My Poem is accepted for "The Love Book"">My Poem is accepted for "The Love Book"
Published September 8, 2010 | 
">Bruce WhealtonThe poem appears below. I’ll get details soon as to how to order copies and where it is being published, etc.
Captivated
For Elnaz Rezaei Ghalechi
You are the river
that flows through me
like relaxation…
the place I go
for comfort…
the dream that inspires me
and reminds me
of those things I had forgotten
and everything
I see
hear
and feel
is some part
of you.
To be in your presence
is to be
in trance.
By Bruce Whealton
The Things that Endure – Poem by Bruce Whealton">The Things that Endure – Poem by Bruce Whealton
Published April 22, 2009 | ">Bruce WhealtonThe Things that Endure
It is a question of method. Don't be surprised, as if you didn't see it coming. You may think you know me, but you do not... though you should have known me - I've revealed myself more than enough - I have nothing more to offer. I only hope to be different than Anne Sexton, “Wanting to Die” or Sylvia Plath confessing her suicidal intentions. First my aunt did it back in the 80s and it seemed a bit strange back then - I had no idea she was so depressed. I've seen her since then. She seems fine now - in dreams. How can this be? Don't ask me I just know that she seems fine. The native Americans believed that the dead, or the souls of the dead visit us in dreams... So maybe auntie Rosie was telling me all is well now. Then there is my first cousin Karen, who hanged herself, back in February of 2007. I miss her and want to know why. I didn't know she was depressed either. When it comes my turn I don't suppose anyone will really be too surprised. I could be wrong... maybe finally, in this last act, someone will find something interesting about me and what I've done. In all truthfulness though, I hold out no hope for this. I only know that the only thing I can imagine that actually lasts is this one act... otherwise I'd have nothing against life itself but nothing ever lasts! Bruce Whealton – poem for April 22nd, 2009
Another Time, Another Place, Another Life">Another Time, Another Place, Another Life
Published March 20, 2009 | ">Bruce WhealtonAnother place, Another Time, Another Life
We used to walk
hand-in-hand
at the Botanical Gardens -
in Athens Georgia,
following the paths.
This was my escape, my other life.
And what I felt
is hard to put into words but I can say
that this...
this sustained me
(the feelings remained
and existed throughout the upcoming week)
until I could see her again
a week later -
we lived in different cities.
What I felt
just to hold her hand
or to hold her in my arms – perhaps there is something
else that I am leaving out... maybe it has something to do
with love her love or mine ? Both.
I don't know
maybe I had not known love
before this...
this that came in the 24th year
of my life.
Maybe I really didn't believe
that someone could love me
or be so interested in
Me.
These days, or during the past
2, 3 4 years or even longer,
I need or have needed something more
to feel anything as intense
as this.
Bruce Whealton – March 22, 2009
Flipping Book for realistic looking Books/Magazines for the web">Flipping Book for realistic looking Books/Magazines for the web
Published March 17, 2009 | ">Bruce WhealtonPeople have been publishing poetry magazines on the web for some time. During this time, the online version of a magazine, made me think that perhaps the name “magazine” didn’t fit for what we were publishing. I’m very open to new ways of looking at things but a magazine just didn’t quite seem like the word to describe an online publication of poetry. That has changed. I found a new tool, or application, that creates online books and magazines on the web. They run in the Flash player on the web. I wasn’t worried about that because 98% or thereabouts, of all internet users have the required version of this software, necessary to run these applications, installed on their computer, and so they are going to see what I publish just as I intend it to appear.
So, this tool, or type of tool (there are different designs that implement this in very similar ways), presents on the web page, an interactive application that looks like a magazine or book. You can have a cover, and then open up the book to different pages. When you open up the book/magazine (let me use book as a general term to refer to magazines or books in this format), you see a two page spread. One can even include the sounds of turning a page. One can drag the corner of a page or click on the next button to move to the next page. I find it very exciting and creative. I feel I can be creative with this application or type of application.
To see an example of how this works and how I implemented this on Word Salad please click on this link here: http://wordsaladpoetrymagazine.com/VolumeXIVNoIV/books-published-by-word-salad.html
I setup two categories. The first category will be for the different versions of Word Salad that are published on the site, specifically, Volume XIV, No IV, the winter 2008-2009 edition. I will be adding other editions as well, in that category. I’ll post the next upcoming edition as a book/magazine in this format, soon after the newest edition of Word Salad comes out next on March 21, 2009, and then I’ll add other previous issues as options that you can view here. The other category is titled “Other Poetry Publications.” Here I have published two collections of poetry by Jean Jones and one by myself. These are not complete yet, as new pages are being added. These collections by Jean Jones, for example, which were published by St. Andrews press, have additional poems included.
Again that link is: http://wordsaladpoetrymagazine.com/VolumeXIVNoIV/books-published-by-word-salad.html
Allow me to add that this software, needed to implement this, is not free. So, we are asking for donations or to support us, please purchase a print version of Word Salad on our Lulu.com storefront here: http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=2331883
Joomla and Word Salad">Joomla and Word Salad
Published March 17, 2009 | ">Bruce WhealtonI am going to try to explain, in terms that are not to technical or boring to poets, what Joomla is, what a Content Management System is, and why I chose that to publish Word Salad. Joomla is a Content Management System (CMS). There are many different CMS that have been developed. For this discussion, I won’t get overly technical or pedantic about why I chose Joomla over other CMS or what makes Joomla a good CMS. Instead I’ll just explain what a CMS is and why I thought it would be good for Word Salad. A CMS is different than the original static websites that represent the way web sites were designed and developed from the beginning. A static website is made up of static web pages, that is pages that do not have any interactivity and the content on each page does not change. To update a static site, one either edits existing files or creates new files – when I say files, I mean web pages. A CMS system creates the pages dynamically from information, aka data or content that is in a database.
Updating a CMS involves entering information into form fields just like entering an email message on the web or using a social networking site, like facebook.com, or updating a blog. The software takes the information that is in the database and displays it to the user when a page is requested. All the stories, data, content, or information is saved in the database. New content can be added to the website without having to create and edit web pages and then upload them for each and every edit, change or update. So, this is what we call a dynamic website. Dynamic websites are contrasted with static websites, by allowing in the dynamic website user interactionwith the site, new and fresh content can be added as often as desired. The presentation in Joomla, which is the name of the CMS application that I chose for Word Salad, is controlled by Templates. By changing the template, which can be done by just making a simple selection using the administration software, and you change the entire layout and presentation of the content on the site.
This makes it easy to update the site without having to start from scratch with a new design. By selecting different templates the entire look of the site can be changed whenever desired. While, Word Salad, the publication, is only updated, or published with a new issue, and new content, once every 3 months, there is still a great benefit to being able to update, edit and create content in this fashion, without having to ever start from scratch as it were. In addition, for community sites, like “Poet’s Place” where users can update the site content as often as desired or whenever someone wants to contribute to the community, this can be done by anyone registered at the site, and as often as desired.
Poet’s Place is an online community website that I created some time back. Please visit the site here: http://WordSaladPoetryMagazine.com/PoetsPlace/
to join the community. What you do is click on the link, “Register/Join the Community” from the menu on the left. It will ask for your name, username, password, and an email address. That’s all it takes to join. You’ll get an email asking you to confirm your registration and when you click on the link, you are instantly a part of the community. You can post articles, news, announcements, web links, and more. There is even a place to share your own poetry and get feedback.
Becoming a poet, continuation from my commentary on my poem "Gifts"">Becoming a poet, continuation from my commentary on my poem "Gifts"
Published March 17, 2009 | ">Bruce WhealtonLet me continue with my discussion on becoming and the subsequent idea of being a poet, which I began with a prior posting here entitled “Comments on my poem ‘Gifts’”
I had started to explore my interest in poetry, some time in 1991 when I had a mentor by the name of Martin Kirby. I would visit him on Sunday’s and read some of my own poetry, get guidance, and listen to poetry that he wrote and we’d read poetry from famous poets. His wife was there as well, Peggy. These were somewhat like “readings” but at the time I had never read to a group of strangers. I knew them from the church that my parents and I attended. My mother had said to Martin that I was interested in poetry. So, I guess I had started to think of myself as a poet back in 1991. Martin was a professor of English Literature and Creative Writing at Paine College in Augusta, GA.
It was the advice and support that I got from Martin that helped me see myself as a poet in the making. He offered so many suggestions, guidelines and more. He would also tell me if and when a poem was “publishable.” He also strongly pushed the notion of many, multiple revisions in writing poetry.
Inspiration from Beyond – poem by Bruce Whealton">Inspiration from Beyond – poem by Bruce Whealton
Published March 16, 2009 | ">Bruce WhealtonThe exercise goes like this…
we are going to find an image that depicts
a concept of the spiritual realm,
or heaven,
or something glorious.
So to continue,
we are told to
find a photograph,
from among many.
One will jump out at you,
if you prepare your mind correctly,
I am told.
And when one does jump out at you,
just stare at the image
that makes just the right impression.
Then show us the image in a poem
give the reader an insight
into that concept of
the spiritual -
that glorious realm of the spiritual.
So, I found those images,
on many pages
on the web,
many of them,
that were tagged by others as
being just that -
images tagged with terms like
spiritual
or glorious
or heaven or angels -
Visionary images from visionary minds.
My mind seemed to become
angered by this
exercise in futility.
There can be nothing,
by definition!
Our senses only perceive the
natural -
the natural world -
by definition!
By darn!
What can it mean,
to perceive the supernatural? -
The spiritual?
We can only speculate
upon such matters,
and for that reason,
I found nothing.
You’d think my mind was closed!
Or perhaps,
I’m being stubborn!
But I tell you,
my mind was open,
and yet this is what I found
to be…
to be the truth!
How I wish I was wrong!
Bruce Whealton March 16, 2009
Memories and Wishes – Poem by Bruce Whealton">Memories and Wishes – Poem by Bruce Whealton
Published January 18, 2009 | ">Bruce WhealtonMemories and Wishes
What do these memories mean?
How can I know that my memories are true
and real?
Sometimes it seems
that these are just
the stories that I tell,
(the stories that I tell myself
so I won’t forget)
about what was
and what I’ve lost
and what I desire back
from the past -
I don’t know if
anyone cares or listens
The characters in some of these stories
are gone – some dead now.
So, I alone tell my stories
without anyone to verify their truth.
Was it real?
My brother, once for a while
like a best friend
now I don’t even have a brother.
If dreams are a form of wish fulfillment,
as Freud said,
then perhaps ,
in that state of mind,
when and where I write
my poems,
is a road to my unconscious.
Then in another memory
Grandma says, “don’t hurt Bruce.”
“But I’m bad,” the 10-year-old
Bruce thought.
It’s unfortunate that she is
but a memory.
How I miss that love!
How I miss her!
- Bruce Whealton 2009
Note on above: Freud called dreams the “Royal Road To The Unconscious.” Healing and health came from gaining awareness of unconscious, repressed thoughts or desires. In some of my poems it seems that I am letting the Muse speak to freely and offer insights or increased awareness of things that were hidden.
Winter Haiku #1 – 1/18/09 – Poem by Bruce Whealton">Winter Haiku #1 – 1/18/09 – Poem by Bruce Whealton
Published January 17, 2009 | ">Bruce WhealtonFeeling numb -
my face where
tears have frozen
Posted in Bruce Whealton, Online Poetry, poem | 
Haiku, Online Poetry, poem, poetry by Bruce Whealton | 
Leave a commentVarious Haiku on 1/13/09 – By Bruce Whealton">Various Haiku on 1/13/09 – By Bruce Whealton
Published January 13, 2009 | ">Bruce WhealtonIn the cold, quiet, darkness
silent deer crossing.
I wish I had a camera.
Bare trees on a silent night
like my memories of her
and love itself.
It’s so cold.
My cat runs outside
wearing the same coat as months before.
Posted in Bruce Whealton, poem | Bruce Whealton, Haiku, Online Poetry, poetry by Bruce Whealton | Leave a comment
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