community writing project journal vol 1 / issue 2 / July 2021 in pursuit of magic vol 1 / issue 2 / July 2021 Dear Readers As one of my favorite blues singer, Etta James delivered, “At Last,” we are ready with Issue #2 of the Community Writing Project Journal. The overwhelming response to our submis- sion call was delightful. Thank to all of you who gave generously with words and art. Special recognition to ArtSpeak/From Page to Performance participants who continue to regularly submit and support our efforts. A super special thanks to Marcia Klein, Grant Ex- plorer for the CWPJ. She pointed us in the direction of Arts Westchester. All writ- golda Solomon co-editor ers from our premiere issue will be represented in their Spring Exhibition -projects that were initiated during the pandemic. This issue is dedicated to my colleague at Borough of Man- hattan Community College Robert Lapides my first editor, who recently passed away. He saw my potential. “You can talk Golda; how about writing down some of your stories.” I am still talking and writing. Cover art: In Pursuit of Magic (2020) We are proud to introduce a new section, ‘Kidz Roar/Raw, Ysabella Hincapie-Gara unedited contributions from young writers and artists. Our youngest writer is 14 and our youngest artist, four. Editors: Golda Solomon & Jacqueline Reason Artspeak/From Page to Performance Karim Ahmed: Technical Assistant Enjoy our labor of love, Artspeak/From Page to Performance lead a supportive community of Marcia Klein: Grant Hunter meets of each monthly on 2nd writers in exploring poetry, music golda Michele Amaro: Blue Door Art Center Gallery Director Saturdays. This generative workshop and art as both teachers and is partially funded by Poets & Writers learners. Nakeisha Cantzlaar: Editorial and Blue Door Art Center. Assistant “We are all artists. We are all writers. Russell Evans: Art Director Host Golda Solomon, Poet-in- We are all poets.” Golda Solomon Contributors: A Global Residence and co-host Jacqui Reason Community of Writers & Artists 3 vol 1 / issue 2 / July 2021 contents 6 Dedication 66 My Best Friend Savannah Michele Ginzburg Dawning Prayer Tony Mitchelson 67 I Dream of Paris Jiana Lofay 7 Poem 21 Xanath Caraza aDORATIONS AND MISlikes 68 8 Looking for America Marcia Klein 69 After 92/250 Richard Merkin’s Amores Golda Solomon 9 Ukase Marcia Klein 70 Tide’s In – dirt’s Out Golda Solomon Faceted Fire Shift Matthew Turov 73 92/250 Amores Richard Merkin 10 What Comes Next Nora Freeman 74 Compulsion to Create Art Sheila Benedis 12 What Comes Next: Pandemic Month Six Deborah Maier 75 As a Child Sheila Benedis Until We are Free Deborah Maier 76 Jacqui Peggy Robles-Alvarado 14 Smashing the State Kristallnacht-style Raymond Nat Turner 77 Dark Matter Jacqui Reason 16 Smudges Marcus John 78 Pascualina (she, her, hers) Ysabella Hincapie-Gara 17 The Vote Christopha Moreland 79 Ramble Ysabella Hincapie-Gara 18 Shifting the Blues Matthew Turov 80 Howard Sheila Benedis 19 The Guidance Counselor Christopha Moreland 82 tv detectives Russell Evans 20 Slow, Smooth, Soft, Serene Sheila Benedis 83 Bruce Lee Help My Family Russell Evans 21 Journey Through Darkness into Light Sheila Benedis 84 Desire Elizabeth Lara Mothers & Daughters: Powers of She 22 86 Praise to my Fingers Emily Gianni 23 Poem 23 Xanath Caraza 87 Praise to the Chocolate Cookie Emily Gianni 24 My Mother Named Me Beloved Kalila Abdur Razzaq 88 Grits Robert Gibbons 25 News from our Mother Nora Freeman 89 Chow Mein Nakeisha Cantzlaar 26 Once I Was a Mother, 1-2 Anna Limontas-Salisbury 90 Nevuary Nakeisha Cantzlaar 28 I Am You Katori Walker 91 Far Rockaway Nora Freeman 29 The Return Katori Walker 92 Complaint poem Elizabeth Lara 30 Once I Was a Mother, 3-6 Anna Limontas-Salisbury 93 Feather Murmuration Debbi Dolan 32 Rage Sheila Benedis 94 Butterfly to Boomerang Matthew Turov 33 A Mother’s Breakdown Russell Evans 95 A New Year Marcia Klein 34 Longing Rosi Hertlein 96 Pandemic Legacy: 400 Eternal Candles 37 Ever Thankful Christopha Moreland at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool EJ Antonio Remembrance: My Mother’s Light Christopha Moreland 98 Sunflower Pandemic Robert Gibbons 38 Power of She…In Covid Time Joana Olivares 99 a mutiny in twenty-twenty Robert Gibbons 39 The Power of Women Julia Melchiorre 100 First Language Loss Nora Freeman 40 Power of She Aminata Kebbeh 101 The Year 2021 Nora Freeman 41 Cooking Pots, Santa Catalina Elizabeth Lara 102 Airborn Pandemic Marcia Klein 42 I’m Still Here Nickoya Winter 02/06/2021 Ronnie and Jules on front steps in Queens.jpg 103 Her Fire John Maney 44 Picking Out New Fruit From the Labors a bit of prose 104 of My Lifelong Struggle Marcyn Ogbunzu- 105 Three Short Stories Barbara Glasser Campbell 106 Glass Bottles Ysabella Hincapie-Gara 46 Ballet shoes Christopha Moreland 107 Glass Bottles Arlene Eulalia Quiyou 47 Daughter Christopha Moreland 111 Play #6: Find your front stoop Jules Ryan 48 Owl Debbi Dolan 114 Earth Acrostic Move Nora Freeman 49 The Day You Were Born Russell Evans 115 Tree Sheila Benedis 50 Grandmother Pearl was my Hero Sharon Dudley 116 Sea Coast, Ireland Kayla Henry https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Tq6vq7w87EQ5WWgAx6enn2YrYHTY8YlQ/view?ts=60b7055c 1/1 51 My Grandmother Pearl’s Natural Remedies Sharon Dudley 117 Spiritual Meditation Sheila Benedis 53 Lemongrass Tea Nakeisha Cantzlaar 118 Luna Moth Ysabella Hincapie-Gara 54 Finding My Religion Debbi Dolan 119 Luminescing in Tandem Matthew Turov 56 Once I was a Mother 7 – 14 Anna Limontas-Salisbury 120 Jazz Singer Kalila Abdur Razzaq 58 Untitled Rosi Herltein 121 Music is Poetry Christopha Moreland 59 Comingling Polarities Matthew Turov 122 At the Train Stop Lenard Moore Kids Roar / Raw 60 123 Ascension: John Coltrane Lenard Moore 62 A Girl Who Broke Gender Norms Savannah Bruns 124 The Great Vowel Shift Russell Evans 64 Sketch of Golda Teaching Online Paislyn Santiago 65 Collage Paislyn Santiago 4 5 Poema 21 / Poem 21 Xanath Caraza Dedication translated by Sandra Kingery On January 1, 2021, Robert Lapides, professor emeritus in the English Department, husband of my colleague Professor Diane Poesía líquida entra Dowling transitioned. en la garganta, “At BMCC for 50 years, Professor Lapides will be remembered un sonido luminoso for his passion, his life-long fight for social, economic, and racial toca los labios, justice, and his commitment to building communities where brilla como beso eterno. differences can be expressed.” His legacy can be found in his influence on the many students and Destellantes giros del agua, colleagues he worked with, the online communities he created, in ensortijan el sonido his BMCC faculty magazine Hudson River, and for editing Lodz en la espuma, Ghetto, collected writings left behind by Jews confined to the Lodz sílabas líquidas Ghetto in WWII. en la ausencia. Until the end, he was working on his book about the creative development of Charles Dickens, which will be published posthumously.” Tzu Wen Cheng Liquid poetry enters Chairman, Speech, Theatre, Communications Department the throat, a luminous sound Borough of Manhattan Community College (C.U.N.Y.) touches the lips, shining like an eternal kiss. Dawning Prayer Shimmering whirlpools of water bejewel sound May the umbrage of the past year in the foam, be replaced by freshened air liquid syllables sun baked colors in the absence. spirited attempt to align crucial change on a weakened world A new dawn is rapidly approaching Tony Mitchelson Photo: Tony Mitchelson 6 7 Looking for America Ukase Marcia Klein Marcia Klein Traveling by bus with a friend I take away your independence Learn about Americans Decide what you can and cannot do with different customs You have no choice values, unlike ours But to be obedient Cars on the road I control your life Glitzy 60’s autos Ignore pandemics Chrome, fancy tail fins Sedate station wagons Make you vulnerable To contagious diseases Protesters in public parks Uninhibited, sensitive, I control your body Flower children, No abortion for you Hippies, beatniks Select your career Old friends years later Decide where you live Sitting on a park bench Watching peaceful protesters Take away your freedom Give you no choice Surrounded by militants Carrying weapons carefully I am omnipotent Pointed at them You don’t have to like me People are powerless Americans divided divisive Until I am defeated Unite, become inclusive I am the law! Faceted Fire Shift Matthew Turov 36’ x 12’, Acrylic on Linen, 2019 8 9 What Comes Next Nora Freeman southern strategy, law and order, silent majority WHAT CAME BEFORE, OR THE BLACK EXPERIENCE AS A MOMENT OF HOPE TOLD IN ONE PAGE WITH MANY OMISSIONS BY A WHITE black power! PERSON black panthers abduction DIY free breakfast program for kids death march to the coast war on drugs waiting in dungeons for the dreaded unknown war on crime the middle passage war on the poor for the survivors: arrival in the “new world” mass incarceration the auction block school to prison pipeline money changes hands random humiliations and lynchings by cops work from dawn to dusk a long list of mournful names work to exhaustion children arrested by cops in school for scribbling on work unpaid for centuries desks, crying random violence A MOMENT OF HOPE resistance: the underground railroad, escape, rebellion president obama A MOMENT OF HOPE the beer summit emancipation! freedom! obamacare a few years of federal troops protecting rights civil rights division enforces the law 40 acres and a mule … whoops! rise of the terrifying orangeman america gets bored and federal troops leave, no acres, no mule make america great again jim crow takes over um when exactly was america great sharecropping 2 more mournful names: george floyd and breonna taylor lynchings America suddenly notices that black lives matter: a moment of hope, or another new variation on the old A MOMENT OF HOPE theme? brown v.