Weekly Write: “Adrift” by Gina Marselle

On March 11, 2020January 28, 2020 By awhitetrashpoetIn Weekly Write

Adrift

I lost a world the other day.
Has anybody found?
You’ll know it by the row of stars
Around its forehead bound.
—Emily Dickonson

an entire moon cycle of loneliness
colliding in quiet array.
Standing here, inside an art gallery—
in a room, full of people—
she’s holding a cup of ginger tea,
a page of poetry.

She looks brave.

She’s in a box
trapped
inside a midnight sky without stars.

Over there—
a lone cottonwood stands
on the banks of the Rio Grande.
It looks strong, capable of holding common ravens
or shading a weary runner.
But if you touched it, it is hollow inside.

How can one explain
loneliness
to someone who has never felt alone?

You can’t, it’s one of those things that
can’t be explained.
When wrapped in anxiety
or depression
or anything, categorically.

There isn’t anything more sad
than in bed with a pristine white,
goose down comforter over her head
imaging her coffin nailed shut.

NPR’s headlines don’t help.
The divide of the country doesn’t help.
The lost souls of immigration don’t help.
Her husband fighting alcoholism doesn’t help.
You’d never know the sadness
felt inside her battle.
Unless she wrote about it
and read it out loud.
Allowed the words
to blast the page.

But only if she does that.
She’s vulnerable, alone on a stage.

an entire moon cycle of loneliness
colliding in quiet array.
Standing here, inside an art gallery—
in a room, full of people.
She’s holding a cup of ginger tea,
a page of poetry.

She is brave.

Gina Marselle resides in New Mexico with her husband and children. She is a teacher, poet, and photographer who happily owns a rescue horse and dog. She has published a number of poems and photographs in many local anthologies and has a full length published book titled, A Fire of Prayer: A Collection of Poetry and Photography (Swimming with Elephants Publications, 2015). Please find more information about Gina’s work from her publisher at https://swimmingwithelephants.com/ and/or follow her on Instagram @gigirebel.

“Like”, “Share”, and comment on this poem to nominate it for the Annual Swimming with Elephants Publications 2020 Anthology.

Click here check out the 2019 Anthology: Trumpet Call; a Swimming with Elephants Anthology available for only $12.95.

Weekly Write: “Upon this Altar” by Gina Marselle

On October 6, 2019August 20, 2019 By awhitetrashpoetIn Weekly Write

Upon this Altar

Upon this altar for healing,
I place the morning sun with prayers blessed
by my blue glass beads rosary.

Upon this altar for healing,
I place morning meditations—
breath exhales anxieties.

Upon this altar I place time.
The yellow tinged fall morning doesn’t wait,
as the hour passes my son wakes.
He begins his list of questions,
his almost five-year-old self doesn’t rest,
and his first question, “Is today a school day?”

Upon this altar I place husband’s snores,
thankful he is safe, loved, healing—a recovering alcoholic.

Upon this altar of healing,
I place my 17-year-old daughter’s ballet shoes,
her dreams to become a pediatrician or a ballerina.

Upon this altar I place newly learned guitar chords A and E,
sore fingers and encouragement. I place this dream of playing Bach
on classical guitar into reality.

Upon this altar for healing,
I place prayers that this stabbing pain I feel in my gut
will leave. Will find remission. Upon this altar I pray that
this newly diagnosed autoimmune disease will not win.
It is invisible to everyone, but my joints, eyes, intestines are attacked.
How do I fight something unpredictable like Mount Saint Helens erupting?

Upon this altar for healing I place hope
blooming with vibrant colors of teal and opal and red—
for healing breath, life and love.

Upon this altar of healing, I baptize water
from the Pacific ocean—purify it, drench this brittle desert land
into soulful breath, healing body.

Upon this altar, I leave my animal brain that wants to flee, fight, and freeze
for my human brain that reasons, plans, and processes and move from just surviving to mindfully LIVING. Before my autoimmune disease, I took for granted sips of my espresso, dark chocolate, salad drenched in blue cheese dressing, a simple pasta dinner—now food is my enemy. For three months now, a simple diet of rice, broth, bananas—
as I battle for health. All I drink is water. It sustains me. It gives me life. It is beautiful, truly. I’m here. I’m given a chance to fight, survive, live.

Upon this alter for healing,
I place my prayer, my thanksgiving, and my beating heart.
Namaste.

Gina Marselle resides in New Mexico with her family. She’s a high school teacher, poet, and photographer. She has a full length published book titled, A Fire of Prayer: A Collection of Poetry and Photography (SwEP, 2015). Please find more information about Gina’s work at https://swimmingwithelephants.com/. Follow her on Instagram @gigirebel.

“Like”, “Share”, and comment on this poem to nominate it for the Annual Swimming with Elephants Publications 2019 Anthology.

Click here check out Parade: Swimming with Elephants Publications Anthology 2018 available for only $10.95.

Chapbook Open Call 2019 Selections

On January 26, 2019January 26, 2019 By awhitetrashpoetIn Call for Submissions, News

Swimming with Elephants Publications, LLC has concluded our Open Call for Chapbook Submissions. We had literally over three times as many submissions as last year and many, many quality works to choose from. This was no easy task.

We are excited to be welcoming four new poets to our Parade.

Many thanks guest judges Maxine Peseke and Gina Marselle who did a wonderful job selecting the manuscripts. Not only did they read, discuss, and select the manuscripts, but they did an AMAZING job writing the reply letters. Like many writers, I receive lots of regret letters and many are generic and curt. Sometimes it doesn’t even seem like the publisher read the submission. But these two ladies did an amazing job reaching out and giving personalized feedback to every submitter. I am grateful to have them on the team and representing Swimming with Elephants Publications.

We would like to thank everyone who submitted and all of our amazing supporters who have kept us afloat over these past five years. We are grateful and very appreciative.

Keep your eyes on the site and the Facebook page for updates on the progress of our new publications.

And now…

…without further ado, the selected manuscripts are…..

….in no particular order….

drum roll

…actually they are in alphabetical order….

drum roll

Belly-up Rosehip: a Tongue Blue with Mud Songs

by Tyler Dettloff

I’ve Been Cancelling Appointments with My Psychiatrist for Two Years Now

by Sean Dever

Shorn: apologies & vows

by Benjamin Bormann

Thalassophile

by Abigayle Goldstein

Gina Marselle

On November 4, 2018October 18, 2018 By awhitetrashpoetIn Meme, News, Weekly Write

Pen and Poet Interview: Gina Marselle

On June 7, 2018 By awhitetrashpoetIn Authors, News1 Comment

The amazing podcast, Pen and Poet, hosted by Rene Mullen, has once again chosen a Swimming with Elephants Publications author to showcase, Ms. Gina Marselle.

Gina Marselle is not only a poet but a high school teacher, mother, wife, and photographer. You can find her work in many places like the Alibi, the Rag, Adobe Walls, among others. She’s author of the book of poetry called A Fire of Prayer: a Collection of Poetry and Photography. Her photography can be found, among other places, in A Fire of Prayer and also the book of poetry, September, by Katrina K Guarascio .

Pen and Poet hopes to conduct “intimate conversations and readings with poets, both page and stage” and Swimming with Elephants Publications, LLC has had several authors featured on Pen and Poet, including Kristian Macaron, Gigi Bella, Mercedez Holtry, Paulie Lipman, and Katrina Crespin.

You can find Pen and Poet on the web by clicking here.

You can find Pen and Poet on itunes by clicking here.

Please take a moment to listen to the broadcast and learn a little more about some of our authors.

Pen and Poet is recorded in Albuquerque, NM. If you would like to participate and be interviewed on Pen and Poet, please contact the host, Rene Mullen. Contact information is located at the end of each broadcast.

Featured SwEP Author: Gina Marselle

On April 22, 2018April 14, 2018 By awhitetrashpoetIn Authors, Daily Share, Featured Writers, News

Swimming with Elephants Publications, LLC would like to reintroduce to you to Gina Marselle.

Gina Marselle’s collection, A Fire of Prayer, was published in the winter of 2015 by Swimming with Elephants Publications, LLC.

Listen to her perform here:

Pick up Gina Marselle’s collection, A Fire of Prayer, at Bookworks ABQ,

Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Already own a copy? Please write a review on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Goodreads, or submit a review to swimwithelephants@gmail.com for publications on this site.

Gina Marselle

Gina Marselle, M.A.Ed, resides in New Mexico with her husband and children. She is a high school English teacher, and finds enjoyment in being creative through poetry, painting, and photography. She has been awarded three grants for various philanthropy poetic projects. In addition, she has published poetic work with The Sunday Poem Online Series, in the Alibi, the Rag, SIC3, Adobe Walls: An anthology of New Mexico poetry, Catching Calliope, Fix and Free Poetry Anthology I and II, and La Palabra Anthology I and II.

Gina reads her poetry at local coffee shops, art galleries, and has been a featured poet at the Church of Beethoven (now known as Sunday Chatter). She has one chapbook (self published) titled ‘Round Midnight (2012). Furthermore, she has coordinated the poetry event for the Summer Open Space Series sponsored by The City of Albuquerque since 2009. Currently, she is honored to be part of the collective La Palabra: The Word is a Woman, which is a writer’s collective founded by poet Jessica Helen Lopez.

Beyond poetry, she is an accomplished photographer. Her photos of New Mexico poets have been featured in the Santa Fe magazine Trend (March of 2011).She also photographed the cover of Jessica Helen Lopez’ poetry book, Always Messing With Them Boys (West End Press, 2011), and has her photography featured in September: traces of letting go a poetry book by Katrina K Guarascio (Swimming With Elephants Publications, 2014).

People of the Sun Live at the Draft Station: A Review

On December 18, 2016December 18, 2016 By awhitetrashpoetIn News, Reviews

People of the Sun / Gente del Sol

A Review

The People of the Sun is an emerging performance group made up of some very talented people credited with Albuquerque Fame.

The group, a threesome at its core, consists of Jessica Helen Lopez, former ABQ Poet Laurette, a nationally recognized published author with West End Press and Swimming with Elephants Publications, Manuel Gonzalez, current ABQ Poet Laurette and youth advocate, also published by Swimming with Elephants Publications, and Glenn “Buddha” Benavidez, of Reviva and Stoic Frame fame who also performs solo as DJ Buddhafunk. With a core group of that quality, this newly formed performance group holds high promise as a potential powerhouse.

On December 17^th, the People of the Sun played their third show at the Draft Station in Albuquerque New Mexico. The venue offered a comfortable environment, good beer, and friendly enthusiastic patrons.

Opening with a meditative Chakra jam session and closing with a similar jam, the sandwich material was engaging, entertaining, varied, and compelling. Well received spoken word performances by Lopez and Gonzalez mixed with the professional beats of Benavidez created a show that is unique and inimitable.

Because the group strives to represent community, other local poets were invited to perform with the group throughout the evening. Local poets, including Gina Marselle, Katrina K Guarascio, and Bill Nevins, fellow Reviva menstrual, Jerel Garcia, and local artist John Barney, who had a table in the corner where he created magnificent artistic renderings of the performances (represented in this review) throughout the evening, all contributed to the eclectic festivities of the evening.

The show ran roughly three hours with a couple of breaks for conversation and collaboration creating an incredible comfortable and open environment.

Find People of the Sun – Performance Art Collective on Facebook for more information and keep your eye open for future shows featuring this group in and around Albuquerque.

Gina Marselle Bookworks Release This Weekend

On March 25, 2015 By awhitetrashpoetIn Local Events, News

Join us this weekend for the official release of Swimming with Elephants, LLC latest publication: A Fire of Prayer, a collection of poetry and photography from Gina Marselle.

The title will be released at Bookworks ABQ, Sunday March 29, 2015 at 3pm, accompanied with a reading by Ms. Marselle. Other SwEP authors will be on site to support the release of this new title.

Come out and join the fun! Support your local press, your local artists, and your local bookstore all in one swoop.

About the Author:

A Fire of Prayer: A Collection of Poetry and Photography is her first full length collection.

Available Soon: A Fire of Prayer by Gina Marselle

On January 11, 2015January 11, 2015 By awhitetrashpoetIn Authors

In addition, she has published poetic work with The Sunday Poem Online Series, in the Alibi, the Rag, SIC3, Adobe Walls: An anthology of New Mexico poetry, Catching Calliope, Fix and Free Poetry Anthology I and II, and La Palabra Anthology I and II.

Gina reads her poetry at local coffee shops, art galleries, and has been a featured poet at the Church of Beethoven (now known as Sunday Chatter). She has one chapbook (self published) titled ‘Round Midnight (2012). Furthermore, she has coordinated the poetry event for the Summer Open Space Series sponsored by The City of Albuquerque since 2009. Currently, she is honored to be part of the collective La Palabra: The Word is a Woman, which is a writer’s collective founded by poet Jessica Helen Lopez.

Beyond poetry, she is an accomplished photographer. Her photos of New Mexico poets have been featured in the Santa Fe magazine Trend (March of 2011).She also photographed the cover of Jessica Helen Lopez’ poetry book, Always Messing With Them Boys (West End Press, 2011), and has her photography featured in September: traces of letting go a poetry book by Katrina K Guarascio (Swimming With Elephants Publications, 2014).

Her first collection of work, A Fire of Prayer: A Collection of Poetry and Photography has been published by Swimming With Elephants Publications (2015).

Shameless Promotion Weekly Feature: September

On May 12, 2014June 17, 2014 By awhitetrashpoetIn News, Shameless Self Promotion1 Comment

Thank you to everyone who checked out and reviewed last week’s Shamless Promotion of Some of it is Muscle by Zachary Kluckman.

This week, SwEP will be shamelessing promoting the work of Katrina K Guarascio and Gina Marselle in their collection of poetry and photography entitled September: traces of letting go.

There are two editions of this book currently available via Amazon.com, or for those of you in the Albuquerque are you can pick up a copy of September at Bookworks Albquerque and support not only a small press but a local independent bookstore.

Special pricing is available via Amazon and Createspace.

Check the links below for availablity:
Bookworks
Amazon
Createspace

Amazon Review of September:

Katrina K Guarascio is a personal favorite. This collection of hers is something I am extremely proud to own. The addition of Gina Marselle, and her photography, makes for a well balanced book,and a nice assortment of emotions. I would recommend this to anyone in love with words, because the context in which Guarascio sets hers is unlike the majority of poets I’ve experienced. This is definitely a positive thing, too. It shipped without any complications, very quickly, and arrived in perfect condition.

Now Available: Catching Calliope Spring 2014

On May 3, 2014June 27, 2014 By awhitetrashpoetIn Publications

Swimming with Elephants Publications is proud to announce the release of the spring edition of Catching Calliope.

Catching Calliope is a quarterly publication benefiting the Rio Rancho Youth Poetry Community. All proceeds from sales will go to supporting the community and the youth program. Buy your copy today to show your support for poetry and the youth. You do support poetry and the youth, don’t you?

Find your copy at Amazon or CreateSpace.

This is the second edition of this quarterly publication. All Catching Calliope publications will be benefiting the Rio Rancho Youth Poetry Community (a non-profit collective focusing on bringing poetry and freedom of expression to Rio Rancho, NM and surrounding areas).

Submit to the Summer 2014 edition of Catching Calliope May 15-June 15th. More information to come.

Catching Calliope Spring 2014

featuring:

Victoria Alexander

Melissa Baca

Gigi Bella

Emily Bjustrom

John S Blake

Alicia Borillo

SethWilson I Gray

Katrina K Guarascio

Mercedez Holtry

Gina Falcone

Damien Flores

Zachary Kluckman

Jessica Helen Lopez

Jesus Lucero

Ryan Magee

Gina Marselle

Jasmine McSparren

Susana Rinderle

Vogue Robinson

Bianca Sanchez

Danielle Smith

Sarah Smithson

Jon Sturgess

Felicia Vigil

Brooke Von Blomberg

Amy Waltner

Kirstina Ward

Charles Sanzone-Wood

Greetings and Salutations!

On March 6, 2014March 6, 2014 By Nika AnnIn News

Swimming with Elephants Publications is an independent, not for profit, publishing agent focusing on supporting the working poet and local non-profit organizations, especially those which encourage the youth. We represent a variety of poetry and anthologies.

Although not currently open to unsolicited manuscripts, we are seeking submissions for two progressing anthologies (see Call for Submissions) and are always open to queries.

We also sponsor a quarterly anthology which benifits the RIo Rancho Youth Poetry Community. This not for profit publication is open to submissions year around and is publishd in Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. All proceeds from the publications will benifit the Rio Rancho Youth Poetry Community and be used as on ongoing fundraiser for group activities, further publications, and other adventures.

Please explore the website, order a few of our publications, and contact us at swimwithelephants(at)gmail(dot)com for more information about the fledgling agency.

September: a review by Mark Fischer

On February 19, 2014February 19, 2014 By awhitetrashpoetIn Reviews

September
poetry by Katrina K Guarascio
photography by Gina Marselle

Review by Mark Fischer

September is a book in three parts, three phases of letting go. The majority of poems in this collection speak to fleeting moments, a restlessness in the character, a yearning for something – more realized in exquisite experience of the current moment. The words cascade down the pages in short, clean lines making effective use of crisp white space that many poets underutilized. In this effect, I feel a sense of impermanence, like snapshots taken in temporary bivouacs on a road trip through young adulthood. The never-ending summer. The last days of youth.

There is sadness, insight, worry, and relief sprinkled throughout this collection. Ruminating on love amid campfire smoke or the morning breeze on clean sheets, I am able to feel the conflicts and contemplations. In “Impermanence” Guarascio expertly describes internalizing the past and what it means to not let go when she writes “Like a sunburn, I know you will absorb into me and fade into memory. You cut me under the skin.” September is full of vivid images like this that develop into a cohesive flickering film of transition. The poet is ever seeking sense out of hardships, patterns in roadkill.

The photography that accompanies this collection is superb. Images are well paired with poems. The many super close-ups speak of parts, the shapes of the body, and match the introspection of the poems. Gina Marselle has a great eye for emotion and her work is a well chosen accent to the book. Both Guarascio and Marselle are teachers in New Mexico. It is something to appreciate to discover your children’s lives are being enriched by the likes of strong artists as these women.

September is a strong collection. It’s like a dreamy short film shot on 38MM with a soothing shoegaze soundtrack playing in the background. If you were to make your crush a poetry mix-tape, Guarascio would be on it – twice. Wake me up when September ends.

Guarascio is an active member in the poetry slam scene in Albuquerque. She is responsible for establishing a poetry and spoken word community in Rio Rancho and coaching a youth poetry slam team. She is the founder of Swimming with Elephants Publications which is bringing the talents of many exceptional spoken word poets to print. Order September: traces of letting go from Amazon or Createspace.

Poetic Seamstress: A Review of September

On February 8, 2014February 8, 2014 By awhitetrashpoetIn Reviews

Poetic Seamstress

a review by Sarah Smithson

Title of Book: September: traces of letting go

Author : Katrina K Guarascio
Photography by: Gina Marselle

Guarascio gently weaves together simply written stories of love and release with consistency of the changing of seasons. Each poem is a delicate and welcome punch to the senses and as addictive as pomegranate seeds. Every word is full of intent and as precious as a ruby-red jewel. The bittersweet emotion infused into each poem is refreshing to the eyes.

Guarascio stands out among the multitude of verbose poets; simplicity is her tool and she is a master of page craft. These poems are without flaw and each piece reflects the assurance that through love and loss, life will blossom. This collection is for anyone who wishes to see the softer side of letting go, coping with loss, and moving on.

Katrina K Guarascio is an active member of the poetry community as a writer and a teacher. Guarascio also sponsors the Rio Rancho Youth Poetry Community and coach two youth slam teams. Her collection, September: traces of letting go, is a lovely compilation of photography and poetry. Find your copy at Amazon or CreateSpace.

Now Available: September: traces of letting go by Katrina K Guarascio & Gina Marselle

On January 15, 2014January 27, 2014 By awhitetrashpoetIn News, Publications

Swimming with Elephants Publications is proud to announce its newest publication: September: traces of letting go by Katrina K Guarascio and Gina Marselle. Currently the book is available through Createspace.

To order from creatspace: September: traces of letting go

To order from Amazon.com: September: traces of letting go

Description:

A collection of poetry by Katrina K Guarascio, accompanied by the photography of Gina Marselle, September: traces of letting go is a beautiful collaboration sharing the efforts of these two artists. This collection contains poetry from Guarascio’s previous out of print books as well as new poetry which has never been previously published. This is the first publication combining the works of these two artists but hopefully will not be the last.