Just out., January 23, 2004, Page 27, Image 27

January 23.2ÛQI J —
On the Road
Somebody save me.
I don't care how you
do it,
just save me.
From these claws
of loneliness that
plunge me deep
inside death—
From those gashes
carved on my face,
ruining the marble of
an exquisite corpse.
W RA P facilitator at SM YRC Chevenne Tuller reads from the new W R A P anthology
from what 1 share. W RAP was like a prac­
tice round— a place to make mistakes and
not get laughed at or punched." he added.
While SM YRC has helped him realize the
fluidity ot gender identity, W RAP has
given him an outlet tor his voice and has
made him feel more confident. “I’m such a
better person,” he remarks.
For many W RA P participants, the tall
workshop series officially ended at the
reading, hut members of the SM YRC
group clicked so well that they decided to
continue meeting on their own afterward.
Many who had written before found that
W RAP opened up a new way of writing,
one that allowed them to he more tree
with their words. The W RA P experience
helped them tighten their bonds with one
another, improve their writing skills and
increase their belief in themselves.
feels more self-assured with her writing
now, so much so that she has been
inspired to write a book.
For Frankie, being part of the W RAP
anthology was very fulfilling. She says her
copy is “going to be on my coffee table for
a very long time." She also enjoyed the
diversity of the big reading and felt the
event was a great opportunity to hear a
wide variety of people read and to be able
to compliment them on their work.
At the reading, group members offered
each other encouraging words as each
writer sttxxl to make his or her way to the
stage. But as each person stepped away
from the podium after reading, it was
clear by the applause that all of the writ­
ers are supported by the larger community
of WRAP, where diversity reigns and
everyone’s voice can be heard. j n
Out loud and in print
W rite A round P ortland will begm its
spring network o f free creative wnttng
workshops the w eek o f Feb. 2 in various
locations throughout the Portland area.
W orkshops are open to low-income adults,
people livmg with mental illness, people affected
by HIV, queer youth and more. Each
workshop meets for two hours once a w eek for
a total o f 10 w eeks. Pens, journals, snacks and
bus passes are provided. For more information
or to register, call 503-796-9224 or visit
ww w .w ntearound.org.
rankie is another SM YRC partici­
pant. She heard about W RA P from a
friend and liked the idea of having a
stnictured yet open-genre writing group.
While facilitators provide prompts to help
get creative juices flowing, participants
are free to take the writing in the direc­
tion they want to go.
Frankie observes: “In English class,
you get assignments that you have to do.
Here, you write about things you care
about. Everyone gives their all.” She had
done some writing before W RA P but
K aren K udej is a free-lan ce writer and a
form er W RA P facilitator.
Reach deep behind
my barriers
and wipe away
my tears.
Dry them.
And pop my balloons
of pain.
Wake me up,
take my hands,
and lead me gently
to heaven.
Kiss me softly,
nibble my neck,
and lick away
the facets of jewels
that entrap
my perfection.
Push your fingers
against my skin,
and try to reach for my
bones.
That's how much I long
for a presence
to caress my fading soul
I'd die
to see a face,
set in flames of
passion searching
for someone
like me.
I'd die, again,
and in my death, die
again
to know that there is
another half of me,
waiting for my pair of
hungry hands.
Look at me
and whisper those words.
Will they lash out
acid, eating away
my mind
or do you plan them,
like those doves
with broken necks,
to quiet my rage?
Imagine.
In your eyes,
fire burning me crisp
bubbling under the sun
when you pierce
needles
on my heart
Tie me up.
And take out your
anger.
The whips, they lash
out,
flashing my torments.
And I scream,
in pleasure, and pain
Save me.
-Pros Seng (SMYRC)
N ext A ù venture
P ortland 1? A lternative ^ porting G o o d ? ? t o r e
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■ 1| 27
Bryan
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