Old and New or Two Events

Out with the old and in with the new... if it were only that simple, or is it?
If you're talking about sweaters, maybe. But let's say you're talking about family. Not so simple. Certainly a few old things are worth keeping - like family and others who have been important in your life.

One way I'm keeping the old is by participating in my alma mater's annual Young Writer's Conference. Do you know of a middle school girl interested in writing? This one day conference is a great way for her to explore her interest, develop her skills and make new friends. It's happening on Sat., Feb. 25th at Mercy High School in Baltimore, MD. I will be offering a poetry workshop again this year.

One old problem I wish would disappear is homelessness. I can't give everyone a home, but I am hosting an open-mic poetry event to benefit Baltimore's homeless and the shelters that serve them. Sat., January 21 at the Hamilton Arts Gallery at 5502 Harford Rd. Sign up starts at 7pm, event at 7:45. Bring 1-3 poems or songs to share (depending on how many sign up). Participants are asked to donate $5., and warm clothing will also be accepted for Baltimore's homeless.

I hope your new year is full of old things that are still worth celebrating and new things that end old problems. May we all know and share the generosity and joy that exists within us.

Virginia

Upcoming Events

Hello!

What a busy fall it has been. I've done two poetry residencies at elementary schools, led my weekly LitWorld GirlsClub and continued to connect with other people who might be interested in bringing LitWorld programs to Baltimore.

Here are a few events coming up this winter and spring. I hope you will join me where and when you can!

- January 13th I will be a judge in Maryland's Poetry Out-loud competition.

- March 7th is World Read Aloud Day. Details to come. This is a global event, so you can participate no matter where you are!

-March 14 I will be part of Poetry & Conversation at Baltimore's Pratt Library with my poet husband Sam Schmidt and married poets Jane Satterfield and Ned Balbo. Ever wonder what a marriage between poets would look like? Come find out!

- April 6th My husband Sam and I will be featured readers at the long running Ragged Edge poetry reading series in Gettysburg, PA. You could consider this his PA release party for his book, Suburban Myths.

I will post more dates/events as they are organized.

Keep reading and writing,
Virginia

Stand up for Girls, Sept. 22nd

Two thirds of the world's illiterate people are female. Show your support for the education of these vulnerable people by standing up at noon on Thursday, Sept. 22nd, The International Day of the Girl. Take a picture and share with LitWorld.org, a non-profit dedicated to literacy for all. Check out some of the amazing things they've already accomplished in the video below. You can also connect with LitWorld on Facebook.

Join us and Stand up for Girls!
Virginia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYJQ8i7_uGI&feature=share

LitWorld

Hello!

I'm excited to share that I will be offering two GirlsClubs this fall. One will be at City Neighbors Charter School, and the other will be at The Village Learning Place, both here in Baltimore City. My clubs are for girls in 3rd-6th grades, and together we will read poetry and stories, listen to music and share our ideas about all of them. We will also make our own journals where we will write our thoughts and dreams. Together we will discover how we connect to the things we read, each other and the world. I can't wait to get to know these girls and hear their ideas!

This program was created by LitWorld. You can learn more about the amazing work we do around the world at: www.litworld.org Are you someone who would like to lead a Boys or GirlsClub? Be in touch!

Best Wishes,
Virginia

Speaking Engagement

Hello Gorgeous Poetry Lover!

This Wednesday I will be speaking to the Frederick Chapter of the Maryland Writers' Alliance on poetry writing and publishing. I'm really looking forward to it. There seems to be a growing literary community in Frederick, and I'm delighted to have the chance to meet and talk with them.
If you're in the area, I hope you can make it!

6:45 pm, Frederick Coffee Co. & Cafe, 100 N. East Street, Frederick, MD 21701

XO - Virginia

Here's a poem from Touch to tide you over:

Planetary Light                      

           

            I                                                          

As a child

I believed sleeping in moonlight

would make me beautiful

polish me brilliant

become my core and radiate

outward for the rest of my life.

I imagined people would look at me,

notice something unusual

but never recognize moonlight.

One night it woke me

shining silver-white through my window

as if I'd been chosen, as if it was looking only at me.

I could see the yard, my swing set

my room and its entire toy interior.

It was huge and even rounder

than my little girl face. Shocked and happy—

the moon had finally come to see me!—

I tried to go back to sleep

curled in my magic puddle of moon

thinking, my God, I'm going to be beautiful.

            II

Coming out of school to a solar eclipse

I know they said don’t look directly

but how can you not?

The moon moved in, blocked the sun

with its perfect concentric self

bumping out the back window of the bus

where I sat to watch this celestial game of tag.

Lunar eclipses scared me,

the thought that I could be blocking the light.

Our black shadow like a cloud,

a dark blanket over the moon.

            III

Some people believe

stars are the eyes of everyone gone before us.

These people, always on their best behavior,

would never embarrass their ancestors,

do anything to disappoint their mothers.

Stars are there in daylight too

crowded out by sun

but still in patterns we remember,

tell stories about,

connect with our own birthdays.

Sometimes, too, I've seen the moon

hidden beneath the day,

a pale ghost of itself.

These are the lucky ones.

They will never need another religion.

            IV

Deep dark cities are what I crave.

No more blinding glare.

I want to stop electricity.

Throw the switch, cut off all the juice.

Let the neon highway diner signs rest,

close the 24-hour bistros,

service stations, all-night groceries too.

Turn off all the lights so we can see.

All over the world, cities are starved of stars,

the Milky Way, Northern Lights,

harvest moons bright enough to climb through your window

shine you awake.

I want to go out into skylight,

look into nothing but beautiful.

All their lives stars pour their light into streams

we wade in thousands of years later.

They send their only gift

their energy—their history—our light.

If we could do this together

a whole shining world,

all the earth

trading light for light.

June Readings

Hello All!

Here we are in June, and the poetry continues! Tomorrow night I'll be reading with my husband Sam Schmidt in Gettysburg at the Ragged Edge Cafe. Their open reading starts at 6pm, and we're scheduled to hit the mic at 7.

Here's their site: http://www.raggededgecoffeehs.com/

Then on June 21st, our 13th wedding anniversary, we will be reading in Baltimore's Preston Gardens across from Mercy Hospital. Noon.

Hope to see you there!

:)

April Update

It certainly has been a great month for readings! I've met and read with some wonderful poets and even sold lots of books! There are still many great events coming up, so take a look and see if you can make it. Hope to see you there!

April 23, Saturday. 2pm Reading. Roland Park Branch. Pratt Library, Baltimore, MD

April 27, Wednesday. Reading. Barnes & Noble. Lancaster, PA

May 6, Friday. Reading. Poetry Lab, The Soundry, 316 Dominion, Vienna, VA

May 7, Saturday. Reading. Park Plaza Restaurant, 220 Cadman Plaza West
New York, NY 11201

May 15, Sunday. 5-7 pm Reading. Busboys & Poets,14th & V Streets NW, Washington, DC

June 3, Friday. Reading. Ragged Edge, Gettysburg, PA.