YA Contemporary Author and Poet
Lit from within, you clamor with gritted teeth and Tense muscles, still you work to ignore the Distractions pulling at your mind. And What if? Beats you from behind. Rains down. Covers. Darkens. Fills you with misgivings. Paralyzes you with fear. And The ever remaining truth. You have No way to know. No way to […]
Read More Lit From WithinStop doing the things you say you disagree with.
Read More How Change HappensI’d like to go for a walk in the woods A forest A grove A riverbank A valley A wet grassland A secluded marsh Along a fallen log I would find a tree and climb it And sit for awhile See the plants The birds The insects The amphibians The mollusks The mammals The reptiles I’d […]
Read More A Move to the WoodsI’ve submitted my manuscript and, at long last, am on the verge of possible success at finding an agent. The feedback I received from my query transformed my manuscript. Even if I do not get representation, I’ve been able to improve my work and I’m super grateful. I still prefer representation.
Read More High HopesI want to write about something beautiful To be inspired by stories of the world But One must scour the pages for a positive To find a kindness One must reach passed The wretched behavior of Mothers and Sons Must shield against the atrocities of neighbors And the lost trust in our government and police […]
Read More Something BeautifulSeventh Graders will often use the wrong facial expression / voice inflection / emotion when expressing themselves. When it seems that they should sound happy or sad, they do not. Or, perhaps, they should sound worried or concerned but they are expressionless. This is just something I have noticed while teaching. Please consider the following: […]
Read More Set upSo, when you’re just about there Thinking You’ve done good You’ve finished You’re accomplished You can take a break It isn’t true You’ve got more To accomplish To keep To learn To Strive toward
Read More KeepPassive aggressive bullies. Now, Be Nice. Okay … Full of shit. Nope. Try again. My family is full of people trying to make it. Trying to make their life full. Trying to navigate what they need, what they want, what changes their minds, what keeps them going, what pushes against them, what others need, what others […]
Read More My Family Is …Yesterday People looked at me As if I were insane Just making conversation Chill out Today Conversations held New with unknown people We laughed We shared We questioned We opened up Tomorrow I’d prefer more of today
Read More On Talking To StrangersAlways Learning Researching Discussing Planning Trying Worrying Sacrificing Always There is no such thing as a summer off.
Read More Teachers Work Fucking Hard
Effie Graves 