1ST PLACE
Abundance
Jeanette Martone
All Cities Branch, NY

Visit our on line galleries in art, music and letters.

A sonnet

The empty house leaves me alone—there’s me,
all there is listening, aware the passion
of rain beats down with the frenzied gnashing
of Beethoven’s teeth—some concerto in D.

In this shell surrounded with pines, I dream
of addictions brewing in tea and steam:
the arrival of a freed genie looms
to stir up memories from remote rooms,
to unlock a new world from an aroused mind.

For hours I prowl and a griffin I find:
Eagle’s beak, body of lion, defiant,
A creature unified, grown compliant—
my several selves solidified in rhyme.
You have given me solitude and time.

Rosalind Lacy MacLennan
District of Columbia Branch

In a nutshell, here’s some of the article’s points:

Creative leaders empower those they work with. They have faith in people and delegate responsibility.

Creative leaders involve audiences, artists and communities in decision making.

Creative leaders believe in self-fulfilling prophecies.

Creative leaders value individuality and each person’s special gifts.

Creative leaders encourage and reward creative thinking.

Creative leaders believe in change and moving their organization to innovation.

Creative leaders focus on internal, rather than external, motivators.

Creative leaders allow room for self-directedness.

The NLAPW Nominations Committee has put out a call for nominees for our Board of Directors. Click here to see the news item.

Like any non-profit, we are dependent on volunteers. Thank you to our Presidents for their time and dedication.

Presidents Elaine Waidelich, Sharyn Bowman, Anna DiBella, Bernice Reid (seated)

In today’s economy, replete with financial stress, overwhelming demands, and an abundance of choice, why would anybody devote time and energy to being on our National Board? I’m sure each of our directors and committee chairs has a different answer for how and why they got involved at a National level. One thing we share: we believe in the mission of the NLAPW to promote creativity. It’s a cruel world, and it’s also a beautiful one. Bringing art, in many forms, spoken, written, painted, sculpted, composed, choreographed, to as many people as possible, and honoring the gifts that creative women have within themselves, is a cause. A cause NLAPW was founded to promote. A cause we continue to believe in. A worthy cause.

Only you will know where and how you are called to serve. If it’s for our cause, you can play a tiny role or a big one, and you’ll play it with your heart and your hands. Don’t hesitate.

And for those of us who are already serving, we know we’ll have to think out of the box and hone our leadership skills for the challenges that lie ahead. As Virginia Woolf is oft quoted as saying, on the path of creativity, “Nothing follows a regular course.” So to promote creativity, we’ll have to think creatively.

Times have changed since NLAPW’s founders were outliers simply by entering creative professions. Our mission continues.

To learn more about NLAPW, visit www.nlapw.org and call 202-785-1997 to be sent our brochure.

NLAPW brochure

–Treanor Wooten Baring,
1st Vice President, Web Editor, NLAPW, Inc.

Mother’s Bedside

Seeing mother lying still, her breath barely lifting
the thin white gown, silver hair haloing a calm
innocence; her soft blue eyes meeting mine
with Christ like love.

I didn’t want to let go
her fragile hand holding mine
with fading strength

Praying the prayer I prayed as a child when
I was afraid of the dark, I received a message
of love even more brilliant than the sun–
and I knew
someone was listening.

JoAnna O’Keefe

One of my great joys is that mother, Josephine Hanrahan Standley-Switlik, and I shared a love of words. Mother graduated from Texas State College for Women (now TCU) in 1935 with a Bachelor of Science Degree.

A few years after my beloved father died in 1975, mother married Stanley Switlik, a widower. Stanley, an immigrant, came to America in 1907 with five copper pennies in his purse. A pioneer in aviation he developed and manufactured the parachute. On September 2, 1944, George Herbert Walker Bush’s life was saved by a Switlik parachute when his plane was shot down over the Pacific.

The first, by Janet Fagal, is in honor of NLAPW Central New York Branch sister member, Yolanda Tooley. Ms. Tooley is a self-taught master photographer. Ms. Fagal writes: “Her love of the arts and the endeavors of talented artists and writers in the Central New York area knew no bounds. She is the most gracious, warm, incredible person.” She is now in hospice care, and Ms. Fagal dedicates this poem to her.

May 11 is also the birthdate of celebrated choreographer Martha Graham. To all who dance, whether it’s only in your hearts, thank you. We’d like to hear what dancing has meant to you. And thank you also to our choreographer members in the Music classification.–Treanor Baring

The Long and Short of It

She slept, entwined in tubes,
hair twisted,
frayed ribbon snaking through each braid,
unafraid.

Time slipped, dreams preferred,
thoughts enlisted,
new blood snaking through each vein,
they prayed.

Hope spread, life reframed,
love persisted,
wishes snaking through each breath,
death delayed.

They prayed
unafraid.
She stayed,
death delayed.
And then
she danced.

by Janet Fagal
Central New York Branch

Song of the Dancer

(with apologies to Staley Kunitz’s “King of the River”)

If the dream were real
if the dream were a ballerina,
but the dream is not real
the dream is not a ballerina,
you would see yourself
slipped into an eternal prayer
dancing out of your skin
prancing over daisies naked
Leaping tripping
Pirouetting over wooden floors
till your feet bleed
with your belly’s ego
Gyrating Gypsy,
over fields of gold
till you paste them with your essence

If the talent were given you
but it is not given,
for the toes are covered
in satin deceptions
and the iridescent image capers
You would surprise yourself
in that other ballet
bruised,
battering toward the dark
that heels the coutour of the foot.

The cheeks of your face redden.
You have become doll of the stage
The great dance of your life
has slackened,
and the small instruments run wild
the impresario ignored
as you dance
and dance
and dance.

For this you were born.
the show, the lights, the tut
the ever-bearing rhythm
you dance and never lose the beat,
the adagio playing in your head
in your gut
in you feet
in your dreams.

by Christina Laurie
Cape Cod Branch, MA

Chattering squirrel
Cat pawing sunlit window
Exasperation

Linda Mohr
Boca Raton Branch, FL

Call for Proposals

Invitation to Participate in
National League of American Pen Women’s 2014 Biennial
Held in Atlanta, Georgia
Soar Higher . . . Make Your Mark
April 24-26, 2014

Deadline: August 1, 2013

The NLAPW is now accepting presenter proposals for our 2014 National Biennial Convention in Atlanta, GA, April 2014.

Step back in time in Historic Atlanta as we explore how the various artists, authors, and composers can inspire each other as they soar higher to make their mark. Come share your interests, talents, perspectives, and network with other creative individuals.

This unique convention brings together Art professionals in Music, Visual Arts and Writing from all over the United States for three days of intense learning, sharing and professional enrichment. We have some remarkable talents lined up as our main speakers.

Past workshops have included hands-on art projects, perspectives on inclusiveness in the Arts, music performances of original works, and panels on self-publishing.

We are seeking presenters for workshops and panel discussions on topics and subjects in a diversity of creative fields.

Click here for a sample Cover Sheet and Proposal. All proposals should be in Microsoft Word or Rich Text Format (rtf) and are due by midnight on August 1, 2013.

Please send your Cover Letter and Proposal to Deborah Roebuck, 2014 Biennial Committee Chair, either by email or regular postal mail.

By email:
Email Biennial Committee Chair
Please include “NLAPW Biennial Proposal “as your e-mail subject line.

By U.S.P.S.:
Deborah Roebuck
2230 Henry Scott Road
Ball Ground, GA 30107

ATTN: Biennial Proposal

For more information and guidance, see our Biennial page on www.nlapw.org.

2ND PLACE
White Reflection
Soon Yi Warren
Fort Worth Branch

Visit our on line galleries to see more works.

She’s taller than the others,

this yellow Hollyhock,

with hazel sunshine

a green morning makes,

and hush

as soft as

wind murmur.

When close

to droopy

sleep,

in this perfumed garden,

with high mirth,

the brown-vested bees

light above her.

by Ariel Smart
Santa Clara Branch, CA

Escarole

Barbara Whitmarsh
St. Louis Branch, MO