aaduna 2022 Volume 10: Issue 1 - Conversations

Conversation

BILL BERRY, JR.’S CHAT WITH KRISTYN ELYSE 

aaduna Volume 10 Issue 1: Posted March 30, 2022 via aadunanotes

Barcelona is situated on the northeastern coast of Spain. “It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within city limits, its urban area extends to numerous neighboring municipalities within the Province of Barcelona and is home to around 4.8 million people, making it the fifth most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris, the Ruhr area, Madrid, and Milan. It is one of the largest metropolises on the Mediterranean Sea, located on the coast between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs, and bounded to the west by the Serra de Collserola mountain range, the tallest peak of which is 512 meters high.”

A vibrant city with significant amenities for its residents and visitors, there are many areas and sites to discover. Here are sites that define the vitality and scope of this world-class enclave:

Parc Güell is a public park system composed of gardens and architectural elements located on Carmel Hill, in Barcelona. The Basílica de la Sagrada Família, also known as the Sagrada Família, is a large unfinished Roman Catholic minor basilica in the Eixample district of Barcelona., Designed by Spanish/Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, his modernist style work on the building is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of Barcelona’s most famous and important landmarks.. Casa Batlló is a building in the center of Barcelona designed by Antoni Gaudí and is considered one of his masterpieces. 

The Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, often simply referred to as La Boqueria, is a large public market in the Ciudad Vieja district of Barcelona and one of the city's foremost tourist landmarks, with an entrance from La Rambla, not far from the Liceo, Barcelona's opera house. The market has a very diverse selection of goods.

Rest assured, “Barcelona is a city of history, art, and architecture. Located on the northeastern coast of Spain, the city is a Mediterranean port, a seaside destination and a cosmopolitan city that calls attention to its history. Barcelona is the capital city of Catalonia, a Spanish region with its own language and character. The city is filled with famous places to visit that reflect both the Catalonian and Spanish cultures.

“Barcelona's most famous street is La Rambla. It connects Placa de Catalunya, the busiest plaza in Barcelona, to Monument a Colom, a monument to Christopher Columbus. One section of the street closed to traffic is a pedestrian area with flower shops, kiosks and street artists that attract both locals and tourists.

“Poble Espanyol was built for the 1929 International Exhibition. It is a Spanish village with 116 buildings, each representing different architectural styles of Spain's regions. Some of the buildings are replicas of existing structures, while others are representations of architectural styles. Visitors will find bars, restaurants, and shops as well as artisans in workshops in the village.

“The Picasso Museum in Barcelona houses many of Picasso early art works, completed when he was a teenager. The Miro Museum contains a large collection of Miro's works including paintings, sculptures, and sketches. The National Museum of Art of Catalunya is housed in a large facility of impressive architecture that overlooks the city. There are a few of Picasso's works on display as well as temporary exhibits of the works of such painters as Van Gogh and Gaugin. A collection of frescoes and Medieval art are in the permanent collection.”

An appreciation for the Barcelona’s dynamism and vitality is important to know as we chat with one of its influencers.

Kristyn Elyse is a model a writer who represents the overall ambiance of beauty, intellect, and graciousness that permeates Barcelona. 

bb:

Hi Kristyn. Can you share what propelled you to seek a career in the demanding world of modeling and more importantly, describe your childhood that may provide the initial glimpse of circumstances that would propel you towards an eventual career built around sharing one’s physicality, personality, and intellect with the public.

KE:

Hi Bill, thank you for your kind words. I started modeling much later than most girls- when I turned 25. Throughout my life a lot of people told me I should try it due to my height and slim figure, but I was way too self-conscious. I went through a bad break up on my way out of Berlin, and my ex started dating some Instagram model. She was really short and not that pretty, so I thought, well if they’re gonna pay her, they’re gonna fucking pay me. So, I started working. I had an agency in Barcelona, and they got me a few good jobs. I walked in Barcelona Fashion Week for Emma Picanyol, an amazing designer. After that I was obsessed. I decided to move to Manhattan, where all the “real” models and real jobs were.

I don’t think my childhood had anything to do with modeling. It was really just about that breakup and trying to kind of piss him off.

bb:

Well, retribution is the ultimate “revenge” and I surmise the former boyfriend may regret his decision when he left your life. But that is water or piss under the bridge! You mentioned Berlin, is that the city where you were born and grew up in and are there precious moments from your childhood that have left an impression on you? And now that you are in NYC, how long have you been living in “The City “and are there professional challenges, obstacles, and social issues that you did not expect? How are those issue affecting you career-wise and your overall well-being?

KE:

   I grew up in Connecticut. I left home when I was 18 and started traveling. After a few years I ended up in Berlin working as an au pair. I stayed for about 5 years, working different jobs, and going out to the clubs like every night. Berlin is one of my favorite cities in the world, it has an amazing nightlife scene, like it sets the bar for the whole world in my opinion. The techno scene is insane. But it’s way too cold and dark, so quality of life in terms of happiness and general wellbeing, is totally shit. That’s why you have to party so much.

So, after Berlin I was in Spain, started modeling, and about a year later moved to NYC. I was there for one year. Quality of life doesn’t even exist there, all you do is work, hustle, make money, spend money, try to prove to people you hate that you’re doing better than them, and avoid jobs that are actually porn. That’s a very fine line.

It’s really hard to relax in New York, and that tends to show up on your face. So, it was a real struggle to maintain peace within myself, and to go to sleep at night peacefully, despite how loud the city is, and how much you have on your mind, everything that’s stressing you out, knowing people are doing better than you, and feeling like a fraud. One time the city repaved my road at 1AM. Two times actually. They tore the road up one night and then a few nights later they repaved it. They really waited until 1AM to do it. And no one in my neighborhood even gave a fuck. Everyone was just inside doing whatever. A few people looked out their window but otherwise they just completely ignored the situation.

bb:

What part of CT did you grow up in, and when you left home was it due to a “push” or a “pull?” And where did your wanderings take you before ending in Berlin. While I have been to Munich< I missed the craziness of Berlin. And at a certain point in my life, techno deejays defined contemporary music. But, back to you.

I grew up in the Bronx and spent my share of time in Manhattan (less so in Brooklyn; but lived in Queens and only occasionally visited Staten Island mainly to ride the ferry!) So, where did you live in NYC and were you able to have your own place or were you part of the roommate scene? After being a world traveler and resident, the overriding question is where have you now put down roots, and more importantly, how do you assess your life at this point in your development?

KE:

Before Berlin I lived in San Antonio, Texas for almost two years, and I spent a lot of time traveling in South America and throughout the United States.

I lived in Manhattan, first in a neighborhood called Inwood, and then in Washington Heights. I had roommates both times. I didn’t know how long I would be staying there so I just rented a room.

I don’t feel like I have roots right now. I just have a lot of clothes in one place. I have my dog, too. I think she has roots, like she will probably stay in Barcelona for the rest of her life. And I will spend as much time here with her as possible. But I still want to pursue a career in modeling and entertainment, so that involves a lot of travel, and trial and error in new cities, and trying out new agencies in different locations.

I like my life. Think it’s more interesting than anything else, and sometimes I’m in a lot of pain from the decisions I make, but I’m not really trying to be comfortable. I’m trying to do everything possible.

bb:

It sounds like you still have wanderlust and a focused penchant for fulfilling your life goals and aspirations. And that takes a strong character and perseverance; good for you! So, you have a dog…what is her breed, age, and name? Now, back to you. As you look ahead into your future,  where do you think you will be five years from now as far as your personal growth, as well as your professional career?

KE:

Thank you, I am trying to stay focused, but these boys are killing me. I have a dog; her name is Anja. She is a mix, part husky, part German Shephard, part Greyhound. She is 6 years old. She is my best friend.

In five years, I see myself living in a wonderful city, signed to a great agency, modeling, and acting, and continuing to work with great brands on Instagram, continuing to not give a fuck what others’ opinions are, and have a book published. Personal growth, I hope my hair is down to my ass.

bb:

I suspect with your determination it is just a matter of time to achieve those goals. So, as we settle our chat, I was wondering if there are any final words of wisdom or advice  that you want to share with our readers. And thank you for our conversation.

KE:

Anything that you want, and work hard to get, will come to you. Work hard and set big goals for yourself. You can have anything in this life that you want.

aaduna 2022 Volume 10: Issue 1 - Gallery

Chicago Streets. An Intimate Glimpse of The Loop & the Chicago El

William C. Crawford & Charlie Hahn, Photographers © 2021 

Crawford & Hahn are prolific veteran street photographers based in Winston Salem, NC. They undertook an intensive photo shoot of the The Loop & the Chicago El in the summer of 2021. 

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Meet the Photographers

William C. Crawford is a prolific itinerant street photographer based in Winston Salem, NC. He got his start in Vietnam as a cobat photojournalist. He was then inexperienced, but CRAWDADDY profited immensely from staunch mentoring from three Pulitzer Prize winners.

Much later, he co-developed FORENSIC FORAGING, a throwback, minimalist technique for digital photographers with veteran Sydney lensman, Jim Provencher. Crawdaddy has published four books chronicling his photography adventures. He seeks to elevate the the trite, trivial, and mundane of everyday life to pleasing eye candy.  He believes that there is hidden visual value almost everywhere, waiting to be uplifted through digital images. See more at -bcraw44 on Instagram.

Charlie Hahn is a street photographer based in Winston Salem, NC. His high school photography class project, CHIPPEWA STREET 1975, launched his career with a portfolio which is now a throwback classic in his hometown of Buffalo. More recently, his BEYOND THE EDGE OF THE FIELDS focuses on in situ portraits of the down, out, and marginalized denizens of the street. Charlie is also an instructor of photography at the Sawtooth School for the Visual Arts where he met Crawdaddy. See more at hahnphoto.net

Charlie Hahn is a street photographer based in Winston Salem, NC. His high school photography class project, CHIPPEWA STREET 1975, launched his career with a portfolio which is now a throwback classic in his hometown of Buffalo. More recently, his BEYOND THE EDGE OF THE FIELDS focuses on in situ portraits of the down, out, and marginalized denizens of the street. Charlie is also an instructor of photography at the Sawtooth School for the Visual Arts where he met Crawdaddy. See more at hahnphoto.net

We are who we say we are

This where I am at on the evaporating 2023 days of Kwanzaa

For the past few days, my mind has been interchangeably playing Cymande’s “Bra” (1972) and Michael Jackson’s “Off the Wall” (1979) as I try to pen the blog for a princess. You can always find MJ on video but…

For those of you who follow (and then pay attention to car commercials on TV,) you have heard the instrumental parts of “Bra” in CarGurus TV commercials. But you need to see and listen to the band. Bing Videos

Of course, I have the original vinyl and still think this band is kick-ass. Thank me later for introducing you to another aspect of lost/diminished Black cultural history.

So, in trying to write about a princess, this is what I know:

Time has been lost in trying
We have been left outside
Looking at passions dying
Emotions grow strong all the time

But it's alright, we can still go on
But it's alright, we can still go on
But it's alright, we can still go on
But it's alright, we can still go on

They might have said we're lying
No matter how hard we try
Those that are watch them crying
So as the helpless die

But it's alright, we can still go on
But it's alright, we can still go on
But it's alright, we can still go on

But it's alright, we can still go on 

So, if you need more motivation and you are a former “club kid” or dance around the house with your young children or grands, just recall  

When the world is on your shoulder
Gotta straighten up your act and boogie down
If you can't hang with the feeling
Then there ain't no room for you, this part of town
'Cause we're the party people, night and day
Livin' crazy, that's the only way…

So tonight
Gotta leave that nine to five upon the shelf
An' just enjoy yourself
Groove
Let the madness in the music get to you
Life ain't so bad at all
If you live it off the wall

Life ain't so bad at all
Live your life off the wall
(Live your life off the wall)
Live it off the wall 

So, the aaduna’s “what’s the point” is yet again, simple, and complex.  

Each of us have to figure out what activist pathway we are ready to pursue for what we now call, “diversity, equity inclusion.” Once you get to where you need to be, just don’t leave anyone behind.

History is complex and ever changing due to revisionist scholars who continue to explore and challenge our assumptions of historical truth. Rarely due we associate the term “princess” with women of color and especially Black women. Sisters who are of a darker hue are often ridiculed for having “princess” as a name or honorific title steeped in family determination and ancestry strength. You may remember when Dick Gregory named one of his eleven children, a girl, “Miss.” As a political, social satirist, activist commentator, Gregory’s work was grounded in years of stand-up comedy, Gregory quipped that he named his daughter Miss so she would grow up being referred to always as Miss Gregory. 

And as the diversity of animated (cartoon) films portray Black princess royalty, there are actually real Black women who society rarely knows…since all too often, others tell our stories and not us. So, while the continent of Africa has rich examples of Black women royalty, here are a few examples to whet our appetite for truth.

“Princess Angela of Liechtenstein is the wife of Prince Maximilian of Liechtenstein. She is the first person of known African origin to marry a member of a reigning European dynasty.  The marriage was groundbreaking, because it allowed a person of Afro-American ancestry into one of the few still reigning families in Europe by a marriage. The couple’s son, Prince Alfons is the next in line to the Liechtensteiner throne. 

“Baroness Cécile de Massy of Monaco is the wife of Christian Louis, Baron de Massy, the only nephew of the late Prince Rainier of Monaco.  As the baroness, she is the highest ranked black person in Monaco. She and her husband have two sons together, Brice Souleyman Gelabale-de Massyand Antoine de Massy. 

“Her Royal Highness, Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini of Swaziland is the oldest daughter of King Mswati III.  The very smart and well-educated young lady, affectionately known as Princess Pashu, has studied at several different schools around the world. First, she went to school in Britain at St. Edmund’s College, and after that she went to The United States to study drama at Biola University in California. She received her master’s degree in digital communications from Syndey University in Australia.

“Princess Keisha Omilana of Nigeria, a native of Inglewood, California, is an accomplished model having worked with L’Oreal, Maybeline, Revlon and Cover Girl. She is also most recognized for being the first African-American woman to be featured in three consecutive commercials as “The Pantene Girl.” Princess Keisha heads Wonderful TV with her husband, Prince Kunle Omilan. Along with running Wonderful TV, which boasts a network of stations across Europe, Princess Keisha has modeled for nearly every cosmetics brand from L’Oreal to Cover Girl, and has appeared in “Zoolander,” “30 Rock,” and “Saturday Night Live.” 

“Countess Mary Von Habsburh of Austria, although she isn’t a princess, was born in Wau, Sudan, and married to Ferdinand Leopold Joseph Count von Habsburg of Austria. Ferdinand hails from the venerable Von Habsburg royal family, who are descendants of William the Conqueror. Countess Mary and Count Ferdinand exchanged vows in 1999 in Nairobi, Kenya and the couple has three children together. Although some in the royal family took issue with their coupling because the Countess was an African commoner, Dr. Otto von Habsburg, head of the family, declared her an equal.” 

And with most contributor’s narrative blogs, there is that question, What’s the point? 

aaduna suggests that royalty is grounded in any family’s naming of children, recognition of generational ancestry and not only societal lineage and perceptions of privilege. We should always remember our name is a personal and permanent contribution to the world’s understanding as to who we are, not only as an individual, but also as a valued partner in humankind’s journey. 

Princess Anne Byrd-Treston

Princess Anne Byrd-Treston, of African-American descent, is passionate about writing fiction supplemented by her literary interests that include poetry, screenplays, stage plays, science fiction, and horror with African American and ambiguous characters. Residing in Saint Louis, Missouri, she is an arm’s reach from the City of Ferguson, a locale that has been an ongoing topic in national and international news.  

Byrd-Treston is an emerging writer and her first published piece, Midday Rush will be featured in the forthcoming aaduna issue. Here is a short excerpt: 

The café hustles and bustles with an uppity air of I'm in a hurry foot traffic. As one customer

leaves, another enters. The seating is privately distant. Most seated customers have the

Please-Do-Not-Disturb-Me or the Can-You-Not-See-I'm-Busy-At-Work-Here type of vibe. And

a few are plugged into a computer, an iPhone, or some other device. But not Charles. Instead, he

slumps over in a comfortable, brown, high-back leather chair in the fourth row furthest from the

main entrance facing the four large, dark wood casement pane windows. With only his feelings

to occupy his heavy thoughts, he takes cautious sips from his coffee cup. 

Out the windows, the rain moves into third gear as the minutes tick away. What was

once a faint mist is now a swift drizzle. 

After a fifteen-minute wait of doing nothing but looking out and twirling, sipping,

and looking out and twirling. Again. He eyes a slow-approaching silver sedan claiming a

newly open parking spot while other drivers Kentucky Derby it out the parking lot as if they are

driving on dry land and free of hightailing pedestrians seeking refuge from spit shooting bullets.

            Slow yet steady, Annabelle exits the sedan.

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AN ONLINE ADVENTURE WITH WORDS AND IMAGES…

~ A globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse literary & visual arts journal established in 2010.

Help us build community! Share with your friends and colleagues. Visit us on facebook - @aaduna, Inc.

History is intriguing.

It can tell stories that are situated in reality and then, for some, recalled in an oral tradition with maybe a hint of ancestry, reinterpretation, and fable.  The legacy of humankind of his/stories and to be fair, her/stories is pointedly riddled with complex interactions enveloped in real world scenarios.  So, here is the background you should know. Your experiences will guide you as to what you “accept or reject.” {Thank you Theresa M.}

There is a strong distinction between a fishmonger and a fisherman.

The former sells fish and the latter catches fish to sell.

Four of Jesus’ closest friends, the Apostles Peter, Andrew, James and John were fishermen. They had boats and caught fish with nets in the Sea of Galilee. The four were partners in a fishing business in Capernaum, located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, and would have exported fresh as well as dried fish to Damascus, Tyre, Jerusalem and the villages around the Galilee.

Now, fishmongers have been selling fish from pushcarts for centuries. In the early 1900s, Jewish fishmongers would import herring and other fish to Germany, Poland, and Russia, then sell it in shops and from pushcarts.  Nowadays, fishmongers still sell fresh seafood from pushcarts in many places around the world.

Dr. Miriam Edelson

Miriam Edelson, or more respectfully, Dr. Miriam Edelson is a prior aaduna contributor. Her “stories” continue to delve into the poignancy of the universal human spirit. Here is a brief excerpt from her forthcoming work, “The Herring Broker” that will be in the next issue of aaduna.

“Why are you leaving again so soon?” asked Howard. He was nine years old and given half a chance, he’d gladly have tossed his father’s suitcase out the window.

“I have to go on business. You’re old enough now to understand,” Abe snapped. He could be a hard man.

“I know,” said Howard, “but I don’t want to stay here with Aunt Anna.”

It was an early spring day in Brooklyn, 1928. The family was gathered at the kitchen table, having just finished a delicious Sunday lunch of Anna’s homemade cheese blintzes with sweet fruit toppings and sour cream. She’d even stopped at Kossar’s to pick up some crusty fresh bialys with indented softer centres that she warmed in the oven and topped with smoked herring.

Anna, a sturdy woman of about seventy, had heard her nephew’s complaint. She looked at Howard and sighed. She blew her nose, stuffing the used Kleenex into her bosom under the top of her light green nylon housedress. The sun was shining down through the window onto the scratched white enamel icebox, replenished by the ice man the previous day.

To be continued… 

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AN ONLINE ADVENTURE WITH WORDS AND IMAGES…

~ A globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse literary & visual arts journal established in 2010.

Help us build community! Share with your friends and colleagues. Visit us on facebook - @aaduna, Inc.

Of Talking and Conversation

Memories
Light the corners of my mind
Misty watercolor memories
Of the way we were

 Can it be that it was all so simple then?
Or has time re-written every line?
If we had the chance to do it all again
Tell me, would we?
Could we? *

Some of you may recall that there was a time when we actually “talked” with one another.

We would pick up a dial phone, usually black (on a phone bench or hanging on the wall in the kitchen with  long cord for maneuverability) later to be replaced by push number phones in decorative colors. And there were public street pay phones that you could make calls from for a dime, eventually replaced by three minutes for a quarter. And for home use, the telephone companies provided “party lines” that in emergencies you would ask other callers to get off the line; paid extra for a private line, and as a teenager, you would argue with siblings to get off the phone so you could make a call or better still, was waiting on an important call. So, what is the point to all of this?

There was a time when people actually TALKED to each other; missed hearing from a loved one or close friend if there was significant lapse in phone. A time when there were no Robocalls and the need to place your home phone on a registered “do not call” list.  

Memories… Of the way we were, 

While talking is radically different now, and one can argue that there is really limited significant person to person chats, (and while I am at it, remember sending post cards, writing letters, and having a pen pal from another part of the country or world?!) aaduna sought to raise the flag for conversation even with a contemporary setting. 

Conversations was born. 

Simply, it is a way to have a “normal” conversation within the parameters of technology. It is not necessarily an interview since there are no advanced pre-prepared questions. It is a chat, the way we used to talk to each other on the phone (landline.)  

So, this is not the first Conversation for an aaduna issue. But, it is the first where we have incorporated photos; had the other person appear “live” at aaduna events and participate in community meetings within the Auburn, NY.  

At this point, how do we “tease” that conversation.  

We don’t. 

But here is part of an e-mail from Mx. Luisa Aparisi-França to bill berry, jr.

The full conversation will be in the forthcoming issue of aaduna!

It will be an elegant gift to welcome in your new year!

Mx. Luisa Aparisi-França

Hi Bill,

If you didn't ask critical questions, that would be a sad thing indeed. We don't critique those which we deem too far gone or dangerous to work with, and I think it's nice when people feel at home enough to push a question further to address something they would've normally left unsaid. It's a sign of good faith. Besides, I'm unbearably nosy, and whatever it is, I want to know. 

* Alan Bergman and his wife Marilyn wrote the lyrics to this song, and Marvin Hamlisch wrote the music. The Bergmans also wrote lyrics for "The Windmills Of Your Mind" and " You Don't Bring Me Flowers." Streisand recorded “The Way We Were” on September 12, 1973 with Marty Paich doing the arrangements.

AN ONLINE ADVENTURE WITH WORDS AND IMAGES…

~ A globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse literary & visual arts journal established in 2010.

Help us build community! Share with your friends and colleagues. Visit us on facebook - @aaduna, Inc.

Well, we are not, individually or collectively, the supreme vocalist and musician, Nat King Cole!

Your chestnuts may not be roasting on an open fire; maybe, wetted and placed on a cookie sheet in the oven; just don’t let them pop. If that happens be prepared for a mess and the task of cleaning up!!!! 

So, depending on where you live, Jack Frost may not be nipping at your nose. However, you may be using an umbrella or boat to maneuver around your neighborhood. And I am sure some folks may wish they were in your situation. So, if you are in peril, do what you need to do to be safe. And know there are collective wishes for your return (quickly) to your sense of normalcy. {In peril? Reading this blog?! Duh.}

For most Americans, we are denied yuletide carols being sung by a choir, just for safety reason. Possibly in your house of worship before or after (maybe during) service, choir members will lift your spirits as their voices soar, swoop, and settle in your spirit.

I am not sure if the majority of us are dressed up like Eskimos; we do what we have to do in terms of outerwear so far this season. (Winter did sneak in on December 21st.)  So… 

Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe helps to make the season bright (well, if you are vegetarian or vegan the turkey may be a plant-based derivative, but I guess, mistletoe is universal regardless of dietary preferences, if there are no religious or social restrictions. Does DEI teach us these nuances! (Smile to my fellow consultants.) 

Well, as I merrily bypass the chestnuts, turkey, mistletoe, and in-person carols (though I must admit I enjoy holiday music on one of those all-Christmas music FM radio stations,) there is a rewarding sublime comfort in the enchanting words and themes as manifested by an aaduna contributing poet.

Monique Harris

Monique Harris defines herself as an emerging poet. She received her MFA from Indiana University and is currently a community college teacher.  Residing in Raleigh, NC, she was born in Virginia and raised in many geographical regions of the USA.  

Looking for a glimpse of her work? 

OK. 

Here is a little teaser from her poem, “black woman  at ER midnight” 

Oh, what the heck, here is her poem in its entirety. 

Happy Holidays! 

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 The pain turns

Like an invisible wheel 

tell me how to rate it 

i want to say the top scarlet emoji

but then they’ll say I’m .truly crazy 

too little, too much, too little, too much 

all pain is negotiation in this body 

but the writer in me is innocent 

it  

    feels 

             like 

<><><>  

The next aaduna issue? Later this month…maybe New Year’s Eve before or at the transition to a new year?!

AN ONLINE ADVENTURE WITH WORDS AND IMAGES…

~ A globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse literary & visual arts journal established in 2010.

Help us build community! Share with your friends and colleagues. Visit us on facebook - @aaduna, Inc.

The Enchantment and Mysteries of Sequel and Prequels

Your favorite movie or novel, in time, is followed up by a continuation of the original story with an expanded plot to entice you to expect a trilogy or the next chapter of the movie. When that process started to dwindle due to less than satisfactory follow-up some called the “2s” then the prequel surfaced. Now with the prequel we were able to experience what happened before the initial work that captivated our attention. Of course, memory of the original, and the sequel was important to put into perspective the prequel. So, here is the deal.

You can easily put into perspective the progression of a movie series or even novels, but what about poetry? If a poem was written at a different stage and sat in a desk drawer but influenced subsequent work, and then the poet releases the initial, probably forgotten desk drawer work to the public arena, is that work a sequel or prequel? And what if there is a volume of work that littered that desk drawer but not released until sometime later…sequel or prequel…and this issue becomes even more intriguing if the thematic basic of the earlier work “resembles” the more contemporary work. Ultimately the time sequence of poetry may not be that important…just something to think about.

Tiffany N. Haty

Tiffany N. Haty continues to define herself as an emerging writer and poet. Ms. Haty had her creative non-fiction work initially published in aaduna in the spring 2016 issue. With several years of being plagued with severe emotional problems under her belt, Tiffany’s writing draws heavily on dreams, images, mother nature, and multiethnic themes. She states that her writing is for people with an open mind; comes from her soul, and she may write about foreign cultures, distant lands, or her present reality. Regardless of the inspiration or thematic choice, Ms. Haty is clear that her writing comes from a place of love and respect for humanity. Tiffany was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and currently resides in Seattle, Washington.

The forthcoming issue of aaduna will feature her poems. Here is the opening part of her poem, 

 “Nebet”  

Isis wings 

Wadjet's body is threaded in gold in the hall of strange cats 

I am Hetpet

I am Nebet 

He is Ra

I am a Ka

The late-night paparazzi encircles weird butterflies 

A pair of ambrosial Twins are escorted to Mata’s soiree in Lagos and Morocco among the falling ruins 

I am a mask 

A tall actor playing a Priest points a gun 

He fell through a trap door that led to espionage with a foreign Black man. 

The night valet wasn't really himself; he was being chased by a paid marksman sailing on a pontoon 

Murder. 

An ambassador flies

Open 24 hours 

Liquor

On air. 

Closed

Driver 

I am the night distilled in the Temple 

of the moon’s disk and daughter to the throne

<><><> 

aaduna’s December 2023 issue coming at you towards the end of the month!

AN ONLINE ADVENTURE WITH WORDS AND IMAGES…

~ A globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse literary & visual arts journal established in 2010.

Help us build community! Share with your friends and colleagues. Visit us on facebook - @aaduna, Inc.

In search of what is known and what is unknown

One of the exciting and tantalizing expectations when approaching recently discovered creative work is simple and complex, simultaneously. You think you know what to expect; what the creative path intends, and then there is a subtlety, a nuance, a theme not observed initially. And from out “of left field” what you thought you knew is upturned. And your intellect (what you thought you knew) gives way; opens the door to your spirit as that emotional stance takes in what you sense in your heart that will be a wonderful discovery, an enriching experience.

Miriam Comfort Gyimah, Ph.D

Miriam Comfort Gyimah’s stories opens doors, windows, and any other structure that keeps one in while providing an out. She weaves words and themes to strengthen the emotional substance of her work. Born in Ghana, West Africa, she attended primary and secondary schools in Maryland. Her professional path has settled on university teaching and her full bio will establish her work and educational credentials. But…in this particular moment in time, her creative writing  encompasses what is known, what is unknown.

The forthcoming issue of aaduna will feature two of her stories. Here are teasers from those works:

“The Haunting”

There were long stretches of time when Julia wouldn’t see him, and she thought she would never

see him again, that the nightmares had ceased. But then it would happen again. Again, in the

same pajamas, he appeared by her side of the bed calling for his mommy. He looked so innocent.

So handsome. But he didn’t want him to return. She couldn’t bear the load his memory brought.

“Rosemary”

Since then, I always felt bad for her and a little sad each time I saw her scarred hand. I guess I felt

more this way because I was always afraid of getting injured, especially getting burned by fire. As

a child, by the age of eight, I had already broken a leg and worn a cast. I had even stayed at the

hospital for some time and my leg was in the cast for months. Although it itched and was

sometimes unbearable and made me unable to walk for a long while, it had healed, and my current

doctor said there was no trace of my broken limb. But being burned was another thing all together.

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Gyimah and aaduna.

aaduna and Gyimah. 

Late December 2023…coming.

AN ONLINE ADVENTURE WITH WORDS AND IMAGES…

~ A globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse literary & visual arts journal established in 2010.

Help us build community! Share with your friends and colleagues. Visit us on facebook - @aaduna, Inc.

aaduna will expand and re-energize the boundaries of your imagination…

Any literary/visual arts journal rests on the creative diversity and the richness of thoughts and themes of its contributors. Inclusiveness enables aaduna to attract a wide range of emerging poets, writers and visual artists, as well as established creatives who are seeking to broaden or develop a different thematic pathway for their work.  

With a return to a scheduled publication platform in 2024, the December 2023 issue will harken the “re-arrival” of an on-line journal that published its inaugural issue in February 2011.  

It has been a decades-old aaduna practice to introduce contributors before the issue containing their work is released. With that aura of tradition, we are pleased to present

Ámate Cecilia Pérez

Ámate Cecilia Pérez, a race equity consultant is the founder of Decolonizing Race and the Latinx Racial Equity Project. With a life purpose to end racism and oppression, she supports individuals and groups to healing from oppression, increase transformational leadership skills, and build equity by shifting organizational culture and systems. Prior to her social justice experience, Ámate worked as a print and radio journalist with several publications to her credit. One of her personal essays, “Dust Angels,” was published in The Wandering Song, an anthology of Central American writers living in the United States.   Ms.  Pérez  is a Kellogg Foundation National Race Equity and Healing Fellow as well as a Radical Hope grant receipt for innovation in race and healing. 

Ms.  Pérez  and her family fled the Salvadoran civil war in the early 1980s.  She grew up as undocumented child in Los Angeles and benefited from the 1986 immigration reform law. She has a B.A. from UCSD and a master’s degree in journalism from UCB. She now lives in Inverness, CA on unseeded and occupied Coast Miwok and Tamal Indian territory. 

The forthcoming issue of aaduna will feature her story, “Kiss and Don’t Tell” a riveting story that will grip and hold you in its sublime power as well as more of her bio information. 

Here are the opening sentences to “Kiss…” 

I almost vomited after my first kiss. The boy was three years older than me and in high school, but came to my junior high school dance in 1982. Cool Latino boys were either Cholos or rockabillies. The Stray Cats were popular then and when their song “Rock this Town” came on over the speakers, everyone jumped to the dance floor. 

Intrigued? 

Read the full story in late December 2023.

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An online adventure with words and images…

~ a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse literary and visual arts journal established in 2010.

Help us build community! Share with your friends. Visit us on facebook - @aaduna, Inc.

Fierce! Revisited! & Reframed

Fierce! Revisited! aaduna’s annual gala word/fundraiser held on Thursday, November 9, 2023 at the Carriage House Theater, Cayuga Museum of History & Art, 203 Genesee Street, Auburn, NY. (Pictured left to right) Doug Curry, special guest poet, bill berry, jr., aaduna CEO/publisher, Howard Nelson, special guest poet and featured Fierce Poets; Cyd Charisse Fulton, Karen Faris, and Tamara J. Madison.

Fierce! Revisited! & Reframed

blog post by Fierce Poet, Tamara J. Madison

Many thanks to bill berry, jr., Lisa Brennan, and aaduna for the invitation to share in the organization’s “gala word/fundraiser” on November 9, 2023. It was a full night of music and poetry, smiles and laughter, and deeply listening. The event featured three women poets:  Cyd Charisse Fulton, Karen Faris, and me, along with special guests, Doug Curry and Howard Nelson and vibes on the keyboard from Berny Williford. It was indeed a “fierce” lineup with a wide range of poetry, subject matter, and styles of presentation. There were moments when I was moved to tears by the subject matter: Bessie Smith, Tammy Terrell, lamentations of love lost, cries for healing and reparations, even a scolding from Mother Earth.

           I can track my beginnings with aaduna via an email from Keith Leonard on November 8, 2010 inviting me to submit poetry in consideration of the premier issue to be launched in February of 2011. The invitation was a welcomed surprise and I responded. Since that time, I have had several poems published via aaduna, work that I did not think anyone would ever publish because of the controversial nature of the content. aaduna would nominate my work for a Pushcart Prize in 2010. Later I would accept the invitation to work as a contributing editor in poetry for the publication. My relationship with aaduna also included a rendezvous with an international guest from Turkey, and events for colleges and community programs, such as the one that took place last week. I had not attended an aaduna event since November 2019.

           During Fierce! Revisited! while sharing remarks, bill mentioned that aaduna has always been about “history and legacy.”  Having 13 years of experience with the organization, I observed that aaduna is also committed to “emergence.” The organization has often taken risks mentoring and highlighting the work of “emerging artists and writers.” I am one of them. To say that I have grown and developed from my relationship with aaduna is an understatement. I have been “held and supported” in more ways than I could have imagined. aaduna and bill entered my life when I had lost a very deep and abiding friendship with a fellow writer and mentor in the arts. I was devastated to say the least. Remaining engaged with my art was critical “medicine” during the mourning process. I am most grateful.

           During the program last week, I witnessed the growth of each of us as writers and artists. It was obvious that each writer was committed to the craft and skill of writing and poetry, not just the content. Each writer was also committed to service beyond the art, raising awareness of community issues and honoring those who might not be able to speak for themselves. I was humbled to be among these poets and artists and participate in this event once again.

           I have since ruminated a bit on aaduna’s commitment to “history, legacy, and emergence.”  Honoring history is a way for us to inform ourselves while honoring our ancestors and their sacrifices. Being committed to legacy is intentional living and growth to serve those around us and those who come after us. Nurturing emergence is strengthening and securing the growth of new ideas, new pathways, and new vision. It is midwifery of nascence lending to healthy evolution. This is not only a mission for aaduna but a challenge for us all.

           Many thanks to aaduna for its commitment and tireless efforts to inform, shape, and shift the world around us. It is an honor to be a part of this history, legacy, and emergence! Happy 13th anniversary, aaduna!

Blessings, peace, and poetry!

Tamara J. Madison

Tamara J. Madison

Tamara J. Madison is a poet, writer, and editor. Her work has been published and recorded in various journals, magazines, anthologies, podcasts, and exhibits  including World Literature Today, Poetry International, Extract, Web del Sol Review of Books,  and Mom Egg Review.  Her work has also been published in the anthologies, SisterFire (HarperCollins), Temba Tupu (RedSea Press), and Check the Rhyme (LitNoire Press).

Her most recent poetry collection Threed, This Road Not Damascus is published by Trio House Press and was short-listed under the title, Breast Poems, in the 2015 Willow Books Literature Award.  Threed, … has been reviewed in Poetry International, Cider Press Review, Empty Mirror Review, and Cordella Magazine.  Her poetry has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize (2012 and 2022) and for Best of the Net (2019). She is also the author of Collard County (short stories), Kentucky Curdled (poetry), and Sistuh’s Sermon on the Mount (poetry chapbook). 

Tamara is the creator and host of BREAKDOWN: The Poet & The Poems, a conversation series on YouTube to spread awareness of poets and their poetry as inspiration and motivation for everyday life. She has also shared her poetry on the TEDx platform.

Tamara has performed and recorded her work for stage, television, and studio and facilitates creative writing workshops. She is a MFA graduate of New England College and an Anaphora Arts Fellow. She currently lives in Orlando, Florida where she teaches as a professor of English and Creative Writing at Valencia College. For more information, visit www.tamarajmadison.com.   

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AN ONLINE ADVENTURE WITH WORDS AND IMAGES…

~ a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse literary and visual arts journal established in 2010.

Help us build community! Share with your friends. Visit us on facebook - @aaduna, Inc