First the Reflection

When my three sons left for college I entered the MFA program at Wichita State University. I entered the buzz saw of critique workshops full of hope. However after a few weeks I planned to drop out of the program Robert Dana a visiting professor from Iowa said I should stay in the program. I eventually learned how to write poetry. Professor Bruce Cutler became my thesis advisor. He entered of my poems to the American Academy of Poet competition. I was awarded rst place with a check to go along with it. After I graduated with the MFA I taught English Composition at Butler Community College where I taught for forty plus years. Im still writing poetry and getting published. Im also a co-editor for three editions of 365 the anthology of poets who post to the Facebook 365 Poems in 365 Days. Ive published two books of poetry. Leap of Faith is a self- published book with the help of my son and his MAC computer. My second book The Sad Joy of Leaving was published by Blue Cedar Press. As president of District 5 of the Kansas Authors Club Ive gotten to know poets from around the state. I also belong to four poetry groups Poets in Hiding Women Who Write Thursday Group and Basement Bards. I owe thanks to everyone in those groups for their close and careful reading of my work. I especially appreciate Roy Beckemeyer Robert Dean and Ronda Miller for their support. In May my poem In Answer to W.B Yeats I received the first place award in the Kansas Voices for the traditional poetry category as well as winning the best poet award. My husband our little dog Annie and I live in Wichitas Old Town in a house thats almost a hundred years old.