I am asking for some good vibes out there in Mama C ville. I have sent my “manuscript” (which is actually ten of my poems) out to three different venues. The first two are competitions. I won’t say where, or when so that I don’t end up having one of you being the judge, or married to her, but both are big deals. The third is a residency that Shrek is wildly supportive of me going to if I get accepted. Again, I will wait to give out any identifying details until I know one way or the other. I am just thrilled that I am collecting my work, all or most of which you read here first into a larger body of work to be taken in as a whole. It is time.

I am also organizing a night of readings on race in April locally.

The word I chose to organize 2013 around for myself, is SEEN.  This feels so powerfully important to me suddenly. More on that principal, and how all of us are working on it at the house soon.

In the meantime another world premiere of a Mama C poem which I wrote a few weeks ago. The form is the pantoum, one that I worked on with my students, and they loved it. Several of the lines repeat, so you are only writing 8 lines for a 16 line poem. Give or take a line depending on your style. Enjoy, and thank you always for your support and encouragement. It means so much to me.

A Rushing Pantoum

Always rushed.
Can I have a cuddle?
There is no time for a cuddle now.
Stop pounding on your brother.

Can I have a cuddle?
Where are my car keys?!?
Stop pounding on your brother.
When does do it differently begin?

Where are my car keys?!?
Soon they’ll have their own rides.
When does do it differently begin?
Watching them drive away from me.

Soon they’ll have their own rides.
There is no time for a cuddle now.
Watching them drive away from me.
With a suitcase of everything I didn’t have time for.

-C Anderson 2013