Author / J.L. Smith

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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
by J.L. Smith

Thanksgiving

Some words to ponder today. Nice poem. Reblogged:)

perfectsublimemasters's avatarEunoia Review

From a distance, as you walk your morning miles, you begin
to watch the woman standing near the waves.
Hours before the sunbathers will arrive,
she is aiming her camera toward an unimpressive
sandcastle. She is soft, and pale, and thick
through her middle, and something more
than middle-aged, and you think without hesitation
that she is happy,
and you wonder why
so many photos—first from one angle, then another—
and you decide she’s never been to an ocean
before; she’s from some landlocked place
where she would not stand out
for having moon-white shoulders
glowing down on densely freckled forearms,
or high-waisted floral shorts,
or that gray halo of tightly permed hair,
and you think, maybe she’s here for some family
holiday, and maybe all of this is new
to her—this salty, gull-strewn air, this
fine, warm sand, these unceasing waves—and maybe that’s why
she is happy
on this…

View original post 212 more words

by J.L. Smith

Napowrimo Day 10

Yep, this one is late, I am afraid.  Here is the excerpt from the 10th day.  It is interesting how the story is unfolding with the poems.  Wish I could post them in their entirety each day, but that will have to wait until I have completed and polished them. Here’s a taste, though.  Enjoy!

From Drowning (raw excerpt)

*This excerpt has been removed as another day’s post has been posted.  Keep checking back daily to get the most up-to-date Napowrimo posts:)

 

by J.L. Smith

Napowrimo Day 9

Still the 9th Alaska time, if not just barely  🙂

A short excerpt today as time runs short.

The Sacrifice

*This excerpt has been removed as another day’s post has been posted.  Keep checking back daily to get the most up-to-date Napowrimo posts:)

 

by J.L. Smith

Throwback Thursday: Crossed Eyes

This one is a very old poem, probably written in 1998, that was published in February’s Eskimo Pie.  Now, if that is not a real Throwback Thursday, I don’t know what is, lol.  “Crossed Eyes” for your Throwback Thursday enjoyment!

Crossed Eyes

A glossy photograph with eyes

scraped clean with black ballpoint.

Anger and pressure,

strokes of lines—

straight and circular—

penetrate white paper,

bringing it to the fore,

dehumanizing its former owner of its

identity

warmth

power

control

over the smiling figure pictured next to it,

you.

by J.L. Smith

NaPoWriMo Day 6

OK, I am posting this a bit early.  Remember, this is a raw excerpt.  As I continue to write, I can see the revisions to come.  This has been a difficult story to craft poetically.  I am thankful to you, readers, for your support and patience.

Thank you for coming along in this journey.

Today’s raw excerpt:

**This post has been removed as the next day’s NaPoWriMo post has been posted***

by J.L. Smith

NaPoWriMo Day 5

Day 5 is late because I preformed my civic duty and served as an election official for the Anchorage municipal elections.  The defense and preservation of democracy made for a 16 hour long work day. A democratic hangover, I am glad that I was able to serve my community.  It is amazing to see democracy in action.  Never take it for granted.  Even at the local level, please vote, folks.  Believe it or not, you have more power at the local level than you think.  Be the change in your community. Participate in it.

OK, now for our regularly scheduled program.  Here is day 5 for you, folks!

An excerpt from “Heirless War.” The war between Argos and Cisthene has begun.

**This post has been removed as another day’s post has been made.  Keep up with these post as they are made daily.  Each remain up a day.**