It’s Here!! The podcast I guested on is available to listen to here. It was a super fun and generally a great conversation. So check it out if you want.
We are planning another live event for the podcast I will be cohosting Girls, Ghosts, Ghouls. We are going to do a live reading of Hop-Frog by Edgar Allan Poe. This is because we are covering the 1964 Roger Corman film The Masque of The Red Death and Corman mixed two Poe short stories to make this film, the titular story and Hop-Frog. Makes sense, right?
I have such a love affair with Poe, even though I am aware that as a person he was problematic. His aesthetic is so my style. The Raven was one of the first poems I ever memorized that wasn’t my own. I have multiple pieces of Poe merchandise, like an action figure and a Poe-ka Dot bag from the company Out of Print. I have multiple copies of the complete works from several different eras. The paper that would lead to my change to an English major was on The Fall of the House of Usher. I am a fan of Poe’s work and I am well aware that his history is problematic at best. Shrug. I am not attempting to justify him as a person, but as a writer he was very influential to me.
So…If you are interested in listening to me read some Poe along with my fellow Girls, Ghosts, Ghouls ladies you can find the event here.
I thought today I would share some of the poems I wrote for my poetry class last term. I had a couple that I was very proud of, so here they are for others to enjoy. The first is a prose poem, which is why it is formatted the way it is. The second is just a poem about roller skating.
Witch In real life when witches meet it is often to drink tea or coffee, or whiskey, depending on the witch’s preference and the time of day. When witches meet they might as likely eat nachos and watch Practical Magic as light a cauldron and hold a ritual. They might discuss spell craft, divination, astrology, politics, fashion, or their love lives as all are important and valid. Some witches love long baths with herbs and bath bombs. Some have black thumbs and can kill a silk plant. Some witches have large black cats who might be their familiar or might be their fur kid or maybe both. Real witches can look just like you and me. Especially me.
Roller Skates Wheels whirring, blurring, stirring the air. Shush, shush, shush… Barely breaking the still of a Sunday morning. I am sliding silently. Surfing the pavement, Setting skate in front of skate, Tracing little circles in the dust. My hair a hurricane halo radiating from my helmet It whirls and eddies as I spin and twirl. Shush, shush, shush… I let my thoughts glide as smoothly as my wheels Finding peace in the perfect playful pair who find their home upon my feet. Left to their own devices They would carry me away. Instead we circle endlessly in parking lots. And skating rinks. Taking contained adventures. With others who have heard, And succumbed to the sirens call. Shush, Shush, Shush…Come, come, come.
I have been writing poetry since I was young, but hadn’t written anything in several years before taking this class. I refound my love of writing poetry.
I used to be a prolific journaler. I always had a journal in hand. I used them as a diary, a planner, a scrapbook, and storage space. I still carry one with me, but I just don’t seem to use it as much as I used to. It is something I would like to get back to. I pulled out my old journals recently to help me write a poem for my poetry class, because I had a list of things I could be when I grow up and the poem needed to include a list.
Today I was looking at these amazing pieces of my history. Taking a moment to read back through old relationships, how I have never really known what I want to do with my life, lists of things I want to do, buy or be, fun articles, my favorite horoscopes, and bits of overheard conversation. There are feathers, leaves, bits of ribbon, little drawings, poems, cards, and so many stickers. I read through the first days of Seth and I’s relationship, how hopeful I was while being cautious, it is so cute to read being a couple for almost 14 years (the anniversary of our first date is in May).
My journals have been composition books that I decoupaged and decorated. They have also been beautiful art books that I have purchased from artists. I don’t know that I have a preference on which of these is better. I have loved them both, and worn them both out to the point that they are fraying on the edges and very well loved. The composition books have more me on the outside but it is the inside that counts, right?
Photos of my various journals.
These books hold so much of my past in their pages. And I am shocked and dismayed to see so many similar themes popping up from then to now, wanting to be thinner, feeling directionless, hating my job, fearing change…over and over again. I can see that there are some big changes needed in my life. Or, I can see that my mindset needs to shift beyond these things.
Here are some of my favorite pages, pieces, poems, and such from my journals over the years.
I am feeling a pull for a new journal. I feel like I might have a new composition book upstairs. Maybe it is time to break out the ModPodge, magazines and ephemera to make a new one. And start making lists again and wishing and dreaming to myself.
Also, in case you were curious here is the poem I wrote for class from my list.
When I Grow Up… English Professor, or author or maybe both? Journalist, or radio host, or One of those crazy morning shock jocks. The girl who makes orgasm noises for songs, or the opera singer for horror movie climax (just a different climax). Counselor or psychiatrist. 800-number psychic friend, “Call me now for your free tarot reading.” Belly Dancer? Lawyer? Warrior Princess? Open a bookstore, with a cat and lots of comfy chairs. As a girl I was told that when you hit 40 you are old. Here I am breaking the mold And trying to decide what I will be when I grow up.
I successfully completed everything on my October To Do List. It was a wonderful month and I am going into November with new goals and expectations. I decided to do NaNoWriMo but I am doing it differently this year by commiting to a poem a day for the month of November rather than a word count. I will still track on the site, so if you are interested in following along I am BetsySnowWhite.
I have other plans that will solidify over the next couple of days that I will share when they take shape.
Thank you for sharing Blogtober with me!
Magical Days, Madrigal Nights – Final Weekend: Wearing my new witch hat and having a blast with my friends.
Spooky Basket Exchange #1 – finish up and mail out: I need to finish a craft, box everything up and mail out.
Medieval Monster Mash at The Forge: Social distanced and monster themed. Our table is Witch themed. And Jameson’s Folly will be performing.
Spooky Basket Exchange – Duchess Edition: The ladies of the Duchess Squad will be exchanging baskets. Mine is purchased but needs assembled.
Give out candy for Beggar’s Night – Safely. I will figure it out.
Hallowest 1: Virginia West and Krystal Something Something co-writing and starring in the first Halloween performance at District West.
2020 Witch Walk : My friend’s Kristan and Susan created this event a couple of years ago. We meet up at Goodale Park and then walk through the Short North dressed as witches.
Lady Gang Halloween at Carol’s: It’s Halloween and the Full Moon. We can’t let this go past without celebration.
I am a reader who often has multiple books that I am juggling, or on my to be read (TBR) list. I thought I would share the current books that sit there currently.
The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix : This is one I am currently reading and it is very funny, very tongue in cheek and altogether quite entertaining.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: I am currently reading this one as well, and I am enjoying it so far. The NPR review was so intriguing I came home and bought it immediately.
Mexican Gothic, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Crossings by Alex Landragin: I got this as a new member of the Fantastic Stranglings Book Club through Nowhere Bookshop which is owned by author Jenny Lawson. I haven’t cracked it yet, but I am excited to do so.
Witches. Sluts. Feminists. by Kristen J. Sollee: I heard Kristen on the podcast The Devil’s Music with Pleasant Gehman and loved her style, so I picked up this book. I am excited to start it.
Fat Girl Finishing School and Nothing is Okay by Rachel Wiley: Rachel is a Columbus poet who is so talented, and I have been reading these in bits and bobs. Fun Fact: I saw Rachel at the Fat Babes Club of Columbus Body Positive Pool Party last year and I was utterly star struck and just stared at her across the pool like a huge creeper.
Great Godesses by Nikita Gill: More poetry. This is a gorgeous collection of poems based on mythology. I have been really inspired by poetry recently, and my next class in my MFA program is Fundamentals of Poetry.
I have more books on the way that I ordered from local bookstores on Independent Bookstore Day Saturday. I am on a brief hiatus from school so I am hoping I can finish one or two of these.
Are you reading anything fantastic right now? Are you a book juggler who reads more than one book at a time like me?
Betsy Snow White Bibliophile 