all i ever wrote, Art as Devotion, Facing Challenge, Faith, Healing, Publication Announcement, Resilience

“The Woman with the Issue” featured in Heart of Flesh Literary Journal

So happy to announce that my poem “The Woman with the Issue” is featured in Heart of Flesh Literary Journal‘s Issue Seven, released today.

This poem is a reflection on Luke 8:43-48, the story of the woman with the issue of blood. It’s a poem about difficulty and despair, daring faith, relentless hope, relationship, and healing.

Continue Reading
June Jordan, National Poetry Month, Poetry

National Poetry Month: My Favorite Quotes on Poetry

In honor of National Poetry Month, I created this collection of some of my favorite quotes on the power and art of poetry, by great women poets. I hope it inspires you to write or read more poetry!

“Poetry is the most intimate of all writing. I want to speak first from me to myself and then from me to you.” –Ellen Bass
“Poetry is language at its most distilled and most powerful.” –Rita Dove
“We can train ourselves to respect our feelings and to transpose them into a language so they can be shared. And where that language does not yet exist, it is our poetry which helps to fashion it.” –Audre Lorde
Continue Reading
June Jordan, National Poetry Month, Poetry

National Poetry Month: How I Discovered the Magic of Poetry

“My Spirit/His Love” by Tiffany Nicole Fletcher. A peek into my sketchbook.

It’s National Poetry Month! Let’s celebrate poetry!

Poetry has been a part of my life since I was a little girl. One of my earliest memories related to poetry is of a large children’s book I had that was filled with African-American poetry and beautiful illustrations. (Oh my goodness, I found it! This is the book! *tears*)

My first poetry book! Make a Joyful Sound: Poems for Children by African-American Poets
Continue Reading
all i ever wrote, Grief, Healing, Personal Growth, Poetry, Publication Announcement, Resilience

“The Process” featured in Snapdragon: A Journal of Art & Healing

I am excited to share that my poem “The Process” is featured in the Fall 2021 issue of Snapdragon: A Journal of Art & Healing.

This year Snapdragon Journal has been focusing on grief, including how it shapes us and how we move through it. The fall issue centers on bargaining, the third phase of the stages of grief as outlined by ‎Elisabeth Kübler-Ross.

Continue Reading
all i ever wrote, Art as Devotion, Facing Challenge, Faith, Healing, Peace, Personal Growth, Poetry, Prayer, Psalms project, Resilience, Self-care, Spiritual Practice, Video

Video: Poetry as Prayer // Tools for Challenging Times

Hello friends! I was recently invited to share a reflection with the One Boat: International Chaplaincy for Covid Times community. My talk is called “Poetry as Prayer: Tools for Resilience in Challenging Times.” I discussed poetry as a form of prayer, as demonstrated by the Psalms, which provide a rich example of not only emotional and artistic expression, but profound and life-changing intimacy with God.

I share other examples of poetic expression as prayer (and as a way to cope with life’s challenges) and give some quick tips on how to venture into the practice.

Continue Reading