Poetry Fishbowl Open!
Aug. 5th, 2014 12:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithThe Poetry Fishbowl is now CLOSED. Thank you for your time and enthusiasm.
Starting now, the Poetry Fishbowl is open! Today's theme is "flexible truths." I will be checking this page periodically throughout the day. When people make suggestions, I'll pick some and weave them together into a poem ... and then another ... and so on. I'm hoping to get a lot of ideas and a lot of poems.
Click to read the linkback poem "A Stranger's Way" (Beneath the Family Tree, 20 verses available).
What Is a Poetry Fishbowl?
Writing is usually considered a solitary pursuit. One exception to this is a fascinating exercise called a "fishbowl." This has various forms, but all of them basically involve some kind of writing in public, usually with interaction between author and audience. A famous example is Harlan Ellison's series of "stories under glass" in which he sits in a bookstore window and writes a new story based on an idea that someone gives him. Writing classes sometimes include a version where students watch each other write, often with students calling out suggestions which are chalked up on the blackboard for those writing to use as inspiration.
In this online version of a Poetry Fishbowl, I begin by setting a theme; today's theme is "flexible truths." I invite people to suggest characters, settings, and other things relating to that theme. Then I use those prompts as inspiration for writing poems.
Cyberfunded Creativity
I'm practicing cyberfunded creativity. If you enjoy what I'm doing and want to see more of it, please feed the Bard. The following options are currently available:
1) Sponsor the Fishbowl -- Here is a PayPal button for donations. There is no specific requirement, but $1 is the minimum recommended size for PayPal transactions since they take a cut from every one. You can also donate via check or money order sent by postal mail. If you make a donation and tell me about it, I promise to use one of your prompts. Anonymous donations are perfectly welcome, just won't get that perk. General donations will be tallied, and at the end of the fishbowl I’ll post a list of eligible poems based on the total funding; then the audience can vote on which they want to see posted.
2) Swim, Fishie, Swim! -- A feature in conjunction with fishbowl sponsorship is this progress meter showing the amount donated. There are multiple perks, the top one being a half-price poetry sale on one series when donations reach $300.
3) Buy It Now! -- Gakked from various e-auction sites, this feature allows you to sponsor a specific poem. If you don't want to wait for some editor to buy and publish my poem so you can read it, well, now you don't have to. Sponsoring a poem means that I will immediately post it on my blog for everyone to see, with the name of the sponsor (or another dedicate) if you wish; plus you get a nonexclusive publication right, so you can post it on your own blog or elsewhere as long as you keep the credits intact. You'll need to tell me the title of the poem you want to sponsor. I'm basing the prices on length, and they're comparable to what I typically make selling poetry to magazines (semi-pro rates according to Duotrope's Digest).
0-10 lines: $5
11-25 lines: $10
26-40 lines: $15
41-60 lines: $20
Poems over 60 lines, or with very intricate structure, fall into custom pricing.
4) Commission a scrapbook page. I can render a chosen poem in hardcopy format, on colorful paper, using archival materials for background and any embellishments. This will be suitable for framing or for adding to a scrapbook. Commission details are here. See latest photos of sample scrapbooked poems: "Sample Scrapbooked Poems 1-24-11"
5) Spread the word. Echo or link to this post on your LiveJournal, other blog, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Digg, StumbleUpon, or any other social network. Useful Twitter hashtags include #poetryfishbowl and #promptcall. Encourage people to come here and participate in the fishbowl. If you have room for it, including your own prompt will give your readers an idea of what the prompts should look like; ideally, update later to include the thumbnail of the poem I write, and a link to the poem if it gets published. If there is at least one new prompter or donor, I will post an extra freebie poem.
Linkback perk: I have a spare series poem available, and each linkback will reveal a verse of the poem. One person can do multiple links if they're on different services, like Dreamwidth, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, etc. rather than all on LiveJournal. Comment with a link to where you posted. "A Stranger's Way" belongs to the series Beneath the Family Tree and has 20 verses available.
Additional Notes
1) I customarily post replies to prompt posts telling people which of their prompts I'm using, with a brief description of the resulting poem(s). If you want to know what's available, watch for those "thumbnails."
2) You don't have to pay me to see a poem based on a prompt that you gave me. I try to send copies of poems to people, mostly using the LJ message function. (Anonymous prompters will miss this perk unless you give me your eddress.) These are for-your-eyes-only, though, not for sharing.
3) Sponsors of the Poetry Fishbowl in general, or of specific poems, will gain access to an extra post in appreciation of their generosity. While you're on the Donors list, you can view all of the custom-locked posts in that category. Click the "donors" tag to read the archive of those. I've also posted a list of other donor perks there. I customarily leave donor names on the list for two months, so you'll get to see the perk-post from this month and next.
4) After the Poetry Fishbowl concludes, I will post a list of unsold poems and their prices, to make it easier for folks to see what they might want to sponsor.
5) If donations total $100 by Friday evening then you get a free $15 poem; $150 gets you a free $20 poem; and $200 gets you a free epic, posted after the Poetry Fishbowl. These will usually be series poems if I have them; otherwise I may offer non-series poems or series poems in a different size. If donations reach $250, you get one step toward a bonus fishbowl; three of these activates the perk, and they don't have to be three months in a row. Everyone will get to vote on which series, and give prompts during the extra fishbowl, although it may be a half-day rather than a whole day. If donations reach $300, you get a half-price sale for one week in one series. Everyone will get to vote on which series to feature in the sale, out of those with extra poems available.
Feed the Fish!
Now's your chance to participate in the creative process by posting ideas for me to write about. Today's theme is "flexible truths." I'll be soliciting ideas for liars, soothsayers, fortunetellers, economists, historians, politicians, journalists, storytellers, other folks who deal in truths and lies, discovering the truth, telling lies, stretching the truth, when an unbelieved truth bites people on the ass, when you let the truth free and it defends itself, plot twists, courtrooms, family meetings, seats of government, sorcerous workrooms, other places where truth is a concern, enlightenment, hidden truths, lies that are too big to fail, universal truths that aren't, the is-ness of reality, natural laws that can be bent but not broken, things that are true but not real (or vice versa), things that are only sometimes true, things that are true but have a wider scope than expected, things that used to be true, and poetic forms in particular. But anything is welcome, really. If you manage to recommend a form that I don't recognize, I will probably pounce on it and ask you for its rules. I do have Lewis Turco's The New Book of Forms which covers most common and many obscure forms.
I'll post at least one of the fishbowl poems here so you-all can enjoy it. (Remember, you get an extra freebie poem if someone new posts a prompt or makes a donation, and additional perks at $100-$300 in donations. Linkbacks reveal verses of "A Stranger's Way.") The rest of the poems will go into my archive for magazine submission.
Starting now, the Poetry Fishbowl is open! Today's theme is "flexible truths." I will be checking this page periodically throughout the day. When people make suggestions, I'll pick some and weave them together into a poem ... and then another ... and so on. I'm hoping to get a lot of ideas and a lot of poems.
Click to read the linkback poem "A Stranger's Way" (Beneath the Family Tree, 20 verses available).
What Is a Poetry Fishbowl?
Writing is usually considered a solitary pursuit. One exception to this is a fascinating exercise called a "fishbowl." This has various forms, but all of them basically involve some kind of writing in public, usually with interaction between author and audience. A famous example is Harlan Ellison's series of "stories under glass" in which he sits in a bookstore window and writes a new story based on an idea that someone gives him. Writing classes sometimes include a version where students watch each other write, often with students calling out suggestions which are chalked up on the blackboard for those writing to use as inspiration.
In this online version of a Poetry Fishbowl, I begin by setting a theme; today's theme is "flexible truths." I invite people to suggest characters, settings, and other things relating to that theme. Then I use those prompts as inspiration for writing poems.
Cyberfunded Creativity
I'm practicing cyberfunded creativity. If you enjoy what I'm doing and want to see more of it, please feed the Bard. The following options are currently available:
1) Sponsor the Fishbowl -- Here is a PayPal button for donations. There is no specific requirement, but $1 is the minimum recommended size for PayPal transactions since they take a cut from every one. You can also donate via check or money order sent by postal mail. If you make a donation and tell me about it, I promise to use one of your prompts. Anonymous donations are perfectly welcome, just won't get that perk. General donations will be tallied, and at the end of the fishbowl I’ll post a list of eligible poems based on the total funding; then the audience can vote on which they want to see posted.
2) Swim, Fishie, Swim! -- A feature in conjunction with fishbowl sponsorship is this progress meter showing the amount donated. There are multiple perks, the top one being a half-price poetry sale on one series when donations reach $300.
3) Buy It Now! -- Gakked from various e-auction sites, this feature allows you to sponsor a specific poem. If you don't want to wait for some editor to buy and publish my poem so you can read it, well, now you don't have to. Sponsoring a poem means that I will immediately post it on my blog for everyone to see, with the name of the sponsor (or another dedicate) if you wish; plus you get a nonexclusive publication right, so you can post it on your own blog or elsewhere as long as you keep the credits intact. You'll need to tell me the title of the poem you want to sponsor. I'm basing the prices on length, and they're comparable to what I typically make selling poetry to magazines (semi-pro rates according to Duotrope's Digest).
0-10 lines: $5
11-25 lines: $10
26-40 lines: $15
41-60 lines: $20
Poems over 60 lines, or with very intricate structure, fall into custom pricing.
4) Commission a scrapbook page. I can render a chosen poem in hardcopy format, on colorful paper, using archival materials for background and any embellishments. This will be suitable for framing or for adding to a scrapbook. Commission details are here. See latest photos of sample scrapbooked poems: "Sample Scrapbooked Poems 1-24-11"
5) Spread the word. Echo or link to this post on your LiveJournal, other blog, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Digg, StumbleUpon, or any other social network. Useful Twitter hashtags include #poetryfishbowl and #promptcall. Encourage people to come here and participate in the fishbowl. If you have room for it, including your own prompt will give your readers an idea of what the prompts should look like; ideally, update later to include the thumbnail of the poem I write, and a link to the poem if it gets published. If there is at least one new prompter or donor, I will post an extra freebie poem.
Linkback perk: I have a spare series poem available, and each linkback will reveal a verse of the poem. One person can do multiple links if they're on different services, like Dreamwidth, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, etc. rather than all on LiveJournal. Comment with a link to where you posted. "A Stranger's Way" belongs to the series Beneath the Family Tree and has 20 verses available.
Additional Notes
1) I customarily post replies to prompt posts telling people which of their prompts I'm using, with a brief description of the resulting poem(s). If you want to know what's available, watch for those "thumbnails."
2) You don't have to pay me to see a poem based on a prompt that you gave me. I try to send copies of poems to people, mostly using the LJ message function. (Anonymous prompters will miss this perk unless you give me your eddress.) These are for-your-eyes-only, though, not for sharing.
3) Sponsors of the Poetry Fishbowl in general, or of specific poems, will gain access to an extra post in appreciation of their generosity. While you're on the Donors list, you can view all of the custom-locked posts in that category. Click the "donors" tag to read the archive of those. I've also posted a list of other donor perks there. I customarily leave donor names on the list for two months, so you'll get to see the perk-post from this month and next.
4) After the Poetry Fishbowl concludes, I will post a list of unsold poems and their prices, to make it easier for folks to see what they might want to sponsor.
5) If donations total $100 by Friday evening then you get a free $15 poem; $150 gets you a free $20 poem; and $200 gets you a free epic, posted after the Poetry Fishbowl. These will usually be series poems if I have them; otherwise I may offer non-series poems or series poems in a different size. If donations reach $250, you get one step toward a bonus fishbowl; three of these activates the perk, and they don't have to be three months in a row. Everyone will get to vote on which series, and give prompts during the extra fishbowl, although it may be a half-day rather than a whole day. If donations reach $300, you get a half-price sale for one week in one series. Everyone will get to vote on which series to feature in the sale, out of those with extra poems available.
Feed the Fish!
Now's your chance to participate in the creative process by posting ideas for me to write about. Today's theme is "flexible truths." I'll be soliciting ideas for liars, soothsayers, fortunetellers, economists, historians, politicians, journalists, storytellers, other folks who deal in truths and lies, discovering the truth, telling lies, stretching the truth, when an unbelieved truth bites people on the ass, when you let the truth free and it defends itself, plot twists, courtrooms, family meetings, seats of government, sorcerous workrooms, other places where truth is a concern, enlightenment, hidden truths, lies that are too big to fail, universal truths that aren't, the is-ness of reality, natural laws that can be bent but not broken, things that are true but not real (or vice versa), things that are only sometimes true, things that are true but have a wider scope than expected, things that used to be true, and poetic forms in particular. But anything is welcome, really. If you manage to recommend a form that I don't recognize, I will probably pounce on it and ask you for its rules. I do have Lewis Turco's The New Book of Forms which covers most common and many obscure forms.
I'll post at least one of the fishbowl poems here so you-all can enjoy it. (Remember, you get an extra freebie poem if someone new posts a prompt or makes a donation, and additional perks at $100-$300 in donations. Linkbacks reveal verses of "A Stranger's Way.") The rest of the poems will go into my archive for magazine submission.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-08-05 05:46 pm (UTC)Promises made by politicians. Religion. "It's true for me, and that's what's important". Consent
Poem
Date: 2014-08-05 10:40 pm (UTC)Poem
Date: 2014-08-06 04:28 am (UTC)108 lines, Buy It Now = $54
Poem
Date: 2014-08-10 04:06 am (UTC)20 lines, Buy It Now = $10
(no subject)
Date: 2014-08-05 06:31 pm (UTC)What happened to Shiv after the big fight at the Mall? Does he now perceive Antimatter as a betrayer? Did he die -- and if so, does Lawrence know, and what does that do to his perception of himself?
What happens if/when someone actually clocks Damask's personality changes as different personae come to the front?
ETA: Robbie Burns' wish -- "Oh wad some power the giftie gie us, to see oursels as others see us." That would be a terrifying and dangerous ability, if someone were to manifest it.
Poem
Date: 2014-08-06 11:01 am (UTC)Poor Stan, he just turned one nemesis into a boyfriend, and now he's got a new one.
86 lines, Buy It Now = $43
(no subject)
Date: 2014-08-05 06:43 pm (UTC)Things that people believe are true that are only true because people believe them.
Poem
Date: 2014-08-05 10:41 pm (UTC)Poem
Date: 2014-08-06 04:30 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-08-05 07:30 pm (UTC)I assume you've heard the old riddle about the traveller meeting two brothers, one who always tells the truth, and one who always lies, the traveller has to find out which of two paths to take to his destination by only asking one of the brothers one question. But I want to hear more about the brothers! What is their relationship like? Are they under a curse, have they taken a vow, or do they just do it for fun, some other reason?
Poem
Date: 2014-08-06 10:49 pm (UTC)32 lines, Buy It Now = $15
Linkback Is Live!
Date: 2014-08-05 08:29 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-08-05 09:05 pm (UTC)What happens when Morwenna learns exactly who her parents are?
Morgan Tud has faerie ancestry. Did all parties know what they were getting into when that happened?
"Stories last longer: but only by becoming only stories."
Poem
Date: 2014-08-05 11:46 pm (UTC)26 lines, Buy It Now = $15
Poem
Date: 2014-08-06 09:02 am (UTC)60 lines, Buy It Now = $20
Prompt ideas
Date: 2014-08-05 09:07 pm (UTC)Polychrome: What are the 'flexible truths' when someone asks Faramundo or Amada how many children they have? Do the adults have the same answer?
P.I.E. - A “flexible truth” for the typical poltergeist or other 'weird' element. Someone who comes to the detective not to be rid of some supernatural problem on their property, but to find a way to coexist peacefully. I leave the supernatural up to you, with only the suggestion that the problem as the client sees it is that as X is /startling/ rather than /dangerous/. (This may not be true!)
Schrodingers: I'd like a peek into TeJay's thoughts, now that some time has passed since the events of “Sloppy and Wet.” How has his world changed? What are the flexible truths he is struggling with right now?
Frankenstein's Family: I'd like more insight into the village priest's balance between compassion and social norms... what are HIS “flexible truths,” many of which no one but he and his parishioner know.
Steamsmith: She /lives/ flexible truths, but her household is small and often needs skills neither she nor the maid are able to provide. I'd like one of her formerly standoffish neighbors to approach her with an unexpected solution.
Re: Prompt ideas
Date: 2014-08-07 05:00 am (UTC)224 lines, Buy It Now = $112
Re: Prompt ideas
Date: 2014-08-07 05:13 am (UTC)Happy, happy, happy!
I look forward to helping it get sponsored!
Re: Prompt ideas
Date: 2014-08-09 10:57 pm (UTC)158 lines, Buy It Now = $79
Re: Prompt ideas
Date: 2014-08-10 01:44 am (UTC)Re: Prompt ideas
Date: 2014-08-10 06:32 am (UTC)Re: Prompt ideas
Date: 2014-08-11 02:14 am (UTC)31 lines, Buy It Now = $15
Re: Prompt ideas
Date: 2014-08-11 02:57 am (UTC)Re: Prompt ideas
Date: 2014-08-11 03:08 am (UTC)Sooth. They're going to be limping from this one for a while.
>> Remind me the next time you need prompts: Piotr would DEFINITELY steer them toward family counseling at Soup to Nuts. It's so closely affiliated with SPOON that it's easy to accept that it works under similar finances, and they definitely NEED some extra buffering skills with everything else going on! <<
God knows they need it. But imagine how that suggestion is likely to go over with the machisimo of a young Hispanic man whose pride is already stinging.
Re: Prompt ideas
Date: 2014-08-11 04:14 am (UTC)I mean, even with the very BEST of intentions, they are calling the little one by the "wrong" name, no matter that Danso had no way to tell what her name was, and he tried to pick something which sounded both appropriate, and that he understood.
Amada seems to be the one dealing with the majority of the kids' day-to-day behaviors, which means she's the one more likely to have figured out that compromise begins waaay before kids are mouthy teenagers.
Piotr is thinking VERY strongly that if Faramundo doesn't get some support in place so he has ROOM to really flip his lid and begin to work things out, the older boys will suffer as well. Initially, the idea would be that the boys feel like they have to "do better" to reassure themselves, and their parents... They don't have the right tools to figure out bigger problems, so they're going to be messing up as often as not, on top of everything else.
But I'm hopeful that Piotr can reach the other dad, because his attitude of "soup" equals "damaged" is going to be HORRIBLE for the older boys when dealing with anybody at SPOON, or Hannah, Danso and the other children. After all, the boys have the same parents as Rosita; they might have children who are also soups, even if they never manifest an ability.
The reason I argue in favor of Piotr, actually, is one of convenience. He's involved already, tried to keep their meetings focused on what was best for Rosita, etc. His agenda in the matter is pretty clear and that makes it easy to see its boundaries.
Re: Prompt ideas
Date: 2014-08-11 07:04 am (UTC)Yes, that's true.
>> even if it's just "Is there anything we can do to help make it easier to visit often?" <<
For the time being, the Durantes have been staying in a hotel so they can visit Rosita. They were originally expecting to pick her up and go home. The current arrangement is not one they can continue indefinitely, and that's part of the strain. It is hardest on Faramundo because he has a good solid job that he doesn't want to leave, and there's a limit to how long he can stay away from it without losing it.
>> I mean, even with the very BEST of intentions, they are calling the little one by the "wrong" name, no matter that Danso had no way to tell what her name was, and he tried to pick something which sounded both appropriate, and that he understood. <<
Exactly.
>> Amada seems to be the one dealing with the majority of the kids' day-to-day behaviors, which means she's the one more likely to have figured out that compromise begins waaay before kids are mouthy teenagers. <<
Yes, and she has a more flexible personality in general. Part of that is because she doesn't deal with the level of self-hate and fear that Faramundo has. Hell, he needed counseling before his daughter popped a superpower and disappeared on them.
>> Piotr is thinking VERY strongly that if Faramundo doesn't get some support in place so he has ROOM to really flip his lid and begin to work things out, the older boys will suffer as well. <<
Piotr is very astute.
>> Initially, the idea would be that the boys feel like they have to "do better" to reassure themselves, and their parents... They don't have the right tools to figure out bigger problems, so they're going to be messing up as often as not, on top of everything else. <<
Honeymoon period, oh yay. End of honeymoon period, oh shit. Thank gods that Hannah has seen this dozens of times and know how to cope. She must be seeing the negative effects of Faramundo's behavior on his family, but that is no way a safe topic for her to broach.
>> But I'm hopeful that Piotr can reach the other dad, <<
I think it's a slim chance, but not zero. Faramundo isn't a bad person, just has a lot of wrongheaded ideas and past damage. It's getting in the way of his life.
One really bitter example? Even a minor teleporter can easily get work at a SPOON base. They always need couriers because most soups have a hard time getting to where they're needed, fast enough to be of use.
I suspect the situation is likely to get a lot worse before Faramundo would consider tolerating something like therapy.
>> because his attitude of "soup" equals "damaged" is going to be HORRIBLE for the older boys when dealing with anybody at SPOON, or Hannah, Danso and the other children. <<
It's abrasive and embarrassing for everyone. Sporks generally are. Prior to this, Faramundo was a lot more subtle about it, because he didn't want to attract attention to superpowers at all. But now that it's more apparent, yes, it could really mess up the boys and that is an imprint they do not need.
>> After all, the boys have the same parents as Rosita; they might have children who are also soups, even if they never manifest an ability. <<
If they marry a soup, it's likely they would have at least some talented children. If they marry another latent, the chance is still significant. But because the boys are latents themselves, there's a definite chance that they could manifest a talent if they're ever in a situation of extreme danger. That is a context where Faramundo's nasty beliefs are downright harmful.
>> The reason I argue in favor of Piotr, actually, is one of convenience. He's involved already, tried to keep their meetings focused on what was best for Rosita, etc. His agenda in the matter is pretty clear and that makes it easy to see its boundaries. <<
It helps that Piotr is a father himself, something Faramundo is inclined to respect; and that Piotr is not interested in taking possession of Rosita, so not a direct competitor. Piotr can probably get away with saying things to Faramundo that nobody else could. I just don't think the dumb spud is likely to listen.
Re: Prompt ideas
Date: 2014-08-11 01:37 pm (UTC)On a storytelling note: that leaves the story line open for Faramundo to head back to work, under the guise of necessity, and Amada looking around for work locally, if you need to.
I generally don't insist on "happy endings"-- but in this case, the more development in the characters, the better outcome in the long run, might just involve the family breaking apart. I don't see divorce as 'bad' or 'wrong'-- just difficult!
Re: Prompt ideas
Date: 2014-08-14 05:56 am (UTC)That's actually what Dairine called the Lone Power in Diane Duane's wizardry novels. I had used the phrase before that, it's fairly common, but now it always reminds me of that. Exasperation and affection.
>> On a storytelling note: that leaves the story line open for Faramundo to head back to work, under the guise of necessity, and Amada looking around for work locally, if you need to. <<
I suspect that's likely.
>> I generally don't insist on "happy endings"-- but in this case, the more development in the characters, the better outcome in the long run, might just involve the family breaking apart. I don't see divorce as 'bad' or 'wrong'-- just difficult! <<
Agreed. I think it's going to take that for Faramundo to understand what is really going on here -- that he can't go back to life as it was, there is shit he HAS to deal with now. Which way he'll turn after that is anyone's guess, or prompt.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-08-05 09:23 pm (UTC)Sometimes law enforcement has to bend a few rules to see justice done. Dale and Kelley deal with a bit of history... or perhaps suggest to a rookie how best to do things to keep the respect of the community.
Poem
Date: 2014-08-07 08:15 pm (UTC)176 lines, Buy It Now = $88
Poem
Date: 2014-08-08 09:00 pm (UTC)104 lines, Buy It Now = $52
Poem
Date: 2014-08-11 03:03 am (UTC)55 lines, Buy It Now = $20
(no subject)
Date: 2014-08-05 10:01 pm (UTC)Spacetime itself can flex, bend, or stretch... and what of that within it or traveling upon it?
The nature of dark matter.
Poem
Date: 2014-08-05 10:42 pm (UTC)Poem
Date: 2014-08-06 04:31 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-08-05 11:46 pm (UTC)Second one: Not every truth is all that flexible. Most things do come in shades of grey, but some are black and white no matter what.
Third one: Polychrome Heroics, for a shapeshifting Cal. How do her parents take the revelation of her identity as a transwoman, a shapeshifter, or both? I imagine their perception of her does a few spirals... or does it?
Fourth one: Fledgling Grace, for someone with cross-gendered feathers i.e. rooster-feathered. Truth will out.
Poem
Date: 2014-08-07 07:47 am (UTC)56 lines, Buy It Now = $20
Poem
Date: 2014-08-11 02:15 am (UTC)Prompt: Brad
Date: 2014-08-06 12:14 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-08-06 01:20 am (UTC)Being an honest politician when everyone expects you to lie.
Learning which truths about yourself are flexible, and which aren't. Especially figuring out your own sexuality.
Poem
Date: 2014-08-07 08:15 pm (UTC)Poem
Date: 2014-08-09 07:56 pm (UTC)310 lines, Buy It Now = $155
(no subject)
Date: 2014-08-06 04:34 am (UTC)* the South had flipped Republican as a result of distrusting JFK's Catholicism. Not as a direct result of Johnson pushing through the Civil Rights Act.
* Reagan's militarism had restored the pride which the USA had lost by withdrawing from Vietnam, and was responsible for what was going on in the Soviet Union.
* myths about "welfare mothers."
Here's some of what I wasn't told;
* the history books all ended on a triumphant note for the USA with victory in WWII in 1945, and did not cover history since.
* I was not told about lynchings, synagogue bombings, and other fun stuff that literally happened down the road from places I visited.
* I was not told about the history of organized labor, things like the Siege of Blair Mountain, the Columbine Mine Massacre, etc.
* I was not told about any of MLK's speeches except for the "I have a dream" speech. Only as an adult did I discover things like "A letter from a Birmingham jail" or the "How long? Not long" speech.
Poem
Date: 2014-08-06 07:05 am (UTC)165 lines, Buy It Now = $82.50
Done for the night!
Date: 2014-08-06 11:08 am (UTC)