"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.

GIVING YOURSELF PERMISSION TO WRITE

Finding Time to Write:
Feeling Overscheduled?
Give yourself permission to say, “No”


Our calendars are filled to the brim with bells, reminders, things underlined or highlighted in orange – a neon banner of endless obligations. Some of these appointments and tasks are necessities. Others are tasks that we have either foisted upon ourselves, or that we have unwittingly agreed to do, simply because we feel obligated or guilty. But what about the times we feel drawn to do something that would benefit others? Yes, this is definitely a good thing, but not when our own calendar is so filled that we haven’t left enough time for our own lives, our family or our spirit. Put your “dedicated writing time” into that category called spirit. If you are a creative type, then your writing time is vital to your spiritual well being. Don’t allow everything else to come first. You will ultimately regret it.

My family is primary, then my daily responsibilities, projects, poetry readings, hosting literary events and volunteer work. My writing is stuck in there, when I can fit it in time-wise. I try to schedule writing time late at night or for those 2 precious hours per day, when both of my children are in school at the same, overlapping time. I am a happier mother and wife, when I have the right balance between “everyone else” time and “me” time. Writing makes me whole. It helps me to have vision. My heart relies on writing time to function. Having uninterrupted time to create, based on how I am currently processing life experiences and the world is vital for me to feel centered. I can breathe easier when I get things down on paper. Poetry might not solve everything, but it gets the images and thoughts out of my head and productively down on paper in a hopefully coherent, sometimes beautiful way.

Being able to say “No” releases the Girl Scout in you (I quit after Brownies. I’m not really a “joiner”). It’s freeing to put yourself first for once. We writers should do it more often. How am I ever going to write another book and get it out there into the world, if I don’t sit down and write? Sorry, that was meant to be rhetorical. It's empowering! Now, say it to yourself. How am I ever going to finish X,Y,Z … writing project, if I don’t just put bum to chair, fingers to keyboard and write?

Just DO IT!

Think of this blog entry as your personal writing cheerleader. Read it when you need to give yourself permission to create from the heart without stopping!

Cheerfully yours,
Your fellow wordsmith

"Calling Forth the Dream" by Cristina M. R. Norcross - A Tribute Poem for The Dreamers Center for Creative Arts in Delafield, WI

My poem, "Calling Forth the Dream," appears on The Dreamers Center for Creative Arts website, as a tribute to their goal of:

... inspiring hearts and minds through the experience of the visual, performing and literary arts.

The Dreamers Center for Creative Arts is located in Delafield, WI.

Read the poem "Calling Forth the Dream" HERE at The Dreamers Center official website.

IN THE FLOW

Eckhart Tolle writes:

It seems that you are torn sometimes between the outward movement into form, and the inward return movement to the Source where it all started. The Source that was never really lost, it is always there because it is timeless, and it is within you. You feel drawn back to that, and that is the pull toward spirituality, peace, Stillness.

Every day life seems to be all about form. We buy groceries, feeling the weight of them, as we lift brown bags into large SUV’s. We make concrete lists of what we need to do that day ~ go to a dental appt., pick up the dry cleaning or go to the post office to mail off a package. Things surround us ~ our closets full of clothes, our bursting racks of DVD’s and the piles of shoes in the mudroom.

When do we escape form then, melting into the universal moment of presence and flow? It is our creation time, our Zen moments, that allow us to transcend the material world, even if it is just for the length of a 3-minute song on the radio. We are flowing into the Great Mystery of Being in these moments. We lose track of time ~ we float on high, reaching a state of awareness that provides both clarity and an endorphin-producing spiritual high, because we are shedding form for spirit.

I am not a runner, but I can see the beatific smiles on the faces of runners in my neighborhood. There is a good deal of sweat and exertion going on as well, but you can see that they are somewhere else entirely while on that run. This is why reflective gear and bright orange jackets are a very good idea! If your head is in the clouds, then drivers need to be able to see the part of you that should to stay safely on the side of the road.

My running Zen is writing, making jewelry, reading, riding my bike, walking by the lake and listening to music. Often all of these blissful activities inspire and inform one another. I’ll be taking a walk or stringing a new necklace, gazing at the way the trees are swaying in the breeze or how the red and blue stones make a pleasing pattern, when the first line of a poem will appear in my head. I won’t get the whole poem, but that first line, fully formed, will come to me like a gentle deer. I run to the page, capture that first thought and keep going ~ passionately in flow. Time will pass, and I will still be in that dream-like state of creation, not caring whether my form is cold, hungry or late for an appointment. Form ceases to matter ~ for those two hours of creation.

Eventually, I will have to return to buying rolls of toilet paper and taking the garbage out, but my spirit will be lighter, closer to the heavenly realm than ever before. I will be complete, full, still ~ for now.

Staying in the flow means accepting the now and embracing where that first line leads you.

CMRN

Why Do We Write?

This is a question I ask myself almost daily, because I genuinely want to know why I am compelled to write, even if I don't know what I am going to write about that day. The magical poetry sprites whisper in my ear that they have a message for the world, and that I am their trusted scribe. No - not really. It does feel at times as though something larger than myself is at work though. I think all artists and creative minds work this way. There is so much energy swirling around in the universe. We are meant to reach out and grab it - to share it. I once watched a "TED Talks" podcast where the presenter spoke of a poet whose technique was to pull in a new poem from the ethers, as if pulling in a kite from the sky. If she didn't run home right away and capture the poem, it would be lost to her - dancing across the sky until finding another poet to write down the words.

C.S. Lewis wrote, "We read to know we are not alone." I believe that we write to know we are not alone as well. Connecting with the consciousness of others gives us the comfort of knowing that we are all having an earthly experience together. We are all feeling pain, loss and suffering - alongside love, joy and fulfillment. If someone else writes about the joys and challenges of parenthood - the same, exhausting months of sleep deprivation as well as the heart warming moments of first giggles and first steps, then we know that there is hope for tomorrow and the day after that.

Nothing is more frightening than an empty page and not knowing how to fill it. If we clear the mind of what we think is the sublime poem or the ultimate narrative, then we might just stumble upon the engaging story that everyone can relate to, so that none of us will ever feel alone.

Why do we write? I write because there isn't a single day that goes by when I don't feel my hands reach out for the keyboard with passion. I write because I would be quite miserable if I did not throw the contents of my brain into a Word document at least once per day. I write because everyone else in my household would be miserable too, if I did not write. It calms me the way classical music soothes the baby that will not go to sleep. Writing allows the restless part of me to find peace. Once in a while, when I write a really good poem, someone tells me that it made a difference in their day to read it, and this makes me feel like I've given something back to this sweet, sweet world.



CMRN

"A Prayer for the Waters" Fine Art/Poetry Giclee by Artist Holly Kallie & Author Cristina M. R. Norcross to Benefit the National Wildlife Federation

ARTISTS HAVE IMPACT!

With this fine art/poetry giclée, “A Prayer for the Waters,” artist Holly Kallie (www.hollykallie.com) and poet, Cristina M. R. Norcross (www.FirkinFiction.com) hope to raise awareness for the needs of the environment. Through the beauty of visual art and poetry, we propose to inspire others to answer the call to action, by purchasing these giclées. After covering basic production costs, all profits will go directly to The National Wildlife Federation.

What can we do as individuals, if we feel helpless to help? We can donate what we can afford, we can raise awareness in others, encouraging them to donate as well, and in the process we can aid research efforts. Recovering the natural environment’s delicate balance for birds, fish and other wildlife is a healing process. As artists, we hope to inspire, encourage, and raise the white banner of peace in the name of charity.


For more information about “A Prayer for the Waters” giclées and how to place an order, please contact artist Holly Kallie (hollyjkal@yahoo.com) or visit her website.

Visit and join "A Prayer for the Waters" group page on facebook today, to start helping the cause!


A Prayer for the Waters
(Inspired by the painting by Holly Kallie)

We are being called.
From the depths of indigo pain,
springs the glowing chakra of re-birth.

We have muddied the waters
with our disrespect –
our muddled minds.

With golden feather reverence,
create a new philosophy
by healing the now.

Leading the way of undisturbed skies,
eagles watch and wait.
Elders live in quiet hope.

Our arms hold the reflection –
a surface of untouched light.
Roots in waters reach.
We truly see ourselves and weep.

With this prayer for the waters,
raise your voice and be heard.
Lift up life with life –
spirit is healing.


Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2010

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT! Poetry Reading and Art Exhibition at the Oconomowoc Arts Center on Saturday, October 16, 2010

One Vision: A Fusion of Art and Poetry in Lake Country
(Sponsored by the Pewaukee Area Arts Council)
Co-editors and Co-hosts: Cristina Norcross and Liz Rhodebeck

Poetry Reading and Art Exhibition at the Oconomowoc Arts Center

Saturday, October 16, 2010 / 7pm Poetry Reading and Art Show

6:30pm LIVE MUSIC

6pm DOORS OPEN



(Special Note: One Vision logo designed by visual artist Anne Raskopf. Anne was one of the ten artists on last year's project.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS! Calling All Artists and Poets in Lake Country, WI

Call for Submissions
(February 15 – April 15, 2010)


One Vision: A Fusion of Art and Poetry in Lake Country


We are seeking to help promote the creative works of visual artists and writers in the Lake Country community by creating a project of collaborative, ekphrastic art (Ekphrasis: poetry inspired by art - the conversation between two mediums of art). We will organize visual artists and poets into 15 compatible pairs. Each creative pair will have 2-3 months to work together to create 1 visual artwork and 1 poem. The artist and poet can come up with a theme together, the artist may offer up an original work for the poet to write about, or the poet may have a poem they wish to offer for inspiration to the artist.

There is a two-part scope to the project, One Vision: A Fusion of Art and Poetry in Lake Country, which is sponsored by PAAC (The Pewaukee Area Arts Council). Last year’s first project show (2009) at The Raven Gallery in Pewaukee was a wonderful success. This year there will be a combined art show and poetry reading at the Oconomowoc Arts Center on October 16, 2010, featuring the completed ekphrastic works of each artistic team. For each year, we will produce sets of fine art/poetry note cards to be sold as a fundraiser for PAAC. There is also a proposed anthology of Lake Country artists and poets after the 3rd project year (publication date to be determined), offering the opportunity for wide exposure for all contributors.

Liz Rhodebeck and Cristina Norcross will be co-editors of the book project and judges for the poetry submissions. Dint Sweitzer will be this year’s guest art advisor for art submissions.

Call for Submissions: February 15 – April 15, 2010

Editorial Reading Period: all candidates will be notified by June 1, 2010 about final selections for the project.

For a complete list of submission guidelines, where to send sample works and to download an official application form, please go to the PAAC (Pewaukee Area Arts Council) website:

http://www.pewaukeearts.org/


For examples of ekphrastic poetry, some helpful websites are: www.poets.org and www.puddinghouse.com


Eligibility
Those who either live or work in Lake Country are welcome to submit. Lake Country is defined by communities which feed into the following high school districts:

Arrowhead HS
Kettle Moraine HS
Pewaukee HS
Oconomowoc HS

(NOTE: This year we have expanded eligibility to include a limited number of applicants from outside the Lake Country area. However, other applicants must be residents of or work in Waukesha County.)

Taking Poetry to the Next Level ~ Multi-Media: Listen to and Watch My Latest Poems

Watch a multi-media film featuring my poem, "Why I Love You," from the book Unsung Love Songs. This film was created by artist, Jennifer S. Peña, and provides the viewer with a voice recording of my poem, a musical background and images that float across the screen.

Check it out by clicking HERE.

Why I Love You … in 35 Words


Breath, beyond which my hands extend,
is where you live.

Only you are safe,
when my moods mingle with cloudbursts.

Your acoustic guitar fills the house with music,
leaving no corner without joy’s pure sound.


Cristina M. R. Norcross
(from the book Unsung Love Songs, Feb. 2010)
Copyright 2009
*****

Listen to my poem "Waiting to Swim" right now! Click HERE


Waiting to Swim


The hotel room is empty,
save for our mess of clothes.
You are already deep in conference.
I can no longer keep the cleaning ladies at bay,
so I gather up solo essentials
and take my place by the concrete pool.

The days are hot and open in The Bahamas –
spread out like white flames on wheat.
I imagine your pen scratching paper,
while I read –
adjusting my shades
and this unforgiving bathing suit.

There is no escaping the floor to ceiling fish tank.
Marine life follows me through the lobby –
my pacing in time with aquatic circles.
Night settles with quiet steps.
The door opens,
and our solitary days join
into a jagged puzzle
of business and vacation.


Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2009
www.FirkinFiction.com
Unsung Love Songs (Forthcoming, Feb. 2010)
*****


Watch words bounce and glide as meaning finds its focus in the short visual clip featuring my poem "The Red Drum" from the book of the same title. Film created by John Norcross.

Click HERE


The Red Drum
(Inspired by the writing of Stanley Kunitz)


Your heart – a red drum.
Taut leather bound
to the infinite shape of a circle,
seeks the music of other beating hearts.

Sound changes,
when a strong wind blows,
when the leather is rain-soaked,
when the sun makes the circle
jump into the light.

“I made this,”
says the drum.
Dreams take shape in the air,
with each, bellowing note.
“Now change it by living,”
says the drum’s stick.
Sing a new song.
“Truth –
Of thee I sing.”

Many more layers of change
bring syncopated rhythms,
ballads of longing,
and newly discovered voices.

Your heart is a red drum –
now crimson with passion,
tomorrow the sun makes it pink –
a tender, summer rose.
Sing your transformation to the world.
Beat the drum.
Beat the drum.
Beat the drum.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2008
The Red Drum (Nov. 2008)

January 16th Book Signing at Books & Co., Oconomowoc, WI

Here is the article from the Living Lake Country Website about the Books & Co. local author event. I will be there on Sat. Jan. 16, 2010 to sign copies of my books: Land & Sea: Poetry Inspired by Art (2007), The Red Drum (2008) and my latest book Unsung Love Songs (2010).

***

Local Authors Gather for Book Signing
Writers network, Discuss Their Latest Endeavors

By REBECCA SEYMOUR

Posted: Dec. 16, 2009

If spending more time curling up with a good book or two is one of your New Year's resolutions, then stopping by Books & Company in Oconomowoc between 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, is a good first step to achieving that goal. The independent bookstore will host seven or more local writers for a book signing, refreshments and a chance to visit with the authors and discuss their works.

Co-owner of Books & Company Lisa Baudoin said the store tries to offer this type of event at least twice a year. "We have a lot of requests by local authors to do book signings and we thought if we grouped them all together they would attract a larger crowd," said Baudoin. "It's also nice because the event gives the authors a chance to network with each other."

Participating writers include Ilona Fridl, author of the book, "Silver Screen Heroes," Mary S. Hanson, author of the non-fiction book, "A Moment In Time," and Ted Iverson, author of the sci-fi novel, "Mission to the Stars."

Jeanette Michalets, author of "Vera Textiles: Add Color to Everyday Fashion" and "Christmas Household Textiles" will also be on hand to discuss her works, along with ekphrastic poet and author Cristina Norcross, who will share her books of poetry, "Land & Sea: Poetry Inspired by Art," "The Red Drum," and advanced copies of "Unsung Love Songs," which will be released in February.

Freelance writer and poet, Liz Rhodebeck whose writings are included in the anthology "Keeping Time: 150 Years of Journal Writing," and Jill Vento, author of the parenting book, "What To Do and How To Do It" will round out the group.

Books & Company is located at 1039 Summit Ave. in Oconomowoc. For more information, call (262) 567-0106 or visit the store's Web site, www.booksco.com.

http://www.livinglakecountry.com/oconomowocfocus/news/79435457.html

On March 11, 2010, I will be teaching a poetry workshop at The Lakes Gallery in North Lake, WI. Come join us!

Ekphrastic Poetry 101
with Cristina M.R. Norcross
Thurs., March 11, 2010 from 7 - 9:30 PM
Workshop with group discussion, writing prompt exercises & feedback sessions.
$20 per person. Registration required @ Lakes Gallery of Fine Art at (262) 966-1804


http://www.lakesfineart.com/classes___events


Ekphrastic poetry is the conversation between two pieces of art. The writer interprets a work of visual art and then creates a narrative in verse form that represents his or her reaction to that painting, photograph, sculpture or other artistic creation.

Cristina resides in the U.S., dividing her time between Wisconsin & New England. She graduated with a B.A. Honors Degree in English Literature from the University of Ottawa, Canada. Cristina lived in London, England for 5 years where she worked in publishing & taught high school level English. She also taught creative writing & language skills at a youth organization & is the author of a grammar usage manual. Ms. Norcross has had over 50 short stories, poems & articles published in literary magazines in England, Wales, The United States, Canada & Algeria. Published books: Land & Sea: Poetry Inspired by Art (2007), The Red Drum (2008), Unsung Love Songs (2010). Visit Ms. Norcross @ www.FirkinFiction.com

***

***Hope to see you there for interesting discussions with other poets, inspiring exercises and positive feedback in a supportive, literary environment.

Unsung Love Songs by Cristina M. R. Norcross * Book Launch Party * February 6th, 2010

Book Launch Party and Poetry Open Mic at Artavina Gallery for local author Cristina Norcross. Celebrate Unsung Love Songs on Sat., Feb. 6th from 7-9pm!


Local author Cristina Norcross of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin has her third book, Unsung Love Songs, coming out in February 2010. Come join us on Sat., February 6th from 7-9pm at The Artavina Gallery, managed by artist Kathy Boritzke, 378 Main St. in Waukesha, WI. We will be showcasing an evening of poetry, art and live music in an innovative, eclectic gallery setting. We will kick off the evening with live music by Nick Scholz and Shino Ishioka. Intermission will feature the ukulele stylings of special guest, Eric Raskopf. Cristina Norcross will give a reading from her new book, Unsung Love Songs, with a poetry open mic to follow. All are welcome. Get your name on the list to share your love poems. We will also have a fine wine and gourmet chocolate tasting at intermission, so come with eager ears for poetry and taste buds at the ready! To bring greater awareness to heart health this Valentine’s Day, we will be collecting donations for the American Heart Association at this event. ALL proceeds from book sales of Unsung Love Songs at this event will go directly to the AHA. Please come with a heart full of enthusiasm and support.

Cristina Norcross is a freelance writer and poet living in Lake Country with her husband and their two sons. She has had numerous works published in literary magazines in the United States, England, Wales, Canada and Algeria. Ms. Norcross is the author of Land & Sea: Poetry Inspired by Art (2007) and The Red Drum (2008). She is the co-editor of The Lake Country Project for Artists and Poets. This latest collection, Unsung Love Songs, celebrates the quiet, every day moments of love and how the recognition of this deep, abiding calmness can be the heart’s biggest flourish of all.
For more information about this author, please visit her website: www.FirkinFiction.com.

Where’s the love? Bring your poems with the theme of love found, love lost, love regained – love in all of its varied, wondrous forms. Please RSVP to Cristina Norcross at author@firkinfiction.com to get your name on the poetry open mic list in advance. The order will be based on the earliest e-mails received, so reserve your spot today!

For more information about this event, please contact Kathy Boritzke at the Artavina Gallery in Waukesha, WI: 328 W Main St.

"Frames" - new poetry by Cristina M. R. Norcross

Even a house of mortar and brick can have spirit. What would happen if that new house you bought could speak to you? What secrets would it reveal? What stories could the painting you inherited years ago share with you?

Let's see ...


FRAMES

Seeing out from a cave of light,
a cresting spirit rests on all four corners
and waits.

This day cannot contain thriving,
wanting, or persistence.
It ends with a hovering full moon –
low and yellow.

I hang on the wall you never look at,
slightly tilted,
wanting to be touched –
just left of the center that will not hold.

Trace and retrace the hairline fractures on the ceiling.
Someone lived here before.
Shadows of being remain,
as you fill the space with aura and light.

Once this living room swelled with post-dinner conversations,
meandering, bubbling outbursts of shared humor –
shared loss.
Memory thick with images floated high in the air
and lined the walls with a viscosity,
that one person sitting in the corner
just could not bear.

This is your dwelling now.
Fill it.
Shape it.
Stop hiding behind your frame –
so contained.
These eyes are your eyes.
Use them.


Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2009
(from the collection, Still Life Stories, with Jennifer Peña)

Poetic Captured Reflections at The Griffin Gallery

Gallery Night in Oconomowoc Begins with an Elegant Splash of Fine Art and Poetry




The Poetic Captured Reflections Gallery Show,
with paintings by Holly Kallie
and poetry by Cristina M. R. Norcross will be on display at The Griffin Gallery of Fine Art
(www.griffingalleryfineartllc.com) in
 Oconomowoc, WI on Friday, November 6th from
5-9pm. This exhibition begins on Gallery Night and will be on display through the end of Dec. 2009.

Poetic Captured Reflections are comprised of hand-signed, fine art, poetry giclées, created from original artwork by Hollie Kallie and original verse by Cristina M. R. Norcross. Each scene of beauty and form reveals a life beyond our earthly borders, inspiring poetic stories of the soul’s journey. Each giclée is unique, invoking the reader to live more fully in the present moment, by incorporating rich colors, evocative images and poetic narratives.

Holly Kallie (www.HollyKallie.com), a founding member of The Griffin Gallery of Fine Art in Oconomowoc, WI, is a self-taught artist who has been drawing and painting all of her life. Her favorite subjects are women and children in settings that include area lakes or the seashore. Ms. Kallie’s artistic intention is to show the similarity and connection between feminine energy and the flowing, reflective surface and depths of the water surrounding them.

Cristina M. R. Norcross (www.FirkinFiction.com) is a freelance writer and poet living in Wisconsin with her husband and their two sons. She has had over 50 works published in literary magazines in the U.S., the U.K., Canada and Algeria. Ms. Norcross is the author of two published books - Land & Sea: Poetry Inspired by Art (2007) and The Red Drum (2008), both available on Amazon.com. Ms. Norcross is the co-editor of The Lake Country Project for Artists and Poets.

Holly Kallie and Cristina Norcross have collaborated on this unique collection for the past year to create a beautiful array of soothing images and words. Please join us for a special reception on Nov. 6th to meet the artist and the poet in an elegant, gallery setting.

For more information about this event, please visit the Griffin Gallery website: http://www.griffingalleryfineartllc.com.

Lake Country Reporter Feature Article

I am the co-editor of The Lake Country Project for Artists and Poets. We will be having our gallery show and poetry reading event at The Raven Gallery in Pewaukee, WI on Saturday, October 17th, 2009 @ 7pm.

I am pleased to include a link here on this site to the feature article about our project and show, printed in the Sept. 29, 2009 edition of The Lake Country Reporter and The Oconomowoc Focus, as well as the Living Lake Country website:

Ten artists, ten poets - one vision
Lake Country project uncovers talent in our own backyard
By REBECCA SEYMOUR

http://www.livinglakecountry.com/lakecountryreporter/news/62332932.html

We hope you will join us for this exciting evening of music, art and poetry!

Best Wishes,
Cristina M. R. Norcross
www.FirkinFiction.com
Co-editor, The Lake Country Project for Artists and Poets

The Lake Country Project Art Show & Poetry Reading at The Raven Gallery on Sat. October 17th @7pm

Sat. October 17th, 2009 at 7pm - The Lake Country Project Ekphrastic Art Show & Poetry Reading

The Raven Gallery

690 Westfield Way • Pewaukee, WI 53072

10 Artists + 10 Poets = One Vision

On Saturday, October 17th, 2009 at 7pm, The Lake Country Project for Artists and Poets will have its first, fine art show and poetry reading at The Raven Gallery, owned by artist and editor Troy Tatlock, 690 Westfield Way, Pewaukee, WI 53072. We will kick off the evening with live music performed by Nick Scholz and Shino Ishioka, followed by a poetry reading with an intermission. Audience members will have the opportunity to meet our artists and poets to learn more about their work. Our artists include: Barbara Reinhart, Toby Colton, Holly Kallie, Orel Rooney, Anne Raskopf, Heidi Hallett, Dint Sweitzer, Luke Wein, Troy Tatlock, and Judith Reidy. Our poets include: Cristina Norcross, Liz Rhodebeck, Paula Anderson, Khristian Kay, Betty Rose, Sue Huebner, Mike Lane, Fred Kreutz, Abby Lorenz, and Kathleen Carlson. For more information about this event, please direct questions to either Cristina Norcross (Bookndz@yahoo.com) or Liz Rhodebeck (262-695-2761).

Upcoming Poetry Readings - Cristina M. R. Norcross

*UPCOMING POETRY READINGS*

Sat. Sept. 12th, 2009 at 10:15am / The Women's Center, Jeri Phillips Charity Walk and Poetry Reading (Waukesha, WI)

http://www.twcwaukesha.org/

Sat. Sept. 19th, 2009 at 6:30pm / Waukesha Food Pantry Poetry Reading at Martha Merrell's Bookstore (Waukesha, WI)

http://www.foodpantryofwaukeshacounty.org/
http://www.marthambooks.com/

Sponsored by the Wasteland Poets
http://www.wastelandpoets.com


Sat. October 17th, 2009 at 7pm / The Lake Country Project Art Show & Poetry Reading at The Raven Gallery (Pewaukee, WI)

10 artists + 10 poets = 1 Vision

http://www.ravengalleryandframing.com/

Singer/Songwriter Meaghan Owens will perform LIVE at the Poetry Open Mic Night at Whelan's Coffee

Meaghan Owens will perform LIVE at the Poetry Open Mic Night at Whelan's Coffee, Sat. July 25th at 7pm, Oconomowoc, WI. (http://whelanscoffeeandcream.net)

Meaghan Owens is an Americana songwriter from Wisconsin. Meaghan has released one cd with favorable reviews and airplay in American College/ Indie Radio and European radio. She splits her time between Nashville, Wisconsin, and touring. She is currently co-producing her second cd with Sigmund Snopek III. Meaghan's new album will feature the best Milwaukee and Nashville players including members of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Meaghan tours nationally and regularly performs in Songwriter Festivals. Most recently, her song, "Copper Pennies" written for the Steel Bridge Songwriter Festival in Sturgeon Bay, was selected for the festival headquarters website. You can hear her newest song at http://www.myspace.com/holidaymusicmotel or go to her myspace to see a complete list of shows: http://www.myspace.com/meaghanowensmusic.

Poetry Open Mic Night at Whelan's Coffee in Oconomowoc, WI

Hello Fellow Lake Country Poets!

Here are the details for the upcoming Poetry Open Mic Night, Sat. July 25th from 7-9pm, at Whelan's Coffee House in Oconomowoc, to benefit the Oconomowoc Food Pantry!

We will have LIVE music to kick off our evening with the talented musician and songwriter, Meg Owen. The Lake Country Poets will have a featured reading from 7-8pm and the open mic will be from 8-9pm. The open mic is open to all local writers and those who feel the calling of the poetic muse! Come on out and share your verse!

All attending are asked to bring 1 non-perishable/canned food item to donate to the Oconomowoc Food Pantry. Poetry with a purpose!

Poetry Open Mic Night
Saturday, July 25th / 7-9pm

Whelan's Coffee
165 East Wisconsin Ave.
Oconomowoc
262-560-1678

Please feel free to let friends, family and other writers know about this event!

Promoting Your Poetry!

Hello Fellow Poets!


I wanted to share a recent poem called "What the Sea Brings". I wrote this poem while vacationing on Martha's Vineyard and plan to save it for a later collection of water-themed poems. I came up with an idea to create free poetry postcards and spread them around at local bookstores, libraries and coffeehouses as well as to give them out at poetry readings. I thought I would share this poet promo idea with the other writers here, because it's such a great way to get your work out there and in the hands of potential readers. Vista Print has a good deal on oversized postcards that you can customize with designs and your poem on the back! Make sure you list your name, copyright date, and your writer's website address (if you have one) or an e-mail address where readers can contact you. Give it a try!

Spread poetry widely and often!

What the Sea Brings

Water secrets,
spread from depths of salty blue -
the sea washes clean
sandy edges and pebbled worlds.

Each wave laps
against the shore with pause -
the heartbeat of the land -
a reminder of stillness.

Boats in the harbor exchange glances,
conversing over sails -
voyages to the center of time.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2009

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Author of:
Land & Sea: Poetry Inspired by Art (2006, 2007)
The Red Drum (Pub. Date Nov. 2008)

Website: http://www.firkinfiction.com

Regular guest appearing on "The Sound of Ink" at The SpeakEasy Cafe on Blog Talk Radio:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/speakeasycafe/2009/06/18/The-SpeakEasy-Cafes-Sound-of-Ink-Open-mic-Poetry-show
Thursdays @ 6pm Central/ 7pm Eastern

A Father's Day Poem

FOR MY FATHER

I am a storyteller because of your stories.
Sharing with me the fabric of our family,
characters come to life.
I imagine my grandfather and great grandfather
teaching you how to build train layouts
or how to play stick ball.
A rich history unfolds with each re-telling
of tradition and anecdote.

I may pretend to know each line,
but secretly I want to hear how the story ends
over and over,
until I commit my ancestors to memory –
the kind of knowing that comes
from faces being painted on a wall.

The mystery of life is happening right now,
in this swirl within a salt pond, you said.
We knelt by the edge of this tiny, aquatic universe
and shared a moment of awe for what God creates –
for how small we are in comparison
to the expansiveness of nature.

As I look at my sons,
I wonder what stories I will tell them about you,
to ensure that memory holds the key
to the wonder that is you –
my father.

You take pride in your projects,
regardless of the outcome.
You show me the miracle of small things every day.
Your eyes light up when you see me,
and you still pat me on the head.
I remember how you used to call me,
Little Person.
I still beam and glow.


Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2009
www.FirkinFiction.com

Listen Up & Tune In to The SpeakEasy Cafe Open Mic Poetry Show - "Sound of Ink"

If you love to write/hear poetry, check out The SpeakEasy Cafe's "Sound of Ink" Open Mic Poetry night on Blog Talk Radio every Thursday Night at 6pm Central Time / 7pm Eastern Time:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/speakeasycafe

I plan on becoming a regular contributor to this poetry open mic on the radio!

This week was my first appearance. If you missed the show, just download the free podcast from iTunes for Thursday, May 14th, 2009!

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?i=54941669&id=299192853

If you fast forward to approx. 8 min. 30 sec., I chat with the show's host and read my poem "One Story" (inspired by the film Synecdoche, New York by Charlie Kaufman) until minute 12:12.

Thank you for reading and listening!

Here is the poem, "One Story"

One Story

There are nearly thirteen million people in the world. None of those people is an extra. They're all the leads of their own stories.

~Charlie Kaufman, from his film, Synecdoche, New York


Playing the lead in a haystack,
existing side-by-side in our solitary lives,
solace comes when we join these needles together –
the thread of life.

Jumping into character,
taking leave of the present world –
who wears your clothes when you sleep?

I am just a forgotten pebble –
a spark of granite daring to glint.
You see me walking down the street –
out of focus lines of arms and legs –
a disappearing narrative.

The screens keep getting wider –
a stage full of leading ladies and leading men.
They all spin in circles –
red curtains flying.

The cleaner, unheard,
leaves all untouched except the dust.
The man attached to his phone,
alone on the airport walkway –
his family waits.
The actress learns her lines on a threadbare couch,
sitting on hope.
We are all One Story.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2009
www.FirkinFiction.com

A Mother's Day Poem - PASS IT ON!

Mother’s Day
(for my mother)


Anticipating needs,
in tune with moods –
even from across the ocean.
The road to home begins
with the memory of a mother’s welcome.

When you walked with unstable gait,
she held one finger for reassurance –
two fingers for balance.

With blue spotlights shining
on a stage of dancers in pink tulle,
her applause filled the room –
her pride lifting your arms even higher.

The science project that refused to spin,
sent her on a late night, craft store expedition.
The satin ribbon still sits in a box of reflection.

Walking down the aisle, you notice perfection –
a mother’s precise planning.
Smiles appear –
framed by white flowers and ribbons on pews.
Platters arrive with culinary concoctions for every palate.
Boxes and boutique bags are whisked away and stored,
as your car travels to the first night’s chateau –
a trip with your honey to the moon.

On this day of mothers,
all standing in a row of love,
let the thank you from your lips
reach the patient ears
of the woman listening
for all of these years.


Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2009
www.FirkinFiction.com


FREE POEMS! I will be giving away free, signed copies of this Mother's Day poem, printed on parchment paper at the upcoming Aprons in the Wind show, Sat. May 9th, 2009 at The Lakes Gallery in North Lake, Wisconsin. Local businesses will also have copies to give out Mother's Day week-end, as a special promotion to give poetry as a gift! The two fine art/poetry giclee collections in collaboration with artists Anne Wall and Holly Kallie will be on exhibit (May 1- June 2) at The Lakes Gallery as well! www.lakesfineart.com

Distribute Widely! If you would like to have this special poem to give to your mother, just e-mail me, and I will send you a copy to print out! I will also have this poem on the Home Page of my website. Pass on the link!

GIVE THE GIFT OF WORDS!

An Exhibition of Art and Poetry

"She Slept Like a Log" Painting by Holly Kallie, Copyright 2008

The water’s current is a lullaby.
The air brushes her hair in sleep.
The wood’s grain welcomes floating dreams ~
exquisite balance.

Excerpted from “All is in Balance”
Cristina M. R. Norcross, Copyright 2008



"Awaken the Senses" Painting by Anne Wall, Copyright 2005

Petals of self unfurl,
like a rose uncovering the world.
Senses find space to roam
in a cavernous mind.

Excerpted from “Awaken the Senses”
Cristina M. R. Norcross, Copyright 2008


An Exhibition of Art and Poetry to be Featured at the Upcoming Aprons in the Wind Show at The Lakes Gallery, North Lake, WI

Lovingly woven within intricate stitching, the history of steamy kitchens and bubbling pots evokes the scene of hearth and home that a mother creates. The symbol of an apron waving in the wind brings back memories of nurturance floating in the air. In honor of Mother's Day (May 10th) and National Wear Your Apron Day (May 11th), artist Teri Peterson, owner of the The Lakes Gallery (www.lakesfineart.com) in North Lake, Wisconsin will be hosting Aprons in the Wind (May 8th-11th), an apron event of vast fabric proportions, as a tribute to women everywhere.

The Lakes Gallery of Fine Art LLC is housed within an historic 1906 Garden Tudor home set against an idyllic, pastoral setting. The Lakes Gallery is also home to Teri Peterson’s new business, Revival Consignment (www.revivalconsign.com). The gallery features 3 rooms of artwork from over 20 artists and intermingles with consigned women's clothing and accessories, as well as artisan jewelry and handmade clothing.

Aprons in the Wind invites you to dedicate a fabric apron to your mother, grandmother, sister, or any special woman in your life.  In tribute, these colorful aprons will be displayed on a clothes line that will span the outdoor property of the gallery on Mother's Day weekend and the following Monday (May 8th -11th). The Aprons in the Wind exhibit will be on display sunrise to sunset. The aprons will become a permanent part of the exhibit, displayed every Mother's Day weekend. There is no limit to the number of aprons for dedication.

For more information, as well as the mailing address where aprons can be sent for the event, please visit The Lakes Gallery website: www.lakesfineart.com. You will even find a link to a pattern for how to sew your very own apron out of 1 yard of fabric!

As an added feature, The Lakes Gallery will be presenting a special, limited engagement exhibition (May 1st – June 1st) of the collaborative, ekphrastic works of artists Holly Kallie and Anne Wall with poet Cristina M. R. Norcross. The two collections, Poetic Captured Reflections and Soulful Inspirations, are comprised of hand-signed, fine art, poetry giclées, created from original artwork by each artist and original verse by the author. Each scene of beauty and form reveals a life beyond our earthly borders, inspiring poetic stories of the soul’s journey. Each giclée is unique, invoking the reader to live more fully in the present moment, by incorporating rich colors, evocative images and poetic narratives. These giclées are available for purchase through The Lakes Gallery and make a wonderfully thoughtful Mother’s Day gift to be cherished and appreciated.
 
Anne Wall and Holly Kallie are both members of The Griffin Gallery in Oconomowoc, WI (www.griffingalleryfineartllc.com).

Anne Wall (Soulful Inspirations) (marketingnav@aol.com) is an artist, athlete and sports marketing consultant known internationally for her work in brand protection. She holds a BS in Fine Art from the University of Wisconsin and an MS in Integrated Marketing Communications from Medill at Northwestern University. While traveling and participating in a variety of sports, Wall has captured the spirit of outdoor adventures and the beauty of nature through her enduring works of art.

Holly Kallie (Poetic Captured Reflections) (www.hollykallie.com), a founding member of The Griffin Gallery of Fine Art in Oconomowoc, WI, is a self-taught artist who has been drawing and painting all of her life.  Her favorite subjects are women and children in settings that include area lakes or the seashore. Ms. Kallie’s artistic intention is to show the similarity and connection between feminine energy and the flowing, reflective surface and depths of the water surrounding them.

Cristina M. R. Norcross (www.FirkinFiction.com) is a freelance writer and poet living in Wisconsin with over 50 published works in literary magazines in the United States, England, Wales, Canada and Algeria.  Ms. Norcross is the author of two published books - Land & Sea: Poetry Inspired by Art (2007) and The Red Drum (2008), both available on Amazon.com.  She is currently the co-editor for The Lake Country Project for Artists and Poets, and her upcoming book, Living Nature’s Moments, is in collaboration with Fine Art photographer Pat Bashford.  

Within the many-layered hues of an image, lives a hidden world of story and verse. Likewise, vivid memories can come to life by examining a single thread. Aprons, art and poetry align together to create a special weekend. Please join us for an exciting event and a unique exhibit celebrating the human spirit. What better way to honor Mother’s Day than to attend a show of loving tributes at the Aprons in the Wind event, exclusively at The Lakes Gallery in North Lake.

Contact details: Teri Peterson, The Lakes Gallery of Fine Art, N76 W31428 County Road, V.V.
Hartland, WI 53029, Tel. (262) 966-1804, Website: www.lakesfineart.com.

Where else can you find this beautiful artwork and poetry on display?

The Soulful Inspirations and Poetic Captured Reflections collections are currently on display as part of a special engagement at The Ommani Center for Integrative Medicine (http://www.ommanicenter.com) located at 1166 Quail Court, Suite 210, Pewaukee, WI 53072, Tel. 262 695 9744.