Madwomen in the Attic – Ruth E. Hendricks Photography

One Hundred Years Ago, Dorothy H. Holley was Born

Tribute to a Friend. Poem below by Liane Norman

Dorothy’s Iris planted by poet Liane Norman

Dorothy H. Holley. May 15, 1923 – June 6, 2010

I Dug Up the Iris

in Dorothy’s garden
to plant in the soaked

soil of mine, memorial
to her each spring

when they’ll open
complicated ruffles

and flourishes, purple
or blue with speckled

throats. They’ll rise
out of rhizomes

sprawling at soil’s
surface like the joints

of my old hands
anchoring the tall

stalks and frilly petals.
This morning

in the brief breath
of cool I dug shallow

trenches for this legacy,
this pantry of pollens

the bees prospect,
insects with lives

beyond what the mere
gardener knows.

Liane Ellison Norman, a Madwoman in the Attic, has published two books of poetry, The Duration of Grief andKeep (www.smokeandmirrorspress.com). She has published poems in 5AM, Kestrel, North American Review, Grasslimb, Rune, Voices from the Attic anthologies and the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Her poem “What There’d Been” won the Wisteria Prize in 2006 from Paper Journey Press.

————————————————————————-

http://rutheh.com/tag/dorothy-holley-poet/

DOROTHY H. HOLLEY – POET, FRIEND.

(Click link to see slideshow)

A slideshow, remembering Dorothy. Blackberries on Greek yogurt. Roses, iris and tulips from her garden. The back porch where we’d sit, have tea, watch birds feed and bathe. She wrote poems after viewing the photos of the Mill at Night and The Cider Press. She baked fresh bread and gave me some to take home for Steve. She’d slice tomatoes and make summer sandwiches to share. She contributed many comments on the blog. She showed us how to live life with courage, grace and love. for Pittsburgh Post Gazette obituary click here

May 14, 2023 by Ruth Categories: Photography, poetryTags: 100th birthday, birthday, Dorothy H. Holley, friendship, garden, iris, Madwomen in the Attic, photography, poetry, postaday 9 Comments

Remembering Poet and Friend Dorothy Holley on Her Birthday

Two posts reblogged honoring

Dorothy Holley Poet, Friend post from 2010 click for slideshow

***May 15, 1923 – June 6, 2010***.
***Link to her obituary***

____________________________________________________

Dorothy Holley’s Iris from her garden are in the photo below replanted by fellow poet and friend Liane Norman, who is the author of I Dug Up the Iris

I Dug Up the Iris

in Dorothy’s garden
to plant in the soaked

soil of mine, memorial
to her each spring

when they’ll open
complicated ruffles

and flourishes, purple
or blue with speckled

throats. They’ll rise
out of rhizomes

sprawling at soil’s
surface like the joints

of my old hands
anchoring the tall

stalks and frilly petals.
This morning

in the brief breath
of cool I dug shallow

trenches for this legacy,
this pantry of pollens

the bees prospect,
insects with lives

beyond what the mere
gardener knows.

Liane Ellison Norman, a Madwoman in the Attic, has published two books of poetry, The Duration of Grief and Keep(www.smokeandmirrorspress.com). She has published poems in 5AM, Kestrel, North American Review, Grasslimb, Rune, Voices from the Attic anthologies and the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Her poem “What There’d Been” won the Wisteria Prize in 2006 from Paper Journey Press.

reblogged On the occasion of the birthday of poet Dorothy Holley http://rutheh.com/tag/dorothy-holley-poet/

May 15, 2022 by Ruth Categories: Photography, poetryTags: friendship, garden, iris, Madwomen in the Attic, photography, Pittsburgh PA, poetry, postaday, Quart Jar Poet, tribute, writing 3 Comments

Diane Kerr Poet, Author of PERIGEE

I received a copy of PERIGEE in the mail today. A gift from the poet Diane Kerr.

I had the honor of capturing her author photo which now graces the back cover of her just published poetry book.

Thank you Diane and congratulations on winning the Brittingham Prize in Poetry and having your book published at the University of Wisconsin Press.

To read reviews and/or purchase a copy click here

Release from the University of Wisconsin Press Click link for more information

“Diane Kerr mentors poets through the Madwomen in the Attic Creative Writing Program at Carlow University and is the author of the collection, Butterfly. Her work has appeared in the Alaska Quarterly Review, Mississippi Review, and Pearl, among others. She holds an MFA from the Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College. Kerr’s forthcoming Perigee follows a speaker’s emotional reckoning with a traumatic secret she felt pressured to keep during her girlhood. In varied lyric narratives, these poems reinforce that shock and suffering have no statute of limitations.”

________________________________________________________________________________

Perigee.

the point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite at which it is nearest to the earth.

October 30, 2020October 30, 2020 by Ruth Categories: Photography, poetry, WritingTags: author, author photo, book, Brittingham Prize in Poetry, Carlow University, Diane Kerr, Madwomen in the Attic, PERIGEE, photography, poet, poetry, postaday, University of Wisconsin Press, writing 5 Comments

Meet the Man Who Made Copies of the Film Quart Jar Poet

Imagine Audio Media President

Meet Dino Pandolfo who graciously consented to be part of my People at Work Series. He has a full recording studio and can create multiple copies of DVDs and CDs(see below) right here in Ingram a West End neighborhood in Pittsburgh.

The Quart Jar Poet: Dorothy Holley is a film I made in 2005. Dorothy was a good friend to me- an encourager. Dorothy Holley-Poet, Friend

Dino created the copies to be used as a fundraiser for Madwomen in the Attic-he was a pleasure to work with and they look wonderful. He even carted the boxes to my car.
The Madwomen Reading series presents the second annual Dorothy Louise Holley Memorial Reading featuring a poetry reading by Diane Gilliam

Saturday, November 12, 2016
Kresge Center, Carlow University
Reading at 7:30 p.m. (book table at 7 p.m.)
Reception and book signing following the reading
Free and open to the public
Free parking

November 9, 2016 by Ruth Categories: People at Work, PhotographyTags: audio, Carlow University, Dorothy Holley, film, Madwomen in the Attic, media, music, photography, Pittsburgh PA, poetry, postaday, Reading series, technology, writing 6 Comments

My Conversation With God – Guest Blog

My conversation with God 7/13/13

I don’t want to talk about the Treyvon Benjamin Martin story

Because it’s been told before because I know how it ends

black boy dead boy no boy wins.

And you,

you were supposed to be watching

keeping him from harm.

His mother prayed and prayed and

you said you would she believed

you could

he was the one in the hood

and you just didn’t.

Maybe you looked away for a second

got distracted,

heard thousands calling your name

so much you couldn’t hear him

couldn’t decipher it from the voices

the noises,

maybe you confused it with a cheer

when the field goal was good,

or a hymn that was really loud

maybe you didn’t like what he had to say

all young and un-educated like.

but really,

how long would it have taken,

how long did it take

for you to call

for him to leave,

join you,

be rewarded

such a short time

in your care.

Was it just too dark that night? Was he just too dark that night?

They say he looked like all the others, “all the other punks that get away”.

— a poem by Cj Coleman

Cj teaches in the Pittsburgh Public Schools, is a Western Pennsylvania Writing Project Fellow (U of Pittsburgh) and a member of Madwomen in the Attic (Carlow University)

Cj emailed me this poem and I found this photograph in my archives to accompany her words.

Hoodie Day March 30, 2012 Pittsburgh Public Schools

July 19, 2013 by Ruth Categories: Guest Blog, poetryTags: Hoodie Day Pittsburgh, Madwomen in the Attic, photography, Poem, poetry, postaday, school, social justice, teacher, Trayon Martin, verdict, Western Pennsylvania Writing Project, writing 7 Comments

Tribute Reading & Reception 9-18-10/Scroll Down for Information

Celebration of the Life of Christina Murdock — Tess created this bouquet for Joan when she hosted Book Club. Christina was a member of Book Club, too.

Christina Murdock was awarded the 2006 Sara Henderson Hay Prize from The Pittsburgh Quarterly Online, and her writing has been published in The 10^th Floor Review, Collision, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Voices from the Attic and Pittsburgh CityPaper. She died in April just one week before her 30th birthday and is survived by her husband, Terry, and daughter, Sophia. A tribute reading of her work will be held at 1:00-3:00 p.m. on Sept. 18 at Kresge Theater, Carlow University. Free and open to the public. Sales of her book, Burying the Body,($12.95) will benefit a scholarship fund for her daughter. Sponsored by Madwomen in the Attic, a creative writing group for women @ Carlow University. If you would like to order a book let me know.

September 16, 2010September 15, 2010 by Ruth Categories: photo of the day, poetry, Tribute to a FriendTags: bouquet, Carlow University, celebration, Christina Murdock, friend, Madwomen in the Attic, Pittsburgh, poetry, poetry reading, roses, tribute 5 Comments

“I Dug Up the Iris” by Guest Poet Liane Ellison Norman

Dorothy's iris photographed May 27, 2010 after tea together on her back porch

I Dug Up the Iris

in Dorothy’s garden
to plant in the soaked

soil of mine, memorial
to her each spring

when they’ll open
complicated ruffles

and flourishes, purple
or blue with speckled

throats. They’ll rise
out of rhizomes

sprawling at soil’s
surface like the joints

of my old hands
anchoring the tall

stalks and frilly petals.
This morning

in the brief breath
of cool I dug shallow

trenches for this legacy,
this pantry of pollens

the bees prospect,
insects with lives

beyond what the mere
gardener knows.

Liane Ellison Norman, a Madwoman in the Attic, has published two books of poetry, The Duration of Grief and Keep (www.smokeandmirrorspress.com). She has published poems in 5AM, Kestrel, North American Review, Grasslimb, Rune, Voices from the Attic anthologies and the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Her poem “What There’d Been” won the Wisteria Prize in 2006 from Paper Journey Press.

July 22, 2010July 22, 2010 by Ruth Categories: Tribute to a FriendTags: Dorothy Holley, garden, iris, Liane Norman, Madwomen in the Attic, memorial, memories, photo of the day, photography, Pittsburgh, poetry, tribute 10 Comments

Dorothy H. Holley – Poet, Friend

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Service at Calvary Church Shady and Walnut, Friday June 11th 6:00PM

June 8, 2010June 1, 2011 by Ruth Categories: Tribute to a FriendTags: Calvary Church Pittsburgh, Dorothy Holley, Dorothy Holley Poet, Foothills Publishing, friend, gardener, Madwomen in the Attic, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Poetry, Pittsburgh Poetry Society, poet, poetry 26 Comments

Tag: Madwomen in the Attic

One Hundred Years Ago, Dorothy H. Holley was Born

DOROTHY H. HOLLEY – POET, FRIEND.

(Click link to see slideshow)

Like this:

Remembering Poet and Friend Dorothy Holley on Her Birthday

Like this:

Diane Kerr Poet, Author of PERIGEE

Like this:

Meet the Man Who Made Copies of the Film Quart Jar Poet

Like this:

Tribute Reading & Reception 9-18-10/Scroll Down for Information

Like this:

“I Dug Up the Iris” by Guest Poet Liane Ellison Norman

Like this:

Dorothy H. Holley – Poet, Friend

Like this:

DOROTHY H. HOLLEY – POET, FRIEND.

(Click link to see slideshow)

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

My conversation with God 7/13/13

I don’t want to talk about the Treyvon Benjamin Martin story

Because it’s been told before because I know how it ends

black boy dead boy no boy wins.

And you,

you were supposed to be watching

keeping him from harm.

His mother prayed and prayed and

you said you would she believed

you could

he was the one in the hood

and you just didn’t.

Maybe you looked away for a second

got distracted,

heard thousands calling your name

so much you couldn’t hear him

couldn’t decipher it from the voices

the noises,

maybe you confused it with a cheer

when the field goal was good,

or a hymn that was really loud

maybe you didn’t like what he had to say

all young and un-educated like.

but really,

how long would it have taken,

how long did it take

for you to call

for him to leave,

join you,

be rewarded

such a short time

in your care.

Was it just too dark that night? Was he just too dark that night?

They say he looked like all the others, “all the other punks that get away”.

Cj teaches in the Pittsburgh Public Schools, is a Western Pennsylvania Writing Project Fellow (U of Pittsburgh) and a member of Madwomen in the Attic (Carlow University)

Cj emailed me this poem and I found this photograph in my archives to accompany her words.

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: