Poetry saves lives. Poetry comforts. During the tragedies of 9/11, radio news reporters said that people were calling the station, asking for poetry. Short stories, comedy, and other forms of entertainment were not appropriate. They could not conquer the deep feelings of loss this country suffered. People reportedly were dusting off old books of poetry and turning to them for solace- for answers. Poetry gives many of us ,who do not fit into society’s usual definition of normalcy, a place to call our own. We are all poets, you and I. If you feel, then you are a poet, whether you write or not. My poetry emerges from the deepest levels of anguish- not only my pain, but the sorrow I intuit from humanity’s struggle- to the dizzying heights of sheer joy. I often cry in the presence of great beauty. When I hear Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings or political songs of various peoples, I am deeply moved. When I see individuals of different cultures or backgrounds cooperating for a common goal, I weep for the beauty of it. I give myself permission to FEEL. In seminars for all ages, that is the first thing I teach writers: Allow yourself to feel and to express those feelings. I understand their struggle to express. We have been taught to be quiet and listen ,while our elders emote and lecture. We are taught that our thoughts and feelings are not valuable and will not make us a living. When I was very young, I felt old because of my suffering, I wrote poems and songs. My dreams were operas. They were sexy and mysterious. -from the "Introduction" to Marcielle's book of poems, The Breathing House. 

First Prize for her poem, "Eden," from Mount San Antonio College. Marcielle appears in 2005-7 Who’s Who in the World, and 2003-04 Who's Who of American Women.