My review of Stephanie Henson’s new poetry book for youth was published on MasticadoresUSA. Take a look! Stephanie Henson, author of “In the Right Lane” (Experiments in Fiction, 2023), which I reviewed on February 8, 2023 here, has a new book coming out … “Poems Stuck in My Brain” by Stephanie Henson: A Review Here... Continue Reading →
I would like to invite you….
…to a free online poetry event sponsored by Normal Public Library (in Normal, Illinois). I’ll be reading from my book “Three-Penny Memories: A Poetic Memoir” (Experiments in Fiction, 2032) and answering your questions. I’m very excited to have this time to share my poetic memoir with you all. The event will be on Tuesday, March... Continue Reading →
“If I had an extra November day: A Collaboration” by Nolcha Fox and Barbara Leonhard
I’d play in the leaves I piled up the day before, eat another slice of pecan pie. I’d light the candle in the pumpkin one more night. How nice to have an extra day of fall before the winter lays its icy hand upon the barren branches. A day to lay aside those things I’ve... Continue Reading →
“Happiness is an elephant” by Nolcha Fox (and My Review of Fox’s Book, ‘Memory is that raccoon’) — MasticadoresUsa // Editor: Barbara Leonhard
Nolcha Fox is a prolific and entertaining poet! I was honored to review her book “Memory is that raccoon”, which contains the poem featured here. Enjoy! https://read.amazon.com/kp/card?preview=inline&linkCode=kpd&ref_=k4w_oembed_mGs735zp8njRe2&asin=9395224622&tag=kpembed-20 Happiness is an elephant sitting in the best chair, hogging the remote. I can only feed him peanuts and vacuum when he goes to the refrigerator for a... Continue Reading →
Supersize Me — Spillwords
I have a new poem up on Spillwords. In April 2022, I participated in Wombwell Rainbow's poetry-writing marathon during Poetry Month. I wrote a rough draft of this poem to the surreal image of an iceberg balancing on the edge of glass of bourbon. I thought about the ice caps melting away as our waist... Continue Reading →
“Ode to the Hull of a Mud Turtle” by Barbara Leonhard
Juan Re Crivello, the creator, Director and Head Editor of Masticadores, has created Magazine, which can be accessed on the menu on his site, Gobblers & Masticadores. I have a poem up there today. My husband, Dierik, brought home a mud turtle shell that he found on one of his walks. As I placed it... Continue Reading →
“The Caregiver’s Craft” Recited on Radio Friends with Paul Pepper
On February 15, my interview about my new poetry book, Three-Penny Memories: A Poetic Memoir (EIF- Experiments in Fiction, 2022), was aired on Radio Friends with Paul Pepper. His interview segments are very short, under nine minutes. My book mainly covers my relationship with my mother and my caregiving to her as she navigated Alzheimer’s.... Continue Reading →
“Cupid Sings the Blues” by Barbara Leonhard
A poem up on MasticadoresUSA… Why is Cupid so sad? I. February 14, the day of roses. Chocolate-covered strawberries crave the open palm. The heart, the seat of emotion, shapes balloons. Decorates hand… “Cupid Sings the Blues” by Barbara Leonhard Barbara Leonhard Amazon Best-Selling Author Three-Penny Memories: A Poetic Memoir (EIF-Experiments in Fiction, 2022) Pushcart Nominee,... Continue Reading →
“A New World” recited by Lilly o’Wisp
I’ve been blessed by the many people I’ve met and corresponded with as Editor of MasticadoresUSA. One is Lilly o’Wisp, whose beautiful art illustrates poetry by Myriam Descendres on MasticadoresUSA. Lilly’s YouTube Channel, Les Nouvelles Errent, offers other poetry recitations from Gabriela Marie Milton’s best-selling anthology Hidden in Childhood, recently published by Literary Revelations, Gabriela’s... Continue Reading →
“A Review of ‘Samsara’, a Poetry Collection by Shirani Rajapakse” by Barbara Leonhard
I had the pleasure of reviewing this new poetry collection by Shirani Rajapakse. My review appears on MasticadoresUSA today. Have a look…. To read “Samsara” by Shirani Rajapakse is to embark on a spiritual journey of past and present life reflections on suffering, decay, and death in … “A Review of ‘Samsara’, a Poetry Collection by... Continue Reading →