A Postcard from Pablo Neruda: Poetry is an Act of Peace.
Dear December Penpal,
I'm thinking about peace and kindness this month. Pablo Neruda wrote, "Poetry is an act of peace. Peace goes into the making of a poet as flour goes into the making of bread."
Sometimes as writers we feel alone sending out our poems, our essays, our stories—all of our words—into the world. But I believe in these small acts of faith. I believe the world would be a better place if more people woke up and wrote a poem each morning, if more people spent an hour painting a canvas, making art.
Gandhi said, "In a gentle way, we can shake the world."
Sometimes I laugh at what I'm good at—writing poems, playing Scrabble, enjoying desserts, being a friend, making jokes, taking care of animals, making lists, paddleboarding, mountain biking, packing picnic lunches, loving the people I love. Not very "marketable," as they say.
But I believe there are many ways to be rich in the world. Money is just one way. Art is another.
So my hope for you this December and into the New Year is that you find the richness around you and that you continue gently shaking the world with your words and all that you create. These small acts matter.
Cheers to you in 2015!
SOMETHING FROM ME TO YOU:
To say THANK YOU for being a poetry reader in the world,
my book Hourglass Museum is FREE as an eBook on Amazon this week,
December 16 - December 20, 2014.
Yes. Free. No strings, no tax, no shipping, no batteries required.
Just go to Amazon.com BEFORE December 21st.
Just click here for your free copy of Hourglass Museum at Amazon.com.
Hourglass Museum deals with the struggle between art & life, and living life with an undeniable yearning to create.
The eBook also contains the image I keep in my office that inspired many of the Frida Kahlo poems (something that wasn't in the print book).
Just remember to stop by Amazon on or before December 20th to get your copy for no cost.
Happy Reading, friends.
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Things I Love this December:
~ For some tips on writing (and an intriguing photo of Ernest Hemingway without a shirt holding rifle) check out: Want To Become a More Efficient Writer? Consider The Writing Hacks of These Famous Authors
~The life I worked for my whole life had changed so dramatically. . .: A fantastic interview by Nin Andrews with poet January Gill O'Neil on January's upcoming book, Misery Islands.
~ I would love to pedal my bike down this Vincent van Gogh "Starry Night" inspired path.
~ How too many petals can ruin a good time: Women Having a Terrible Time at Parties in Western Art History
~ Designer Dad Illustrates the Weirdest Things He Has Actually Said to His Kids. "Stop riding that penguin" is just a highlight.
Other Things For Poets & Writers:
Susan Rich & I are once again leading Poets on the Coast, an incredible writing retreat for women writers (from beginning to published poet) in La Conner, Washington on September 11 - 13, 2015! It will be our 5th anniversary, so expect some extra glitter on your poems this year. You can learn more about it here.
For Seattle Area Poets:
Susan and I will also be teaching two workshops in Seattle's South Lake Union area on Saturday, January 24th, 2015 on Generating New Poems & on Putting Together a Poetry Manuscript. You are welcome to attend one or both. You can register here.
And For All:
Gertrude Stein wishes you peace this month and in 2015:
xo,
Kells
P.S. And don't forget your free copy of Hourglass Museum, go here from now until December 20th.
Happy Everything.
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Follow Kelli on:
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Gift Ideas from Two Sylvias Press (keeping the holiday literary): The Daily Poet http://bit.ly/TheDailyPoet (WRITE A POEM A DAY!) The Poet Tarot: http://twosylviaspress.com/the-poet-tarot.html and Fire On Her Tongue: An Anthology of Contemporary Women's Poetry: http://bit.ly/FireOnHerTonguePRINT
Kelli Russell Agodon kelli (at) agodon.com www.agodon.com www.twosylviaspress.com
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