Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Good Friday poem, Good Friday poetry, mary cm phillips, poetry for Easter on April 7, 2023| 4 Comments »
First Blossom
Upon the hill of Calvary
a tree, a cedar grows
Its roots were planted long ago
its sap, a crimson rose
Deep within the earth – a shaking
in highest halls of heaven’s – waking
as a tender shoot of love emerges
and mighty sower-spirit surges
through this messy muck of earth
praise, first blossom of rebirth
— Mary C. M. Phillips
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged #poetrycommunity, broken heart poetry, Dear You poems, international poetry, love poems, mary cm phillips, Poems Through the Heart, poetry on April 3, 2023| 2 Comments »
Heartbreak is not exclusive to any one group. If we choose to love, we choose – at some point – to experience pain.
Dear You, Poems Through the Heart (Red Penguin) is a collection of poems about love and heartbreak from poets around the world.
I’m honored to have my poem, Dear Mistakes, included in this new anthology.
The book features the works of:
Shai Afsai, Leslie Arambula, Carol Alena Aronoff, Michael Artemis, B. A. Brittingham, Linda M. Crate, Candic Louisa Daquin, Jerri Hardesty, Janis Butler Holm, Debbie De Louise, Carella Keil, Kirstin Kochie, David Lange, Melody Lipford, Matt Martinek, Henry Vinicio Valerio Madrid, LaVern Spencer McCarthy, Lisa Diaz Meyer, Dion O’Reilly, Sally Quon, K.V. Raghupathi, Michelle Chermaine Ramos, N.E. Salmon, Anna Sanderson, Myra Wallin…as well as myself.
Wishing you all a Happy Poetry Month!
Here’s to love (and please subscribe to this blog if you’re so inclined)!
Mary ❤️
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged #spokenword, encouragement, holly poem, Inspirational, mark phillips mandolin, mary cm phillips, poetry, rock n soul gospel, seasons poetry, WCWP, Winter poem, writing on January 25, 2023| 6 Comments »
Thankfully, the bite of winter has only appeared briefly here in Pennsylvania. In fact, it feels like spring has already arrived.
This poem, Deep Winter, explores not only the literal winter but the spiritual one; the winter we might experience on any given day.
You can hear the spoken-word version of Deep Winter below. The written-word version appears in the upcoming Pennsylvania Bards Eastern PA Poetry Review (Local Gems Press).
(more…)Posted in Uncategorized, tagged mark phillips guitar, mary cm phillips, nature, poetry, red penguin, spoken word poetry, Spring Prevails poem, ukraine poems, ukraine poetry anthology on May 19, 2022| 3 Comments »
Where Flowers Bloom is a collection of poetry supporting the people of Ukraine. I’m happy to have my poem, Spring Prevails, included in this beautiful book.
This collection features the work of Angelo B. Ancheta, Lynne Bernfield, Vanessa Caraveo, Deborah Coy, Linda M. Crate, David Dephy, Steve deWolfe, Carol Edwards, Joseph A Farina, Clare Green, Alex Grehy, Maureen Hadzick, Sharon A. Harmon, Mark Andrew Heathcote, Kadambari Kaul, David Lange, Wayne Lee, Mary McKeel, Karen Melander-Magoon, Jill Ocone, Dorothy Oger, Mary C. M. Phillips, Sally Quon, Janet Ruth, Kathryn Sadakierski, Jasmine Tritten, J R Turek and Scott Wiggerman.
The publisher, Red Penguin Books, will be donating the proceeds received from the sale of this book to the humanitarian crisis facing Ukraine and will match all book sale proceeds as well in support of this cause.
*****
To listen to me reciting Spring Prevails – along with Mark Phillips on guitar – click the PLAY button below.
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged mark phillips guitar, mary cm phillips, pennsylvania, poetry, poetry community, spoken word on March 21, 2022| 8 Comments »
In late 2020, after COVID had altered our lives — as it did for so many others — we decided to move from our home in Long Island to the bucolic hills of Pennsylvania.
TRANSPLANT is a spoken-word poem written just after we moved.
The poem asks a question. Does Nature herself hold memories as we do?
Hope you enjoy it.
Guitar work and production by Mark Phillips.
Transplant can be streamed on Spotify or downloaded from iTunes. The poem also appears, in written form, in the new anthology, The Pennsylvania Bards Eastern PA Poetry Review (available on amazon).
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged edna st. vincent millay, harp, harp Weaver, harpists, inspiration, mary cm phillips, poetry on May 16, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Excited to be part of this virtual poetry event celebrating the poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay along with the Long Island Harp Society,
Join us if you’re able (via link below) and have happy, healthy, and poetic day,
Mary 🌿
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged #poetry, inspiration, Linda Trott Dickman, mark phillips guitarist, mary cm phillips, Music of the Forest poetry, paul ammendola, poetry and music, poetry reading, red words, spoken word poetry, Walt Whitman, Walt Whitman Birthplace on November 23, 2020| 2 Comments »
Thank you to everyone who joined us for an evening of poetry and music –and the CD release for Music of the Forest — hosted by The Walt Whitman Birthplace Association!
Kudos and a depth of gratitude in particular to WWBA’s host Caitlyn Shea, poet/author, Linda Trott Dickman, singer/songwriter Paul Ammendola of Red Words, and guitarist/husband Mark Phillips for enhancing the event with their gift of words, voice, and music.
Most of the poems on the video are from my new spoken-word CD, Music of the Forest.
For those who were unable to attend, here is a video of the event:
Stay safe,
stay strong,
and be encouraged,
Mary
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged #poetry, #spokenword, Mark and Mary Phillips, mark phillips guitarist, mary cm phillips, poetry community, poetry readings, spoken word poetry, Walt Whitman, WWBA on September 16, 2020| Leave a Comment »
Support poetry and the Walt Whitman Birthplace in Huntington, New York. 
Join us on November 12th at 6:30 for a lovely evening of poetry via ZOOM. It’s easy, poetically uplifting, and fun (plus it’s on ZOOM, so you join in from the comfort of your home.
I’ll be reading poems from my new spoken word CD, Music of the Forest.
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged mary cm phillips, poems, poetry, spoken word, virtual poetry, Walt Whitman, Walt Whitman events on June 3, 2020| 2 Comments »
If you’re looking for a poetic escape, please join me (and four other poets) on June 12th at 6:30 P.M. for a virtual poetry reading hosted by the Walt Whitman Birthplace. See below for the link and more information. Stay safe, Mary
Join the Walt Whitman Birthplace for a Virtual Open Mic!! Five poets will present their poetry and everyone is invited to to be part of the audience, or share a short poem as well (time permitting!)! Musician Bryan Gallo will perform live! Friday, June 12th at 6:30PM EST. $5 suggested donation.
Link below to the reading on Friday, June 12th:
Caitlyn Shea is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Virtual Open Mic #1
Time: Jun 12, 2020 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85183631569?pwd=ZWYySHFyazJEN1RBdjQzK0RVcFZoUT09
Meeting ID: 851 8363 1569
Password: 327212
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,85183631569#,,1#,327212# US (New York)
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Bards, books, inspiration, James Paul Wagner, Jennifer criss, mary cm phillips, mondo, poetry, poetry in isolation, social distancing, writing on April 23, 2020| Leave a Comment »
The Mondo is a form of classical Japanese Collaborative poetry. This guide brings to light the instructions on how to host a Mondo poetry workshop or pair up with friends and family to write them together. Edited by one of the authors of the best-selling “Japanese Poetry Forms, a Poet’s Guide”, this book also contains the results of 40 paired poets who wrote amazing Mondo during a virtual poetry workshop held during the time of social distancing, proving that poetry, even from far apart can bring us closer. From Local Gems Poetry Press.
I’m happy to be a collaborator in this new anthology and grateful for partner-in-poetry, Jennifer Criss, and poet/editor James Paul Wagner for pairing poets, bringing life to poems, and fostering creativity during this period of isolation.
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Bards, Blog tak radio, James wagner, mary cm phillips, nick hale, poems, poems during isolation, poetry on April 11, 2020| 1 Comment »
Poetry for the purpose of diversion…
Thank you James Paul Wagner and Nick Hale of Local Gems Poetry Press for including me in this virtual reading. Isolating is hard enough….poetry helps. Hoping you are all well and safe, Mary
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged #poetry, Jungle, mary cm phillips, new music, poetry on April 4, 2020| 2 Comments »
Isolating is certainly easier with music (and coffee). I recorded this song last week. Thanks to Mark Phillips (guitars and slide-mandolin) and to Nancy Romano (co-lyricist).
Stay safe everyone, Mary
Mary C. M. Phillips 