believe me I know it's difficult to read what you've written, but they can do it! By the end of classes, the students are reading with confidence.

I typically teach flash fiction and use writing prompts in my classes. I've always wanted to teach poetry, but the boys (more often than the girls) complain and moan about writing poetry. Since I want to keep the students engaged, I've been skipping the poetry lesson -- until now.

Recently, I started playing with the magnetic poetry set my husband bought me for my birthday. I've had it for years locked in it's original bottle. I guess I was a little leery to open it, but I am so glad I did. I enjoyed using it so much that I started writing a lot of poetry with those words.

At first I found it difficult, but with time I realized that the beauty of the exercise was not just in the finished poem, but the journey it took to get there. Writing this way takes a little longer, but it is well-worth it. (By the way, you still have to edit.)

I decided before my first creative writing class of this semester, that for the very first class I was teaching poetry. I printed out several pages of words. (I created one and used a pre-made printable word list.) And, my daughters and I cut them out and placed them in Ziploc baggies.

I took the words to class and the students used them. There were no complaints, and two students even asked to take a bag of words home (both boys!) One of my students wrote three poems in class, and a couple of students decided they would use the words to write some flash fiction, too. All in all the exercise was real success.

I have an old set of words which still work great, but I've found a couple of magnetic poetry sets that I want to get in the future. The first is the Edgar Allan Poet Kit -- which looks like it would be a lot of fun, and really useful for teaching teens. It is a "box of words filled with mystery and fear."

I think using this with a lesson on Poe's poetry like the Raven. Would be awesome!

Another poetry set that I have on my wish list is the Nature Poet Magnetic Poetry Kit. I enjoy writing a lot of nature poetry, and like I said I have really grown to love these kits.

These sets are also good idea generators. Sometimes I see a word that I've not considered for a subject, and the words just flow. If you haven't used them in the past, I hope you consider giving them a try!



Bare Feet

Encompassed in trees
here I stand
breathing the beauty
of this wooded land.

At peace with myself,
I stand free to dream.
So slipping off shoes,
I run through the green.

My burdened soul’s uplifted
in the pale morn light,
a new day has broken,
gone is the night.

My tightly tethered heart
has grown white silken wings
and flies through the sky
up where the jay sings

(c) Susan Elliott


Have you ever used a magnetic poetry kit?

Preview of the New Poetry Collection Magnetic Words by Susan Elliott

Most people who know me already know that I am a poet. I bleed poetry and have since I can remember. In high school my poems were often selected by students to read in both English and in drama for presentations.

I am currently working on a new collection of never before seen poetry called Magnetic Words. While, I am trying to keep the poems under wraps -- which is a huge challenge for me, because my first impulse is to put them on Susan's Poetic Blogosphere -- I have thus far not shared any. 

With that said, today I'd like to give you a sneak peek at what is inside Magnetic Words. If you haven't read any of my poetry check out Susan's Poetic Blogosphere, or get a copy of one of my poetry books which are all listed on my Meet the Author Page.

Darkness of Despair

Sometimes I fail to count the stars

smell the jasmine blowing on the wind

I miss the crashing waves

only seeing how far my toes are sinking in.

Sometimes I forget the sweet sounds

of a baby’s dulcet tones

or whispers from my lover

when he and I are alone

Sometimes I see the forest

hauntingly thick with trees

and miss the golden sun rays

illuminating autumn leaves.

Sometimes I fall on my knees

sobbing with out control

forgetting that my Maker

is the keeper of my soul.

In  moments of deepest sadness

buried with the blackness of despair

I must remember God

who answers my every prayer.

(c) Susan Elliott


Who are your favorite poets?

Steal My Heart: The Greatest Love Poems of Days Gone By by Susan Elliott

Steal My Heart: The Greatest Love Poems of Days Gone By

"Steal My Heart: The Greatest Love Poems of Days Gone by is a collection of beautiful romantic poetry. This collection spans the centuries and features poetry from Shakespeare, Keats, Browning, Poe, Byron and many, many more. The end of the book also includes poetry written by Susan Elliott."


From Church of Christ Women Authors:

This book is a true love-child. I have always been in love with the romantic poets and romantic poetry. I think it was their words that encouraged me to start writing at the age of nine.

It is my hopes that this collection of poems inspires you and someone you know. This book is great for gifts and for homeschoolers. I truly hope you love it as much as I do. Oh, and while it is taboo from what I understand, I had to include a few of my poems in the last few pages of the book. (Who else was going to publish me and Lord Byron in the same book!) *:9)


If you could be listed along side any author of any genre, who would it be?

How to Submit Poetry Online for Publication

Okay, I finished my poem. It's edited, revised and ready for publication, but where do I send it?

There are many online and print journals that accept poetry submissions via e-mail;  in fact, there are many that prefer e-mail submissions. There are certain rules to follow when submitting via e-mail to any journal.

When submitting poetry for publication it is important to know what a journal publishes. Does it print only contemporary Haiku, or only poems written in iambic pentameter? Sending the right poem to the right place will help your poetry to make it past the initial screening.

It is also important a must to know what kind of works (subject matter) the journal normally publishes. For example, if you are submitting to a journal that publishes religious poetry it is best not to submit a poem about your first kiss.

Concentrate on selecting poetry that follows their content tone and subject matter. If the journal doesn't usually print your kind of poetry, it is probably best to look elsewhere for places to submit.

Be sure to familiarize yourself with the journal.

• Buy a copy of the journal.
• Read some of the poems online.
• Check out a copy at the library
• Or read the latest issues at your favorite book store.

Remember, a little bit of research goes a long way!

Always follow the submission guidelines, and pay special attention to submission dates. Many journals do not read all year, and only accept submissions for certain months out of the year. Make sure you know your dates!

When selecting the journal where you want to submit make sure that it is reputable. Never pay to have your poetry published. They should be paying you, if not in money in copies of the journal!

Serious poets must be aware of scam sites that will publish anyone who has ever picked up a pen. You don't want your work listed with poems that are poorly written. Your poetry should be valued highly as a work of art.

Make sure once you have selected a journal for submission that you keep a folder with all the important details regarding your submissions. I generally have on my laptop several folders. One is marked Susan's Submitted Works, and another marked Susan's Published Works.

Make sure you include specific details about the date you sent your piece to the editor, and the day it was accepted or rejected as well as who accepted it. You may need this information later for biographical information, and you don't want to accidentally re-submit something that you have already published!

Click the links below for publishers who take online submissions.

Poetry Publishers Willing to Receive Submissions Electronically

Top 100 Journals Accepting Electronic Submissions



Where have you submitted poetry?

Golden Nuggets for the Poet: Writing Poetry That Sells

(c) Susan Elliott

Writing good poetry is more than expressing emotion. Good poetry must contain certain elements of style, and must be cohesive. These are absolute musts for anyone who wants to sell poetry.

Some common mistakes include: forced rhymes, mixed metaphors, non-directional, unnecessary repetition, bad meter and random wording.

Example of BAD poetry:

She stood upon the cold, cold ground

She stood and looked all around

She saw the snow, and ice, abound

She felt that on the ice she would go down.


This example shows forced rhyme, especially in the last line, as well as a loss in rhythm (or meter).
While a change in meter can be appropriate at times, the above example is obviously in need of improvement.

The repetition of the word "she" and starting each sentence with the idea that she did something does not work in this example.

There are some forms of poetry where repetition is desired, but remember this repetition is not necessary in every form of poetry.


Ways to re-write the example poem:

Re-write the beginning line.

Original line 1: She stood upon the cold, cold ground
Revised line 1: Standing upon the cold, cold ground

Or use the original line and re-write the second.

Original line 1:She stood upon the cold, cold, ground
Revised line 2: Timidly looking all around

Notice the use of the "ly" and "ing" endings. This helps the poem to move forward at a faster pace, and it cuts out the repetitive boring nature of the first poem.

So, now we have:

Option 1

She stood upon the cold, cold ground
Timidly looking all around

Option 2

Standing upon the cold, cold ground
Timidly looking all around

Notice the difference in the flow of the poem when compared to the original version.

Consider the forced rhyme in the last stanza. This is a common mistake.

Notice the last line:

Original last line: She felt that on the ice she would go down.

This line is like nails on a chalkboard. It has sloppy wording, and bad meter.

Options: remove part of the line, re-write the entire line, or remove the last line entirely.

Now, contrast the original with the rewritten version.

Original:

She stood upon the cold, cold ground
She stood and looked all around
She saw the snow, and ice, abound
She felt that on the ice she would go down.

Revised (Still Not Perfect, but BETTER):

Standing upon the cold, cold ground
Timidly looking all around
She saw the snow, and ice, abound.

Things to Remember:

1. Don't force rhyme or meter.
2. Repetition can be good, but is not always necessary.
3. Poetry does NOT have to rhyme, but it does have to flow well, written and spoken word poetry both.
4. Don't be afraid to cut the poem down. Revision always helps to polish your work.
5. Try to keep metaphors, and similes related, or extend your metaphor for the entire work. Remember poems, are generally short works that don't work well with too many unrelated similes or metaphors.
6. Don't use "raw" or unrefined emotion in the poem. Often times "raw" emotions only make sense to the person writing the poem.
7. Always read your poem aloud, to yourself first, and then to another. This will help determine if your work has good flow.
8. Don't be afraid to ask for critiques. Critiques are beneficial to all styles of writing.
9. Sometimes after writing a poem, it is important to set it aside for a while, especially when dealing with an extremely personal topic.
10. Have fun, and write as often as you can!


Why not give poetry writing a try? 

Don't forget to check out the poets Susan Elliott, and Teresa Hampton.

A Breaking Dawn with an Orange Sunrise by Susan Elliott

About A Breaking Dawn with an Orange Sunrise :

"A "Breaking Dawn With an Orange Sunrise" is a collection of poetry written by Susan Elliott. Her poetry is unafraid, and covers a broad range of topics. This collection of poems opens with the poem "Breaking Dawn," and closes with "Orange Sunrise."

Excerpts:


He is the Air I Breathe

He is the air I breath,
but today I nearly drowned.
I was dying inside,
flailing my arms, and
screaming within
because he was ashen,
and cold.
I was terrified, worried
that he wouldn't
be here to remind me to
breathe in and out. And, I
would be left alone
collecting shards
of our dreams as he slipped
away into eternity.
(c) Susan Elliott


The Wall

Seventy-two glossy black panels, stand baking in the sun,
Stand freezing in the cold,
Stand erect.

Seventy-two glossy black panels, reveal their names,
Reveal their lives,
Reveal my face.

Seventy-two glossy black panels, void of laughter,
Void of merriment,
Void of life.

Seventy-two glossy black panels, change our homes,
Change our minds,
Change our lives.

Seventy-two glossy black panels…

-Susan Elliott

What events inspire you to write?

A Strand of Pearls by Delores J. Howard

About A Strand of Pearls

"A warm hello to all! Come on in and sit a spell. Are you thirsty--hungry? We have living water, the milk of the word, veggies, meat, and a delightful array of treats. Enjoy all the savory dishes for there’s something
here for everyone. There are poems to fi ll the hungriest of souls and some to satisfy even the most discerning tastes.

Before you eat, please permit me to ask God’s blessings upon the “food” and to bless and nourish you as only HE can do. May we thank Him for all His love and care, (physically and spiritually). As we feast on more assorted stories found in God’s Word, we’ll also savor the experiences of those who’ve shared our world, and those who have touched me and mine personally. Until then, dive in, while your spirits are good and hot! Bon Appetite! —Delores" (Amazon)

You can learn more about Delores J. Howard on her website A Strand of Pearls.

Will you ever look at a strand of pearls the same way again?

Ink Blots on Paper by Susan Elliott

About the Book: Ink Blots on Paper

"Ink Blots on Paper is a collection of poetry written by Susan Elliott. Her poetry has been published world wide in both print and online publications.

Susan has been actively involved in writing poetry since she was nine years old. Her first poem was published in 1989. Susan's poetry has been featured online at Every Writer's Resource, and Chris the Story Reading Ape. Her works have appeared in Visions, and Poesia. She is the author of four books of  poetry.

Susan has a unique voice that takes on a life of its own. Her poetry is both whimsical, serious and fearless. She studied writing at Northwest Arkansas Community College,  the University of Arkansas, and is a member of the Virginia Writers Club." (Amazon)

Excerpt: I wrote this poem as a tribute to my favorite poem, Sea Fever by John Masefield.

Sea Fever

I must go down to the beach again, where the horizon meets the sky

and all I need is a surfboard, and my Coppertone 45

and the rise of the surf and the gull's song and the breakers softly breaking

and a sparkling sun over me, and the sea grass slowly shaking.

I must go down to the beach again, for the call of the siren tide

is a captive call and a strong call stronger with each wave I ride

and all I ask is a crystal day with the ocean waves a swelling

and a waxed board and a longboard, and my sis wildly yelling.

I must go down to the beach again, and enjoy my surfing life,

it's a true life and an honest life where the pipeline swells are rife

and all I ask are good brahs, laughter and a diet coke

and an Aloha spirit, and more time, cause dude, I'm totally stoked.

(c) Susan Elliott

Don't forget to check out Susan Elliott's Meet the Author Page!

Have you ever written a tribute to your favorite poem?

Wandering Through a Barely Functional Mind by Susan Elliott

About Wandering Through a Barely Functional Mind :

"Wandering Through a Barely Functional Mind" is a collection of poetry from author Susan Elliott. Susan has a unique voice that stands apart from the masses. This collection of poetry is more than a book of poetry, it is a life journey. Her poems are serious, challenging, romantic and at times whimsical. This is a must read for anyone who shares Susan's love for the poetic word." (Amazon)

From the Author:  This was my first book and I still love it! It includes several poems that were original published through the journals Poesia and Visions.

You can read more of Susan Elliott's poetry at Susan's Poetic Blogosphere.

Don't forget to check out Susan's Meet the Author Page!

Sneak Peek:


Bare Feet 
Encompassed in trees
here I stand
breathing the beauty
of this wooded land.

At peace with myself,
I stand free to dream.
So slipping off shoes,
I run through the green.

My burdened soul's uplifted
in the pale morn light,
a new day has broken,
gone is the night.

My tightly tethered heart
has grown white silken wings
and flies through the sky
up where the jay sings.
(c) Susan Elliott



Roar 
His name left written
by driftwood scribe
she stood; bathed by spray
at the ocean's shore
closing bloodshot eyes
hearing the roar,
like a heartbeat, it
had called him home.
She alone; drowning
in bitterness
watching the tide wash
memories across
the sand, erasing  his name.
(c) Susan Elliott



Tejas 
The Sun beat down from the Texas sky
licking its way through the carpet grass.
Indian summer left it weathered
burnt and yellow flecked, sparsely green.
We two standing in the foreground
trees dark and forest like squat giants behind us.  

You smiled.

I smiled.
 
Our arms draped around each other
born fresh into womanhood, no cares,

save the cowboy who took our picture.
(c) Susan Elliott


Do you write poetry?

Every Flaw, Every Perfection by Susan Elliott

About this Book:

"Every Flaw Every Perfection is a beautiful collection of poetry. This is the fourth collection of poetry written by Susan Elliott. These poems are poems of the heart; including one in Gaelic with an English translation." (Amazon)

Check out the sample poems below:

Poetry

Poetry; what is this thing called poetry?

Is it mere words consisting of syllables, symbolism, and meter, or is it more?

Poetry; What is this thing called poetry?

Is it something your high school English teacher spoon feeds you as you kick and scream?

Poetry: What IS this thing called poetry?

It is the sound of rain.

It is a first kiss.

It is the boom-thump of your favorite song.

It is birth, it is death, and it is everything in between.

Poetry is. 

(c) Susan Elliott

Starbucks

Sometimes I ponder life

Thinking that things

Are dark and bleak, but

Really life is

Bright and cheery

Underneath the

Coffee bean plant that

Keeps my

Starbucks in great supply.

(c) Susan

Don't forget to check out Susan Elliott's meet the author page! 

Welcome to Church of Christ Women Authors!

Susan Elliott: Sunflowers

      There are a growing number of Christian women authors among the churches of Christ who have been both traditionally published and published through the Indie market. We finally have a presence on Facebook and are working hard to help each other learn tricks of the trade and writing tips through our own experiences. If you're a church of Christ woman author don't hesitate to comment and join us on Facebook. If you're just looking for a good read, you've come to the right place.

Since one of our major goals is to get our material into your hands, where possible there will be links to Amazon, Author's Pages, blogs, and other places where materials can be purchased. Please feel free to check out the books. Here and there I may sneak in a few of my favorite Bible study helps along the way as well.

Thanks for stopping by.

--Susan