Toni's Poetry Colleagues!
Spring 2011 - Billie Stroud
 |
Toni's Poetry Colleagues!
Introducing Poet
Billie Stroud
|
Our
very first featured award winning poet is a dear friend of mine. I met
her in 2007 when she invited me to join Alamo Area Poets of Texas. I am
happy to introduce Billie Stroud.
Enjoy reading Billie's poem, poetry answer and bio!
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
Senseless Actions
The path curved through sunlight and
shadows.
Fog settled in the woods, mist fell
slowly on the fabric of moss.
The air was pure, filled with fresh
scents found only in a smog-free
world.
The solitude of a quiet walk would help
to forget the sad news of death
opening
its hand suddenly to grasp so many
lives.
My walk continued with thoughts asking
"why?"
Flashbacks of the haunting scene of a
crazed gunman's senseless,
deadly killings
circled all thoughts.
Gone -- the dreams. Happy lives --
gone.
What would their future have
been?
Stopping at times to search for
answers
through limbs of leafless trees,
found only silent, blank spaces.
Will we remember tomorrow?
©Billie Stroud
Why do you enjoy writing poetry?
I enjoy writing poetry for the escape into a quiet and peaceful realm.
There is no interference with ones' thoughts of expression that are different
from those usually expressed in our daily lives. It's a time away from our
busy daily life and a time to examine and express deeper feelings. I
enjoy writing only free style poetry for it's a way of expression without
the structure of some rules. I do not enjoy rhyme, for to me it forces one to
sometimes change the meaning simply to make words fit. It seems that new poets
feel it is not poetry unless it rhymes.
I enjoy entering contests for the feedback from
the judge. I attempt to write in a manner that a reader understands what is
intended. When there is feedback, then one knows whether or not the attempt was
successful. Some may feel resentment, but it is an excellent way to improve ones'
writing.
When a new poet asks me for points in writing, I tell them there
are two ways to write. When it is very personal, the poem is written only for
yourself and if you wish to submit one in a contest, then you must
write for the reader. I hope this advice is always helpful. I am always pleased to see new poets advance
to
a further stage in writing. I also
recommend they enter all workshops possible, for it is an excellent way to
improve writing. I am constantly trying to improve mine as I feel it
is never good enough. It can only improve by continuing to write.
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
Billie's Bio
Billie Stroud is a native of Louisiana,
a Texan since teens and a San Antonian since 1968. She is retired from Southwestern Bell
Corporation, now
known as AT&T. She began writing poetry during the 1980's and after retiring
started attending a number of poetry workshops including those of Naomi Shihab
Nye, Linda Hogan and Jimmy Santiago Baca. Billie is an award winning poet,
published in a number of anthologies and author of two chap books, On Wings
of Gulls and Crawfish Pie and File'
Gumbo.
In 1997 she joined with a group
of poets and formed the San Antonio Poetry Fair which has presented a Fair
annually, now in its 14th year. She currently serves as President and gains
inspiration from the many poets so grateful for a venue to have their
voice heard and see their work in print. In 2006, she joined with other poets to
form the Alamo Area Poets of Texas and currently serves as Treasurer and editor
of the annual anthology. Both groups are a great inspiration to continue writing
poetry. San Antonio is truly blessed to have so many very good poets. It is
a blessing to be associated with a part of them.
Thank you, Billie, for participating in Toni's Poetry Colleagues!
