Jo Ann Lordahl's Poetry Chap-Books
 

Book titles are listed with a short description of each book and a sample poem:

1. The End & the Beginning
A crafted story in poems of the breakup of a love affair and the subsequent coming to a new life.

Equal

If he can
give me up -
surely I,
can return
the favor?

2. Hunting Butterflies, Hunting Love
Attempts to translate experience into awareness into wisdom.

Intense

I am the
thinnest
champagne glass
vibrating
to a violin
playing high notes
out of hearing range,
and climbing.

3. Skylight Poems, and Others
A small collection mostly reprinted from Skylight Magazine.

Too Late

Do not get interested
in writing poetry.
Poetry is a snare
and a delusion.
Grown-up games for
grownup people.
Naked minds and
heart-stabbed bodies
all over the floor.
How could I know
mine would be one

4. A Unicorn, A Pyramid, and A Forest
A woman's poems of dragonflies, rape, lambs, Alabama, and how rain sounds when you are alone.

Futility

A dragonfly is caught in the skylight.
High above pine trees sing.

The dragonfly beats its wings against
futility insisting clear plastic

change into freedom when all that's
required is retracing its flight.

On a more clever morning
analogies for myself would come clear.

But on this day I wave my arms like wings
and my hands are tiny propellers.

5. Nights Thoughts: Dreams of Pain & Joy
Poems that happen when the moon is blue, shadows glow in the rain, and love is only a memory.

Halloween

She took the zipper
at the dimple in his chin
tugged it the length
of his body. Then she climbed
into his warm skin with him.

6. The I Who Speaks is Not I
Pain and love-crafted poems from the mother, the wife, the single woman, the widow; but especially poems behind The End of Motherhood.

Empty Nest - It's All in How You Look at It

I belong no where
Ended
Upended
I am a stranger
in my life
which is gone
Flayed from my skin
with whips of change
Children grown
Husband gone
Crystal broken
Silver tarnished
and stolen
Kitchen green
with green slime
on dishes I'll
never stack neatly again
Furniture grey with dust
I could write history in
or her story.
There is nothing here
I have lived for nothing

I turn
one hundred and eighty
degrees
Pick up my suitcase.

Argentine Journal
This prose and poetry tour of Argentina combines Buenos Aires and Tierra Del Fuego with a new marriage; it delves deep into the mystery of how poems are born, and perfected. For more information please see Argentine Journal page.

Ladies Leaping - Audio Tape
A collection of poetry with original music composed and performed by jazz pianist Kathleen Olive.

Purchasing Jo Ann's Poetry Chap-Books
 

Prices range from $5 to $10 - price list available upon email request. I'll also sign and send chap-books for your friends and relatives. I've been known to include a free chap-book with book orders. And if you ask, I'll also include my one-sheet guide: How to Write Poetry!