Poems in the pandemic

Hello! If you’re a new subscriber, welcome to Starlight & Strategy, a monthly newsletter arriving in your inbox around the full moon. (And occasional missives around the new moon.) You can learn more about the newsletter here, and me here. If you’ve been with me for a minute, welcome back and thank you! Spring arrives in our garden in the midst of the pandemic. [Image description: A blooming hyacinth with purple-blue, bell-shaped petals and pale green leaves, growing out of mulch.] I hope you are all staying well and safe and taking good care. I’ve been writing poems this month as part of Kundiman’s participation in the Poetry Coalition’s project, “I am deliberate / and afraid / of nothing: Poetry & Protest.” Recently, they’ve been prayers, spells, and hexes for this time. I wanted to share a few with you in this 5-minute audio letter, with hopes they can provide some relief, magic, and fortitude to those of you who need it. (Just a note that there’s one swear word, so if you’ll be offended, you probably don’t want to listen.) With love, Tamiko P.S. I realized after I recorded this that I did publish some of these drafts—on social media, which feels different, somehow. Anyway, if you want to see some of them in written form, you can find them here and here. Thank you, and please share! If you enjoyed this post, please consider sharing it with others who might also enjoy it. The best way you can show your appreciation is by spreading the word and hitting that “heart” button. And if you’re not yet subscribed, please sign up below. Thank you! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tamiko.substack.com