Beginnings

Beginnings are both exciting and terrifying. When I start something new, I am always excited about the possibilities, and really, at the beginning of anything, the possibilities are endless. This is most likely the reason why beginnings are terrifying too.
So, here I am beginning a "real" presence online. Not because I have profound and esoteric things to share, but because a writer these days must be willing to put themselves "out there."
And while I am not not a "beginner" writer -- I have been writing for years, I am very new to the public sharing of my work as I have been self-conscious and, well, a little intimidated by the GREAT writers to actually expose myself in this way.

Here's how my perspective changed:
In February, I had a fit of insanity or possibly it was the Spirit leading, I don't wish to presume. Nevertheless I decided to send in a poem that I had had published the year before. It was my first poetic publication and I don't really know what possessed, but I sent it in. And a couple of months ago, I was honoured to receive the Award of Merit for Poetry from the Word Guild at their gala awards ceremony in Mississauga, Ontario.
It was an amazing moment for me. I was recognized by other established writers, and by other wonderful poets, one of my new favourites especially D.S. Martin. And then a few short weeks later, I had another amazing moment -- I received the judge's comments for my poem. It was both humbling and encouraging. The judge, a poet and professor of poetry, gave me a very impressive grade and also some very helpful comments; it was these words that have spawned my newfound wish to share in a grander scope. "I hope to see more of your work in print soon" she said.
So, here's a beginning. While I will sometimes publish some of my poems here, I am hoping to use this as a sounding board, a place of discussion and well, a general "composting" place (to use my creative writing professor's words).

Please comment. I will welcome any and all comments.

God bless.

For your interest, here is the poem that won the Award of Merit from the Word Guild:


In My Father’s Field

A perfect number they stand
Spawned from the same lot
Tortured: cut, pounded, pierced, strung

Three former fence posts
Sixty some years later
Now willow trees
Tall, alive
Branches and roots intermingling
Joined by more than nature

On either side
Linked by wire and pain with those
Not chosen to grow
Linked with those posts whose purpose
Is still only to keep out or in

Meant to enclose
The living with the dead
Barbs and nails
Once invaders now
Family
Grown essential
Into and through each heart
Binding together
Past and future

Out of utility, death, pain
Willow beauty
Love

© Lori Wiens-MacDonald
Canadian Adventist Messenger January 2008