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Christine Vaughan Davies's avatar

I always love your erasure poetry and am glad you introduced me to this artform (maybe one day I will be brave enough to try it myself!) Also, are your essays really 4,000 words?! Impressive. I loose steam after writing about 2,000!

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Amy Walsh's avatar

Oh, you totally should, even if you don’t publish (though it would be fun to see that side of you)! I especially like it for the feelings where you can't find the words or for when I want to be dramatic because I will censor myself if it is my own words. My elderberry article ended up at 3900. I think that broke the record, but most of the plant articles are over 3000. I think of them as more of a reference than creating them to be easily read in one sitting. I know I can't read them in one sitting at least!

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Tracey Conway's avatar

Hi! I'm happy to find a few fellow Erasure Poets! It's fun!

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Amy Walsh's avatar

I'm definitely a beginner erasure poet. I learned about it from Jeannine Ouellette. If you are an erasure poetry enthusiast, Jamal Robinson travels Substack writing excellent erasure poems from many articles.

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Tracey Conway's avatar

Thanks! I’ll check her out! I’ve posted some of mine. I use acrylic paint for mine. :)

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Pyraxis's avatar

I really think anyone who didn't attend the COVID ceremony was missing out. I found it really affirming to be able to connect with a few people who'd been working the front lines in healthcare, in an intimate and supportive setting. There was so much hate and resentment between clients/patients and their families trying to navigate all the troubles and new restrictions, and the medical professionals doing their damnedest to get through the day with their sanity intact. But the space you created made it easy to talk across that divide as human beings. Everybody has painful stories. It was healing to be able to share them and to listen to theirs. Even the push to set aside a full day simply to be in this place and make space for whatever comes up was valuable.

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Christine Vaughan Davies's avatar

I agree, I found it to be very powerful, especially when I didn't realize I'd been repressing a lot from that time. It was really healing to be listened to and to hear everyone's experience, even if they were very different thann my own. You created a beautiful container to hold our collective pain.

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Amy Walsh's avatar

Thanks Christine! I think literally everyone has a story to tell from that time if we allow ourselves. I wish I coukd convince us all of that! I knew all of my hospital hurts, but these sessions also made me realize all of the relational losses outside the hospital too.

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Amy Walsh's avatar

Thanks! I really appreciate your perspective and I'm glad it was an enriching experience.

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Pyraxis's avatar

You're welcome! (But with all respect, please don't use my name on this platform.)

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Amy Walsh's avatar

Oh, shoot, I'm sorry, will edit

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Pyraxis's avatar

Thank you!

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Jan Yanello's avatar

For snow geese

Walked the edge of the moon

On the water

— exquisite.

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Amy Walsh's avatar

Thank you Jan! That book, Our Lady of the Dark Country is so full of poetic language.

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Jan Yanello's avatar

My curiosity is piqued; I’ll look it up!

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Emily Levin's avatar

🐦‍🔥🔥💜💜🔥🐦‍🔥🐦‍🔥😘🔥

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Amy Walsh's avatar

Thanks Emily! It was a nice break from revision brain, even though it is revision in its own way.

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Emily Levin's avatar

It all feeds the well!

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