By a happy coincidence, I’m re-reading Gabriele Rico’s book Writing the Natural Way as I write about the unconscious mind. Or maybe it’s not a coincidence. At least part of my brain was aware that the letter U was coming up in the A to Z Challenge. I like how my unconscious can nudge […]
U is for Unconscious Read More »
It’s not like me to be sad or fearful for a long time. With age, experience, and mindfulness, I’ve learned to let go of negative emotions quickly, But things were different when I was in my medical training in 1990. There was an event that shook me for several weeks. I perpetuated my anguish
The A to Z Challenge interrupted my series of chapbook poems just before I came to the last poem in my chapbook, the one from which the title is taken. Here is the last of the previously published poems in the collection.
S is for Surrender Read More »
R is a letter with many sounds. Pronounced from the back of the throat, it’s a motor humming, a dog growling, a cat purring. When trilled with the tongue, it’s a snare drum. When made with the lips, it’s the wind whistling a tunnel or through a flute. R is for ritual. I’ve mentioned
Q: If I’m on a hero’s journey, what elixir do I bring back to this ordinary world? I served on various committees when I was a physician, including the Infection Control Committee and the Antibiotic Stewardship Committee. Being an Infectious Disease doctor made it logical to be recruited to these meetings.
Q is for Quest(ions) Read More »
Every successful poem is a micro-transformation, both in the reading and in the writing. As I’m sure you’re aware, April is not only blog challenge month, it’s also National Poetry Month. When I first began writing poetry seriously, back in 2004, I learned that to write poetry, I had to read poetry. I started
O is for opportunity. In my life, I’ve discovered that misfortune can sometimes lead to opportunity. A sudden reversal can lead to seeing things in a new way. If I’m willing to reflect, I can reframe the situation. When I was deciding whether to close my practice, new competitors were a worry until I
O is for Opportunity Read More »
When I say “new writing,” I mean writing generated on the spot to a prompt, like the writing that I do in generative writing workshops. In new writing, I get my stream of consciousness down onto the page. It flows, but it’s not usually good writing. It needs to be more concise, more vivid.
N is for New Writing Read More »
Recently, I read a book by Javier Zamora, the memoir Solito. It’s the harrowing story of how he came to the US from El Salvador at the age of nine. His parents had already escaped from the horrors of the war, leaving Javier with his grandparents. His family paid a coyote to accompany him
M is for Migration Read More »
Let go of the outcome. It’s a paradox (kind of like writing formal poetry). I have a goal of letting go of goals. It’s a great learning process. For instance, having a son is a blessing. He is smart, funny, sensitive, mature, and caring. Did I set out with these specific goals in mind?
