Two Poems by Amanda Clark

Cope

Sandy's swirling round in

New England.
She's hovering above
preparing for the attack.

There's a storm already inside

of me
thrashing down trees and
bellowing
warm tropical winds
two days before Halloween.

An hour ago I was advised on

detachment.

The same echoed sayings,

'don't take behaviors personally,'
and 'leave work at work.'

This conversation was directed to the group,

but I listened closely to every word
and let the thoughts flood my world.

I receive verbal abuse

from youth
who live inside storms
everyday.

I receive verbal abuse from

writers who defend their craft
at all cost from my edits
(suggestions rather that need to be author approved)

I sit outside

and watch the rain
thinking of irony.

My intentions to help

get lost in the storm
of insults.

It would be easier

sometimes
if I held no emotion,

if I could shake off the rain

and leave the droplets
outside.

Detach myself from

all, turn off that emotional switch,
prepare to go to sleep.

Instead, I filter the storm.

Channel my winds
through jogging around the
living room while doing laundry.

And then of course,

I type this poem.

 

 

 

The Editor Inside

 

The tortured souls are at it again,

reading the criticisms and questioning their existences

“So you want to be a writer?”

I can hear Chanaski’s voice

and picture his ghost,

he’s surrounded with

the misfits of the world

they’re clinging to him like hungry leaches

who have finally found something to suck on

who have finally found blood.

 

With my writing

it is as though my insides

have been taken out of me

and wrapped around my skeleton,

there are no more secrets,

every part of me, revealed.

Who are you to judge my soul?

 

 

 

 

Amanda Clark currently resides in Woodsville, New Hampshire. She teaches English and Social Studies at an alternative school in Bradford, VT. She is the author of three previous books of poetry, all of which she considers to be, “chapters of her life,” including, Looking at the Moon, Flying Fall, and Beautifully Mixed-Up World. She was also a contributing poet for The Litchfield Literary Review. Additionally, Clark is the founder and editor of Steady Moon Press, a publishing company dedicated to poetry.

Clark graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Art History from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. She also graduated with a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from the University of Vermont in Burlington, VT. Additionally, she has studied abroad in Spain, Italy, and New Zealand. Her previous vocations include social work and outdoor education. Clark's poems have been distributed to classrooms, art galleries, libraries, and various newspapers. If you would like to contact Amanda, email her at: bigredac@yahoo.com

Her website is also available at: https://sites.google.com/site/amandaclarkauthor/home