Biography

Of all the labels I could list about who I am, I feel most at peace saying I am a poet. I have been writing poetry or prose since I could write. It was just natural to express myself writing stories, humor, or poetry. What started out as a ‘just me’ thing evolved into a survival tool. Writing is a way to make sense of the world: events, situations, relationships, losses, successes, love. Writing and the use of metaphor morphed into an essential method to find meaning in life.

Writing came in handy while in grad school but, more importantly, after getting my MSW at Boston University. Working with clients suffering with addiction and mental health issues, I had to find a way to process so much trauma being presented. When I learned about the concept of vicarious traumatization, I realized I was experiencing some of that and turned to the thing that helped me throughout my life: writing. I wrote about my reactions and feelings about this sacred relationship: therapist and client. That processed helped me manage the hard work of being a therapist.

While in the midst of my career, my own life-stuff erupted. Memories were triggered, feelings were reactivated. Old stuff came into the light once more. I learned to turn off my stuff so I could hold space for others. But when the day was done, I needed to process it all. Some of those writings are in Hawk on Fire.

Creativity is as necessary as oxygen. So I find ways to be embrace it. In addition to writing, I paint abstracts with oils. I use themes such as: Listen, Wait, Survival, Courage, Be, Grief. I look toward an emotion and try to capture it in color, shape, texture, light, energy. Because it matters.

I look forward to your responses and reviews about the topics in Hawk on Fire, a most personal and exciting reveal of parts of my life.

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