My name is Myrna D. Badgerow and I am a legally blind writer of poetry and prose. I graduated from the Louisiana State School for the Blind and went on to attend Louisiana State University for a degree in psychology. Writing is still a fairly new endeavor for me as it has been but seven years since I seriously began putting words to page. Reading, however, has long been a passion of mine. Robert Frost's 'The Road Less Traveled' has been my adopted anthem since high school. Being visually challenged has offered me a somewhat different perspective of life and some of this is reflected in my writing. My family has been a great influence and a steadfast means of support. Recently widowed, I live in southern Louisiana, near the bayou community where I was born and raised. I have three children and am the proud grandmother of four. I enjoy reading and writing, gardening, Creole cooking, and being snubbed by six aloof felines. But mostly I enjoy life and the treasures I have found along the many paths I have been taken. My philosophy of life has always been that limitations are my own to set. I will never say I cannot until I have tried and could not. This is not failure to me… not trying is. Although my eyesight has sometimes demanded I take a different approach to get to where I’m going, it has never dulled my vision. It lives within my heart and soul and is crystal clear. My blindness is only a small part of who I am and does not define me. What I choose to do with it, despite it, or because of it, does.

I am very humbled to have received accolades for my writing. Most recently I have been nominated for the prestigious 2008 Pushcart award by the editors of Mississippi Crow magazine. I have also been named 2004's Poet of the Year at The Writing Forum as well as Poet of the Month in 2003 and 2006. An unexpected credit as lyricist is forthcoming as one of my poems has been recorded in spoken word format on a soon-to-be released CD by a band, Against the Wall, in NYC. My first book of poetry My Words, My Thoughts, My Heart was released in July 2004. My work has appeared in several literary magazines, including Distant Echoes, Stellar Showcase Journal, and Mississippi Crow. I will be adding Trellis Magazine to that list as well. My work has been featured in several online venues also.

I am working on several projects at the moment, which includes a collection of pieces related to my bayou home and heritage and also a collaborative effort of short verse. Soon I hope to begin work on a novel.

Bayou Songs
My personal website featuring some of my newer poetry and also the poetry of some dear friends.

The Writing Forum
A wonderful and cozy home in which to share your poetry. Come and visit with us! The hearth always has room for more.