Events & News (06/08/24)
What sharpens your wits?
The Saturday Spark
Tell us: Name one thing that helps to “sharpen your wits.”
Big announcements!
I’m out there somewhere . . .
I’m out of studio on a three-week road trip, mostly unplugged. Once I return, I’ll gradually (and happily) catch up with your emails and comments on posts.
Deep bows to you for your understanding and patience—and for your dear presence on The Raft!
Thanks for filling out my recent surveys . . . or for trying to!
You may have noticed a problem if you tried to complete one of our recent Raft surveys via the Substack mobile app. That’s a Substack glitch that’s beyond my power to fix. I’d recommend you do the surveys on your computer instead of the app.
Below is the post leading to the last of our three Raft surveys. Links to the previous two surveys are also provided.
Again, I’m grateful to you for this feedback. It will help me serve you better!
Catch up! (event replays)
Next week on The Raft . . .
Poetry Pick-Me-Up (Zoom, Thursday, 12-1PM Central). A casual weekly gathering for poetry-sharing, celebration, and discussion. Hop on the Zoom at this link. Bring a poem you like to read to the group. Or, just come to listen to poems offered by other Rafters and to participate as you’re comfortable in our informal but wholehearted conversation. Can’t make it? Watch for the video replay in this newsletter!
Grateful, grateful!
The Raft is my gift to you. I’m so glad you’re here!
If you appreciate my offerings, please consider supporting my work by becoming a patron (paid subscriber).
My heartfelt thanks to these Rafters who made contributions to the life of The Raft in the past week: Barbara Bisgrove, Vicki Capestany, Kim Capps, Christina Dorr, Stephen Johnson, Rona Klein, Jackie Langetieg, Dan McKinley, Lana Phillips, Lorna Reid, Paul Rudiger, and Julie Roehm.
Sneak peek! Book trailer for my upcoming novel!
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Whew! That's all for now. Stay well. Stay witty. Stay tuned into your true spot and create from your radiant, beautiful self.
Challenges have always sharpened me. When thrown a "curve ball," I may be dumbfounded for about 30 to 60 seconds, but after that , I am super-charged and ready to tackle the challenge. When giving a presentation, if I sense I am losing the audience even slightly, I can, in the midst of presenting, change course somehow, and bring them back.
Today it is following your post to encounter Staying Power #150: "The Title of This Poem Has Been Censored." I had never heard of a nonet before, and though the meaning was pretty obvious, I Googled it. I came up with a writing prompt from the University of Arizona Poetry Center on the power of naming and promptly (in about 5 minutes) wrote one, astonishing myself. Here it is:
The Meaning of My Name is So Much More
The purity and glory of God
Alhamdulilah! What a joy!
Old name slipping into past
I am Subhana now
New name, new vision
No more Cathy
Some forget
Not you
Thanks!
Subhana Graf
June 8, 2024