We created a bank of found lines we love, collaborated to create an image bank and then wrote these poems that were like a giant venn diagram–overlapping here and there and here again. There were tears. There was a super-affirming chat in the sidebar. There were lines and lines to gasp at and sit with, and we decided we needed to all have access to all of it–so let’s post our poems in the comments here. My favorite quote of the whole workshop was when one person said, just before reading, “I feel safe.” Grateful to continue together in this way. Let’s keep coming together.
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Seema Reza is a poet and essayist and the author of two books: A Constellation of Half-Lives and When the World Breaks Open. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Writing and Community Building from Goddard College. In 2010 Seema began working with service members, veterans, and their families at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and has since developed a unique multi-hospital arts program that encourages the use of the arts as a tool for narration, self-care and socialization. In 2015, the USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore awarded Seema the Col John Gioia Patriot Award for her work with service members in military hospitals. Seema is a 2019 George W. Bush Institute Stand-To Veteran Leadership Scholar.
Hari’s workshop was amazing!!
I agree! The workshop was a beautiful, safe space. Thank you so much, Hari!