tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post1954370083193016330..comments2023-10-19T10:51:43.826-04:00Comments on Author Amok: Writing to Heal: Altar of Innocence GiveawayAuthor Amokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13636391982938592789noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-28532735357631743102015-03-31T18:01:24.292-04:002015-03-31T18:01:24.292-04:00I am deeply touched to know that my work spoke to ...I am deeply touched to know that my work spoke to so many people. Thank you, Laura, for giving me the opportunity to share with your wonderful community of readers. I'd be happy to hear from any of them! Here's to poetry!Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11491654926161657808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-45247236726642777272015-03-30T09:37:08.653-04:002015-03-30T09:37:08.653-04:00I judge a youth writing contest every year and a f...I judge a youth writing contest every year and a few times we have come across a teen poem that seems to scream for help. It is difficult because we do not know these students at all. <br />Love Ann's work and her touching story about living with depression. I'd love to read more of her work. Margaret Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04434866104385187658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-63901226529557035632015-03-29T20:28:55.049-04:002015-03-29T20:28:55.049-04:00The poems in Ann's book "The Altar of Inn...The poems in Ann's book "The Altar of Innocence" are so powerfully descriptive of this time in her life.<br />I suffered from serious bouts of depression as a teen and adult as did my mother. <br />I find Ann's poems both healing and an inspiration.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-51525585614909389292015-03-28T21:23:37.125-04:002015-03-28T21:23:37.125-04:00Such a powerful post today - many thanks to you bo...Such a powerful post today - many thanks to you both. I'll share the link with my psychiatrist hubby. Like Karin, I was struck by the wonderful idea of spreading out newspapers to catch all those strong emotions in words.Robyn Hood Blackhttp://www.robynhoodblack.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-74003539973027603042015-03-27T20:54:07.901-04:002015-03-27T20:54:07.901-04:00Thank you for sharing this, Laura and Ann. All wri...Thank you for sharing this, Laura and Ann. All writing has a purpose, and journals and poetry are the perfect place to express those feelings we wouldn't necessarily want to speak aloud to another person. Those final lines of "Afternoon Resolve" are heart-wrenching yet inspiring.Catherinehttp://readingtothecore.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-80928822225241653512015-03-27T20:08:02.550-04:002015-03-27T20:08:02.550-04:00Powerful. Thank you.Powerful. Thank you.Mary Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078793537148794310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-45541977655916512132015-03-27T19:30:13.116-04:002015-03-27T19:30:13.116-04:00Thank you for this post. Ann's writing is beau...Thank you for this post. Ann's writing is beautiful and touched my heart. The story with your teen students was educational. Sometimes I see my 2nd-4th grade poetry students processing things in their poetry, too. <br /><br />I had not heard the term "therapeutic poetry" before, but there are times in my life that that term fits well. It feels like putting some order where there is chaos, and getting something outside of me to make more space inside. I love the notion of writing on newspaper with markers to express big feelings. Karin Fisher-Goltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10180838581250572921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-63820996041228781232015-03-27T19:20:56.794-04:002015-03-27T19:20:56.794-04:00Thank you for sharing a little bit of your story h...Thank you for sharing a little bit of your story here, Carol. I'm so glad that Ann's post spoke to you. She's an amazing person and I'm lucky to have her as a friend.Author Amokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13636391982938592789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-15686543450637274252015-03-27T19:19:38.643-04:002015-03-27T19:19:38.643-04:00Thank you for your comment, Iphigene. I like what ...Thank you for your comment, Iphigene. I like what you said, "there was enough freedom and concealment in the play of words" -- that appealed to me also when I suffered from a bout of depression in my teens. I'll be thinking of you. Be gentle to yourself.Author Amokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13636391982938592789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-33095728835693065142015-03-27T18:41:02.442-04:002015-03-27T18:41:02.442-04:00Laura, thank you for shining a spotlight on teen w...Laura, thank you for shining a spotlight on teen writers. I would love to work with teens one day, but the idea of it is a bit scary, even though I was an emotional teen myself. <br /><br />Thank you for your post, Ann– for sharing your pain in such an honest, personal way, and for the glimpses I saw of myself. Besides poetry and journaling, music was a great healer for me as well.Michelle Heidenrich Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02051827857519159837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-53820622924509949392015-03-27T17:46:24.573-04:002015-03-27T17:46:24.573-04:00Thank you Laura and Ann for your candid comments a...Thank you Laura and Ann for your candid comments about the cathartic side of poetry. As a teen poet, I often look back at my poetry and wonder why I wrote the way I did-deep and reflective. Perhaps, it was a bit heavy for the times but I think many of us wrote like that. Teen drama, family issues, hope for more. I continued the writing into college and worked with a professor who spurred me on. It's funny how memories come to light when you read what someone else writes. Because of many issues in life, I have decided that positivity is the better route for me to take. 11 years ago when I was diagnosed with lymphoma and the road was a very difficult one, I started a journal, Walking on the Edge of Darkness because it was faith and hope that provided the path away from dark places. Carol Varsalonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-39290096981237382282015-03-27T17:31:23.758-04:002015-03-27T17:31:23.758-04:00A really interesting post! I don't usually thi...A really interesting post! I don't usually think of using poetry in this way. Kind of a revelation... Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-89508435818378668872015-03-27T15:27:59.280-04:002015-03-27T15:27:59.280-04:00Poetry therapy is so powerful!
I esp. like this ...Poetry therapy is so powerful! <br /><br />I esp. like this description: "I used poetry and journaling to explore the mysteries of my feelings" & Laura's comment: "Teens don’t want to land in the guidance office every time they write a dark poem." Tabathahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14367572663591077922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-12173088580556983172015-03-27T12:38:26.230-04:002015-03-27T12:38:26.230-04:00Appreciations to both Ann Bracken & Laura Shov...Appreciations to both Ann Bracken & Laura Shovan. (I'm not competing for the chapbook but like it when a PF post includes a prize - I want to do that more often.)<br /><br />This new poetry collection calls to mind Diane Ackerman's Origami Bridges (which isn't geared to teen writers) & explores her therapy that guided her out of depression.<br /><br />How fortunate writers are to be able to employ words as a way of finding a path back to peace & joy.jan godown anninohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00091996699597066230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-51485314494968501392015-03-27T12:22:51.570-04:002015-03-27T12:22:51.570-04:00I do believe in the therapeutic power of poetry! T...I do believe in the therapeutic power of poetry! Thanks so much to Ann for sharing parts of her journey, and thanks, Laura for featuring her today. jamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07859083373087448194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-87309933887918029842015-03-27T11:09:22.939-04:002015-03-27T11:09:22.939-04:00I myself do not get depressed, but I can still rel...I myself do not get depressed, but I can still relate to her poetry. I have used poetry more as an avenue to work through finding my feelings in regards to things since they are not always apparent sometimes while experiencing those things or events. I hope the youth of today get the significance of the great learning and healing processes poetry has to offer both as a writer and a reader.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-5330344255064376782015-03-27T10:29:46.297-04:002015-03-27T10:29:46.297-04:00Poetry can be so connecting and healing. Thanks fo...Poetry can be so connecting and healing. Thanks for sharing this poem. I used to refer to that place as the black pit of despair. PBofD for short. Although, it wasn't short, but any stretch. You've reminded me how numbing and sad that was, in a beautiful way. A way that speaks of transcendence of spirit over biology. <br /><br />I would love to win the chapbook!! :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-80176412649469749752015-03-27T10:29:21.398-04:002015-03-27T10:29:21.398-04:00Thank you for sharing this. This was all too close...Thank you for sharing this. This was all too close to home. When I was a teenager I used poetry to process my feelings, it gave me a voice wherein I there was enough freedom and concealment in the play of words. I always said that poetry kept me alive, and I do mean it literally. If i didn't have poetry, I wouldn't be here.<br />And thank you for the guest blogger. I too suffer from depression. I was recently diagnosed and the progress has been good recently. I feel how it is, the getting out of bed. My mother was the same, and I try to push myself out of it all the time.<br /><br />Thanks Laura for today's post. :)<br />-iphigeneGathering Bookshttp://www.gatheringbooks.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-30325700006402252682015-03-27T10:04:32.569-04:002015-03-27T10:04:32.569-04:00Depression is a confusing thing to me. It seems i...Depression is a confusing thing to me. It seems if it is short-lived and can be defined by an event, then it is just sadness or confusion. When it is all-encompassing and foggy, that must be true depression. I have not really felt the latter, though some relatives have - so it scares me. Too bad they don't have "depression vaccines" like flu vaccines!<br />Thanks for sharing Laura and Ann.Donna Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13738281869266957726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-83130211864469442752015-03-27T09:48:41.294-04:002015-03-27T09:48:41.294-04:00Linda, I applaud you for doing that work. Having a...Linda, I applaud you for doing that work. Having an adult to write alongside and act as a mentor will help your teens feel safe as they write.Author Amokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13636391982938592789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303906221917588052.post-65042834258431666742015-03-27T09:11:35.804-04:002015-03-27T09:11:35.804-04:00I just started writing poetry with a group in my c...I just started writing poetry with a group in my class of early adolescents, and find that some are already are writing from their deep places, finding ways to use words to help themselves take the early steps into adulthood. It's a wondrous thing to see what they share. Thanks Laura for introducing Ann's book to us. And thanks to Ann for sharing her life in it.Linda Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14983144542632353870noreply@blogger.com