Came across this website and I thought it was a good read about some modern poets brought to you by a Professor in Vermont: Modern Poetry

I found his discussion of why poetry is important compelling. And for obvious reasons I have a vested interest in those who believe poetry to be important.

Poetry is important to me because it can often express emotions that seem inexpressible, or that might need to be expressed but are kept secret because of fear of their expression. It is also important to me because of its relationship to music. If I hadn't begun writing poetry again I would never have been able to have the courage to write lyrics for the songs that my husband had been writing. We've been together 6 years and have only over the past year attempted to write songs. Last night we completed a 9th song. We have ideas brewing for the 10th, 11th and 12th as well. Jeremy believes this to be quite an accomplishment especially when comparing it to the band he was in. They called themselves "Halo" and had some sort of album with one truly completed song, got an in to submit it to a producer, but received feedback that the songs were redundant. He spent years with the two guitarists of the band, jamming, but found it nearly impossible to actually write songs. So in this partnership, where we seem to be able to write a song in about two nights with only a couple of hours of work time after I get home from my job, sacrificing sleep to do so, he feels that we have the potential to become a true music producing "band." If we could find more time we would probably already have an album produced- anyone want to babysit?

I have heard people say that my lyrics are deep, and this is in direct relationship to the fact that I write poetry. Had I merely sat down to write lyrics without any background in writing poetry the songs would probably have a lot of "baby, yeah, yeah, yeah" sorts of parts. Luckily, as a poet first, and lyricist second, I attempt to do something with lyrics. Yes, entertainment is definitely part of the point of both poetry and song-writing, but I do want to take people on some kind of journey, make sure that something is felt, something maybe learned or discovered, and give the listener/reader time to reflect. And though I do want to gain a readership/listeners of what is produced, neither I nor Jeremy are trying to cater to any particular group. We just do what we do. And so far we are enjoying the journey...

Walt Whitman Award

Check out the following for why she won:

http://www.louderarts.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=143%3Aelana-bell&catid=37%3Apoet&Itemid=67

And why I got:

Dear Poet,

Thank you for submitting your work to the 2011 Walt Whitman Award. This year's judge, Fanny Howe, has selected Elana Bell's manuscript, eyes, stones, to receive the award.

Of the nearly 1,200 entries we received this fall, there were so many extraordinary manuscripts. If by September your manuscript has not yet found a publisher, we hope that you will consider submitting to the Walt Whitman Award again. Many past winners submitted several times before their manuscripts were ultimately selected.

The judge for the 2012 award will be announced later this summer, and the submission period will extend from September 15 to November 15, 2011. To receive guidelines and to submit your work on-line, please visit the Academy of American Poets' website at www.poets.org/whitman.

We wish you the very best of luck with your writing. Thank you, again, for submitting to the Walt Whitman Award.

Respectfully,

Alex Dimitrov
Awards Coordinator
The Academy of American Poets

But, no worries. I still stand by my work. I'm not as accomplished a poet as many who submitted to the various awards competitions to which I submitted my manuscript. I applaud the winner, for she is obviously deserving and darn good, and hope some day to have an award to flaunt. Haha! Pick up your pens and your notebooks, poets, we have work to do!

Three Copies of Old Souls

In the original set of 10 books that I ordered, three were damaged. So I sent them back and now have the replacements. If anyone in the area would like one, please let me know, and if you would like it signed I am sure I can work something out for you. For those not in the area, I'm certain that you have seen the various links so you can buy the paperback or the e-book. It is available from AuthorHouse, or you can get the e-book from Amazon, Barnes n' Noble, and others.

Thank you all for the support, in whatever way you have.

My grandmother had asked that I send a copy of my book to my great uncle, her brother, and of course I complied. She thought, as a fellow writer, that he would appreciate it as well. I just received a note indicating he did. To have the eldest living members of my family, that I know, enjoy my work is an overwhelming compliment! Granted, they are family, and not a stranger or a critic and some might say their opinions are biased, but it still ignites the pilot light in me. If my friends and family can support me then it must be good! Right?!

If you have not already done so, and you are a Facebook participant, please "like" my poet/artist/songwriter page. I have posted a poem there that is a collaboration with me and one of my friends/supporters/fellow poets from TPS (www.thepoetsanctuary.net), an exclusive to FBers and TPSers.

As for music, in case that is your interest, Jeremy and I have started work on a 9th song! It should be a fun one. That also means we are on our way to having enough songs for an album (we think at least 12). It is especially exciting for Jeremy who has wanted to produce an album of music for most of his life. Maybe some of you can relate?

Peace n' love, all.

Songwriter at work

If you are a fan on FB this will be repetitive, but I just really like the pic. Jeremy took it while we were working on a song. (Our 8th song is now complete.)

My Hometown

Links to info about my hometown. Enjoy!

http://cincinnati-oh.gov/

http://cincinnatiusa.com/

http://news.cincinnati.com/

Some of what I remember:

Writing at Ault Park- it felt lofty and dreamlike when I was there alone. Also, on a whim, a limo ride with friends and a snowball fight, there at night (so naughty)- costly, but completely worth it for the memory. Eden Park and the Krohn Conservatory. Neon Lights frozen yogurt with my sister, Graeter's ice cream, Cincinnati style chili, Montgomery Inn. The "cheap" theater at Forest Fair Mall. Running up Spooky Hollow Road while listening to Green Day's Dookie album. Soccer at Stephan Field. My first speeding ticket received on Loveland-Madeira Rd, dressed as a witch for Halloween and the football game that night- I played in the pit for the marching band that year. Seeing bands at Bogart's (where I saw Toad the Wet Sprocket) and free concerts (where I saw Self and Better than Ezra) at Sawyer Point. Coffee at Kaldi's. King's Island. There's really so much. I miss it because it was home and it is where I'm from, and the people and events there helped make me who I am, of course.

Carpe Diem

We all experience tragedy in one way or another. On grand scales, such as the way the earthquake and tsunami have effected Japan, to the death of our favorite poet/artist/musician, to the suicide of a friend or relative, tragedy strikes and we all have to find some way of dealing with the aftermath. Though I am not in Japan, I cannot help but feel emotionally overcome by families losing their loved ones through the awesome and overwhelming power of nature. And though I have donated some money to help, and though I have been a shoulder to lean on to those effected by deaths of loved ones, I feel that I am powerless to truly help. I cannot fix it. It is frustrating to feel powerless.

By the way,

Vienna Teng and Alex Wong produced a great song that can be downloaded to support the relief efforts in Japan (link: The Breaking Light), which is amazing and awesome. Just another reason to love what they do musically. They have a fan base and know that people will download it, and know that there will be money going to help.

How have you tried to help during this tragedy? Or in other tragedies?

Reflection on how short life is, truly, and how often I felt I was merely getting by, drifting through my days hardly noticing their passing, is why I have started to try to complete these artistic endeavors. I am under the impression that my celebrity will be on small scales, but it is personally gratifying to feel like I am now participating in life. I hope that this participation also, in some small way, helps others get through their lives too, either reflecting with me through the lines of lyrics and poetry I have written, or merely by the entertainment I might bring.

Before tragedy strikes me down, I want to live life to the fullest. Live with me! If I can do nothing else, I will at least be there to help us have fun with the short lives we have to live.

Carpe diem!