While reading her “Still Living on My Feet,” I back away from my claim of the title
Writer as I shame myself because of my lack of discipline.
On my wall hangs letters from my favorite poets and writers of my younger days.
Nikki Giovanni who wrote a letter of encouragement in 1989, Langston Hughes who sent a thank you card dated February 8,1964 whom I met at a party, and the late Sidney Sheldon who sent an encouraging note in 1977.
The check from Michelle Montgomery who bought my first and only poetry CD in 2003.
A letter from Ari Merretazon former editor of the Arkansas State Press published by the legendary Daisy Bates nominating me for a publishers award for my editorial contributions in 1986 which I didn’t win.
A 1986 letter from Robert S McCord, Forum Editor of the old Pulitzer prize winning “Arkansas Gazette “ requesting that I write a review of the movie “The Color Purple.”
1986 the year of my 30th wedding anniversary and the last year my husband/lover mom and I were in church together as we watched her through tear stained eyes and bid her farewell on the anniversary date of our marriage August 18, 1956..
Now I await another letter from one of my new favorite writers Tichaona Chinyelu to hang in that special spot reserved next to an all time favorite and much maligned Kola Boof.
See how many talented people one encounters on the journey when you call yourself a writer.
What a blessing especially if you are mostly a 70 year old writer of rants.
