Intentions for the New Year

2015 is rolling right along—I can’t believe it is already January 21st! This year promises to be exciting and fun, but very busy, both personally and writing-wise. In anticipation of this, I’ve been contemplating and prioritizing my commitments, and making adjustments where necessary. I have a tendency to over schedule myself, and I’m hoping to find better balance in 2015.

So besides the writing goals that I have set for this year, I am setting the intention to guard my time more carefully, both my writing time and my family time. This means planning my schedule more mindfully and not cramming too much into one day. I am also working on not saying “yes” so much to commitment requests from others. While volunteering in different capacities is very important to me, “no, thank you” has always been difficult for me to say. But this quote from Carl Sandburg says it best:

Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.

Image courtesy of Phaitoon at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I am heading off on a grand adventure tomorrow and will not be blogging again until February. I hope the rest of your January is calm and cozy! Happy Writing!

POETRY FRIDAY: Marjory Wentworth, SC’s Poet Laureate

Thanks to Irene at Live Your Poem for hosting Poetry Friday today!

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Happy (belated) New Year! I am jumping back into Poetry Friday today with a nod to SC’s Poet Laureate, Marjory Wentworth. If you haven’t already heard, this week during Governor Nikki Haley’s second inauguration, Ms. Wentworth was not allowed to read the poem she prepared for the occasion. A rep for Governor Haley cited “time constraints” as the reason. Since it is traditional for our Poet Laureate to write and present a poem for each gubernatorial inauguration, this has caused somewhat of an uproar here in South Carolina (and elsewhere).

Wentworth’s poem, “One River, One Boat,” is a beautiful and intelligent tribute to South Carolina’s unique and often tragic history. Acknowledging past mistakes doesn’t forgive them, but can help move us forward along the path toward healing and progress. But not allowing this voice to be heard pushes us backward a step, instead.

So please read Wentworth’s poem today. I am hoping that this omission will ultimately bring the poem to more readers than if it had been read at the inauguration—wouldn’t that be a happy irony? Wentworth has already been invited to read her poem at the SC NAACP chapter's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day march this Monday, January 19th!

One River, One Boat                                                                                                    by Marjory Wentworth

I know there’s something better down the road.
-- Elizabeth Alexander

Because our history is a knot

we try to unravel, while others
try to tighten it, we tire easily
and fray the cords that bind us.

The cord is a slow moving river,

spiraling across the land
in a succession of S’s,
splintering near the sea.

To read the rest of Ms. Wentworth’s poem, click here. And to read more on this topic, check out these articles:

http://www.thestate.com/2015/01/15/3930012/wentworth-poem-meant-to-unite.html?rh=1

http://wrvo.org/post/scs-poet-laureate-inauguration-poem-without-inaugural-audience

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/01/15/why-was-south-carolinas-poet-laureate-denied-the-opportunity-to-read-at-nikki-haleys-inauguration/

Have a wonderful holiday weekend! Happy Friday, and Happy Writing!