About Me

               Mary Kendall

 

      In late July of 2014, I created this blog for the simple purpose of disciplining myself to produce at least one poem a week that I consider finished. It’s always good to hear what people respond to in my poetry. My goal was to share some of my work with people who like to read poetry. 

In the past few years my writing has focused more and more on Japanese short form poetry: haiku, tanka, haiga and tankart. It has been an honor to be published in both print and online journals of real excellence. As this blog has evolved, I now post mainly published poems to give them a better viewing. On occasion a non-published poem is posted, but my goal has changed as my writing has changed in the past seven years.

      So, who am I? I am an American who is a northerner by birth and upbringing, but I’ve lived in Chapel Hill, North Carolina for 43 years and love life here where I live. My husband and I have one adult son who lives not too far away.  We have been fortunate enough to travel a good deal both in the USA and abroad, and we have lived in London four different times. 

      I’m a retired reading teacher who taught for 34 years in both the private and public sectors of education in the USA. Literacy issues are important to me, and I like staying current on what is happening with world wide literacy efforts.  I pray that one day literacy will be universal, along with world peace. I am also a certified Reiki master, and I love sharing this beautiful energy with people and animals.

      I have published my work extensively in both print and online journals. My newest book, The Last Camellia, was published by Velvet Dusk Publishing in November, 2023. It is a collection of tanka, haiku, senryu and haiga. It is available at Amazon.com.

      My chapbook, Erasing the Doubt, was published by Finishing Line Press in April, 2015. It is available through Finishing Line Press.  I also co-authored a book, A Giving Garden (©2009) along with friend and photographer, Debbie Suggs. 

      I hope you enjoy what you read here. Please stop in when you can. The Archives go back to 2014, so have fun exploring.

                        Mary 

 

94 thoughts on “About Me”

  2. Mary, your poems are truly inspirational. I think it is very special how fitting your poems are in relation to the pieces of artwork. I just adore how you eloquently describe the art, creating such strong feelings.

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  3. Hi Mary, so many wonderful things here! I’m writing to ask for your permission to use your photo of an attic (posted under “My Attic is Full”) in a little book I’m writing about emotional space. I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about it, but that’s perhaps done best via email. Thank you for your consideration.

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    • It is not my photograph. It is a picture taken from the internet. If you do a reverse photo search you might be able to find an original source. I could not despite looking. I always mark the correct attribution and seek permission just as you are doing, but this picture didn’t seem to go back to one source. It appears to be from commercial use, but again, no sources. Good luck with your project–sounds interesting.

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  4. Hi Mary, what a great blog you have here – full of lovely work. 🙂

    I must admit, I hadn’t realised you were in North Carolina. I have two very good online writing friends in your part of the world – the poet Adrian Rice, who I met online after Seamus Heaney died. I spotted him when we both posted a tribute poem on a Heaney In Memorium web site as I recognised his name from a ‘real-life’ mutual friend. I hope to meet him very soon when he returns to his native Belfast to launch his latest poetry collection later this month. He lives with his wife and young son in Hickory and he teaches creative writing http://www.adrianrice.com/home/biographical-note Small world, eh! 🙂

    I met my other friend, Twana Biram, on a small Irish writing forum quite a few years ago and we had short stories published in an anthology together. Twana lives in Raleigh and is a retired teacher.

    Do you live far from these towns, Mary?

    marion

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    • Thanks for visiting and exploring my blog. Welcome to the blogging world…I will be glad to come visit yours and enjoy some of your postings. You are far better at asking for this than I have ever been. I’m sure it will serve you well. Best wishes, Mary.

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  11. Thanks for stopping by… when I grow up I want to be just like you…
    be able to travel and maybe get published.
    Well OK I am sort of grown up (does being a grama count?), have sort of been published (not professionally) and have traveled just a tad with my hubby too.

    Best to you. Cheers Jules

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  13. Mary, how very kind of you to choose to follow both my blogs. I do hope you continue to enjoy the posts and I look forward to getting to know you especially in the pages of your blog. Léa

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  16. I cannot work out where, or how, I came across your very fine work previously Mary, although I do know that I have. Was it perhaps via Precious Rhymes I wonder? Why I was not subscribed here is also a bit of a puzzle, one now resolved however.

    With much gratitude and respect,

    Hariod.

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    • I believe you found my travel blog (Bedford Square + 2) after we both commented on something written by a fellow blogger. I remember that because I looked your blog up and subscribed. However, as we all do, I never get to read all the blogs I’m subscribed to. Yours is one I shall explore a lot more frequently. Thank you for stopping by and leaving such a lovely comment.

      All the best,
      Mary

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  17. Helen and i are enjoying the poems we have read so far, especially the two about your Momma and Father. We will read through them all and then share further thoughts. You have a wonderful talent shown in your writing!

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  19. Thank you so much for subscribing to my blog! Here you’ll find more than 3500 pictures from Norway and Norwegian nature, mostly in ‘full screen modes’, and new pictures will be posted on a regular basis. Please enjoy!

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  20. Hi Mary, and welcome to the wonderful world of blogging. When I started my blog, I had no idea of the number of wonderful people I would meet online or that some of them would become “besties”.
    I love poetry and books. I love to read. I will definitely be stopping by your blog often.

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  21. Welcome, Mary. I’ve been to chapel hill a number of times. My husband, children, and I lived in Greensboro for many years. My children think of it as their home town. My son and his family still live near Greensboro as his job is there and he loves it. My husband and I now live in Pune, India, as he’s an Indian citizen and has family here. We all look forward to reading your work. 🙂 — Suzanne

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  27. The very best of luck with your blog Mary. I look forward to following you and reading your work. Iam a dog lover and have a lovely brindle lab/retriever called Trigger. He is a guide dog so I am lucky because he can accompany me to the office where he is loved by all despite his habit of stealing the odd lunch! I have published several collections of short fiction, however my first collection of (mainly) poetry appeared in December 2014 so I am delighted to meet a fellow poet. Kind regards. Kevin

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  31. Just writing to let you know that I have posted the Liebster Award followup today- I know it is late and I hope you will forgive the delay. But yes, it was fun!

    Wishing you a belated Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year ahead! See you in the new year! 🙂

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  32. Pingback: The Fifth recipient of a Free Book is Mary Kendall | Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life

  33. Hi Mary, I love visiting your beautiful blog and reading your new poems, and I look forward to returning again and again! I also wanted to let you know that I nominated you for a Liebster Award. To learn more about this award, please visit my blog: robindawnh.wordpress.com and the info about the award will appear on the first page you see! 🙂

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    • Robin, I am so honored by your nomination of my blog, A Poet in Time, for the Liebster Award. My blog is now just four months old and still quite at a beginning stage, but I’m delighted that you and the other followers come back to read more of my work. This nomination coming from you, a very talented poet, is particularly touching. Thank you so much.

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  39. Lovely to meet you Mary. I just came over to say thank you for the follow with which you have adorned my blog. It is greatly appreciated and you are warmly welcomed aboard. Keep the comments flowing. So here i am about to take a tour of your very own blog. Enjoy the day, MM 🍀

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  40. Hi, Mary! Thanks for leading me to your beautiful blog. Your photos are lovely–as is your poetry and commentary. I especially like the way you personalize your writing. I’m also grateful that you’re following my blog.
    Elouise

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