First, a couple of notes:
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♦ Thank you to everyone who has been asking about my chapbook. The first time I mentioned it, I said it would be out in late summer. Oops. I was wrong. But it’s all good. Crystal is working on layout now. I can only imagine what a big job that is. Everything she does is beautiful.
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I’m very pleased with the freedom of expression she has given me (we’re underground folk…no uptight rules). My daughter, Amber, made the print for the cover. I can’t wait to show you that awesome piece of art.
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It will contain all new work that has not been posted on the internet. Unless, of course, we change our minds and slip something old in. Again, that’s the beauty of underground freedom. But right now, it’s all new. I will let you know all of the details as they unfold.
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♦ The same thing goes for my poem in Plain Spoke. There was a delay, but it looks like things are rolling along. I’ll shout it out as soon as I know for sure which issue it’s in. They’re also good people, and I highly recommend any issue.
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♦ I just had a poem accepted by Southern Women’s Review. That made me happy, because I really love what they do. That should be coming in January. I’ve been way too slow about submitting, so I’m trying to make myself get back out there again.
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As always, thanks so much for your support. It means a lot to know you’re here.
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And now, on with the poem…
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Eulogy For A Midwife
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She grew up with muscles,
rosemary braided in her hair,
wild onions on her tongue,
large feet firmly planted
on those red clay roads.
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She walked ten miles one-way
with blood stained buckets,
rosewater, talcum, ginger.
Hot peppers to encourage birth.
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On chicken feather beds,
her big hands spanned
those moaning globes,
gave them roots to chew,
breathed life beating music
back into their wombs.
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They are all hers—the farmers,
the speakers, doctors, preachers.
The twins who came out holding hands.
The ones with big pretty eyes.
The club footed boy, now an old man.
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She brought them into the world
and now they give her back.
They plant her with ginger and onions
under the sweet breath of sassafras.
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Her descendants will not sit
in sterile clinics, they will not
moan lonesome echoes
down cold, white halls.
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They know the midwife’s hands
shaped them in her image.
They know those hands
will always stir the earth,
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wrapping her people
in that soft cloth of ages,
strong and dark as blood.
Julie Buffaloe-Yoder
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Beautiful poem. A strong tribute to strong women. I look forward to reading more. Best wishes on your upcoming chapbook.
Hello, Yousei. I just snuck a peek at your site, and it is beautiful. I’ll be back to read more soon.
Thanks so much. It’s very nice to meet you.
First, let me say that I am giddy with glee that you have a chap book on its way! All new poems? (Salivating) Good Heavens – not that your “old” poems are not wanted or needed in a book of their own. Work on that, will you?
And huge kudos for getting published in Southern Women’s Review. (which poem) Fantastic – great how you get yourself out there! You and Joaquin are kickin’ hiney, ?hinney, ?hinny, ?hinnie? – ass.
Eulogy for a Midwife is such a powerful poem. In her death, you mourn and celebrate this strong woman who was synonymous with birth. Lovely image of burying her under sassafras. Words so poetic – ” soft cloth of ages”
outstanding descriptions of her:
rosemary braided in her hair,
wild onions on her tongue,
wow – love the peppers as an inducement, and the twins who came out holding hands. The entire poem offers fantastic visuals, not to be forgotten.
large feet firmly planted
on those red clay roads -
lets us know of her strength and determination in the world!
Memorable poem from a unforgettable poet!
Dear Kaye, you always make me feel so good. Thank you! I guess I’ll get told I’m doing a love fest here in the comments section, but I don’t care. I really do appreciate you and the nice group of folks who drop in. I hate to sound like a broken record, but there’s really no way to say how much it means to me. It’s rough out there. But it’s nice to come here and say hello to good people.
Well, I’d say you’re kicking shiny hiney, too. Ha! I’m not sure how to spell it, either. Isn’t Shiny Hiney a tail light? I’ll have to ask Joaquin that one.
The poem coming in SWR will be a new one. I set out to write one thing, and an old memory popped up instead. You know how that one works! The subconscious is a weird thing. At least mine is. Ha! Ha!
The message in this poem is lovely, rewarding, life circle. You reach so many people with your writing.
Thank you, Technobabe!
I should also say that I don’t mean to make it sound like I’m a big, hairy deal. Ha! Ha! I’ve been reading and seeing all the lovely chaps from my friends, too.
Let’s see…there’s Joaquin Carvel with an awesome new chap. I can’t wait to read it. I’m looking forward to Glenda Beall’s. And Mark Durfee (TWM) has one at his site. You’ve probably heard me sing his praises here. Ashley Capes is the next “definite buy” on my list. Michelle McGrane will have hers out this coming year, and that will be another treasure on my shelf.
Okay, the dang phone’s ringing and distracting me. Lots more awesome folks to be named:) In other words, it ain’t just me, but I’ve been bad about letting people know what’s going on. Thanks again!
Hi Julie,
I’m happy to hear about the progress on your chapbook and I’m looking forward to reading it. This poem is wonderful from the characterizing opening line, “she grew up with muscles…,” to “they know the midwife’s hands shaped them in her image,” on through to the end. I’d identify favorite lines, but it all works so well together, it’s difficult to pull them out without repeating whole stanzas. I can picture the sense of this woman, even if I don’t know exactly what she physically looks like. She is solid, and you capture her spirit.
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Thanks so much, Annie. It’s good to see you, and I hope your week’s going well. As you can probably tell, the midwife is partly influenced by Miss Eula. Miss Eula tends to pop up in my work in a lot of different forms. I even have a real picture of her (though her looks change).
But I found a real picture of her one day when I was scrounging around at the Goodwill Store. It just about broke my heart to see a real framed portrait of a real woman in a secondhand store. No note, no name, no nothing. I swear, I was about to cry. How did she end up in a secondhand store? That Miss Eula has a sweet little smile on her face. The picture of her is black and white…very old. I’m guessing from the Depression Era? There was a twenty five cent sticker on her face. That in itself is a poem, isn’t it? So I adopted her as my kin, and she hangs on my wall. The other Miss Eula’s are different women I have known or a combination of women.
I must sound crazy as a loon. Ha!
Another inspiration I had was a short description I read recently about a beautiful woman who was a midwife. I’ll probably do more poems about how she looks. I’m hoping to find out more about her. Her picture was amazing, too. She wore a hat that looked like a man’s, and I’ve never seen hands like hers. I mean, her character just flowed from her hands.
Well, I’ve written a monologue. Ha! Have a great week, sis. -J
yousei sent me here
i’m overcome reading this
rich life deeply lived
SOOOOOO lovely are this Woman and Your words! Thank You and Cheers and Namaste.
Hi, blissbait. Thank you! I was just headed over to Yousei’s again to say hello. I try to read when the house quiets down a little:) I’ll hop over and see you, as well. It’s nice to meet you, too.
I love this!!! I don’t know if she was real (or realish), but she has weight and importance and the honor that you do by memorializing here here. You always embue your characters with such spirit that we recognize them in their humanity and strength. Like Kaye, I love the details that make this such a visual poem – those globes she spanned, the rosemary and wild onions, and the assorted folks she birthed. (Those touches – the twins, the one with big eyes, the club-footed one – make this exceptional.)
Now, congratulations on both the book and SWR! I can’t wait for both.
Hi, Karen! I was just blabbing to Annie above about the inspiration, and you were writing your comment at the same time. Bless your heart. You’re a good soul and wonderful poet friend. Thank you so much! By the way, I keep checking to see if you have a new one up. I hope so. I’ll be over there pestering you before long. Ha! Ha! Have a good one.
This is such a perfect, lovely tribute to the spirit of midwife. Julie, you truly are the best!!
Thank you, Rachel! It’s so good to see you. I was just on here checking everybody out. How nice it is to have some peace and quiet to say hello to you. I can’t wait to see what you have up!
I am sitting with great anticipation for the book and the cover art. Got to love poets who know where the underground is.
The midwife, just wonderfully done Julie. Again I bow to your narrative skill. You have a unique skill at telling the story in such a way that is makes me, and i would be willing to suggest every reader not only see but want to be there in the story.
You don’t rock the house, you are the house sitting on a stone foundation.
Hi, WM. Thank you very much. That’s a great compliment, coming from you, because I admire what you do so much. I hope everyone will hop over and check out Mark Durfee’s book. Poetry of place has always been at the top of my favorites list, because place is people. The story of Detroit needs to be read.
I do love the underground. It’s amazing what’s out there that is basically spread either through the internet or word of mouth.
Thanks again, WM. I appreciate you so much.
Earthy, bloody, big-handed poem. Love it! I’m personally doing nothing but silliness on my blog these days, odes to bananas, and powems. Tomorrow I might just get serious. Or not. Your poetry is a release of fervor. Glad I popped in.
Hi, Enchantedoak. I’m glad you popped in, too. It’s nice to see you. Shoot, I love silly. It’s great to laugh. I’ll have to check it out. I hope you’re having a good week. Thanks!
Hi, Julie. I’ve seen you around other blogs so often, and have always meant to drop in, and never did. Now I see clearly how big of a mistake that was. You are an immensely beautiful writer.
The line about the twins put a hitch in my throat. And the last two stanzas are as rich and eternal as anything I’ve read. To have such a eulogy is to live forever.
I will definitely be back!
Hi, Sarah. It’s nice to meet you. I enjoy meeting new people and seeing what you do. Thanks so much for the kind words!
In my part of the world, folks have basil and flowers braided in their hair….still. “Rosemary braided in her hair” brought back all those lovely way of life and people to me.
You have painted the character with such a warm brush that it has come out beautifully.
Hi, swapna. Oh, yes. That is awesome. I know folks with braided hair, too. The ones I know are older, and they’re so beautiful. I’d love to see your beautiful people, too.
Thank you very much for the kind words. I hope your day is a great one:)
add me to the list of those who can’t wait for the chapbook – moreso that it’s filled with new poems! and congrats on your growing list of credits – i really admire the energy and resolve you have when it comes to submitting – and am not surprised at all that your work is regularly accepted by first-class publications.
this is a perfect example of why. “her big hands spanned / those moaning globes” takes me into those moments, into what she did, and also takes me out to see who she was. that you can give a eulogy so much life is amazing. i love how the earthiness of it – the rosemary and onions and clay, the hands that “will always stir the earth”, the sense that our moving from dust to dust is something to embraced instead of mourned. i especially love that they plant her – i guess i love that this is less about an end and more about innumerable beginings.
Hello, Joaquin! I was just thinking about you today, because I got an e-mail telling me that your book has been shipped. Yes! I’m so looking forward to it.
Thank you again for all of your wonderful support. Another thing I was thinking about this week is that I enjoy you and everyone else, because talking to y’all is like a workshop…WITHOUT the drama and catty stuff I’ve seen in (cough) some workshops. Ha! Ha!
But seriously, I do appreciate the inspiration and encouragement. Have a great weekend.
What a powerful tribute…to a woman…to a profession…to all women really.
I’m learning a bit more about midwives these days, including how their reputations were besmirched by MDs trying to get women into hospitals at the turn of the century. Sad to think that this type of care was thwarted for profit.
Hi, Brigindo. Your comment also reminds me of an article I read a while back and need to find again. It talked about the history of midwives in the US and how they were regulated (I think it was beginning in the 20′s, but I’m not sure). The article said that the idea behind the regulation was to eliminate midwives altogether. Even their bags were checked to make sure they had no herbal teas, etc. It seems ridiculous, especially since many of the midwives had been bringing healthy babies into the world for a long time.
Thanks much, Brig. Great food for thought.
First, congrats on your upcoming acceptance of poems and the progress regarding your chapbook. You certainly seem to be in plenty of those women’s journals. Makes me want to submit to Bull Men’s Fiction — yeah, we got are outlets too.
Second, another strong poem. I’m envious of your imagery. It takes me forever to describe something, so I can appreciate your economy of words.
“OUR” not “are” or “r” or … man, I hate it when I type too fast.
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No problem, JR. Thanks so much for the good words! I saw a men’s only journal when I was looking around. It might be the one you mention. I think this is the fourth women’s journal I’ve been in. The fourth (I think fourth) Southern one. Some working class ones, etc. I try to submit according to the style of the poem and who might be open to it.
But last week, I screwed up and sent one to a place that is totally different than my style, because I was excited by the theme they were using for an upcoming issue. I could have kicked myself after I sent it in. It was totally amateur of me to do that. A waste of their time and mine. Submission is a learned skill, ain’t it? Just when I think I’ve got it mastered, I do something stupid.
Thanks again. I’m out and about again but will be back soon to visit you. Have a great weekend! -Julie
powerful poem, good news about the chapbook!
Thanks so much, Juliet! It’s always a pleasure to see you. I hope your weekend is a beautiful one.
I love ‘Eulogy for a Midwife’, Julie.
Congratulations on your upcoming publications in Plain Spoke and Southern Women’s Review.
I can’t wait to read your chapbook!
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Thank you, Michelle! I love your poem in ouroboros. Fantastic work! -J
As a midwife,
I thank you.
From the bottom of my heart
I love you
With my arms
I hug you
And hold you tightly
For the days
I take the shit
For the nights
I lose sleep
I will read and cherish your poem.
Thank you
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Hello, pamdh and thank you so much! That is so beautiful! It’s a pleasure to meet you. I look forward to checking out your site. I really appreciate it. -Julie
Come by the site when you have a quiet moment. I hope you like the latest.
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Sure thing, Yousei. I’m a little slow, but I’m faithful:) Right now, I’m checking e-mail and should return this evening. Thanks much! -J
That’s fantastic news about the chapbook. You know I’ll be abuying.
I love this poem. I think it’s my new favourite of yours, you have such a grasp of rhythm, imagery and soul.
xo
Hi, Jo and thank you! It’s awesome to see you. I’m so excited about the new ouroboros. I read it over and over during the weekend. Congratulations on a beautiful job!
Julie, I sent you a gazillion emails….including attachments of EVERYTHING from stickers to editor’s note to cover to layout!!!
I’ve got magnets in the works right now also but still ironing out the kinks.
There are a couple of things we need to fine tune and then we are rolling. I’m picking up the new copier tonight or tomorrow.
The estimated release date is December 15. I just want Julie to nail down a date that suits her fancy.
Can’t wait for all of you to read her chap. The work is stunning.
Love,
Crystal
Hi, Crystal. Sorry it took me so long to respond today. Pounding the pavement again. I just sent you some e-mails in response. Ha! Ha! My brain is fried today…if they don’t make sense, just kick me in the butt.
December 15 is fine with me. I can’t even tell you how much I appreciate it. I’ll try to take off my hermit coat and get out there to promote it. It has been a wonderful learning experience, and I’m so happy to do it with you. Love you, sis.
Life has so many people down right now. I’m certain your poetry does so much to uplift people’s lives. You write such strong characters who aren’t afraid to expose their weaknesses….that’s what has always drawn me to your writing.
Keep at it, girl. You are so talented and skilled and things are going to start working right for you.
The release date will be Monday, December 14. Once we settle on what type of paper to use, we can start taking pre-orders.
Begin checking http://www.shootsandvines.ning.com for info on how to order Julie’s book. I’ll put out an event release two weeks prior to the actual release.
I’m so excited Julie, and so happy you are the first to roll of my press.
AND I picked up the new copier today!!!!!!!
Crystal, you are awesome. Thank you so much! December 14 it is. I’m so happy (and thrilled) to work with you. I really like what you say in the editor’s note about “making it” and the act of writing for creation instead of for a name. It’s wonderful down here because of good people like you.
And I had been slow with comments too, but it was only for the best because now I know when to expect the chapbook
Midwives are almost magic in their roles, for they are responsible to bring new lives into the world. This is why most important story in all socratic dialogues – the one about love -belongs to a midwife , Diotima.
Thank you, Ana. Yours are beautiful words for a midwife. You’re always welcome…and appreciated…any time:)
Congratulations on the book, Julie! And what a wonderful poem this is.
Thank you, Ruth! It has been a great experience. I’m so happy to be working with Crystal. It’s exciting to see it taking shape. I appreciate your support and encouragement very much!
Hi Julie;
I was born in an apartment in the Netherlands, and t’was a midwife who brought me into the world for the lack of a better term.
I would have arrived anyway, I think
Anyway, your poem is of the earth. There is sand in your writing. I like that.
Hi, Ichabod. I like that you would have arrived anyway:) The Netherlands is on my list of places I’d love to visit.
Thanks for the good words! Have a beautiful weekend.
Fantastic news, Julie, will be watching the site closely through Dec & the new year, waitin for that announcement of publication!
Hi, Ashley and thank you! I wasn’t kidding when I said your book is next on my list. I’ve never been rolling in the dough, but the Recession has made time between orders a lot slower. But payday is coming in a few weeks or so. In a way, it makes buying books even sweeter. I’ve always treasured them, but now I guard them with my life…ha! ha! Thanks again and have a great weekend.
One of my favorite aspects of this poem, besides the character and the moment, is how you evoke the sense of smell. I literally smelled my way through the poem, and felt the earth, the globes of pregnancy…. Wonderful poem, Julie.
Hi, Christine and thank you very much. I also love smells and tastes in a poem, so I appreciate that comment! Have a beautiful day, sis:)
Please take your time, Julie – just the fact that you’re interested in buying SOS is fantastic, wonderful! Thank you!