Two Poems Published in All Said & Done Anthology

Hello RWP Readers:

Two of my poems, “Pretending to Be Normal (Eye Contact)” and “High School Jungle” were published in the anthology All Said & Done, a collection of light verse with some thought provoking pieces. The collection is published by The Amorphous Poetry Project.

A good percentage of the collection deals with relationships, communication, and empathy and feature some poets who are on the autism spectrum, including Donna Williams, Dave Spicer, and Wendy Lawson. Rick Lupert of Poetry Super Highway also has two poems in the collection.

All Said & Done is available in both print and electronic format. Proceeds from purchases of the book go to support the National Autistic Society of the United Kingdom.

-Nicole

My Poem “Homecoming” Republished by the Jim Morrison Project

My poem, “Homecoming” was republished by the Jim Morrison Project today. The website is a tribute to the late Jim Morrison, lead singer of The Doors and published articles, artwork, and (now) poetry.

“Homecoming” was written last year during NaPoWriMo 2011. It was an attempt to get into Morrison’s head and understand what was behind the events of the Miami incident of 1969. Whether Morrison exposed himself or not (I’m inclined to think not — and even then, there were First Amendment implications had he done so), one thing is clear: he was attempting to wake up and reach the audience on that spring night at the Dinner Key Auditorium. He had been inspired by (and had participated in) some performances of the Living Theatre — that night he tried their methodology to get through to his audience. Unfortunately, it ended in disaster and a court case in which public opinion and political aspirations were stacked against him.

Please check out the Morrison Project website. And while you’re at it, check out the fan artwork and prose pieces there. The site is a labor of love. Whatever you think or believe about Jim Morrison, the site is a must-see.

-Nicole

My Poem “Glass and Concrete” Published on Autism and Empathy

My poem, “Glass and Concrete” was republished over at the Autism and Empathy website.

Autism and Empathy seeks “to undo the myths about autism and empathy that have stigmatized autistic people for so long”. The site features prose and poetry by autistics, family members, parents, and professionals. If you haven’t seen it yet, I encourage you to go and read.

-Nicole

“High School Jungle” in Hyperlexia Journal

Greetings, readers!

High School Jungle” was published in Hyperlexia Journal on Friday, October 14. It was written about my own experiences with being bullied in high school.

Hyperlexia Journal is a literary journal about the autism spectrum that publishes poetry, fiction, and personal essays. The editors of Hyperlexia seek “genuine and truthful writing about autism”.

My Poem, “A Theology of An Autistic Body” Published in qarrtsiluni

Hellow RWP Readers!

My poem, “A Theology of an Autistic Body“, was published yesterday in qarrtsiluni. You can also hear me reading the poem on the podcast for that day on its website.

Qarrtsiluni is an online journal of poetry, prose, and art which publishes themed issues each quarter, with one poem/piece of prose/piece of artwork per day during each issue. This poem was published as part of the imprisonment issue — the contributors for that issue examine the idea of confinement, either voluntarily or involuntarily. “A Theology”, for me, is a statement about the sometimes voluntarily withdrawal that I sometimes need as an adult with Asperger’s Syndrome.

So, go check it out…as well as the rest of the fine pieces in the latest issue :)

My Poem “Lamppost Hierophant” Published in Shift Journal

Greetings, RWP Readers!

One of my poems, “Lamppost Hierophant” was published today at Shift Journal. It had been written for Sam Drezner, the son of documentary filmmaker Todd Drezner. His latest documentary, “Loving Lampposts” takes a look at his son’s autism, neurodiversity, and the current autism debates.

Go check out the poem. And while you’re at it, take a look at the rest of Shift Journal as well. It’s an eclectic publications whose contributors attempt to define autism as a legitimate way of being in the world.

My Poem, “Color (A Modest Plea)” Published at Shift Journal

Greetings! My poem, “Color (A Modest Plea)“, was published today in Shift Journal of Alternatives: Neurodiversity and social change.

As you might surmise from the journal’s title, the journal’s premise is that autism has existed all along and it entertains “the notion of autistic as a legitimate way to be in the world, from the crossroads of theory, society, and personal experience”.

The poem was inspired by a piece by Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg of Journeys with Autism which appeared earlier this month in Shift Journal, “An Open Letter to Robert MacNeil Regarding PBS’ Autism Now Series“. I used the same quote by Robert MacNeil from the series to jump-start this poem as one of my NaPoWriMo poems. Please jog over to Shift Journal to read it, and check out the many other contributions in the journal about autism and neurodiversity.

-Nicole