POETRY, THE QUEEN OF ARTS
INTRODUCTION In this, the eighth issue of ASC’s literary magazine, Situations, you’ll find wit, candor, triumph, pain, determination, philosophy, introspection, and imagination—just some of the ingredients that make ASC’s weekly Creative Writing Workshop such a transformative experience.
Poetry, Queen of Arts! Long ago you stole my heart. Poetry, you’re so good to me.
Every Thursday for more than five years, ASC has offered this workshop as a kind of oasis—a place to put feelings, experiences, and perceptions into written form; a place to make meaning and gain insight; a place to explore and to create. This issue of Situations includes more contributors than ever before—evidence of the workshop’s importance to men and women living with, at risk for, and affected by HIV/AIDS. The twenty-six poets represented here include individuals who have been with the workshop for years as well as new participants. For many, this publication marks the very first time they will see their words in print.
It’s like heaven being with you. I love the sweet and beautiful things you do. I’m working like a busy bee trying to win your love for me. Poetry, you’re like fire burning in my bones. You’re my queen on the throne. I love you more than I love drugs. You’re medicine for my soul.
This has been a year of growth for the workshop. For one thing, the group is larger and more popular then ever. In addition, an exciting new dimension was added this spring with the launching of the Zwickler Memorial Poetry Leadership Program. Funded by the Phil Zwickler Memorial Foundation, this program provided training to five longstanding, highly committed workshop members, teaching them the skills to guest-lead the workshop on their own. This summer, the Poetry Leaders successfully facilitated workshops that were greatly enjoyed by the participants. This
To win your love is my greatest goal. Poetry, Queen of Arts, long ago you stole my heart.
Luther Jarman
unique program gives the workshop members a chance to experience different people’s styles in running the group and has created a cadre of leaders who can be role models for the others while advancing their own personal development goals. In connection with this grant, ASC recently launched the Phil Zwickler Memorial Poetry Page on its website (www.ascnyc.org). The page spotlights a poem by a different Creative Writing Workshop member every other month, and includes commentary by the author. We encourage you to visit ASC’s Phil Zwickler Memorial Poetry Page to learn more about some of the poets whose work you’ll read in these pages. We’re proud of these exciting achievements, just as we are proud to bring you this latest offering of poems to inspire, challenge, and touch your soul.
BROKEN MAN I lived to get high. I didn’t care if I lived or died. A fool on a mission of death, constantly destroying myself. I got “busted” and went to the “pen.”
Gerry Gomez Pearlberg Workshop Leader
That’s where poetry became my friend. Poetry saved my life. Poetry became my mistress and my wife. Poetry helps me to fight the war raging within. This broken man made poetry his friend.
Luther Jarman
Situations
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