formidable Woman sanctuary

formidable Woman sanctuary

creating beauty. teaching peace. one image, one word at a time

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Category: understanding: beyond geography

September 17, 2026 dellisphelps

A Life Written in Bonamoussadi, L’Écrivain Fokam

September 17, 2026September 17, 2026 dellisphelps

~From Syria, by Shaza Khalil

September 7, 2026September 17, 2026 dellisphelps

An Unexpected Transformation, Rod Carlos Rodriguez

July 14, 2026September 17, 2026 dellisphelps

Salt and Bone by Sherri Harvey

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Recent Posts

i stand for peace

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Recent Posts: formidable Woman sanctuary

Writer’s Idea Box: Body Talk

Writer’s Idea Box: Body Talk

You may have said it today: Oh! My back is talking to me! or My dogs are barking! Not only does the body send us signals constantly, moment to moment, keeping us safe, warm, and fed, it also remembers! Try putting your hand on the back of you neck for a minute. Close your eyes. […]

A Life Written in Bonamoussadi, L’Écrivain Fokam

Douala, Camaroon Images courtesty of Edouard TAMBA on Unsplash Allow me to introduce the winner of third place in the recent fws Rod Carlos Rodriguez Prize for Poetry: L’Écrivain Fokam. Read his powerful poetry in the resultant issue, what we kept: a geography, here. Having lived my entire life in the United States, mostly in […]

~From Syria, by Shaza Khalil

~From Syria, by Shaza Khalil

As part of a new fws series, understanding: beyond geography, I asked Shaza Khalil, a contributor to the recent fws issue, what we kept: a geography, to write about being and becoming a writer and living in Syria. She said, “Yes!” Read her words. They are stunningly poignant. One thing you will know immediately is […]

An Unexpected Transformation, Rod Carlos Rodriguez

An Unexpected Transformation, Rod Carlos Rodriguez

Image Credits L-R: 1) 16th century image of a Caribbean native house. Plate 113, Histoire naturelle des Indes: The Drake Manuscript in the Pierpont Morgan Library, 2 & 3) Photo by Javier Amador on Unsplash Rod Carlos Rodriguez, local, esteemed poet and editor, was the judge for the recent fws Rod Carlos Rodriguez Prize for […]

Writer’s Idea Box: making metaphor, using the elements

Writer’s Idea Box: making metaphor, using the elements

Even if you do it all the time in your writing, making metaphors is fun every time! In this Writer’s Idea Box syllabus, that’s one of the things you’ll practice doing. The other is to use the elements: earth, wind, fire, water, and ether as prompts for your writing. I had fun with these ideas. […]

the day i stopped hurting myself

the day i stopped hurting myself

happy gecko, 5.5X9.5″ ink on paper, (c) d. ellis phelps, 2017 If you look closely, you’ll see words in this piece, as you often will of late, in my … the day i stopped hurting myself

Rod Carlos Rodriguez Prize for Poetry: winners!

Congratulations to the winners of the Rod Carlos Rodriguez Inaugural Prize for Poetry, Judge, Rod Carlos Rodriguez! Editors, d. ellis phelps and Rachel Aguirre long-listed eleven poems from eight writers chosen from more than a hundred and fifty “pockets themed” submissions to send to Judge, Rod Carlos Rodriguez who chose the award winners. Congratulations is […]

Last Call for Submissions: deadline Aug. 1!

Last Call for Submissions: deadline Aug. 1!

Send your best poem on the theme of “pockets” by Aug. 1 for possible publication and the chance to win $250 (first prize), $150 (second prize), or $100 (third prize)! Read more here to get guides and to submit… Good luck! d

Review: Moonlight Shaken, Sandi Stromberg

Review: Moonlight Shaken, Sandi Stromberg

Sandi is a frequent and welcome contributor to fws and press mate of mine. I delighted in reading her second collection, Moonlight, Shaken (Kelsay Books, 2026). I cried. I laughed out loud. I sighed. And I applauded as I read. I don’t know how many collections of poetry you have read (I have read many), […]

Writer’s Idea Box: Ode de Plume

Writer’s Idea Box: Ode de Plume

So that would be a poem of praise for a pen, one with a feather. Though that’s possible and could be a great poem, that’s not exactly what I’m getting to here. This prompt is about writing the ode: a poem of praise, about anything really. You could even go anti-praise here by beginning with […]

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