The Marvelous Maya Angelou

Today I am celebrating Dr. Maya Angelou on her birthday.

Recently, I picked up Maya Angelou's book called Me & Mom & Me. I was transfixed. Then I went back, I didn't realize Maya had written a slew of autobiographies about her life beyond I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. I ordered the second and third book: Gather Together in My Name and Singin' and Swingin and Gettin' Merry like Christmas

OMG. All those wise words attributed to her made sense.Gather Together in My Name we follow Maya as an young mom trying to find her place in the world. I laughed, bellowed and cried as she went through some heinous things.



Singin' and Swingin' and Gettin' Merry Like Christmas starts her career as a performer. I was mesmerized. As an actor, I felt in sync with her stories. Her travels as a dancer and singer in Porgy and Bess reawakened my desire to see Venice and Paris. Getting to know this intelligent, sensitive, lovely six foot Maya Angelou has been a pleasure. She directed one of my favorite films: Down in the Delta. I can see why she directed this film so well knowing her life now.




I have finished all her autobiographies. I want to now buy them so I have them to keep. Creatively, I found her inspiring to me as a fellow artist. I love that the last book in the series ends with her beginning to write I know why the Caged Bird Sings




If you have never read her books, like do it now. With most of us self isolating or on quarantine, we have time. I have found comfort, inspiration in her words. I am sure you will to. I just found this gem of Maya Angelou when she was in early days as a singer in the trailer "Still I rise" about her life.

Blue Moon

Happy Full Moon, my friends. It is the second full
moon in March. Blue Moons are supposed to be special since
they happen maybe every two years. Whatever you do,
make it fun and a little more exciting than usual.




What am I doing? I loathe the term :I am moving out of
my comfort zone. I truly am. I will be spending part of
the day involved in a reading of a screenplay I co-wrote
with my friend, Neo. Yes, the muse has called me to expand
my creative journey. I am still an actor. The lead role I
wrote for myself! Then I will spend the rest of my Full
Moon evening watching movies and planning my next creative move.

As always, do whatever you feel moved to do under the
Full Moon. Yes, I love to hear what creative adventures
you are doing as well. Let me know in the comments.

Happy Full Moon and Easter.

The Sky and poems

As I was blog surfing, I read the wonderful Milliande's great piece on how to translate inspiration to art. I thought yes, she's is so right. We see the finished product but rarely the process of joy and sweat that gives birth to our creations. Inspired by her words, made me want to share my creative process.


How do you write a poem?. Let me first say I'm not a Master Poet. I do have a love of poetry and have been writing poems since my teens. I can share how I get inspired, write and edit my poems. I write a poem the same way I do when I'm memorizing lines and creating a character.

1) Deep sky watching. My view from my apartment is fantastic. Depending on where I'm sitting it can look like I'm up in the clouds. I take advantage of this by allowing my mind wander when I can. Great ideas come this way.

2) Ideas form in a visual way. An image or a word will come into my mind's eye. Then I'm off and running to get to paper to write it down. Perhaps for you the ideas come in the form of one of your other senses: Sound, Touch, Feeling, Taste. Or a mix of two ways.

Here is an example of a part of a poem I wrote. This poem came about when I was writing another a post. The image of an elegant invitation and a woman walking alone in a long hall flashed in my head.

The music plays
As I enter
There is no one there
Save the band
Four elegant musicians
Dressed in tuxes and gowns
I look down at my invitation
To make sure this is the place
“It is the place.”
The voice is deep and melodious
Behind me
I turn to see HIM


3)The key is to follow how words sound and feel to me. Right now, I'm working on a monologue of Queen Margaret in Henry 6, Part 2., I let the words that I feel are key to the text help me get into the Queen. I do the same with the poems. When I read my poems in process. I look for the key words that open up the poem for me. Then drop words that don't feel right or over explain.

As I read this poem out loud, I can hear what words have to go. This is where I edit. I'm going to do it right here.

I enter
the lonely ballroom
there is
only a band
of four musicians
playing "Someone to watch over me"
I look down at
my gold inked invitation
"You are in the right place.”
A deep and familiar voice
speaks behind me
I turn to see HIM

Does this version of the poem appear better to you? Well this is open to debate. It sounds and feels better to me. Now my mind races is the song the right one for the poem? Should it be another song? Do i need more detail? I will take time to edit more. Then post it all when I'm done.

This is my process. Everyone's process is unique to us. As my acting teacher Hope would say : There is no one "Method", the only method is the one which we create for ourselves that works for us.

Now what is your creative process? I love to hear all. If you have a blog, maybe you like to share your creative process with others on how you create your art. Whatever our chosen mediums it's always fascinating and instructive for all of us.

Tomorrow or Friday, I'll be back with my musings on Pride and Prejudice. I promise. Have a beautiful Wednesday.

As always, Sweet Dreams to you all.

PS. Thank you Gemma and Gloria for sharing your lovely Haiku poems with me.