4/2/14
White House clearance rules:
no cameras, purses, knives,
no photos inside.

White frosting covers
red and yellow and blue rooms
like petit fours on

gilded plates. Untrod
spotless rugs with saucy touch -
fringe mussed just like mine.

Lisa Rizzo 3/31/14 Lisa Rizzo 3/31/14

April is National Poetry Month - I'm taking on the NaPoWriMo Challenge!

I've been writing a haiku or haiku-esque poem every day (or sometimes night) since the first day of this year. So far that means 90 poems this year. Until now I've been posting these to a private group on Facebook. Trying to be profound and poetic every single day is a daunting task so until now I've posted these haiku to a private group on Facebook. That makes me feel safe from my sternest critic: my own fearful self. But I've decided to go public for the entire month of April. I can't promise that all my poems will be good or interesting or poetic. I'm sure there will be some who tsk-tsk at my western attempts at a form of poetry that originated in a very different culture and language. So it is with some trepidation that I offer you my first offering for April:

forgot to water
my tulips - out with orchids
much more exotic

Only 29 more to go! Happy National Poetry Month!

Lisa Rizzo 3/28/14 Lisa Rizzo 3/28/14

Celebrating Women's History Month

As I announced a few weeks ago, five of my poems were just published in this anthology, Aspiring to Inspire. I have to admit I was a bit worried about giving so many of my poems to a small publisher of e-books, but I was wrong. After receiving my own copy, I was quickly impressed by the range of writing.

Each women's selections start with a short piece about a woman who has inspired her. I wrote about my friend and teacher mentor Carolyn. I don't think I had ever told her how inspired I have been by her, so it felt good to let her know. Also included at the beginning of each section is a quote from a famous woman. I was pleased to find that the quotation introducing my own work is one of my favorites by Eleanor Roosevelt:

"Do one thing every day that scares you."

Since tomorrow I am embarking on a solo trip for the first time in over a decade, I'm taking this to heart. While each new trip brings a certain level of anxiety, going alone heightens that nervousness. So I'm taking Eleanor's advice to heart. What a great way to celebrate Women's History Month.

What woman has most inspired you? I'd love to hear. Anyone who would like a copy of the free e-version of Aspiring to Inspire can respond by May 2, 2014, and I'll send one to you.

Lisa Rizzo 3/16/14 Lisa Rizzo 3/16/14

Aspiring to Inspire Anthology: Read My Five Poems!

Five of my poems will appear in the Aspiring to Inspire Anthology published by Durham Editing and E-Books. In all the years I've been submitting my work for publication, this is the first time that editors have taken all the poems I sent! So this is a very exciting even for me.

Two of the poems, Sunrise with Mountain and Hike to Box Canyon, New Mexico were inspired by my time at the AROHO writing retreats in 2011 and 2013, so the theme of inspiration from women in my life is particularly appropriate.

The anthology will be available online, so check back here for a link to the e-book. There will be an official Facebook Launch Party this Saturday, March 22nd.
Join in if you can. You know I'll be there!