“. . . Like any mom, she explores,
and wills herself to be free,
and wishes freedom upon her young: from her,
the egg, sand, and life-death. The ocean rolls
and rolls, and beckons her back.”

— Excerpt from "Turtle Mom," by Olga Livshin

On Wednesday, Septemeber 6, 2023, I’m hosting the Journal of Expressive Writing monthly OPEN MIC series featuring poet Olga Livshin from 7-8:30 p.m. ET

Excerpt from A Life Replaced

TRANSLATING A LIFE

            for O.M. and M.R.

Someone spread a blanket of wild buckwheat

over a meadow. Someone tucked puffball pillows

in each corner of the purple-green sheet.

It is summer everywhere, except war.

War, where it used to be home,

and now, war by government, here.

And what does it matter that the meadow

seduces the bees in pollen, or me in lines

of a poem, or that I hear perfectly good

Russian names for plants and translate them

into You-and-Me-ish? . . .

~ Olga Livshin

SIGN UP for one of the 15 slots to read your work for 3 minutes in the OPEN MIC portion of this event.

First come, first served + waiting list or register to listen here.