How nice it is - well, it's only happened once, so I can't generalize - but how lovely to wake up today to an email saying that my first published poem is in the latest issue of Contrary Magazine. It's called Baby in A Jar (thanks to Nik for the inspiration!). It is a great boost, especially on the morning after the day when I couldn't get down to doing any writing, when I went a little stir crazy, especially by evening (thanks to my Twitter friends who came up with helpful suggestions for what I could be doing instead!)
Anyhow, Contrary is a wonderful magazine, I have long been a fan of their poetry and short stories which all tend to have the dashes of oddness that I love. I am in the company of Arlene Ang ("Flowers prelude the smell of beer." Read her poem, Day of the Dead), Rebecca Lehmann ("The Managers are giving silver dollars to our childrenand telling them if they are good, they can have our jobs once we're dead". Read The Factory: An Elegy in Six Parts). Contrary also features reviews. So much to read, and so beautifully presented. A great source of lit.
Here's hoping today I'll be more productive. Have a good one.
9 comments:
Wonderful poem, Tania, so haunting. Congratulations on the hit, and thanks for the recommendation. I look forward to reading the rest of Contrary Magazine, and to more of your poems in the future.
Thank you, Sarah! Contrary is stunning, I often read their poems and use the odd (often very odd!) phrase as inspiration for flash fiction writing.
Congrats T! Contrary's a supercool place!
Nik
Wonderful poem, Tania.
I felt odd as I read it because the line 'There was just one left' reminds me of the story my Mum told me - you know, the story of 'where I came from'.
My Mum wanted a daughter. But, when she went to get one (from where?) she found herself in a room full of babies, all boys. This happened twice (I have 2 older brothers).
But the next time she wanted a baby (1981), she happened to visit 'this room' when there was 'just one left' - one girl - the only girl left - and she took her home, and it was me.
Ah.
So before I knew the truth - that's where I came from.
I don't think I was as haunting and effective as the baby in your poem though.
Thanks, by the way, for crediting me with your 'waiting to hear back from' section. BUT. It's quite small, Tania, I can hardly read it. Gerrit bigger.
Thanks, Nik.
Teresa, what a beautiful story, that is really moving, how amazing! I always find it a little odd when stuff I've made up has some kind of resonance for someone. Thank you. And re: font, is it really too small? Looks huge on my screen. Hmmm...
What a wonderful and chilling poem! Congratulations. And it's so great that you're writing poetry. I knew you would/could! xo
Sue, thank you, you showed me the way. I didn't know I could, but am really loving it!
Great poetry debut, Tania. And thanks for introducing me to Contrary magazine. One of the advantages of online poetry: everyone can read your work with just one click.
Lovely haunting poem.
Concerned about this word elegy- is it everywhere nowadays or am I getting paranoid? It's an awkward word on the tongue, somehow it feels unfinished.
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