books

Poem of the Week, by Philip Larkin

Posted on by alisonmcghee

Minnesotans! There’s ​plenty of room in my FREE workshop on Friday, May 2, 1-4 Central Time: The Echo That Remains. This workshop, held via Zoom, is for anyone who loved someone who died of suicide, substance abuse, or untreated mental or physical illness. Click here for more information and to register. ​Note that we do not share our writing with each other in this workshop, which you may find freeing. All are welcome, free of charge, no writing experience necessary.  

Last week I stood on a beautiful bridge, watching the current flow beneath, when an idling motorboat dislodged a duck nest from the pilings. The nest went floating down the river, the mother duck frantic, fluttering up from her seven eggs and down again, helpless to stop the drift. Finally she jumped off and paddled to shore, her nest soon out of sight.

It hurt beyond all reason to witness that duck and her nest, because even though it was unintentional, too many other losses aren’t, like this heinous administration’s wanton, daily, abject cruelty. The world throws so much at all of us, animal and human; we should be careful of each other, and kind.

The Mower, by Philip Larkin

The mower stalled, twice; kneeling, I found   
a hedgehog jammed up against the blades,   
killed. It had been in the long grass.

I had seen it before, and even fed it, once. 
Now I had mauled its unobtrusive world   
unmendably. Burial was no help:

Next morning I got up and it did not.
The first day after a death, the new absence   
is always the same; we should be careful

of each other, we should be kind   
while there is still time.

Click here for more information about Philip Larkin. 
alisonmcghee.com
My podcast: Words by Winter

Three new free workshops for Minnesotans

Posted on by alisonmcghee

The Transformation of Trauma

Have you gone through something awful, either recently or a long time ago? Maybe someone you love died, or you lost your job or home. Maybe someone you love is an addict, and you struggle with conflicting feelings on how best to care for them and yourself. Maybe someone sexually assaulted you, or abused you over a long period of time. Maybe as a child, or adult, you struggled through domestic violence or emotional manipulation. If your life is compromised by any of these experiences, and you’re looking for some relief and support, welcome to these workshops.

Note that I am not a therapist. But as a lifelong writer, as well as a trained crisis counselor, I know that the making of art, in all its many and varied forms, can be a profound way to help cope with experiences that were grievous, unfair, unwanted, or cruel. In each three-hour workshop, we’ll work on three creative writing exercises, read and discuss a few short readings, and hopefully find ways to unlock your own power.

These workshops are offered free of charge via Zoom. You do NOT have to be a writer, or even be interested in writing, to enroll. I’ve designed them for people of any or no writing experience – all are welcome. There’s no feedback or public sharing of work in these workshops (unless you want to), so you are free to unburden yourself and follow the prompts in whatever way is beneficial to you without fear of anyone seeing your work. Enrollment in each workshop is limited to 30.

To register for any or all of the workshops, email me directly at alisonmcghee@gmail.com. Feel free to share this note with anyone who might find the workshops helpful.

Please note: While these first three workshops below are open only to Minnesotans, I plan to add them to my regular workshop offerings in future, and they will always be offered free of charge.

Tuesday, March 25, 6-9 Central Time, via Zoom. Mapping the Unmapped
This workshop is designed for anyone living in the wake of loss: of a loved one, a job, a home, a relationship, a long-cherished dream, physical or mental health.

Sunday, April 6, 1-4 Central Time, via Zoom. Rewriting the Story, Reclaiming the Self
This workshop is designed for anyone living with the memories, recent or long ago, of abuse: bullying, domestic violence, an emotionally abusive relationship, a sexual or physical assault.

Friday, May 2, 1-4 Central Time, via Zoom. The Echo That Remains
This workshop is for anyone who loved someone who died of suicide, substance abuse, or untreated mental or physical illness.

Poem of the Week, by James Baldwin

Posted on by alisonmcghee

It’s hard to live in the world. This line has spoken itself in my head throughout my life, especially right now. Don’t let them get to you, Allie. That little mantra got me through some hard times when I was a child, and while it’s a flawed philosophy it’s still a helpful one when it comes to bullies, because bullies love reactions.

Who do you turn to in hard times? That question was asked a few weeks ago in my church, where the only creed is love, compassion, kindness, inclusion, and social justice. Those who have gone before me, was my instant answer. Those who have done the hard things. Those who have already stepped through those distant doors and did so with courage and heart. Like James Baldwin. What seems hopeless isn’t, because the earth is always shifting, the light is always changing, and nothing is fixed.

For Nothing Is Fixed, by James Baldwin

For nothing is fixed,
forever, forever, forever,
it is not fixed;
the earth is always shifting,
the light is always changing,
the sea does not cease to grind down rock.
Generations do not cease to be born,
and we are responsible to them
because we are the only witnesses they have.
The sea rises, the light fails,
lovers cling to each other,
and children cling to us.
The moment we cease to hold each other,
the moment we break faith with one another,
the sea engulfs us and the light goes out. 

Click here for more information about poet, essayist, short story writer, critic, novelist and iconic American James Baldwin.  

alisonmcghee.com
My podcast: Words by Winter