This week, I’m pleased to review the latest book of poems by
Morgan Dragonwillow, friend and chief instigator behind poetry prompts and
online resources (both StoryDam and OctPoWriMo). I look at poetry as a way to
explore our most intimate perceptions of life, nature, love – distilled into
impressions of what we hold most dear.
Wild Woman Waking, a collaborative work
by Morgan Dragonwillow, poet, and Tui Snider, photographer, shows the
transformative power of poetry combined with images. Each of these 57 poems in
free verse begins with a beautiful image that evokes the very nature of the
poem, inviting the reader to reflect further on the nature of women, identity, healing,
and growth.
These themes lead we readers on a poetic journey of discovery. We find we must
acknowledge the sometimes harsh realities of our pasts before we can embrace
change and heal ourselves. For me, that is the essential message of Wild Woman Waking – that we celebrate
our true selves with passion, self-acceptance, and commitment. We may not be
able to return to the home of our childhood, but, as Morgan writes in ‘Finding
My Way Home,’ “. . . you carry home in your heart . . . where it was all along.”
Wild Woman Waking is a passionate read. When
we read these poems, we become the child who is misunderstood, the woman who
searches for acceptance. From ‘Diving Deep’:
As the leaves fall I find
myself curled
up inside
diving into
the darkness . . .
Several
poems ask us to consider the link between poetry and our bodies. In ‘Where Do
Words Come From’, Morgan asks if words are:
searching
for a way out of our fingers
. . . . are the words traveling in your blood
riding along
the great highway of your inner being
Morgan’s poems make me think about the power
of poetry to transform ourselves, as if in the very act of putting down words,
we invent ourselves, we create order out of chaos, we show others
possibilities.
Sometimes poets
write what we wish we could say, and they tell us what we need to know. The
poems in
Wild Woman Waking lead us to
a place where we can proudly refuse to be “bent and broken”; instead, they
document a journey to self-acceptance, peace, and understanding – where in a
community of women, we celebrate and dance as Mud Women. We become women of
spirit and keepers of our own keys.
What's next? You can scroll down to read a little about about Morgan and Tui, visit the other hosts on this blog hop, and ENTER Morgan's giveaway (see below). As always, thank YOU for visiting and commenting.
Morgan Dragonwillow is a shadow poet
and recovering perfectionist that strives to inspire other poets and
writers. She especially enjoys helping those that have had trouble letting
go of the fear holding back their words from landing on the page. It thrills
her to her marrow when her words inspire someone to write; it is one of her
greatest joys. Morgan released her first poetry book, Dancing within Shadow,
in March 2013. She is intimate with shadow and dances into the heart of it. She
believes that diving into what most people try to avoid makes great fertilizer
for all types of creativity, especially writing and poetry. She writes poetry
to be able to say things, feel things that she can’t seem to express or feel
anywhere else. Morgan lives
in Marietta Ga. with her partner, their Pekinese, and their long haired Tabby.
She loves creating of all kinds but words are her passion. You can connect with
Morgan from the links below.
Tui
Snider is a writer, photographer, and
travel blogger specializing in offbeat sites, overlooked history, cultural
traditions, and quirky travel destinations. Her articles and photos have
appeared in BMIbaby, easyJet, Wizzit, Click, Ling, PlanetEye Traveler, iStopover,
SkyEurope, and North Texas Farm and Ranch magazines, among others. She also
wrote the shopping chapter for the “Time Out Naples: Capri, Sorrento, and the
Amalfi Coast 2010” travel guidebook. Unexpected Texas is her first book. For
Tui, travel is a mindset. Her motto is "Even home is a travel
destination," and she believes that "The world is only boring if you
take everyone else's word for it." She has worn a lot of hats in her life
- literally - and is especially fond of berets. Her first book, "Unexpected
Texas" is a guide to offbeat and overlooked places within easy reach of
the Dallas - Fort Worth region of North Texas. You can find Tui all around the
web.
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Tomorrow marks the beginning of April and the A to Z Blogging Challenge. 
