ROMAINE WASHINGTON
  • HOME
  • BOOKS
    • BOOKS
    • CHOLLA NEEDLES
    • ARTICLES
  • EVENTS
  • MEDIA
  • CONTACT

On the Write Side

Homegoing Anniversary Celebrations

7/26/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Yesterday, July 25th, 2017 women writers from Los Angeles and the Inland Empire gathered at Art Share L.A. to read poems and prose at the un :: fade :: able reading to commemorate the life of Sandra Bland. 

The scent of burning sage settled into our skin and wrapped itself around the chairs that were arranged in an open circle. Even if you didn't know the person you were sitting next to - you felt like you did. The reason for us being in the same room was a kindred common ground of remembering the life of Sandra Bland.

It was explained that last year's program was one of mourning the loss of Sandra Bland. This year's gathering would be to celebrate the memory of who she is to us. Before each person shared their work we recited the mantra: "My name is, _______, and I am a Poet/ a Writers / a Musician (pick one), who speaks for and with Sandra Bland. Tonight, I dedicate my work to her unfadeable memory. SayHerName, and restore her life."

By the end of the evening it was as though there was a divine connection with everyone in the room. Sandra Bland, and Fanny Lou Hamer, and tias and abuelitas and sisters and daughters and mothers from generations filled our tongues with healing and love. And my mother - July 25th was the one year anniversary of her homegoing and this was the best possible way I could honor her life, in the company of sisters honoring life.  

​The event was curated by F. Douglas Brown and hosted by Brittany Williams. Musical preludes provide by Loyola MPC Club. There will be more events. Check out the website if you think you might be interested. 

0 Comments

Sunflower Sisters'  Tea Time Journey

4/22/2017

1 Comment

 
A Tea Time Journey

​When you open your door
There is the brilliance of a sun room
The softness of quilts and old photos
A tea time journey into memories
Of the neighborhood house
Where all the kids run to play
With plastic cups and saucers, we
Sit ladylike around a table
Pretend to pour – sit and drink.
We were beautiful in our innocence,
As secure as sunflowers
In an open field
Colored and free.

The young girls I played with then
I do not know now
And the ladies I know now
I did not know then,
But there is a mingling of memories,
Aroma of friendship, 
Potent and timeless.
One by one we come together
Sepia leaves.
Hand-in-hand
We steep in the warmth of prayer,
Sweet soothe of healing
We simmer in the joy of sisterhood
As memories bubble up laughter.

​This tea time journey from
Past-to-present-to-future
The taste of love and friendship
In our cup,
And you the perfect hostess
Always ready to pour more...
Full and overflowing we sit
As secure as sunflowers
In an open field
We are at home.


By Romaine Washington © 1998
Previously published in: 
​In the Company of Women 
​literary anthology FL. 2001
Picture

Sojourners is a group of ladies who gather to enjoy each other's company and study the word in a dynamic in depth - I mean deep  steeped like tea deep - never think or see the same way again, deep Word of God deep way.

It has been a delight. Each gathering is a unique memory unto itself. Sometimes it's at a member's home, other times, the Maloof  House and this particular day we were pleasantly surprised by Sheila Marchbank's new found gem of a location, The Farm Cottage Tea House in Alta Loma for tea and cakes, the beginning of Sydney Aden's birthday celebration, and...

In 1998 I wrote a poem, A Tea Time Journey, to celebrate the hospitality of a lady by the name of Lorna (last name escapes me) who lived in Georgia. I was a part of a bible study group of ladies and we called ourselves The Sistah's Hour. There have been very few times in my life where I have had that visual, spiritual, emotional connected experience. This Saturday was one of those days and so, here is the poem and some photos from this beautiful day.


Maloof House
5131 Carnelian St.
Alta Loma, CA 91701
1 Comment

Arts Walk Riverside Public Library

4/7/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Thursday nights are lit in downtown Riverside.
Eclectic electricity is in the air with vendors, artists, dancers, musicians, and poets. The creative spirit reigns, mingling the inventive new with the tried and true. 
When Cati Porter, founder and director of Inlandia, invited me to be a featured reader, there was a yes and yes that filled me with excitement. National Poetry Month featured a reader alongside Honduran social justice poet, videographer, and CSUSB professor Alex Avila, who was a new adventure at the Riverside Public Library. I forgot how much I love the Mission Inn and the classic architecture of the area. There is a unique rootedness for the Inland Empire region, which feels like ocean of centuries and the current wave of revolution.  
Being in a library, family-friendly was the tone for the evening. Alex engaged the audience with folklore participation and poetry peppered with Spanish for flavor. I shared poems that celebrate my love of poetry and the innocence of children.
Thank you Cati Porter, founder of Inlandia, and host for the evening, for the opportunity to celebrate National Poetry Month in a delightful venue of culture, literature and kinship.   

0 Comments

A Garden of Verses

4/2/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture


No Foolin' -  this was the perfect way to usher in National Poetry Month at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden.

4th Sunday Claremont Poets.

Picture
I wasn't sure what to expect: A pathway lined with beautiful rose bushes leading to a proper English garden, a wafting fragrance of Bergamot tea to celebrate the first day of National Poetry Month? A tea garden of lavender, rose hips, and chamomile... where my pastel pink top could tease the other flowers?  A large white gazebo where my white gauze wing-sleeved top and long flowing pastel skirt could twirl in words? And there I was dreaming too much - doing too little, reciting Robert Louis Stevenson's "The Swing" over and over to myself.

The pathway to the reading was lined with indigenous plants, a variety of cacti and succulents with small, big-bellied lizards swiftly waddling around - doing those lizard push-ups (I'm sure there is some scientific explanation - but I just like to imagine that they are buffing up). I also like to imagine that - and I don't know why - squirrels are kids playing baseball... rabbits always seem to be wondering what they were doing... they pause - look about like they are trying to remember what it is they were supposed to be doing - take a couple of hops and stop again... And none of this is even part of the poetry reading yet.

​Needless to say, with all of these mind journeys - I was late and got lost several times. At this event, sharing poetry in nature seemed to allow the words to seep in a little bit more, they seem more organic. The absences of the distracting hum of lights and background white noise was refreshing and the breeze and movement of nature kept the energy flowing even when everyone sat quiet and still.
​Though not quite transcendental - it was definitely a refreshing reconnection to the profound peace and joy that poetry and nature nurtures within us. 

​An added bonus: I enjoyed the day and experience so much I bought a one year membership so that I can go on nature walks and write at leisure.

1 Comment

Ontario Museum & Sistah Readas ...

3/11/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture
Ontario Museum Ontario, CA
PicturePage Turners & Guests
Mrs. Sheila Marchbanks is the consummate cultural event planner. When she extends an invitation to attend a gathering it is promised to feed mind, body and spirit. So, it was a great honor when she invited me to give a presentation on my book Sirens in Her Belly to the PageTurners Book Club.

I arrived a little early and Mrs. Loretha Nwosu graciously lead me on a tour through the pleasant, well-lit, Ontario Museum. Sistah Readas began arriving and many brought a guest with them for the event. ​This was one of those days where everything took its cue from the weather and the book club members made a unanimous decision and requested that the meeting be moved to the museum  courtyard. As soon as the request was made, Mrs. Loretha Nwoso graciously orchestrated the arrangement of the tables and chairs.

When Mrs. Sheila Marchbanks arrived so did the delicious homemade food.
The day blossomed into a picnic with Sistah Readas. The ladies came prepared with questions; conversations unearthed emotions and explored the roots of situations in the poems, our society, and our personal lives. We closed the day with a writing exercise and future plans.

1 Comment
<<Previous

    ​Categories

    All
    Aging
    AWP
    Black History
    Blues
    Book Club
    Claremont
    Dasan Ahanu
    Eric Devaughn
    Family
    F. Douglas Brown
    Friends
    Garcia Center
    Illness
    Imposter Syndrome
    Inlandia
    Lesson Plans
    Museums
    Music
    National Poetry Month
    Nature
    Poetry
    Poetry Out Loud
    San Bernardino
    Students
    Submission
    Teaching
    @twhpoetry
    Venues
    Win
    Women
    Workshop
    WWS


    Archives

    November 2021
    February 2018
    December 2017
    July 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    June 2016
    December 2015

    RSS Feed

    Ro's Reflection
Contact
RW © 2025
Photos from aquigabo!, vhines200, kennethkonica, Edgardo W. Olivera, vhines200, Thorsten-Koch, victor408, wuestenigel
  • HOME
  • BOOKS
    • BOOKS
    • CHOLLA NEEDLES
    • ARTICLES
  • EVENTS
  • MEDIA
  • CONTACT