Poetry and tea. Tea and poetry.
That’s how I start my writing day, usually in my outdoor office.
I could say my poetry journey began when I made reading The Writer’s Almanac the start of my writing day, which took about 5 minutes and yielded fruit a hundredfold. But what really caused me to make poetry a daily practice was when my mother’s cancer returned in 2007. I simply had to write poems—72 in all, which I’ve collected under the heading My Mother’s Diary. From then on, reading and writing poetry is an essential part of my writing life, and it can be part of yours too.
In 2016 TS Poetry Press published The Joy of Poetry, a story of losing my mom and finding poetry. It’s part memoir, part anthology (my own poems and those of others), and part spirited defense of poetry, especially for those who think they hate it.
My second book, Rainbow Crow, also from TS Poetry Press, is a children’s book of poetry, both in and out of form, about my favorite critter (crows!), with gorgeous illustrations by Hasani Browne.
My newest book takes Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and adds history, poetry, and writing prompts. Don’t wait for the holidays to have your house haunted pleasantly by this classic story from 1843. (And while you’re at it, cue up the Muppet Christmas Carol, for the songs alone!)
I am also a contributing writer for Rock & Vine magazine and WACOAN magazine, as well as the Texas Hill Country Art Guide. I have also written several poetry prompts for Chronic Joy. And at Tweetspeak Poetry, I’ve written book reviews (for grownups and children) and a column about learning poetry By Heart.
Take care & Happy poeming!
Megan
Read more ~
Poetry
Chronic Joy
Calculating, September 11
Make Me Redbud
Michael Shane Walter
Psalm 139
Stars
Wait and Lament
Wallflower at the Dance
Writing in Winter
Every Day Poems
’93 Ford Ranger
Blinded
Butterfly Season
The Chocolate Artist
Cracked
Ode to my Heart Book
(untitled red potato poem)
Who Am I?
Where I’m From
Central Texas Writer’s Society
“Fawn” (not available online)
Highland Park Poetry
“The Crows Desire Great Disaster” (not available online)
Moms on Poetry
Snoopy
The Cure for Writer’s Block
Valentine’s Chai
Blue Moon
Tweetspeak Poetry
At the Post-Funeral Reception
At Mile 37 (included in How to Write a Form Poem)
A Blessing for my Heart
The Hard Brown Beetles (a poem from The Great Gatsby)
Mrs. Blevins prays as John Grady Cole rides away
Tantrum
When springs of existence suddenly give way (a poem from Frankenstein)
Prose
Chronic Joy (former poetry prompt co-coordinator for a website supporting those with chronic illness)
Chicken Soup for the Tea Lover’s Soul (“Phil Simms, C.S. Lewis, and Tea”)
Emily D. Tea Traveler (where tea and poetry converge)
Magnolia Journal (articles in Chip & JoJo’s lifestyle magazine)
Project Redux (a writing book club for Sigrid Undset’s Kristin Lavransdatter)
Rock & Vine Magazine (all things Texas Hill Country)
Tweetspeak Poetry (Children’s Book Club, By Heart poetry memorization, 50 States project, plus book reviews)
WACOAN magazine (Waco fun)