This was a poem I wrote in June 2014. It is based on the Jataka Tales – The Selfless Hare, or, The Hare in the Moon. 

Le Lievre de la Lune

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…

OVERVIEW: Moving from one location to another can bring about a range of emotions and experiences — and we want to hear all about it in the Silver Birch Press WHEN I MOVED Poetry and Prose Series.

PROMPT: Tell us about a memorable move 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 published poems or prose. You retain all rights to your work and give Silver Birch Press permission to publish the piece on social media and in a potential print edition.

WHEN: We’ll feature the poems and prose in the Silver Birch Press WHEN I MOVED Poetry and Prose Series on our blog starting in August 2016 . We’ll also feature the work on Twitterand Facebook.

HOW TO SUBMIT: Email one poem or prose piece…

OVERVIEW: Summer is just around the corner, so let’s get in the swim with the Silver Birch Press BEACH & POOL MEMORIES Poetry and Prose Series. Most of us have vivid memories of times at the beach or community swimming pool — learning to swim (or trying to!), getting sunburned, hanging out with friends, making sandcastles, flirting with a stranger, or wearing a very wrong (or very right) swimsuit. We want to learn all the details!

PROMPT: Tell us about your beach and pool memories 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 published poems or prose. You retain all rights to your work and give Silver Birch Press permission to publish the piece on social media and in a potential print edition.

WHEN: We’ll feature the poems…