AUTHOR L.L. BARKAT
poetry for life
i'm a managing editor, a publisher, a poet. i try to bring you poetry that makes your day—or maybe even your life
The book of joy
coming in november.one year. one ache. one word.100 poems for your heart.i started this project in the month of june. by october, my mom suddenly passed away. how can you find joy even when life has hard moments? how can you experience joy in every season? the book of joy will show you it is possible.btw, that little bird sitting in the silver spoon was my mom's. i found it accidentally when i was sorting through her belongings. the little bird became a symbol for me. maybe she can become one for you, too.-(print version NOT available for pre-order. watch this space!)
explore some of my poems
i write of the everyday.
i write when an emotion meets an image.
over time, i have written hundreds of poems.
here are just a few to explore.
01.
planted
It was supposed to be
a dogwood, I thought—
flowering.
So I planted the tree
in the middle
of my little rock garden,
the one with the broken white shells...
03.
Due to the Loss of Field Roast Artisan Grain Sausage
Under the pastry board
that pulls out like an awning,
I found her. Half in, half out
of a cabinet door,
its shelter a hard cloak
that could hide the tears...
04.
Bird on the Mountain
The to is
anticipation,
like the bird flying
to
her mountain,
like the brown eyes
looking
to
open the trails...
05.
A Blessing for Writers
For you: a string, silken, sometimes. Sometimes narrow, twined, sometimes wide. A ribbon, if you will, midnight velvet when you need it. Crimson. Turquoise as a southwest sky. Occasionally ivory. The line of it, slipping through the open palm of your hand...
06.
[do the shells]
Do the shells still hear the sea,
though they are in pieces; ...
beyond the glass
for seven years i struggled to write any poems at all. this collection broke the dry spell. i wrote for 30 days straight, from 30 prompts provided by The Write to Poetry.the collection includes:• 30 poems
• the 30 prompts
• and a bonus poem(book & tea photo by bethany rohde. used with permission)
More poems. why not.
i had fun with many of the poems in beyond the glass.
it was the playfulness, i think, that brought poetry back to my hand.
plus writing from prompts, which gave me a necessary momentum.
here are a few you might like...
01.
Sparrow Beyond the Glass
There you are, all wings and flitting—unthinking of your untold tomorrow;
You play amidst cherry blossoms, unworried; more sweetness will unfold tomorrow.
02.
1930's bedroom closet
Too small for me to fit in,
you dutifully holdall I put of myself
(except myself)...
03.
After a Collage by Catherine Abbey Hodges
If a poem
is a hope galaxy
(as Catherine’s art
suggests to me)...
get free prompts
looking for inspiration?get 5 free prompts from the book i published by author tania runyan: how to write a poem: based on the billy collins poem "introduction to poetry"
books & BIO
poetry is closest to my heart. but i've also written fiction, non-fiction, and children's books. click through to amazon to explore.BIO
• managing editor of tweetspeak poetry • publisher at t.s. poetry press • poetry has appeared at VQR, Best American Poetry,
Every Day Poems, NPR, and on the BBC
© l.l. barkat. All rights reserved. photo of l.l. & friends by kellē sauer