New poems in Flare, Upcoming Appearances: Nature Writing Conference, Not Being Fearful, More Lavender and Hummingbirds

Me in the lavender garden at sunset

End of June: New Poems in Flare, Upcoming Appearances, Lavender and Hummingbirds

Hello! It is nearly July and it is finally acting like summer here after a prolonged gray and rainy period. I’m happy to share a couple of pieces of poetry related news in this update—new poems in a literary magazine called Flare, and an upcoming appearance in Eastern Oregon.

On top of that, talking about fear and more lavender and hummingbirds because that is what I think might make the world a better place. The lavender garden is J.B. Family Grower’s in Woodinville, and the hummingbird perched on penstemon is from my back porch. Tonight when we visited at sunset, Mount Rainier was out, and the garden smelled amazing. I’m trying to sneak in as many visits as possible into our busy schedules.

New Poems in Flare

Mount Rainier, lavender at sunset

I’m happy to share three poems that are up in this new issue of Flare Magazine, a newish online journal dedicated to chronic illness. The three poems are: “There’s Something Wrong with Me, She Said,” “Before the Infusion Center,” and “After an Appointment with a Disability Therapist,” all based on a true story 😉 I am actually proud of myself for writing these poems because they are much less guarded than I usually am about my disability/chronic illness. The truth may scare some people. But I am trying to push past my fear and write more authentically about my experiences in the hopes it will help others do the same, or at least feel more comfortable talking about their experiences.

Check them out at the link below.

3 Poems by Jeannine Hall Gailey

Upcoming Appearance at a new Nature Writing Conference in Eastern Oregon

And I’m going to visit a new Nature and Ecology Writer’s Conference out of Eastern Oregon University in just two weeks. I’ll be doing a reading and a workshop on solarpunk poetry on July 19th. What? Never thought you’d see my name and “nature writing” linked online? Thought I’d be more likely to be talking at a sci-fi conference? Usually you’re right! But I’m really trying to push the envelope on my own writing in terms of writing truthfully about the environment but also finding hope when talking about the future.

Here’s more about the conference, in La Grande, Oregon:

The EOU New Nature Writing Con returns for another year

When Am I Letting Fear Take the Lead?

And I’m trying out my boundaries and saying yes to more opportunities. Who knows, maybe I’ll even teach again? I don’t want to live my life in fear anymore, especially when the world is so uncertain around us. I can’t wave a magic wand and make everything better, but I can stop letting fear make my decisions.

So, I am starting a new class on essay writing, and I may try to put together a manuscript of essays. I may even try my hand at YA fiction after many years of avoiding it.

It starts inside us. If we are afraid of everything, we will not act in the way that’s probably the best for our lives. And our lives are so short! If you follow this blog, you may have noticed that I’ve been talking about the deaths of two friends in the last year. It made me realize that no matter how safe, how good, how many right things you do, you really can’t protect yourself, and in that case, why not: write the authentic truth about your life? Venture further out into areas that might not be exactly the best for your disability or food allergies but might be an excellent way to connect with a new community of writers? Why not try walking a little further every day in the lavender farm (or your local trail), because maybe right now is the best my body will ever be? Why not stand up to bullies in politics, or befriend someone who is a little different form you, or read whatever books you like no matter who says they’re okay/appropriate? If I am a poet, why can’t I also write essays or fiction? Lots of my writer friends do this already. This made me think about the cages we put ourselves into, the prisons that are our routines or relationships that hurt us or a country that doesn’t value us, or people that don’t treat us with respect. Why not reach farther, try a little bit harder, face more risk? I don’t think that my basic personality has changed, but perhaps I’ve started to think harder about my decision making, my day to day life, what really brings joy or makes me feel like I can make a difference in the world? Courage interests me. I want to try to be braver in a world that is pushing us to conform and obey. Once again thinking of writers and artists in the French resistance during WWII—they may not have been perfect, but they tried to make a difference when a lot of people kept quiet…and didn’t. What about you? What would you do if you felt a little more daring, a little less trapped? And scientists that won’t shut up when the population doesn’t feel like scientific thought is worthwhile, or maybe it’ s inconvenient for them to think about what the scientists are saying.

Wishing you all a joyful and authentic summer in a time where joy and authenticity feel like rebellion.