Words of Life: Poems and Essays

By Ann Chiappetta

About the Book

In this new collection of poems, essays, and flash fiction, the author once again exhibits her ability to write about both the light and dark sides of life. There are numerous poems and stories about nature: its kindness, cruelty, and wonder. There are frank expressions of the sadness and frustration she felt at the progressive loss of her eyesight and a poem about the social isolation that disability can bring. Other pieces, though, sing of joys as diverse as family closeness, the love of dogs, the delights of scents, and the power of the muse. Just as in her first volume of poetry, Upwelling: Poems (2016), there is no fluff here. To read Ann Chiappetta’s works is to feel them deeply, appreciate them mightily, and remember them forever.

From the Introduction

While it is my hope that all the pieces in this book resonate with my readers, I have my favorites. Some of the poems have been previously published; all reflect what lies within. This volume is accented with a few photographs. As I lose the last vestiges of my vision, bringing a meaningful visual array to this collection seems imperative. Finally, dear reader, I want to share the prose that reflects the way I’ve lived my creative life.

If just one poem or essay resonates with you, I have accomplished the purpose. For a moment, as the eye reads and the brain interprets, the reader slips into the shoes of the writer. This is the true spirit of what it means to be creative, open, to offer the emotions in such a way as to give another person the opportunity to appreciate the writer’s experience with the words of life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ann Chiappetta
• Release date: Mar 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463912201

Ann Chiappetta

Ann Chiappetta is a writer, poet, and essayist. Her writing has been featured in dozens of small press poetry, fiction, and nonfiction journals and anthologies including the Pangolin Review, Poesis Poetry Journal, Dialogue Magazine, Magnets and Ladders literary magazine, and Breath and Shadow, a magazine of disability Literature. Ann hopes to make meaningful connections with others through writing.

Book preview

Previously Published Works

Included in This Book

Separate

Poesis, 2018 Fall/Winter issue

First place for poetry, Magnets and Ladders

ACB E–Forum, Volume LVI, No. 6, December 2017

Keys

Magnets and Ladders, Winter 2016 issue

Survivor’s Guilt

Magnets and Ladders, Winter 2015 issue

Poo Haiku

Paw Tracks, Guide Dog Users, Inc., Summer 2010 issue

Wolf

Poet’s Paradise, Queens, New York, 1993

Run for Life

Poet’s Paradise, Queens, New York, 1993

This collection is dedicated to Mary.

Table of Contents

Other Books by the Author

Previously Published Works Included in This Book

Acknowledgements

Introduction

The Writing Muscle

Section One: Blooms, Birds, Bugs

Shore Bird

Botany

Moon Trio

Bird

Long Beach Island: A Memoir

The Bay Revisited

One Happy Island

Section Two: Earth, Wind and Fire

Brigid

Desert

Redwood Temple

Coastlines

Fire

Section Three: Animal Wisdom

Survivor’s Guilt

Wolf

A Dog’s Breath

Haiku

Labra–Doctor

Cat & Dog

Run for Life

Congo

The Lake Labrador

Poo Haiku

Section Four: The Human Condition

In the Absence of Things

Keys

Dust

Air Dancing

Separate

Angel

Lullaby

Buddies

Sheaves of Hate

Organizational Weeds

Dysfunctional Love

MST: A to Z Abecedarian

Lost

The Dark Side of Friendships

Conversations

Presence

Salutations

The Hospital of Truth and Lies

Lucky and Bright Eyes

The Leading Edge

Elixir of Life

About the Author

Acknowledgements

I want to thank my husband, Jerry, for supporting me and helping with whatever needs doing, from performing secretarial duties, to being the cash taker at book sales, to making post office runs, and so much more.

To my daughter, April, who has kept me connected to fashion and color, even though I cannot picture the current styles or see color anymore.

I also want to mention the folks who agreed to be the beta readers for this book: Kate Chamberlain, Joan Myles, and Lynda McKinney Lambert. Thanks to the kind and focused comments from these talented ladies, the book is much improved.

This book would not be as beautifully formatted without the expert assistance of David and Leonore Dvorkin, my editors at DLD Books.

Finally, this book is for Mary, whose creative spirit lives on in us, her three daughters, and her memory throughout future generations.

Introduction

I have learned quite a few valuable lessons since embarking on the journey of independent publishing. My first collection of poetry did not include an introduction. I did not feel it required one, since the first poem, Line by Line, was the introduction in poem form.

Perhaps it was a creative decision which veered too far off the path. However, to compensate, this book includes both the poem chosen to introduce the collection and a more traditional introduction.

Fortunately, from the beginning, I have found a wonderful indie publisher, and this made the experience free of stress and angst. My editors made suggestions based on their expertise, and together we edited and produced Upwelling: Poems, the first poetry collection, just as I wished. Then I released Follow Your Dog: A Story of Love and Trust, a moderately successful memoir. The experience has opened up new doors, from meeting other visually impaired writers to learning how to present my books in a friendly and professional manner. I’ve even got my elevator pitch polished, and I gift copies of my books to schools, clubs, and auctions.

The original idea for this book was to have it be a second, thicker volume of poetry. At that time, I was also kicking around the idea of putting together a separate essay collection but knew I did not have enough pieces written to do so. It occurred to me to add them to the new manuscript, and this book is the result.

While it is my hope that all the pieces of this book, Words of Life: Poems and Essays, resonate with my readers, I have my favorites and have elected to place them here as well. Some have