I have two new poems up in Dappled Things– Teresa of Avila can be read online
My little collection of church history persona poems is growing steadily, up to about fifty poems now. I finished reading 50 Women Every Christian Should Know, a book of minibiographies that inspired many of my poems, and plan to start a new book of biographies soon.
Though I think I could pull the manuscript together to make a book at this point, I prefer to let it simmer. as I mentioned in my post on chapbooks, I’m not in a great place to launch a book right now, both geographically and seasonally–my life is all diapers and babies and picture books and parks, not so much readings and academia. my poetry spirit-animal right now is Wendell Berry. do you know that he spends most of his time on his farm? and that is deemed fitting? I think that route makes the most sense for me, though I know 99.999% of poetry is born out of the dusty halls of academia. not that i’m out on a farm–domesticity and suburbia is a trifle less sexy and i’m too religious to be cute and not in a religion that is fashionable (though presbyterian might sound a little less southern hillbilly than southern baptist).
all that to say, i think, when the book is done, i’ll likely have about five readers, so i might as well take my time with it and include it all. my husband reminds a poet is still considered a young poet til her 40’s, so i’ve got time to wheedle away, lines to tinker with.
how goes your manuscript, if you are working on one? any thoughts on the current state of poetry and publishing?
Renee Emerson 