I fell in love with the worlds the Bronte sisters painted in my youth. Emily Bronte however easily became a favorite with her poetry and I have found myself decades later still turning to her words on those days when inspiration fails me or simply to connect again with what I found a kindred soul. Emily, best known for her first and only published novel, Wuthering Heights, was an unheard poetess until after her death. Her collection that includes works from both Charlotte and Anne is a collection I’ll forever hold close to my heart. I hope you enjoy my reading of Shall Earth No More Inspire Thee and if you’d like, subscribe to my channel to hear more readings from my favorite poets as well as my own words.
After starting my YouTube channel where I have begun reciting my poetry, I found it disheartening to discover not many videos exist of women reciting a favorite, Edgar Allan Poe. So I thought I’d like to give it a try. I have read him since I was thirteen years old but never have I dared to read him publicly. Alone is a piece that I personally connected with upon the first time I read it and I hope you enjoy.
I am so pleased and honored to share the debut collection of poems by someone I have watched grow in to the young adult he is today. Coming into my family’s life by way of my daughter, I have known Louis (his pen name) since the age of eight and have watched him grow into the college bound, goal oriented young man he is today.
It is with a great pleasure and honor that I can share his debut book of poetry just as he is headed off to college. Getting Over You, is a collection of poems inspired by the trials and tribulations, first loves, losses and growing up interracial and gay. The courage he has endured and the strength and solace he has found in writing offers us a glimpse through his tender yet resilient eyes of youth which can perhaps lend courage and strength to another teen struggling.
The link to Amazon is below where you can purchase Getting Over You in both Kindle and paperback.
they embarrass you; no one has held you like that in so long
that it’s hard not to cry.
routine hugs that come as second-nature
unlike vibrant hugs
between chasee and chaser.
hugs of singular awareness,
which are a rarity;
you two hugging so tight…you create your own
singularity.
-Robert Storm
Bruce Hornsby/Mandolin Rain
One Immortal Day
come sail with me
atop the clouds,
the earth smothering away
just us sailing
one immortal day
we leave port at dawn,
no compass to guide the way.
just us drifting
i’ll show you the first satellite
and where atlantis sat in the bay.
i’ll show you the land of agartha
as we grow old on this day
i’ll nip and nuzzle your hair,
while with my fingers you play,
massaging them like you do,
in that absentminded way.
around the globe we’ll go
forever to drift and forever to play,
in love
one immortal day
-Robert Storm
Today marks the anniversary of the death of my dear friend and poet, Robert Storm. Writing under this pen name, he lived a very private life yet opened up so much of himself as a friend, a fellow writer and a genuine human being. He was my beloved imaginative friend, an avid hiker and rock climber with an infectious laugh, never-ending wit and gentlemanly charm. Simply, he was loved and he is missed.
Much like me, he didn’t conform to social expectations with his writing as no one genre could keep him captive. At the time of his death he was working on his first novel, Fire From Olympus, a hybrid of sorts with elements of horror and Greek mythology. He had a brilliant mind and at the age of 45, was taken too soon. Every year in the month of September I honor his struggle and memory by bringing awareness and donating to a local leukemia society.
A year before he passed away he was able to bring a dream to life by becoming published. His book of poems, Almy, was his first and only release and one that I shall treasure and honor by not letting his voice die. From the two pieces above I’ve selected to share, “Hugs” was a piece he was quite fond of and “One Immortal Day” was a favorite of mine. Thank you for reading and if interested, I’m including a link to his collection. I’m also humbly asking writers within the community to consider donating to a local leukemia or cancer society in his honor or for a family member or friend that you may know stricken with it. Thank you again and may we all be reminded of the importance of living every day to its fullest and finding the courage and perseverance to follow our dreams.
This piece has always spoke volumes to me and finds me when I need it. I just learned however that Henley was a paraplegic all his life which brings even more significance to his words here. Empowering are they, his words filled with that of resilience and overcoming in the face of adversity.
