Grass Roots Institute & Poetry

This morning I met with Aida Rentas, founder of the Grass Roots Institute (GRI), to discuss the addition of a creative wrting: poetry workshop to the GRI's program. As I drove to Edgewood Avenue this morning, I didn't know what to expect-- I've never pitched like this to someone. Poetry is my life's passion, and I was afraid I wouldn't present myself in the way I imagined I needed to come across. After two minutes of talking with Aida my worries drifted away because it is was obvious our discussion wasn't go to be a production of impress me or hit the road. Aida wants to know what you can do and how can it better the lives of children; she cares only wants the best for the young ones involved in GRI.

Aida is fierce, lovely, kind, and determined, and I am excited to have the chance to start working with her. Currently, we are planning two workshops-- one for 10-14yr olds and another for high school students. I can't wait for my workshop ideas to become a reality.

I'll definitely post updates on my work with the Grass Roots Institute. Also, I'm still going to post an update on SB 148, which was tabled by Representative Amos Amerson, but I have to wait until I receive some information from an elected official.

"Mama's Promise" ~ Marilyn Nelson

In case you've forgotten, the POTM is Marilyn Nelson. The Nelson poem I'm sharing this week isn't much of a surprise to some of my friends; I posted parts of this poems a month or two ago. I interviewed Marilyn while she was in town for AWP, and I couldn't help but bring up te poem "Mama's Promise" and rave about my favorite parts of the poem (which are in bold).

Mama's Promise

I have no answer to the blank inequity
of a four-year-old dying of cancer.
I saw her on TV and wept
with my mouth full of meatloaf.

I constantly flash on disasters now;
red lights shout Warning. Danger.
everywhere I look.
I buckle him in, but what if a car
with a grille like a sharkbite
roared up out of the road?
I feed him square meals,
but what if the fist of his heart
should simply fall open?
I carried him safely
as long as I could,
but now he's a runaway
on the dangerous highway.
Warning. Danger.
I've started to pray.

But the dangerous highway
curves through blue evenings
when I hold his yielding hand
and snip his minuscule nails
with my vicious-looking scissors.
I carry him around
like an egg in a spoon,
and I remember a porcelain fawn,
a best friend's trust,
my broken faith in myself.
It's not my grace that keeps me erect
as the sidewalk clatters downhill
under my rollerskate wheels.

Sometimes I lie awake
troubled by this thought:
It's not so simple to give a child birth;
you also have to give it death,
the jealous fairy's christening gift.

I've always pictured my own death
as a closed door,
a black room,
a breathless leap from the mountaintop
with time to throw out my arms, lift my head,
and see, in the instant my heart stops,
a whole galaxy of blue.
I imagined I'd forget,
in the cessation of feeling,
while the guilt of my lifetime floated away
like a nylon nightgown,
and that I'd fall into clean, fresh forgiveness.

Ah, but the death I've given away
is more mine than the one I've kept:
from my hands the poisoned apple,
from my bow the mistletoe dart.

Then I think of Mama,
her bountiful breasts.
When I was a child, I really swear,
Mama's kisses could heal.
I remember her promise,
and whisper it over my sweet son's sleep:

When you float to the bottom, child,
like a mote down a sunbeam,
you'll see me from a trillion miles away:
my eyes looking up to you,
my arms outstretched for you like night.

~ Marilyn Nelson

Taken from The Fields of Praise: New and Selected Poems, Louisiana State University Press

Click here to see last week's poem.

Three Links to AJC Articles

~ Senate OKs measure to increase cable competition -- Promoting competition sounds good, but I agree with Senator Regina Thomas's comment.

~ Bill targets professors' intolerance -- The AJC should have reprinted some of the comments that I heard were made by Ruth Malhotra. I need to check with some of my Tech friends about emails that were sent around regarding Malhorta-- If I remember correctly, there was much buzz about her on the Tech campus--- it was last year or the year before.

~ Senate approves ultrasound rule -- OK, first of all, I must confess it is extremely hard for me to read the words Senator Nancy Schaefer without being overcome with naseau, but I made it through the article none-the-less. I was happy to see that Representative Jill Chambers voted against HB 147, and the article ends with a great quote by Senator Nan Orrock.

Announcements: Politics to Poetry

~ The House Science & Technology Committee will vote on Senate Bill 148, the Saving the Cure Act, this Thursday at 8am. It is not too late to take action regarding SB 148; please click here to view my latest update on the bill, which includes contact information for the House Science & Technology Committee.

~ The April issue of ToasterMag is up for your viewing pleasure. In this issue's Editor's Letter, the editor writes, "In such a short time, [Dustin] has completely recharged our Freehand poetry department." I think this is evident since the Freehand Department includes a new poem by the talent named Denise Duhamel. Also, Denise gave us permission to reprint "Antichrist Barbie," which is my favorite poem from her book KINKY.

~ Mark your calendars: The 2007 AIDS Walk Atlanta is scheduled for Sunday, October 21. For the past couple of months I have been hard at work on fundraising projects involving poetry. I plan to announce one of these projects within the next couple of weeks.

Senate Bill 148, First Committee Hearing

Senate Bill 148, the Saving the Cure Act, went before the House Science & Technology Committee today. No voting took place today as the committee only took testimony, which lasted for almost two hours. Dr. Marie Csete, who conducts embryonic stem cell research at Emory University, spoke against the bill by saying the omission of embryonic stem cell research in SB 148 is hostile judgment. Maybe it is just me, but I'm not thinking that is too sound of an argument; however, rumor has it that Dr. Csete's argument might be enough to sway two members of the House Science & Technology Committee. Dr. Csete is a perfect example of one of the two groups I mentioned in my last blog entry who oppose SB 148.

SB 148 does not prohibit or even discourage embryonic stem cell research; the focus of the bill is solely on non-embryonic stem cell research and establishing an umbilical cord blood bank. If Dr. Csete wants bills promoting embryonic stem cell research in the GA General Assembly she needs to contact her elected officials to 'get the ball rolling.' A passed SB 148 will not block such an initiative.

I understand that Dr. Csete is passionate about her field of study and feels the need to voice her opinion, and I am thankful we live in a country where Dr. Csete can voice her opinion freely, but I only wish she would think of the greater good that is possible by the passing of SB 148. Is Keone Penn, first person to be cured of sickle cell via an umbilical cord blood transplant, not evidence of the greater good?

Not to sound harsh, but also staying true to speaking my mind, I would hope a doctor would have a better argument than saying the omission of an item is hostile judgment. If I would have used such an argument way back when, when I was on the middle school debate team, the debate coach would have pulled me from the podium.

Again, I encourage you to review Senator Shafer's website for SB 148, the Saving the Cure Act. Navigate the site to read various letters of support and newspaper articles regarding the bill along with the names of organizations that support SB 148.

When you email the House and Technology Committee please copy Senator Shafer (David.Shafer@senate.ga.gov). For your ease, you may copy and paste the emails of the Science and Technology members from below:
amos.amerson@house.ga.gov; chuck@martinforgeorgia.com; xda92@mmm-law.com; david.casas@house.ga.gov; hardie.davis@house.ga.gov; kevinlevitas@bellsouth.net; marymargaret.oliver@house.ga.gov; barbara.reece@house.ga.gov; barry.loudermilk@house.ga.gov

Please share information regarding SB 148 with coworkers, friends, and family. Encourage them to contact the House and Technology Committee. With our support this bill can be released from committee and eventually passed in the House.

As citizens, it is our jobs to hold our elected officials accountable for their actions in the General Assembly. Their votes speak for us, so we must not fail to inform them of how to represent us, and if they fail to represent us we must take action at the polls .

Senate Bill 148, Saving the Cure Act

This week I received a thank you from Senator David Shafer (pictured to the left) for my blog entry on Senate Bill 148, Saving the Cure Act, which he sponsored. Honestly, I was surprised that Senator Shafer had discovered my blog entry regarding SB 148, but I was even more surprised that he took the time to contact me and provide me with an update on the bill. I understand that our elected officials are busy; most of them have the tasks family life along with a day job and then for 40 hectic days they serve us in the General Assembly. I hope the citizens of District 48 take notice of the thorough and dedicatedwork of Senator Shafer.

You might wonder where the idea for SB 148 originated. The bill is product of Keone Penn, who was cured of sickle cell anemia. Penn was the first recipient of an umbilical cord blood transplant, a transplant that saved his life. He has spoken to our elected officials about the battles he endured, the impact of his treatment, and having the opportunity to live sickle cell free. I don't understand how any elected official could vote against SB 148 after hearing Penn's story firsthand.

When I first discovered SB 148 from an AJC article, I did not know Keone Penn's story, and I could not imagine who, elected official or citizen, would want to oppose this bill. The bill supports NON-Embryonic Stem cell research and establishes an Umbilical Cord Blood Bank. Think of all the chances for research, all the possibilities to save lives that this bill gives to the citizens of Georgia. However, there are two groups that oppose SB 148. One group being those see the words "Stem Cell" and will not even give the bill a chance; the other group being people who support embryonic stem cell research and feel SB 148 is not enough. Since these two groups can't see past their prejudices, our support for SB 148 must outweigh theirs.

Also, check out Senator Shafer's page for Senate Bill 148, the Saving the Cure Act. As you navigate around the page you can find more information on the bill, various newspaper articles, and letters of support from citizens and organizations.

Good News: SB 148 passed through the Senate with a vote of 39 to 15. I am not going to discuss all the Senators who voted no; however, I want to spotlight two Senators: I am very disappointed in Senator Vincent Fort of District 39 (pictured to the right) for his vote of no, and I am disappointed and bothered that Nan Orrock of District 36 (pictured to the left) who serves on the Science and Technology, voted no against the bill in committee and on the Senate floor. Orrock was the only Senator on the Science and Technology committee to vote no. Senators Fort and Orrock are seasoned elected officials who in my opinion have worked to better our state, but in this instance they dropped the ball. When you have time I hope you will review the voting record for SB 148. Does your senator stand where you stand? If not, you need to voice your opinion.

The Fight: Now, SB 148 must be pass the House of Representatives. On Monday, April 9 at 2pm, SB 148 will go before the House Science and Technology Committee. SB 148 must pass through this hearing to make it to a vote on the House floor. If you are able, before 2pm on Monday, please contact the House Science and Technology Committee to let them know you want SB 148 to pass as submitted, no changes. In case you want to call the committee Monday morning feel free to call 404-657-8534 and voice your opinion. When you email the House and Technology Committee please copy Senator Shafer (David.Shafer@senate.ga.gov). For your ease, you may copy and paste the emails of the Science and Technology members from below:

amos.amerson@house.ga.gov; chuck@martinforgeorgia.com; xda92@mmm-law.com; david.casas@house.ga.gov; hardie.davis@house.ga.gov; kevinlevitas@bellsouth.net; marymargaret.oliver@house.ga.gov; barbara.reece@house.ga.gov; barry.loudermilk@house.ga.gov

Share this information with coworkers, friends, and family.

TAKE ACTION!

"How I Discovered Poetry" ~ Marilyn Nelson

How I Discovered Poetry

It was like soul-kissing, the way the words
filled my mouth as Mrs. Purdy read from her desk.
All the other kids zoned an hour ahead to 3:15,
but Mrs. Purdy and I wandered lonely as clouds borne
by a breeze off Mount Parnassus. She must have seen
the darkest eyes in the room brim: The next day
she gave me a poem she’d chosen especially for me
to read to the all except for me white class.
She smiled when she told me to read it, smiled harder,
said oh yes I could. She smiled harder and harder
until I stood and opened my mouth to banjo playing
darkies, pickaninnies, disses and dats. When I finished
my classmates stared at the floor. We walked silent
to the buses, awed by the power of words.

~ Marilyn Nelson
from The Fields of Praise: New and Selected Poems, Louisiana State University Press

I bought The Fields of Praise: New and Selected Poems in 2006 before attending the 2nd Annual Palm Beach Poetry Festival because I wanted to become better acquanted with Marilyn's work before participating in a workshop with her. I find myself visiting the book again and again-- the language is beautiful, each word carefully chosen like precious jewels.

I used the first line from "How I Discovered Poetry" in last month's workshop. The poet who drew the line did a good job using it.

POTM Addition to the Blog

Not only is today April Fool's day, but it is the first day of National Poetry Month. I've been planning an a series to include in my blog, and I thought kicking it off in April in honor of National Poetry Month would be 'snazzy.'

Each month I am going to name a Poet Of The Month, and ach week I'll share a previously published poem (that I enjoy by that poet) in the blog. Then I'll end the month by posting an interview I've conducted with the poet.

The inaugural poet for the series is the kick-ass founder of Soul Mountain Retreat, Marilyn Nelson. I am also happy to write that I have interviews scheduled through October.

OK. So yeah, go do something poetic.