Bartie Jones
"Poetry Is..." is the tenth published book of poetry by Bartie Jones.
Those who have followed Bartie's career know she is a born poet by her touches of spirituality, nature and love; and will recognize the expansion of her use of words in these most recent poems.
In "Poetry Is..." there is a depth of feeling and a love for life that beckons from her pages. With easy delight and poignant emotions her images breathe freshness as she captures her readers, moving their hearts from the depth of grief's tears to peaks of joy. She is telling us life is to be lived and loved and she writes it with beauty and inspiration.
Bartie Jones is an award winning poet recognized by St. Louis Writer's Guild, Ohio Poetry Day, American Poetry, Anthology of World Poetry, Poetry Press Anthology, Winewood Women Anthology and was awarded "Outstanding Woman in Literary Art" by the Arts Council of Lorain County, Ohio.
She has authored 10 poetry books throughout her lifetime, a novel "Call to Cambria," a one-act play, a good number of meditations and inspirational articles for "These Days" and "Unity" magazines, over 4000 one-minute radio scripts broadcast in Ohio and Indiana and articles published in Farm Wife, Child Life, Daughters of Sarah and Farm Women. She has also written two unpublished non-fiction books called "Me-Write Poetry?" and "The Art of Creative Living" and was advising editor of Washington University's Campus Y Newsletter.
As poet-in-residence of the American Youth Foundation's Camp Miniwanca on the shore of Lake Michigan each summer, she has taught youth to sing, play handbells and to write and enjoy poetry. She has served as a volunteer consultant in the Van Wert County and the Lorain County, Ohio schools and the Greater St. Louis, Missouri Public School System.
"Call to Cambria" was her first novel and reached 12th place on the best seller list for Author House when first published.
"Poetry Is..."her newest publication, contains 250 poems chosen from over 500 written in the past ten years. Now in her 80s, she continues to travel, garden, write and speak in public.
Song and Dance
There is a savory jealousy in my soul for old women singing Contentment glows in their memories of being stars and playing their audiences well. Their scratchy, crackling sounds fall flat upon the air of time but their noise is born of joy and welcomed by God.
Too- there is an incredible wonder in my heart for old women dancing. They shine with a spirit of their years and smile as though an angel had just entered them. Turning away the turmoil they relax into the music living fully in the moment, a link between earth and heaven. -Bartie Jones
The Partying Trees
Copper is the color of the jackets of the trees, stolen from the angel's pallet used for evening skies and seas and as the light fades slowly they change to purple file. Still later, don tuxedos black against the sky's pale smile.
They step out on the evening, dance and whisper through the night until I wake at dawning to the sun's too-early light.
Now, their rust and yellow caps and pajamas faded green tell me they just fell into bed, I know where they have been. I coax them with my thoughts of play. They toss their hats into the air, stretch out their barren arms and shake confetti from their hair. -Bartie Jones
