Becoming a Published Poet

Over the last two years, I've been fortunate to have several poems published online. I am humbled each time I get a notice of acceptance. It is a privilege to be included in the following online publications:

  • Beltway Poetry Quarterly's Fall 2016 Slam issue includes Michelle Obama's Easter Dress Speaks and The Dolezal Affect
  • This August, Ode to the Chronically Ill Body was listed as number 4 among Split This Rock's 20 Most Viewed Poems in The Quarry. Check out all 20 poems at Split This Rock's blog! 
  • Also in August 2016, three of my poems reflecting on hearing loss and chronic illness were included in the inaugural issue of The Deaf Poets Society. You can read Accommodation, In/Ability, and Praise Song for the Body at their website. 
  • Typos' July 2016 issue (Issue 25), guest edited by Jennifer Bartlett, includes more poems reflecting on the body: On Having an Autoimmune Disease, Meniere's Flare, and Wrecking Ball. The entire issue is focused on disability & the non-normative body. 
  • Poems that were included in the Unfolding the Soul of Black Deaf Expressions exhibition at Dyer Arts Center were published in a book available online. The book includes the poems Homeland, Tinnitus, The Sound Barrier, and Acoustics Test, as well as amazing art and photography from other exhibition artists. 
    Image of Camisha Jones, a brown skinned woman with loose wavy natural hair. She is at a microphone. Behind her is a yellow wall. She wears a zebra print jacket that is beige with dark brown stripes. Her hand is stretched forward.
    Performing at Moving Words event.
  • An excerpt of my poem, Hair-itage was chosen as one of 6 winning poems in Arlington Transit's 2016 Moving Words competition! Check out all the winning poems at their website.
  • In November 2015, the #BlackPoetsSpeakOut issue of pluck! which includes my poem American Anthem Remixed was made available for free at the #BlackPoetsSpeakOut website.
  • Rogue Agent Journal chose my poem Homeland for inclusion in Issue 6, published in September 2015 and available online.
  • Because my poem Ode to the Chronically Ill Body was posted in Split This Rock's online poetry database, I was chosen to be profiled for PBS Newshour's online poetry series. The article which includes the poem (video & text) is available online at their website.  
  • And the poem that kind of started the publishing ball rolling, Ode to the Chronically Ill Body, is posted at Split This Rock's online social justice poetry database, The Quarry.
Thanks for reading! If you enjoy these poems, consider liking my Facebook page (Poet Camisha Jones) to stay informed of my journey as a poet. Hope to soon post videos there from being a featured poet at the infamous Nuyorican this past August! 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Writing About Transformational Lives

It's been a while since I posted anything.  I have become a freelance writer for Urban Views Weekly .  Within that position, I've been able to listen to and highlight the transformational stories of people and organizations in Richmond, Virginia.  Here are the cover stories I've written thus far: Young writers sharing their words at national poetry competition I've had the privilege of interacting with this group of poets for a little over a year.  They embody what it means to courageously stand within and speak your life's truth. VCU Professor uses theater to heal racism Theatre is a powerful tool for engaging people in difficult discussions of difference.  I loved hearing the wisdom and journey of Dr. Tawnya Pettiford-Waites. Tammy Hawley: From Clerical Help To Press Secretary to the Mayor Life can be a surprising adventure when you live within what you're most passionate about.  Talking to Tammy Hawley inspired me to consider what...
Read more

Childhood's Double Meanings

I love to sing-a about the moon-a and the June-a and the spring-a. I love to sing-a about the sky of blue-a and a tea for two-a…I love to sing!   I have been singing this song from a favorite Merrie Molodies cartoon for most of my life.   Today, I decided to make the little owl who sings the song my Facebook profile picture.   I wanted to know what the song’s actual words were so I did a quick internet search.   I learned that Cab Calloway and Al Jolson had made the song popular.   I thought, “It’s a Cab Calloway song!   No wonder I like it!”   The name Al Jolson sounded familiar but I didn’t remember why.   Another quick internet search informed me that he was a popular American singer, actor and comedian.   Then came the shock.   I chose to look at the images before reading through all the text of the Wikipedia entry for him.   What did I find?   A picture of him in blackface!   My heart sank.   My stomach went ...
Read more

My Two Cents on Trayvon

Trayvon Martin deserves more than just the arrest of George Zimmerman.   A collective outrage in our country has been sparked by the killing of 17 year old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida.   I understand the outrage.   My stomach is sickened even now as I recall the recording of a 911 call that captured Trayvon crying “Help” prior to Zimmerman pulling the trigger.   It is an outrage that a teen has been killed and no arrest has been made, despite how obvious the evidence seems to be.   It doesn’t help that this is not the first time a young brown boy has been killed in such a tragic manner or the first time a person of color has committed a “hate crime” against another person of color. Signing petitions doesn’t seem enough.   Putting on a hoodie doesn’t seem enough either.   In fact, it just deepens my grief over Trayvon’s death.   Even though I want justice in the situation, I haven’t gone to any of the vigils or events.   I think it’...
Read more