Rage: September 2018

Tyger Tyger, burning bright, 
In the forests of the night; 
What immortal hand or eye, 
Could frame thy fearful symmetry? 
--William Blake















 

I have thought of little lately besides rage, especially women's rage. Everyone has a breaking point, and apparently after the events of this week I have reached mine. Which is why I look forward to reading Rebecca Traister's new book, Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women’s Anger. 

For a long time there's a been a debate about likable characters, especially female ones. I think we might be past that particular preoccupation. I certainly am. 

As painful as this moment feels to me, I am curious and hopeful about what may come out of it. What will be the result -- both political and artistic -- of all the anger and truth entering (redirecting) the national conversation? We shall see. The most important thing we can do is keep telling our stories. I hope you are still writing, and if not, you find a few minutes this week to speak your truth on the page. 

Save the Date: Next Art Party is November 10

There's no more important activity in times of turmoil than making art that expresses our experiences and world views and gather to honor it. August's Art Party was a resounding success. We had great turnout, and an eclectic range of artists. People showed slides, read stories, talked about their paintings, photographs, jewelry, and much more. I met a lot of new and interesting people and everyone I talked to afterward said how inspired they were. Community and connection are hard to come by and crucial for both humans and artists. A few other Mothershippers and I are eagerly preparing to do this again on November 10 and I hope you'll join me. More details to follow in the coming weeks!

One cannot live on rage alone. For respite, I picked up Ann Patchett's 2011 novel State of Wonder. Her writing is masterful: elegant, hilarious, and somehow understated. From the first page, there is narrative tension, created by a basic, unanswered question. The tension continues as we follow the protagonist on a mysterious and dangerous journey into the Amazonian jungle. Other surprises arise, creating new lines of narrative tension, all of which are settled by the end. There isn't much that is slow about this novel; it's deeply imaginative, cleverly structured, and hard to put down. 

To Go Poems

Here are three poems by Kim Addonizio:
Grace
To the Woman Crying Uncontrollably in the Next Stall
Witness