ALISON MCBAIN
  • Blog
  • Books
  • Book Covers
  • Shorts
    • Shorts
    • Articles & Essays
    • Toddler Times
  • News
    • Readings & Events
    • Interviews, Awards & Other News
    • More Stuff >
      • Book Reviews
      • Random Art
      • Links
      • Privacy Policy
  • About Me
Picture

Picture

Family Musings and New Poem "Blindly" at Poetry Quarterly

10/14/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
I am proud to say that I come from a very creatively-inclined family.  One of my extended cousins is a very talented writer, a couple of my aunts are artists, my grandmothers and mom (and other extended family) did a lot of beautiful handwork, such as tailoring, quilting and knitting.  In fact, my dad's mom published her first book when she was 90 years old!

Another one of my aunts is a very wonderful choir singer and musician.  I remember when we would go visit family in Canada (or family would visit us in California), and she would sing to us and play her flute and guitar.  It happens that she's also blind, although that never made a difference to us as children (except for when we cut up one of her braille books because we liked the patterns in it, unfortunately - I'm still sorry about that).  And we grew up hearing how our dad, her older brother, would take her on mini adventures when she was very small, such as climbing trees or playing down by the railroad tracks.

Each generation, though, seems to get more and more protective of their children.  Not a bad thing, but sometimes it seems like we veer too far into overprotective.  I sometimes wonder what it would be like to raise a child who had a disability.  Would I be overprotective or would I let him/her have the same freedoms, as much as possible, as my other children?  I imagine the fear on both sides - me, as a mom, afraid that something would happen to my loved one, and the fear of my child to let him/herself go.

My poem "Blindly" comes from this imagining, from looking at this fear head-on and hoping that it would be something we'd both be able to overcome.  Although the word "blindly" is used as a nod to my aunt, the poem is more about the fear we face in any situation, both as parents and children, and how that fear can either hold us back... or when strong enough to face that fear, it can give us the freedom to find out who we are.

I hope you enjoy reading my poem in Poetry Quarterly.  It's just one of many poems by a wonderful group of poets.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Who the heck is Alison McBain?

    I am a freelance writer and poet with over two hundred short pieces published in magazines and anthologies. Check out my 2024 writing challenge to write a book a week at Author Versus AI. For more info, please check out my "About Me" page.

      Wanna get updates on what's going on over here? Sign up with your email below - I won't spam you at all, but you might receive an occasional update about readings, writings, and family events.

    Add to Mailing List
    ​© Alison McBain. All rights reserved

    Archives

    November 2024
    October 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    September 2023
    June 2023
    April 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    May 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Blog
  • Books
  • Book Covers
  • Shorts
    • Shorts
    • Articles & Essays
    • Toddler Times
  • News
    • Readings & Events
    • Interviews, Awards & Other News
    • More Stuff >
      • Book Reviews
      • Random Art
      • Links
      • Privacy Policy
  • About Me