Dear friends,

I hope this finds you well and nurturing yourself in beautiful ways. I'm writing to you from a cabin in Kyle, Texas located on 3,400 acres. About a month ago, I put a call out on my social media pages asking for help. That was a hard thing for me to do. I'm being gentle with myself and learning to be more vulnerable when it comes to asking for support. I can advocate for others all day but have trouble advocating for myself. However, that day I said yes to me. I shared a short post that read "Putting this out there for anyone who has resources to make it happen: I need space and time to write." The response was overwhelming kindness and generosity.

Several friends offered access to their guestrooms and rental properties. Others recommended residencies and introduced me to good people who might have access to retreat spaces across the country. Because of you, my friends and supporters, I have exactly what I need in this moment, what I hoped for: time and space. Special thanks to Jennine Krueger and Charlotte Gullick for nominating me for the Tasajillo Residency and for Katherine Johnson, Eric Hayes, and the board for saying YES! I'm thankful for the acknowledgment and encouragement. Out here I've been able to dream and read and write and rest for a week without distractions or competing responsibilities. This gift of time and space is reassurance that poetry hasn't left me (it never will) and that the work I am doing has me on the path I'm meant to be on. This is your sign to ask for what you need and to keep moving forward.

This work continues and I'm grateful to know I have more opportunities to do this work with new and old friends in the future. Looking forward to more writing in new spaces and growing this body of work. 

Onward with love,

Amanda

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Amanda Johnston, Alexis Paige, and Nikki Pattin.

The Mother In This Poem Is Me or You or Your Mother

by Wendy Chin-Tanner

mother is
a falling
star a bead

of sweat of
blood of bread
our daily

bread on which
we fed the
thread of life

the trouble
and strife of
he you wed

with heart and
head you pledged
in daddy’s

bed there is
no rest for
wickedness

lest evil eye
pry babe from
breast again

I rest my
case on wave
and wind hey

knight hey knave
come save me
blame me for

sin of rage
its wage so
high I am

both monster
and slave shame
me slay me

this is the
Labyrinth
where you play

Theseus
and I play
Minotaur

it’s okay
it’s just a
metaphor

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Excellent writing advice from Bernardine Evaristo!