Poetry – Page 2 – Noreen Lace

To Publish or not to Publish – is that really a question?

Published on February 19, 2019February 9, 2019 by Noreen Lace1 Comment

To some people it is.

I have a friend who picks and chooses where he wants to be published so carefully that he submits maybe once or twice a year at most. He hasn’t been published in maybe 6 or 8 years.

He’s an extremely good writer. Better than I. colllins

He says, he wants to only be published where his name will be seen, where it will matter.

I took this to mean he didn’t approve of my many publications with small presses, some of which no one has ever heard.

What do you value and why? Ask yourself.

Billy Collins, btw, began publishing in what he refers to as fly by night or small presses of which no one ever heard.

Word Problems – a poem by Noreen Lace

Published on December 14, 2018December 14, 2018 by Noreen Lace1 Comment

Word Problems

I hate when men write

soft poetry about their ex’s.

It’s easier to read the hate

than to let your mind wonder

“what went wrong?”

It’s easier to hear, I don’t love

you anymore,

than to hear I love you, but…

and the thousand buts

that say you just didn’t add up.

I mean she…

back to the poet with the soft poetry

and the lost wife.

He writes it, not to her,

but for himself,

to remind himself

of what he let go,

the additions he didn’t add in

when he was subtracting

all she didn’t have.

All the things he didn’t have

all the while he’s telling himself

he was right

to let her go

when he did

because things would have gotten worse

had they not parted before the math was done.

At least this way he can ruminate,

look back fondly and say,

we parted as friends,

Meaning,

I departed quietly to search for something more,

she just got hurt.

*originally published in the Northridge Review 2002.

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This was written long ago, while I was finishing graduate school. I think it’s still so relatable. One person is always ready to go before the other. One person walks away, the other crawls. (But don’t worry – the one who crawls gets up, becomes stronger, and thrives!)

Much love, readers.

What’s New With You?

Published on March 3, 2018March 3, 2018 by Noreen LaceLeave a comment

I’ve been remiss in my posting – which is a social media no-no. icecream Can I tell you a secret? I’m really just an introverted writer and I really want to do is:

Write!

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I had a fantastic time at the Poe Museum reading Eddy. They live streamed it (I didn’t know they were doing that!) and I’ve been invited back, hope to go soon!

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In the meantime, I’ll be at AWP.

But the real news today: my short stories – loving the covers! – are available for .99 cents on smashwords and kindle.

So – whenever you need something to do – click the link, read a story, let me know what you think!

Be Joyful!

Delphinium – with care, blooms twice

Published on June 27, 2017 by Noreen LaceLeave a comment

Sticking to their word, Delphinium blooms again. The lovely editors at REaDLips have promised to give some of the proceeds of Delphinium’s Summer Issue 2017 (and going into the future) to literacy programs. I’m beginning to appreciate Delphinium and those at REaDLips more than ever. They are showing themselves to have a heart, to care about our society. I am more than proud to be affiliated with this journal, proud to be published a long side amazing award winning authors as well as my own students. That’s right! Lynn Johnson was a student in my African – American Literature class. Her poem, published in Delphinium, was one she wrote in response to one of our readings and shared in class as part of her creative project.

I hope you’ll give Delphinium a read, and not because I’m published in it (well, not JUST because), the journal features authors and artists of diverse cultures and it will benefit art and literacy programs.

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Sleep pulls me down….

Published on May 12, 2017 by Noreen LaceLeave a comment

My untitled poem

[Sleep pulls me down on a Christmas pillow]

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has been published in Silver Streams journal.

Silver Streams is a new publisher in Ireland. Call me Internationale.

Nano’d

Published on March 28, 2017March 28, 2017 by Noreen LaceLeave a comment

My poem, “All at Once,” which was a finalist in Medusa’s Laugh Nano Text contest, has been published in Nano Text form. 😂 . They sent me two Leather bound, hand stitched copies.

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Writing Wishes and Publication Dreams

Published on March 10, 2017March 10, 2017 by Noreen Lace2 Comments

I’ve been working on a new story – not only working – OBSESSED! I don’t think I left the house for most of January and part of February until the first draft was done. I’m currently working through it again and again. I’ve begun to gather my beta readers, and I’m quite excited.

Weekly, I spend time submitting. This is what a working writer does. Writes and submits. Rejections are no fun, and I get plenty of them. I read one statistic that read, “a writer gets an average of 26 rejections for every acceptance.” Not sure how they came up with that… I feel like it’s three times that much; however, things change!

Malcolm Gladwell, estimates it takes 10,000 hours to master any one thing. I feel like I should have reached those hours long ago; but, maybe, it takes some of us a little longer to get it. (That’s the story of my life!)

So – I have to update you.

My poem, “All At Once”, was a finalist in Medusa’s Laugh NanoText Contest. I didn’t win, but it’s still to be published in their anthology and in an e-book version. This should be available soon!

My poem, “I’ve Never Looked So Beautiful” has just been accepted by Mother’s Always Write. Before you start thinking I’m quite full of myself – the poem is about my lovely daughter! This should be available in the next month.

My story, “How to Throw a Psychic a Surprise Party” has been accepted by The Oleander Review. Sometimes, I write something and I think, this is pretty damn good, and I think this story says a lot about our humanity. I’m so happy that it will be published. It will be available mid-April

Finally, ladies and gentlemen, Writer Advice has just notified me that my story, “Memorial Day Death Watch”, has been chosen as a finalist in their Flash Memoir Contest!

We must have a purpose – I’ve always wanted to reach people, tell them they’re not alone. I think I’m just beginning to do that.

Live an Inspired Life!

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Since I can’t love you…..

Published on July 3, 2016 by Noreen LaceLeave a comment

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Did you ever meet someone, someone it seemed you were destined to meet? You had a connection, you laughed together, cared about one another, but you also knew the whole time that it could never last; it just could never be more than what it was at that moment.

I didn’t used to believe in connections like that. And he, well, he totally misunderstood.

“Since I can’t love you, I love the world” was inspired by that. It’ll be in July’s Action/Adventure issue of Pilcrow and Dagger.

Pilcrow and Dagger’s Action/Adventure Issue Video Preview

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