She Said Tell Stories Manuscript...Trinida

Compiling the manuscript. Tedious in many ways: fonts, ordering, printing, scanning. The poems are written. Have too many poems already so no need to write more. Just compile and send out. Looking for a new agent, a publisher...tedious.

The writing part is the exciting part, the performing, the attentive crowds, the response. The creating part is the important part, everything else feels like post-production, after-party cleanup.

But it must be done.






Here is another poem from the manuscript:

Trinidad

I didn't think I

Could get you out

Of my head

Your persistent heat

Your red dust breezes

The prayers we swallowed

The songs we sang

Are dancing thorough

My head still

I didn't think I could

Come back and live

This life

Without spirits

Without visions

Without all night sojourns

But you let me leave
Like you let me come

Easy

And I'm here plotting

Ways to return to you

How About....

How About

How about if a girl

Could grow up

Never get hit

Speak loud

Run fast

Wear her hair

In her face

Live any place

Marry or not marry

Whoever she pleases

Have as many babies

As she wants

And can feed

Be proud of bleeding every month

And never walk in shame

Because of the jewel

Between her legs

Be proud instead

Of the power it represents

How about if a girl

Could grow up like a weed

Free.

Retreat Rewards: Poetry Book Compiled

Most recent leg of Impossible Tour involved a 7-day meditation and writing retreat at Questhaven. I got a lot done. I went there with the intention of compiling a new poetry book manuscript and I did just that. Its a meaty book, divided into 9 chapters sorted by theme. The tentative title is "Stories Somebody Forgot to Tell You." Title may change. Still thinking about it. Titles matter. People judge books by titles....

Stories Somebody Forgot to Tell You

Jennifer Lisa Vest

Chapter One:  Origin Stories

Chapter Two: Love Stories

Chapter Three: Everybody’s Life but My Own Stories

Chapter Four: Tales Told By Rocks

Chapter Five: Cautionary Tales

Chapter Six: Mother Stories

Chapter Seven: Spirit Stories: Voices Down the Hallway

Chapter Eight: Tales of Tribute

Chapter Nine: Tales of Tragedy, Tales of Triumph

So far, the book includes 119 of my poems. May tweak a few poems and then....Next step is sending it to an agent or a publisher. Any suggestions?

The Impossible Tour: Back to the Mountains

I am headed back to Questhaven Retreat Center this week for a much needed meditation and writing retreat. Plan to meditate 8 times a day like I did last time I was there. Hope to compile my poetry manuscript. 

Tentative title: Stories No One Told You.

II go into the woods


To listen more deeply


To hear what the universe


Endeavors to teach me

No internet for five days....

Turn Away

Turn away from this day


This dusty cluttered life


Step back from the wreck


Your expectations your neglect


Forget what you were 


Wanting didn’t get



Embrace the mystery


Stop being what you call being


Stop trying stop striving



What you see is not your life


Who you truly are


You’ve always been