~Bethany Lauren Grigsby Winter’s teeth bit our bones as we all huddled close Passing around the yerba mate and sipping it quickly, Hoping to unfreeze parts of our body that had froze It was June But instead of donning tank-tops and shorts and flip flops I was in scarves and coats and boots in rural [...]

~Bethany Lauren Grigsby To my potential-but-not-guaranteed or wholly essential future male life-partner I come with a proposal That if we commit to walking down an aisle of marriage We commit to walking in a certain kind of life First order of business: Let’s take an axe and chop down that white picket fence they told [...]

I thought it might be helpful for me to post information about the Open Mic venues about which I know in the Los Angeles area.  For those of you in other counties, states, etc. if you have information about Open Mic venues in your area (or even LA venues I haven’t listed) please email me [...]

I’m pleased to announce that the 3rd session of In the Words of Womyn workshop will be starting Friday, September 17, 2010 at 6:00pm @ Tia Chucha’s Centro Cultural in Sylmar, CA.  For full details on the workshop and location, please check out the Workshop page. Can’t wait to see you there! Write on, Womyn! [...]

~Jennifer A. I see a teenage boy sitting across from me mind and soul trapped in a broken body; multiple strokes have left him a prisoner using art and technology we communicate silently sometimes I wonder if I had never asked this question, would he have ever shared his thoughts would there be someone to [...]

~Makisha Lawrence An elegant hand beckons to her She looks up Gazes into confident eyes A glint of arrogance lines Its smile A sigh of desire and regret sing from her chest Takes Its hand She and Envy sway to music only they can hear They rock in sync Warm breath on neck and ear [...]

~Jennifer A. I want that roller-coaster-on-the-down-slope, caught-in-a-sudden-down-pour-on-a-summer-day, look-up-in-the-sky-just-in-time-to-catch-a-shooting-star, bought-a-ticket-on-a-whim-and-won-the-whole-jackpot, kind of love. I want that sun-coming-out-just-in-time-to-paint-brilliant-sunset, first-dripping-bite-into-ripest-nectarine, intoxicating-inhale-of-fragrant-spring-rose, cool-breath-of-night-air-washing-over-sleeping-face, kind of story. I want that magical-enchanted-firefly-evening, rhythms-bumpin’-so-loud-it-competes-with-my-heart-to-make-pulse, first-warm-ray-of-sun-after-winter’s-chill, wave-crashing-on-your-back-unaware, kind of kiss. I want that playful-wind-dancing-’round-my-face, thunder-rattling-my-bones, full-moon-illuminating-snowscape-sparkling-like-diamonds, long-drink-of-cool-water-on-a-scorching-day, kind of man. Yeah, I said it I want it all– somehow between a little girl’s [...]

~L. B. Nelson Warm Sun Breeze flowing through Work-worn Hands clapping Life-worn thumb harps Spring in rapid unison; Fiddle strings stroked Slowly up, Slowly down; Harmonicas inhaled exhaled; Double-time guitar strings Pulled then released swiftly in-between Children chatter, crying, laughter Flowing through people drumming Community humming Swaying their best give-take joy, Nutrition to all Souls; [...]

~Sasha R. God was in love when He made me. His eyes were focused on something in the distance when His hands slid across clay to form my face. He stared for a long time in that direction, His warm fingers at rest against my rough, wet cheeks. As He pushed at the clay, I [...]

~L. B. Nelson one brown onion, raw cut of the dice; contact of the pile tossed produces sizzling juice, bubbling and spitting; a hot-oil crescendo short-lived, barely contained in the skillet. Carmelized morsels singed; a few burnt black, tastier still.