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Posts by J.L. Smith

I am a writer/political scientist based in Eagle River, Alaska. I hold a BA degree in English/Creative Writing and a MA in International Relations. Best of both worlds, I write everything from naturalistic poetry to Russia and the former Soviet Republics. Recent publications: Academic Nonfiction: The Syrian Dilemma: Moscow's Motives in the Syrian Uprising (2013). ISBN: 9781304283931 Creative Nonfiction: "The Important Things" - Alaska Women Speak - Winter 2015 issue Fiction: How to Eat a Bagel - 50-word Stories - Sept 15, 2015 The Devil and the White Room - Down in the Dirt - July/August 2016 Poetry: "Sara" - Grassroots - Fall 1999 "Femininity" - Cirque - Summer 2015 "Sitting in the Bathroom" - Yellow Chair Review - July 2015 "A Happy Poem" - Eunoia Review - August 2015 "Willow Rebuilds" "Spectators" "Fire Angels" - Alaska Women Speak- Fall 2015 "Dark Clouds Descend Low" - Three Line Poetry - Issue 33 - Sept 2015 "Da!" - Peeking Cat Poetry - 8th issue - Oct 2015 "Three times my baby's stroller passes by" - Eunoia Review - Oct 2015 "Babushka's Samovar", "If I May Speak", and "High Tea and Fancy Things" - Alaska Women Speak - Winter 2015 Issue "Joanna's Child" - Cirque - Winter Solstice issue 2015. "Away with the Bitterness!" - Peeking Cat Poetry - 9th Issue - Dec 2015 "Away with the Bitterness!" - Alaska Shorts (49 Writers blog) - December 22, 2015 "The Reflex", "The Drop Off", and "Crossed Eyes" - Eskimo Pie - Feb 2016 "The Fragments You Carry", "The Fireweed Dies", and "Crabapples" - 13 Chairs - Spring 2016

Excerpt: Medusa: The Lost Daughter

From “Dapania”

True forgiveness takes time to earn as the
mind needs to forget the freshness of the
crime. The offense needs to wither away
before the heart is allowed to remember the
time before it was wronged

Medusa is available for purchase at Politics and Prose at http://www.politics-prose.com/book/9781624291272

Excerpt: Medusa: The Lost Daughter

From “Motherless Daughter”
To be one of many is better than
to be alone among many. Shelter
from the wind makes flowers less vulnerable,
more likely to survive the storm and thrive.

Medusa is available for purchase at http://www.politics-prose.com/book/9781624291272

Poetry Boot Camp Prompt #2

Day 2, prompt 2. 2 prompts down, 28 poems to go!

Prompt: You check into the hotel and the bed is not made. In fact, it looked like the previous guest left in a hurry, with a note addressed to the new guess on the pillow…

Poetry Boot Camp Prompt #1

Welcome to this month’s prompts. May they inspire you and edge you to your goal! 1 prompt down. 29 poems to go!

Prompt: You are 23 years old and the old house on the corner has been abandoned long before you came along. Its windows long smashed, its door kicked in, despite the yellow “caution” tape. You watch a young man peer into one of its windows…

Excerpt: Medusa – The Lost Daughter

From “A Mother’s Sorrow”

Ceto kneeled before the goddess’ throne. “Dear
Goddess, I know I have dishonored you
and wish to ask for forgiveness for I
disrupted your temple with my impure
actions, my longing for my daughter who
is now your servant.

Medusa is available for purchase at http://www.politics-prose.com/book/9781624291272

Excerpt: Medusa: The Lost Daughter

From “Chamber of Silence”

In silence comes wisdom, for no other
voices can be heard outside one’s own, when
the nakedness of the mind becomes free.

Medusa is available for purchase at Politics and Prose at http://www.politics-prose.com/book/9781624291272