I don’t usually celebrate my publications on my blog [And why exactly don’t I? That is a subject for another day.], but I do want to share this one with you. I am very pleased that Cecile’s Writers’ Magazine has just published one of the poems which has meant the most to me, Twenty Years After.
This is a poem I wrote three years ago in a sudden fit of inspiration on a business trip to London. The first draft of it is here. It’s about the person I fell in love with during my first year as a student in the UK, someone who broke my heart. I’d forgotten or buried the memory for many years, and have never seen that person again, but revisiting the Barbican brought it all back. On a frozen winter day, we’d practised our ballroom dancing on its empty terraces, just before going to a theatre performance. As the snowflakes started to fall around us, I thought I’d met the love of my life. Now, older and wiser, I know that life is constant flow. And so is love.
I’m really pleased it’s this particular magazine, which I’ve been reading online for a few years now, because I really admire its mission of interculturalism, more important than ever in today’s world. So, if you want to hear some international voices, all united by a love of the English language, do join me there.
Yesss!!!🎉🎉🎉🎉🍾🍾🍾 You should share publications, it gives the rest of us hope. The poem is lovely, I particularly liked the bit starting with My life? … I’ve subscribed to the mag as well. Well done!!!
Awww, thank you! And yes, the mag should be perfect for the likes of you – trying to bring cultures together.
Congratulations, Marina – that’s great news! I just read your beautiful poem – love the line about the solemn snowflakes, a poignant image.
Thank you, Jacqui, love hearing thoughts from such avid readers as yourself…
That’s fabulous news, congratulations and please do share your successes, the more encouragement the better!
I always feel encouraged by other’s publication news, but at the same time I can see how it might make people feel guilty, envious, upset, inadequate etc. etc. I saw a recent article about reading submissions at literary journals which made me realise that so often it is a lottery:
http://bookriot.com/2016/06/30/i-was-one-of-the-interns-reading-your-lit-journal-submissions/
I agree with other commenters, you should share publications. The poem’s great, I felt like I’d been punched in the gut at the end.
I try not to do confessional poetry, but this one just jumped out and screamed to be shared. Mind you, it took three years to get to its final (??) form.
I feel your pain! All writing it rewriting etc.
Brilliant poem. I think you should celebrate your publications – this one and the many to come – as wildly as possible on your blog. I insist! Many congratulations!
Thank you for your enthusiasm! It’s also a good reminder (to myself above all) to never give up on a piece of work. This has been three years in the making, with constant fiddling, editing, cutting down, writing back up etc.
Congratulations!! I am amazed by the evolution between your first draft and the final copy. Needless to say, I love the final copy! The blue color… I didn’t know Cecile Writers Magazine and I will look more into it.
A good place for you to submit work too, I think. And yes, I can’t tell you how many tweaks and edits it went through…
Many congratulations, Marina. Great news to start the week!
Thank you, Susan. I’d known it had been accepted, but it was lovely to hear about it actually been up and ready to read last night!
Beautiful poem – congratulations!
Merci, chere madame!
Congratulations on your well-deserved publication. The poem is so beautiful and expressive, and I enjoyed seeing the transition from the initial draft to the published work. So many poignant phrasings – a bittersweet delight.
Thank you. That’s exactly why I included the (embarrassing) first version – I always find it fascinating how editing works, and I especially enjoy seeing the evolution of a poem.
Oh, what wonderful news, Marina Sofia! I couldn’t possibly happier for you! So nice to see your work getting more of the audience it deserves. And that is an achingly lovely poem.
Thank you, Margot, and thank you for always being such a great supporter of my writing!
We should all share our successes but as women are socialized to play them down instead. Thanks for this.
Fab! Well done, and you *should* celebrate your achievements – if we don’t blow our own trumpets, no-one else will…. 🙂
I like the poem very much.
I’m someone who never even sent out anything for years and years, so I get your feeling and I know there’s envy out there. In my very short publication life, I’ve encountered a few astonishingly nasty things but mostly it’s acknowleding myself and many people are truly happy for another person’s success. I have my writer’s group to thank for starting to celebrate my publications. We also share rejections. It’s healing. 🙂
I struggled for a long time to send anything out. But I do know the value of a good writing group – I really hope I can find a good one in my local area in the UK.
I can’t believe it’s been three years since you posted that poem! I remember it well – loved the emotion in it. Congrats on having it published!
Thank you! Well, it was the undiluted emotion in that first version – the rawness has been expunged since. I hope.
Congratulations Marina – you really should share more!