Poetry Writing Workshops @ the Delafield Arts Center w/ author Cristina M. R. Norcross

Poetry Writing Workshops @ the Delafield Arts Center
w/ author Cristina M. R. Norcross
Brainstorm Poetry
Sat. March 10, 2012 / 1:00-2:30pm, ages 10-13
Word Paint: Writing about Art
Sat., April 21, 2012 / 1:00-3:00pm, ages 13-16
Multi Media Poetry ***(THIS CLASS HAS BEEN CANCELLED)***
Sat. May 19, 2012 / 1:00-3:00pm, ages 16+
To register visit:
http://www.delafieldartscenter.org/
OR phone: 262.303.4865
List of classes also HERE

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Brainstorm Poetry (ages 10-13)
Hands-on, in-class exercises will include: emotion poems, partner interview poems, mystery word box exercises and “where I am from” poems. We will share our brainstorm poems in a circle, encouraging supportive comments and thoughts. There will be no formal feedback for this younger age group, but each person will be asked to say one thing about a student’s poem that they liked. We will explore poetry by “doing” poetry, so that the students will come away feeling capable of creating in an art form genre that is often mystified.

Word Paint: poetry writing about art (ages 13-16)
We will cover the basic definition of ekphrastic poetry (poetry inspired by art), I will provide both visual and poetry examples in the form of handouts, as well as real artwork viewed throughout the gallery, as we take an “art stroll.” We will have 2 “sprint” poetry exercises, 2 longer writing prompts, as well as an ekphrastic poem exercise where the students will choose a piece of artwork at the Delafield Arts Center to write about. There will be a roundtable feedback discussion after each writing session. The focus of feedback will be to provide positive discussions.

Multi Media Poetry (ages 16+)
Explore the world of visual poetry. Do you have a story to tell that moves, speaks and jumps off the page? This is the poetry class that will make your words sing in unique and innovative ways! The nature of poetry is changing. You can be at the forefront of a new age! In this workshop, we will view and discuss multi-media poetry on the web, including examples of Prezi, Wordle and kinetic text mini films. Students will have hands-on instruction on how to create visual art through words on the web and should bring at least one finished, original poem with them to work with in class.

"We Are Love" - poetry & photography, Cristina M. R. Norcross

We Are Love

We are all sacred.
We are all love.
See through the veils
which you and others
hang in the doorway
and walk through.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011
www.FirkinFiction.com

"You Are Free" poetry & photography, Cristina M. R. Norcross

You Are Free

The only limits that bind us
are self-created shackles
of fear, apathy and ego.
Untie your hands –
you are always free.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011
www.FirkinFiction.com

Poetry/Photography Postcards by Cristina M. R. Norcross NOW AVAILABLE at Books & Co.

Pastoral and lake scenes of Lake Country, WI

Poetry and photography by local author Cristina M. R. Norcross

Large Cards $1 each / Small Cards $0.75
Packets of 10: Large Cards $7 / Small Cards $6

AVAILABLE AT BOOKS & CO.
An independently-owned community-based bookstore serving the Oconomowoc Lake Country and Waukesha area since 1983

1039 Summit Avenue Oconomowoc, WI 53066-4457
(262) 567-0106


Learn more about this author:
www.FirkinFiction.com

"Be the Breath" - poetry and photography, Cristina M. R. Norcross

Be the Breath

The breath connects to the beat –
the sway and swoon of the body
moves to this rhythm also.
Look how you breathe
without thinking.

Feel how the heart beats
without instruction.
You are trying too hard.
Be the breath.
Be the beat.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011
www.FirkinFiction.com

Loving Your Skin, A Meditation

Loving Your Skin, A Meditation

You are taken by the wind
when the strings begin to play –
like a lover’s attentive touch to every inch of skin.
Wave upon wave of sound reverberates
and refreshes your eyes, mind and muscles,
because you are exactly where you need to be.

You are the pearl with glowing curves
rolling toward an open hand.
Every length and depth of you is beautiful –
from the rising of your shoulders in sleep
to the tender arch of your foot,
held with care by softened leather sandals.

Your divine purpose reaches across every golden field
and every pebbled road to meet the beginning of you.
For you are the world,
and the world exists in you –
in beauty and in acceptance.

Behold, you are the sheen and honeyed glow of your skin.
Know that you are this fullness –
this rich delight.
Whole and healed –
you are the gift.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011

Poetic Captured Reflections Contest Giveaway!

Win a FREE Poetic Captured Reflections fine art/poetry giclee by artist Holly Kallie and author Cristina M. R. Norcross. Simply click HERE to read Holly Kallie's giveaway blog, leave a comment, and you will automatically be entered in the contest to win a print!

Each Monday, Holly Kallie "will be offering a different canvas print from our Poetic Captured Reflections collection. Each giclee is gallery wrapped and ready to hang. They are also signed by each of us and come with a certificate of authenticity. It is our way of celebrating the gift of life, creativity, our families and friends and these beautiful holidays."

This week's giveaway is "Finding Her Treasure." Please enjoy viewing an image of the giclee below and read the poem.

Finding Her Treasure
(Inspired by the painting by Holly Kallie)

A pilgrim’s journey
of overlapping, ever increasing circles of light –
you step into the caress of summer’s awakening,
with foam surf and crystallized grains of sand.

One furtive step follows another,
until only tracings remain –
fading footprints on the beach.

You carry a collection, a treasure trove –
overflowing like the hungry tide
that washes the land clean in crescent brushstrokes.

Hidden within your heart –
the fear that nothing can contain your precious gems.
Set them free today.
Like flowers with wings,
these gifts are Love’s Light to be shared.
They take flight towards the grand horizon,
just beyond our sight.

You are the treasure,
Dear One.
You are the Light.


Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2008


Author's Note: I was fortunate enough to meet my dear friend, artist Holly Kallie when I moved to Wisconsin 4 years ago. I feel very blessed to collaborate with Holly on our art/poetry collection. Her beautiful images of water, nature, women and children have inspired me to write many poems. Each poem provides me with an opportunity to connect with my higher self creatively. How blessed I feel to share my path with a kindred spirit of Light. I hope you will enjoy our Poetic Captured Reflections collection. ~Cristina M. R. Norcross 12/6/11

"You Were Meant for More" poetry & photography, Cristina M. R. Norcross

YOU WERE MEANT FOR MORE

Seek your passion,
play it out –
hold it in your hand
like the delicate bird
that it is,
and then let your soul’s
free flight dictate
where you will go next.

Sitting on the branch
is your regret,
your lack of courage,
your last try
that didn’t quite work.

But this is not you –
this is not the you
that was meant to flourish
and drink up the sun.

You were meant for greater things
than atrophy –
than ennui.
You were meant for life!

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011

"Conversations with an Angel" - poetry & photography, Cristina M. R. Norcross

Conversations with an Angel

A shock of light
permeates the air –
each breath
welcomes you home –
closer to your truth.
Listen –
this is all you need to know.

Soft, silken tones –
these are words of grace.
Flowing like a fountain,
caressing the mind
with water whispers –
forgiveness carries you.
You have everything you need.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011
www.firkinfiction.com

"Water Stories" - photography & poetry, Cristina M. R. Norcross

Water Stories

I am the afterglow -
wild roots that keep growing.
I am the words looking for song.

I am the tall reeds amidst the wind –
my need for story,
written upon the bluest, open sky.


Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011

"Remember the Joy" - Poetry & Photography, Cristina M. R. Norcross

Remember the Joy

Observe this happiness you dwell in,
and never forget.
Remember this day
like the first light of summer sun -
the first kiss,
the last dance,
the first sip,
the longest look -
the only thing your body remembers
and sings about.
Remember this joy
on the down days.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011

"Searching for Miracles" Poetry & Photography by Cristina M. R. Norcross

Searching for Miracles

There is a holy tree inside you
where leaves blanket the earth –
where silken petals fly and hover
around your thoughts,
traveling like perfume
on the wind.
This is where you should pray.

A golden, threaded, light source beams
from roots –
to the tip of your violet head.
Eyes seeing for the first time
that this is who you are.
Here – now –
this is who you are.
Why have you come?
What are you waiting for?

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011

YOUR DIVINE PURPOSE SHINES

Your divine purpose reaches across every golden field
and every pebbled road to meet the beginning of you.
For you are the world,
and the world exists in you –
in beauty and in acceptance.

~C. Norcross (From the poem, "Loving Your Skin")

When we open up our hearts to discovering and honoring our divine purpose, light pours forth and guides us in directions we are meant to go. When we are walking on our true path, doors open, we are met with welcome smiles and all is well in our earthly world. When we find ourselves pushing a rock up a hill, no matter how hard we persist, if the direction is not in alignment with our higher purpose, that rock is going to fall ... on our heads!

Have you ever felt as though you were repeating the same mistakes, faced with a series of "no" letters, or as if life was just not moving? This feeling of metaphysical mourning for not yet realized goals, is merely a teaching tool - a stepping stone to something beautiful in your life. Listen to and observe the day, the situation, as if it were a wise teacher. The path exists in you, you just haven't found the entrance yet. Or perhaps, you've lost the light leading you down the right path, and you need to find it again.

Set aside time each day to listen to your inner guide. This knowing, nurturing self is always there for you, waiting for you to start a conversation about the present and the future, if you choose. Listening is a very important tool. It opens us up to the beautiful possibilities in our lives, even when things feel "stuck" or without momentum.

I remember feeling stuck at different times in my life, because I wasn't doing what my soul truly wanted to do. Whether it be a job that doesn't quite fit, a group project that doesn't quite resonate or a relationship that feels out of alignment with the holiness of self, sit with your inner teacher and listen. Answers will be revealed in the most stunning ways. New people may enter your life and provide a creative spark. Doors will open and opportunities will suddenly appear, if you are willing to be open to your best self waiting in the wings.

Promise yourself that you are worth it ~ that you were meant for more than dissatisfaction or "just enough."

This is not you –
this is not the you
that was meant to flourish
and drink up the sun.

You were meant for greater things
than atrophy –
than ennui.
You were meant for life!

~C. Norcross (From the poem, "You Were Meant for More")

One Vision - Saturday, October 22, 2011 at the Oconomowoc Arts Center at 7pm

The Pewaukee Area Arts Council proudly sponsors the third year of "One Vision: A Fusion of Art and Poetry in Lake Country," bringing together 8 pairs of artists and poets, as well as the new element of interpretive dance this year, in partnership with To the Pointe Performing Arts (Hartland, WI). Please join us at 7 p.m. Saturday, October 22, 2011 at the Oconomowoc Arts Center (641 E Forest Street, Oconomowoc, WI) for a fine art exhibit, poetry reading and dance performance. Our artists, poets and dancers will be unveiling the final results of a summer-long collaboration. A reception with live music and refreshments will also be part of the evening's event. Our special musical guest this year will be local musician and composer Chip Cruz (www.myspace.com/chipcruz). This performance is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a preview and meeting with the artists, poets and dancers.

Artists participating in this year's project are: Anne Raskopf, Albin Erhart, Melissa Schoechert, Judith Reidy, Dara Chappie, Dint Sweitzer, Heidi Hallett and Susan Foley. Poets participating are: Mary Jo Balistreri, Khristian Kay, Cristina Norcross, Anjie Kokan, Fred Kreutz, Liz Rhodebeck, Janet Leahy, Paula Schulz and Judy Wucherer. Co-editors Liz Rhodebeck and Cristina Norcross are coordinating the project with the assistance of Art Advisor Dint Sweitzer and Dance Choreographer Nina Gaydos-Fedak.

This year's project funded in part by the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin through a grant from the Arts Waukesha Fund.
For more information, visit www.pewaukeearts.org.

To watch a preview of the One Vision show, please visit the You Tube link HERE and enjoy a slide show of artwork and poetry.

The One Vision exhibit is FREE to the public and will be on display through November 20, 2011 at the Oconomowoc Arts Center.

"Holding the Rope" (This is NOT a Cancer Poem)

Holding the Rope

Blue gowns sitting in lounge chair rows –
one woman taps her foot furiously –
a nervous rhythm,
while she waits for her name to be called.
I wish she would tap somewhere else.
Out-of-date magazines
collect on side tables,
while three wide screen TV’s
drone on with home improvement shows.
Hardwood floors and bathroom tile choices
seem even more trivial today.

The machine presses and folds.
It pushes on the skin like a hard kiss –
taking a picture at five different angles.
I hold my breath and pray.

The woman next to me taps her foot again.
I sip apple juice,
wondering why none of us speak.
Then my name is called
for the next room –
the next test.
I drift off to a semi-dream state.
Allowed to lie down,
I stop guessing –
stop craning my neck to see the screen.

The last table is the coldest –
so is the needle,
until it burns.
Then there is a tidal wave of tugging
and pulling.
My eyes wide to the ceiling –
I try to see how many tiny holes I can count
in the white squares above me.

Kind nurses bandage the skin.
They cover me with warm blankets.
Ice – rest – ice – repeat.
You’ve been to the wars,
said my friend Ali in England,
after my first surgery 15 years ago.
I hope this is the last body battle.
I’m done now.

The car keeps moving forward.
I see cornfields and gold turned trees
on the way home.
Behind the clouds
shines the faintest autumn light.
I follow that ray
and try to hold the rope.


Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011
(This is NOT a cancer poem, because I received the good news today, that my biopsy came back negative. Feeling thankful. God is good. 10/19/11)

Review Quotes: Unsung Love Songs

Quotes From a Book Review of Unsung Love Songs
Reviewed by Kathleen Serley

(July 2011 Issue of Verse Wisconsin Online)



“But it is her descriptions of love in those everyday moments that draw us in.”



“One of the strengths of Norcross’s love poems is the imagery she creates to capture the depth of the love she feels.”



“Each poem in this collection has a special appeal, but “These Things Matter” captures the essence of this collection. We reach for love and must remind ourselves to find it in ordinary moments as they come to us in our imperfect lives. We make love happen in the everyday events of our lives.”



“How fortunate to know such love to inspire her poems. Unsung Love Songs by Cristina M.R. Norcross is worth remembering.”

*Read the full review in Verse Wisconsin Online (July 2011)

IF I WERE A DOLL

If I Were a Doll

If I were a doll,
my shoes would light up,
and there would be
a button that would play music.
I think everyone should have
a soundtrack to their lives.

Today my personal power song
would be Moon River,
because it feels like it’s 2am
all the time,
and the window ledge is
probably the safest, quietest place
in my house, right now.

If I were a doll,
I would have a twistable scalp,
just like the Tuesday Taylor doll
from the 70’s.
One day I would be blonde –
the next day, brunette.
It’s called hair fashion bi-polar disorder,
but the Mattel toy company
will never admit to that.

If I were a doll,
the downside would be
not being able to taste fried calamari
or cheesy quesadillas with sour cream.
I wouldn’t be able to feel my limbs stretch
and crack
after sleeping in late
under a down comforter.
I wouldn’t even be able
to feel Ken kiss me,
because Ken is just a doll too,
and I would be made of plastic and rubber,
so …
I guess I don’t want to be a doll after all.


Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011

(Beloved "Blue Mommy" doll belonging to the poet many decades ago)

ONCE UPON A TIME IN MY REAL LIFE ...

Every night before bedtime, I tell my young sons a story. Each story starts the same way - Once Upon a Time, in My Real Life. As you can see, my sons prefer real stories to made up ones. My memory of the past isn’t always quite accurate, so sometimes there is a mixture of what I can remember and creative non-fiction. Last night, as I was recounting the latest chapter from my mommy memoir, I realized that we are doing something very important here – something my own father did for me growing up. We are preserving the Raskopf-Norcross family history through oral tradition. I don’t read the stories off of a computer or from a journal. It all comes from the deep recesses of my mind and the scents, images and touchstone experiences that make me who I am. My family is part of who I am.

Regardless of how independent I felt striking out on my own, that first day of freshman orientation in college, I am still the result of many generations of Hassells, Schreppels, Della Cortes and Raskopfs. My sons will have Norcross family stories to share with their own children, but the generations who came before them offer up a smoke signal of life – of child rearing, careers, voyages, aspirations and family meals.

My greatest memories arise from the meaty, zesty, steamy scents coming from the kitchen. When I was expecting my first child, I embarked on the journey of thumbing through all of my Grandma Josie’s recipe cards, slips of paper stuffed into books and the The Joy of Cooking with little notes scribbled in the side margins. This compilation of recipes and memories became the book, Promise Me Anything … But Give Me Kartoffelklösse, Remembering the Recipes of Josephine Schreppel Raskopf. There are recipes for butter cookies, chocolate cake, fish chowder and of course, Kartoffelklösse (dumplings). I recently dug up my copy of this book (published about six years ago) in a moment of comfort seeking, and realized that the memories came flooding back just from seeing my grandmother’s face and her recipe for almond horn cookies. I was back in my grandparents’ dining room with the mahogany china cabinet where chocolates were secretly stashed away in a crystal bowl at the back. I was looking at the painted pottery along the high shelves near the ceiling. I was feeling the rug fibers beneath my feet. My arms were resting on the big armchair in the corner. I was home.

Last night when sharing another installment of Once Upon a Time in My Real Life, I started off with a memory of buying bagels with my brother at the bakery down the road in Great Neck, and was then transported to my grandmother’s living room again. She was sitting in her chair with the side table lamp. Next to her was a cup of steaming, Tetley tea with lemon only. No milk, no sugar - just lemon in hot tea. My son looked up and said, “that was a nice story mommy.”

Yes, that was a nice story, a nice time, and now he will remember that scene. The family he never knew is sitting beside him, having a cup of tea and watching him grow. I know that my grandparents would have loved seeing my boys grow up, play soccer and practice guitar. I know now that with each bedtime story – they will appear.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
2011

Promise Me Anything ... can be found at the Blurb website (listed under Cristina Raskopf Norcross).
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/20175

Don't Be Afraid to be UN-lovely

When we create from the source, not from a place of accepted rules, we are truly being authentic.

Has someone ever told you that your poem or painting is “just lovely,” when clearly you know that, by convention, it is most certainly NOT lovely, or pretty or pleasing? Did you think to yourself, this person just does not understand my creative aesthetic?

I recently shared a poem with friends that was accepted for publication. It was a different kind of journal to be sure, and I chose a poem from my repertoire that I knew would be a good match for the themes they usually publish. After sending out the poem, I received kind words of congratulation, as well as a few neutral comments: “I liked your poem,” and “it was interesting.” Then there was the “it was lovely” comment. This is someone I’ve only been friends with for a couple of years, and she isn’t a writer or an artist. This doesn’t mean that non-creatives are unable to be open-minded. I know plenty of creative engineers. OK, I know one creative engineer who writes music. That’s another blog entry.

I wrote back to this friend, who is truly nice and kind, to tell her that no, my poem was not lovely, but the magazine liked it enough to publish it, and it captured a moment. I think I need to sit down over a cup of coffee with her and explain that writers and artists sometimes capture a moment of intense emotion through art, and then that moment is gone. It doesn’t mean that you live in that moment ~ that anguish is your permanent emotional state. Of course, maybe it is, in some cases. I enjoy exploring human emotion and placing my fictional speakers in different situations to see what happens.

When I start the journey of a poem, I don’t always know where I’m going. I might start with an image, a state of mind, a setting, or a first line that came to me just as I was falling asleep. If I were writing a novel, I would probably map things out a bit with bubble ideas and mind maps, but for my poetry, I like to glide on a thought and ride it out like a wave. I have no surfer training, mind you, and I might get tumbled in the waves, with gritty sand in my bathing suit that itches for days. Nice image, huh? You could write a poem about that!

Do not back away from the uncomfortable. Live with it – breathe in the awkward moment, the painful, the bitter ~ the bittersweet chocolate of life. If you can’t be fearless in your art, where can you be? The path not taken will lead to people who tell you in a rather mild voice, “that poem was lovely,” with a glance to the sky that says they don’t quite know what to say. Brush it off, pull up your sleeves and dig in, because the hard work, the real work of creation, has just begun. You need to go under in order to reach up. Light and dark live side by side, and your angel’s wings poem will have even more VERITAS if you know how to explore shadows as well.

The next time someone says “lovely” in reference to your poem, sculpture, canvas or song lyrics about why grief feels like “a wet, woolen mitten that constricts and pulls you down to empty caverns,” nod your head demurely, say thank you, and then keep creating. Keep them guessing. Keep them thinking. Someone has to wade through otherness with a smile. Let it be you!

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011

Unsung Love Songs Reviewed in Verse Wisconsin!

The poetry collection, Unsung Love Songs, by Cristina M. R. Norcross is reviewed by Kathleen Serley in the current online issue of Verse Wisconsin.

Read the full book review in VW Online, Issue 106 / July 2011 by clicking
HERE


Unsung Love Songs (Lulu, 2010) is available to order from Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk, barnesandnoble.com, lulu.com, and at select independent bookstores.

Please visit my author website for more details.

One Vision 2011 - An Evening of Fine Art, Poetry and Dance at the Oconomowoc Arts Center on Saturday, October 22, 2011

One Vision: A Fusion of Art & Poetry in Lake Country / 2011

The Pewaukee Area Arts Council (www.pewaukeearts.org) proudly sponsors the third year of “One Vision: A Fusion of Art and Poetry in Lake Country,” bringing together 8 pairs of artists and poets, as well as the new element of interpretive dance this year, in partnership with To the Pointe Dance Studio in Hartland, WI (www.tothepointe.com). Please join us at 7 p.m. Saturday, October 22, 2011 at the Oconomowoc Arts Center (641 E Forest Street, Oconomowoc, WI) for a fine art exhibit, poetry reading and dance performance. Our artists, poets and dancers will be unveiling the final results of a summer-long collaboration. A reception with live music and refreshments will also be part of the evening’s event. Our special musical guest this year will be local musician and composer Chip Cruz (www.myspace.com/chipcruz). This performance is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with music for a preview and meeting with the artists, poets and dancers.

Called “ekphrastic” (that is, art or poetry inspired by other creative mediums), the project’s goal is for the artists and poets to interact with each other to create a new expression of art or poetry from that experience. Poets and artists will spend the summer viewing/reading each other’s work as they got to know each other and how the creative process works in each of their respective mediums. From this exploration, a poet could write a new poem to a piece of artwork, the artist create a new piece inspired by a poem, or the two could craft a whole new expression of art and poetry. This year we have the exciting new element of interpretive dance to add an extra layer of creativity. Dances will be choreographed for select pairs.

“Working toward a creative vision that incorporates many different genres and sources of inspiration has been so fulfilling for our participants,” says Cristina Norcross, co-editor of the project.

Sponsored by the Pewaukee Area Arts Council, this is the third year for the program, which had a successful debut in 2009 at the The Raven Gallery in Pewaukee and an expanded show in 2010 at the Oconomowoc Arts Center. One Vision continues to give many area artists and poets the opportunity to participate, and to bring awareness of the diversity of the arts to the community as part of PAAC’s ongoing mission.

"Adding the element of dance brings a new dimension to the project," says co-editor Liz Rhodebeck. "We can't wait to see the results of this collaboration."

Artists participating in this year’s project are: Anne Raskopf, Albin Erhart, Melissa Schoechert, Judith Reidy, Dara Chappie, Angel Troyer, Heidi Hallett and Susan Foley. Poets participating are: Mary Jo Balistreri, Khristian Kay, Anjie Kokan, Fred Kreutz, Janet Leahy, Katy Phillips, Paula Schulz and Judy Wucherer. Co-editors Liz Rhodebeck and Cristina Norcross are coordinating the project with the assistance of Art Advisor Dint Sweitzer and Dance Choreographer Nina Gaydos-Fedak.

An outgrowth of the project has been the production of limited edition notecards featuring the artwork and accompanying poem of each pair; sets will be available for purchase the evening of the reception. All profit from the sale of the notecards will support PAAC’s programs and outreach in the community.

Both the artwork and poetry will be on exhibition to the public at the OAC (www.oasd.k12.wi.us/page.cfm?p=96) through November 20, 2011. There are plans for winter 2012 exhibits at local libraries and other venues.

Please visit and join our One Vision Facebook group page for more updates: www.facebook.com/home.php#!/home.php?sk=group_105325084866.

One Vision is sponsored by the Pewaukee Area Arts Council and funded in part by a grant from Arts Waukesha.

For more information, visit www.pewaukeearts.org or contact co-editors Liz Rhodebeck (262-695-2761) or Cristina Norcross (Bookndz@yahoo.com).

Things I’ve Learned Before My 40th Birthday

Things I’ve Learned Before My 40th Birthday

I’ve learned that slow and steady wins the race,
and I’ve learned that it’s not a race at all.

I’ve learned that I am the only one keeping count
of what I’ve done, and what I haven’t done yet.

I’ve learned that it all goes by too fast,
like a summer vacation that you take for granted –
grains of sand slipping through in a dusty whisper.

I’ve learned that if I can’t hold on,
I’ll just let go.
This threadbare bag of expectations
hangs on a hook –
full and reproachful.

I’ve learned that I feel most beautiful
when my heart is full.
It has nothing to do with the size of my jeans.

I’ve learned that on some days,
inspiration leads me by the hand,
and on other days, I sit and wait a very long time.

I am thankful to be 40.
If I’ve learned nothing else,
I’ve learned that seeing my youngest son
in a superman cape
supersedes any other happiness.


Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011
(June 11, 2011)
*The photo above is of my youngest son who loves to inspire his mother with his many super man talents.)

"The Shower Prayer" by Cristina M. R. Norcross

The Shower Prayer

The hot rain of the shower
comes down.
Walls blurred
from early morning vision –
I leave the high hot setting
and simply stand in the moment of daybreak.

Calendar unmarked,
computer untouched –
this day is thankfully unspoken for.
For now,
I am just falling water –
and this is enough.

Slow movements become a prayer
of self care –
lathering curves to the music of raindrop rhythms
and the scent of almond, vanilla and ginger.
I use every bottle,
lengthening the morning ritual
to match the continuous, blowing hum of the fan –
spinning my day into circles that meet and overlap
but never end.


Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011

"STAR WOMAN" ~ A Tribute Poem for Teacher and Astronaut, Christa McAuliffe

STAR WOMAN
(Christa McAuliffe ~ 1948-1986)

Fly me to the moon –
weightless and astonished.

I
am
history.

Teaching –
connecting worlds –
I wave through the window.

An ordinary life
made extraordinary by chance –
one letter out of eleven thousand.
Touching comets from my desk –
I see galaxies.

Ship of stars
edging closer to the sky.
Galactic plans,
explorer dreams –
lifting off,
then ending.
Seven memories –
still in flight.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011

This week marked the 25-year anniversary of the crash of the space shuttle, Challenger. I wanted to honor the memory of the only teacher on that flight, Christa McAuliffe with this poem.

"Seven astronauts died Jan. 28, 1986, when Challenger was destroyed just after liftoff. It was NASA's first in-flight calamity, and it dealt an especially severe blow to the millions of teachers and students watching on TV to see Christa McAuliffe, a civilian high school teacher from New Hampshire, become NASA's first Teacher in Space." ~Clara Moskowitz (Full article here - http://www.space.com/10708-shuttle-challenger-anniversary-nasa-lessons.html)

One Vision, Art and Poetry Winter 2011 Library Exhibits

PRESS RELEASE

One Vision, Art and Poetry Winter 2011 Exhibits

The project One Vision: A Fusion of Art and Poetry in Lake Country, sponsored by the Pewaukee Area Arts Council, will feature a sampling of collaborative artwork and poetry at various Lake Country public library locations in winter 2011. As an arts opportunity for the community, members of the public who missed seeing the poetry reading and art exhibit, hosted by the Oconomowoc Arts Center in October 2010, will be able to enjoy viewing the works of local artists and writers at the following venues: Pewaukee Public Library (starting mid-January), Kettle Moraine High School (starting mid-January), Delafield Public Library (starting February) and Town Hall Library in North Lake (starting March). Artists and poets collaborated to create ekphrastic work, which is a dialogue between two mediums of creative art. The conversation continues with readers and viewers who have the unique opportunity to enjoy this exhibit.

An inspiring experience of art and poetry is at your local public library. For more information about One Vision, please visit the Pewaukee Area Arts Council website: www.pewaukeearts.org.