Editor's Prize in 2024 Anthology "Partnerships, the Untold Stories"

 

Suzanne submitted a poem to the Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP) 2024 anthology, "Partnerships, The Untold Stories." The ASAP provides programs for military members, veterans and their families through creativity and connection. There were 250 submissions of poems, prose, and art, and only 40 slots available. Her poem was selected to be part of this anthology! She then received a second notification that her poem was awarded the "Editor's Prize" and will be featured as the top win in the anthology. Her poem is "Camouflaged Image" and is written from the perspective of being a military wife. Suzanne is beyond honored and extremely excited. She was humbled by the judges' comments. 

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Camouflaged Image

 

 

Although she does not actually go

to the war zone, military wife, loyal image

as common as flag waving on the 4th of July,

 

has internal battles never made public.

You have seen her in various photographs

standing quietly proud, reverent smile

 

as perfect as her husband’s pressed uniform,

elegant rose hides the thorns that can stab and sting.

You have seen her salute the American flag

 

as her husband hails his obligation to duty,

a kiss good-bye that could mean just that.

Imagine the Lady of the Lake handing

 

King Arthur his sword, magical power enables

him to be strong, but like second-string players

her feelings must stand on the sidelines.

 

Hear her clock strike multi-hours synching

home, school, kids, finances, yard…

…and oh, yes, he must be deployed

 

for six months to a year, cloaked courage

hides her love-hate feelings for his job

dousing doubts of why while he must comply.

 

Listen            as she carries on with

concealed strength, even though her

image is camouflaged and her tongue

is silent, her mouth is made of light. 

 

Suzanne Bruce   © Camouflaged Image

 

Writing the Land: A Collaboration between Poets and Protected Lands

 

The project coordinates poets and pairs them with land trusts, who then create poems inspired by the land. Suzanne was involved with this project last May when she was contacted by the Solano Land Trust and Lis McLoughlin, (from Northfield, Massachusetts), editor of the project, to include poetry from our area, inspired by our protected lands. Suzanne did a classroom workshop at Golden Hills Schools in Fairfield. Solano Land Trust provided slides and with the students, she discussed how humans can connect to land and why it is important to keep certain lands protected. Each student wrote a short poem or statement. Then she put lines from each student’s writing into a Cento poem, which is included in the book, Writing the Land. Writing the Land included 13 pages in the book discussing all of the protected lands with Solano Land Trust, including pictures, the Cento poem and a personal poem of Suzanne's. There are 10 Land Trusts represented in the book from many different states. If you would like a copy of this book, there are several ways to purchase it. You can visit Rush Ranch Outfitter Shop every 3rd Saturday from 10 am – 12 noon. Rush Ranch is located at 3521 Grizzly Island Road, Suisun City, CA. You can also find them on the Writing the Land website: Writing the Land: Youth — Nature Culture (nature-culture.net)

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All People’s Trail

Patwino Worrtla Kodoi Dihi Open Space Park

 

stepping        where spring has arisen

where carpets of green emblazoned

 

with white   yellow    red          wildflowers

spreading their robust smiles across vast land

 

where frisky winds bend blue and live oak tree limbs

coolness streams in between the past and the present

 

where each step a whisper

and miraculous peace is felt

 

stepping along All People’s Trail

remembering       respecting      recognizing

 

valued life of Patwin’s     this trail we share

this timeless view         a kaleidoscope of beauty

 

in this quiet moment           my mind twirling

vivid awareness     appreciation        gratitude

 

backside of hills    calmer breezes    I also pause

graceful creek flowing    filled with jovial bounce

 

water bubbling over tan and grey stones    across the bridge

nemophila baby blue eyes flirt their delicate petals

 

there are no boundaries here

red tail hawks              spirits of endless sky

 

fly like musical notes    and I like a symphony

stand in awe     the curve of light on my feet

 

 

Suzanne Bruce   © All People's Trail

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Haiku in downtown Tulsa

 

Suzanne Bruce has won another honor! Each spring, the Downtown Tulsa Partnership (DTP) adorn Tulsa downtown’s public right-of-way with poetry and visual art celebrating the neighborhood’s vibrancy and inclusivity. Judges from Magic City Books and the Woody Guthrie Center select 10 haiku winners, and Suzanne Bruce's haiku was chosen this year, for the second time!

Suzanne was born and raised in Tulsa and keeps in touch with their art programs. Out of 155 entries, only 10 were chosen! DTP commissions a local artist to design a digital backdrop for the art boards which are then installed along the downtown curb line for 45 days.

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Feature in Interlitq

 

Suzanne was invited to submit poetry for The International Literary Quarterly (Interlitq), who published four of her works under their” California Poet” series, which you can read here. She was also interviewed by Interlitq editor David Garyan. In her interview she revealed her mission, "to give community voices diverse opportunities to be heard through creative writing" and said that "the real joy is when people come and feel comfortable sharing their poems!"

 

https://davidgaryan.wixsite.com/ladige/california-poets

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https://davidgaryan.wixsite.com/ladige/post/suzanne-bruce-california-poets-part-6-four-poems

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