I challenged myself and other poets to do at least one the for the love of poetry each day for National Poetry Month 2020! I decided to hold myself accountable by keeping a daily log of my activities! Enjoy and feel free to borrow some ideas!
April 29 - Wednesday - One-Year Anniversary for Threed, This Road Not Damascus
- Continued working on poems for poetry contest.
- Posted for aaduna.
- Started reading a new poetry book, catalog of unabashed gratitude by ross gay.
- Allowed myself plenty of rest, quiet, and reflection time in quiet celebration.
April 28 - Tuesday
- Supported Diverse Word first ever online poetry slam!
- Posted for aaduna.
- Supported fellow Binder with poetry book review possibilities.
- Participated in late-night poetry workshop with Amir Sulaiman.
April 27 - Monday
- Continued editing poems for poetry competition.
- Posted for aaduna.
April 26 - Sunday, Great News!
- My first published book review was released by Laura DiNovis Berry in Berry's Poetry Book Reviews, just in time for the one-year anniversary of the book!
- Posted for aaduna!
April 25 - Saturday
- Edited poems for poetry competition.
April 24 - Friday, Inspiration & Motivation
- Wrote letters of inspiration for young poets closing the semester and struggling with the quarantine era.
- Edited new poems.
April 23 - Thursday, Birthday Celebration #2 for my youngest child
- Completed poetry portfolios.
- Edited poems for poetry competition submission at the the end of the month.
- Posted my latest podcast interview by Theresa Morris, Friends Talking Education
- Shared stories of inspiration from my poetry students on social media.
- Posted for aaduna.
April 22 - Wednesday, Birthday Celebration #1 for my baby sister
- Decorated cup cakes as my hands-on poetry project!
- Completed poetry recitations online with students.
April 21 - Tuesday - Recitations!
- Watched student poetry recitations online! Enjoyed every bit of them!
- Posted for aaduna
April 20 - Monday
- Shared submission calls with another poet along with advice for publishing.
- Listened to online poetry recitations from my students
April 19 - Sunday
- Read a work-in-progress poem to a friend on the phone
- Rested
April 18 - Saturday
April 17 - Friday
- Posted for aaduna
- Evaluated poetry essays and discovered new poetry
- Edited my quarantine poem!
- Read a poem to a friend over the phone because I love and miss her and she inspired it!
April 16 - Thursday
- Posted for aaduna
- Evaluated poetry essays and discovered some new poetry
- Wrote notes of encouragement in honor of student accomplishments
- Danced in my bedroom while God was watching and pretended my body was a poem (Ooooo, I think I just started my next poem.)
- Wrote a quarantine poem!!!
- Listened to an amazing spoken word piece by @punkinis.ifasoyin
April 15 - Wednesday
April 14 - Tuesday
- Evaluated poetry essays and discovered some new poetry
- Posted for aaduna blog
April 13 - Monday
- Posted review of Another Way to Say Enter on Goodreads
- Submitted my book to a reviewer and was ACCEPTED!!! I am so excited! It made my day!
- Posted for aaduna blog
April 12 - Sunday - Easter
- Started reading a new poetry book Say/Mirror by JP Howard
- Posted for aaduna blog. (My poetry was featured for Easter Sunday!)
April 11 - Saturday
- Posted a history video about one of my inspirations, James VanLeer
- Began editing a new set of unpublished poems
- Posted for aaduna blog
April 10 - Friday, National Sibling Day!
- I wrote a corny but cute little poem for my one and only sibling!
April 9 - Thursday, Great Day for Poetry!
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Recorded a poem for an online visual art & poetry gallery
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Completed a new poetry book, Another Way to Say Enter by Amanda Johnston
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Caught a live video and watched a poet/chef bake brownies and read a poem by Ross Gay. She ended up crying, and so did I. I could not have asked for a better night. Catch it here!
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Posted aaduna blog for National Poetry Month
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Purchased a new poetry book, Catalogue of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay
April 8 - Wednesday - Poetically Pooped!
- Facilitated 6 hours of poetry workshops with two groups of students. It was fabulous, and I am exhausted but inspired!
- Post aaduna blog for National Poetry Month
April 7 - Tuesday - Lacking...
- Posted link for aaduna poetry blog
- Wished I had made more time for poetry...
April 6 - Monday - Sketches
- Sketched two new poems
- Agreed to do a poetry audio for an art gallery exhibit!
April 5 - Sunday, Funday!
- Participated in a poetry reading with Trio House Press
- Curled up in my Poang Chair and read Worldly Pleasures by Allison Joseph. It was a gift from Christmas!
- Sketched notes for new poems!
April 4 - Gratitude #2
- Shared my gratitude and mantra, "Poetry at its best is language lifted into ceremony." by Poet Carol Frost on my social media.
- Decided to take a break from school work for the rest of the week to dive into a few poetry books.
- Posted for aaduna.
April 3 - Rejection & Revival
- Received my rejection from Cave Canem Retreat for about the 5th time. Decided that I need to move forward and need not apply again.
- Reached out to another poet to process another rejection and lick my wounds. Thank you for the motivation, Randall Horton.
- Sent invitations to my former students on Instagram to accept the National Poetry Month challenge.
- Started a sketch for a new poem about the CoronaVirus era. It was inspired by one of my former students and her accepting the challenge to create a new poem and dress like it. I love her interpretation of the idea! Thank you, @tiffrasberry!
- Attended AnnMarie O'Connell's online poetry reading.
- Listened to a poem over the phone before going to bed. Thank you, Alexia Written, for the mindful poem and engaging conversation about your upcoming book.
April 2 - Gratitude #1
- Called one of my mentors (Sterling D. Plumpp) to thank him for his gift to my life as a poet.
- Blessed the blog! I featured Sterling and his books with a gratitude post and links for readers to find his work.
- Began my National Poetry Month Journal 2020 to share with other poets!
- Shared a new online poetry workshop with some interested poets who may attend.
April 1 - Kick-off!!!
- Cleaned up my website!
- Announced my National Poetry Month Challenge on my social media websites.
- Posted a poem and photo of a poet who inspired me during a very critical turning point in my writing journey. (Ms. Lucille Clifton, "new bones")
- Facilitated my very first online poetry class with an online reading and discussion! The poets showed up! It was a great session!