OVERVIEW: While listening to the radio recently, I heard several songs in a row that started with the words “If I.” This made me think of other songs and poems that begin the same way — and reflect on how these two little words can lead to very big insights.  We want to hear about your “If I” musings for the Silver Birch Press IF I Poetry & Prose Series. The prompt leaves a lot of room for interpretation — anything from wishful thinking (e.g., If I had a million dollars), to rewriting the past (If I had gone to law school), to something that you’d like to do (If I move to Paris).

PROMPT: Tell us about your “If I” musings in a poem (any reasonable length) or prose piece (300 words or fewer — this word limit also applies to prose poems).

WHAT: Submissions can be original or previously…

This is also excellent advice about what to do if witnessing racial (or any other abuse) in public, currently being shared on Facebook:

This is for all my friends in UK who will either be subjected to or witness this more and more. Some tips on dealing with being a spectator. NEVER engage the perpetrator. He (and it is usually he) is looking for confrontation. Instead speak to the person he is abusing. Say hello. Introduce yourself. Shake his or her hand. And just stand with them. Keep talking. About anything. Weather. Bus schedules. Football. This kind of bullying never works against a group of people having a conversation. Usually a single person travelling or a mom with a kid or maximum, two women are targetted. Form a group of people with and around them if you can. Don’t tell them they are not alone. Just don’t let them be…