webpoet1
04-08-2007, 12:13 PM
Hello, this is Laurie Pollack. Some of you may remember me from
the old Soulforce national actions, especially in Lynchburg and
Washington, DC.
I miss all of you/and the national actions, but the only thing
constant in life, is change, and I know that we are still friends
even if we do not physically see each other.
I wanted to share the newest thing in my life, which is
that I recently self-published a book, "PeaceWalk".
It is NOT a chapbook but an actual paperback book.
It contains 50% peace poems, and 50% LGBT poems,
including a poem I wrote, "MotherForce", inspired by
a mom saying that her son is not sick. It's on
www.lulu.com, and you can see what it looks like by
going there then searching n "PeaceWalk". My friend
Jen, who is an artist, created the cover, and it's very rainbow-y.
I remember the powerful experience of reading my poems
at the Lynchburg Pride, trying to "tune out" the men
with the bullhorns: and realizing that nonviolence isn't always
the big actions that make headlines: but sometimes is just
the small, quiet things we do each day.
I have also been integrating my poetry more and more into
my work for peace: I recently read three poems at a
vigil marking the 4th anniversary of the war,
I read a poem at a rally at the Nevada Test Site
April 1st (Palm Sunday) then carried a copy of the book
across the boundary line of the Test Site.
I am working on another book: as this one started in 2001,
it will be years and years before it is out. This one will
include at least one poem about the Equality Ride.
Although the last few years, especially my partner's
diagnosis in 2005 with breast cancer, her father's death,
and my father's death, have taught me: to have hopes but not
expectations in life, because sometimes things happen suddenly
and you can't count on anything: even life itself, my hope
is either in spring or summer 2008, to do a week as a volunteer
in the Gulf, working to repair hurricane damaged homes.
I don't know how/if/when that will happen: it would be nice
if some friends could join me.
I also recently got hired permanently: I had been at that company as a consultant for a year: they do health advocacy work, so finally
I feel I am at a company with "right livelihood" rather than helping
nuclear reactors keep running or helping slot machines record their
wins. I hope it lasts, although again no expectations, and if it doesn't,
I'm sure I'll find another job.
That's all. I'm enjoying life, and enjoying it's adventures. But miss you all.
Laurie
the old Soulforce national actions, especially in Lynchburg and
Washington, DC.
I miss all of you/and the national actions, but the only thing
constant in life, is change, and I know that we are still friends
even if we do not physically see each other.
I wanted to share the newest thing in my life, which is
that I recently self-published a book, "PeaceWalk".
It is NOT a chapbook but an actual paperback book.
It contains 50% peace poems, and 50% LGBT poems,
including a poem I wrote, "MotherForce", inspired by
a mom saying that her son is not sick. It's on
www.lulu.com, and you can see what it looks like by
going there then searching n "PeaceWalk". My friend
Jen, who is an artist, created the cover, and it's very rainbow-y.
I remember the powerful experience of reading my poems
at the Lynchburg Pride, trying to "tune out" the men
with the bullhorns: and realizing that nonviolence isn't always
the big actions that make headlines: but sometimes is just
the small, quiet things we do each day.
I have also been integrating my poetry more and more into
my work for peace: I recently read three poems at a
vigil marking the 4th anniversary of the war,
I read a poem at a rally at the Nevada Test Site
April 1st (Palm Sunday) then carried a copy of the book
across the boundary line of the Test Site.
I am working on another book: as this one started in 2001,
it will be years and years before it is out. This one will
include at least one poem about the Equality Ride.
Although the last few years, especially my partner's
diagnosis in 2005 with breast cancer, her father's death,
and my father's death, have taught me: to have hopes but not
expectations in life, because sometimes things happen suddenly
and you can't count on anything: even life itself, my hope
is either in spring or summer 2008, to do a week as a volunteer
in the Gulf, working to repair hurricane damaged homes.
I don't know how/if/when that will happen: it would be nice
if some friends could join me.
I also recently got hired permanently: I had been at that company as a consultant for a year: they do health advocacy work, so finally
I feel I am at a company with "right livelihood" rather than helping
nuclear reactors keep running or helping slot machines record their
wins. I hope it lasts, although again no expectations, and if it doesn't,
I'm sure I'll find another job.
That's all. I'm enjoying life, and enjoying it's adventures. But miss you all.
Laurie