Musical Pencil

A couple of years ago, I frequented a writing forum for poets. I was just beginning to discover how much I enjoyed writing and this site gave me a chance to post my work and get feedback. There weren't very many published writers on that site...soon I discovered why. The critiques were usually positive - no one ever really gave suggestions and score was kept - via popularity contest type things. One male poet, sent a friend request to every female on the site and had gathered quite a little harem. He wrote mushy love poems and eventually published a collection, using the picture of his online lover's face - she was married, as was he - but they had a public - online blow out when she discovered how many women he'd been romancing on that site, etc. This collection he published, was what we call vanity publishing -through Lulu press - now, a lot of people do this and it makes sense - chapbooks for poetry rarely make money to speak of and it is hard to get a chapbook published...

Jingle, Jingle - new poem up at Catapult to Mars. Thank you, Thank you - Gordon Mason. Blogger is being difficult and Gordon mentioned the line breaks weren't coming through, but - hey - that's okay! This is an older poem - one of the romantic/musical things. It reminds me of summer and mentions the Crepe Myrtle trees that bloom for months here in North Carolina. I have seven Crepe Myrtles in my yard. Here are a couple of pictures for you - I like how the bloom looks like ruffles. Hope you enjoy - Gypsy Tambourine : http://catapulttomars.blogspot.com/2009/05/gypsy-tambourine-by-paula-ray_26.html

Rob Plath has just posted the new issue of Exuberant Ashtray . I have a poem entitled Sentenced in this issue. It is non-fiction, but I'm glad to say--my father is better, lately. Today, we are going fishing - it will be the first time he's been fishing in thirty years. It feels good to see him willing to get out of the house and participate in life outside his own bedroom. Below is a link to Exuberant Ashtray -there are some hard-hitting pieces in this and I think you'll enjoy the gritty edgy quality of the zine. http://rsplath.wordpress.com/2009/05/20/exuberant-ashtray-spring-2009-issue/

Thanks to a fellow poet, Gordon Mason, I now have a new poem posted. I love the picture he chose to put with it. Thanks again, Gordon! Catapult to Mars - what a great title for a blog http://catapulttomars.blogspot.com/2009/05/epiphany-bridge-by-paula-ray.html