Memorial Day 2007
The tree I declared must come down, wisteria vines
had wrapped around the trunk and draped, their fingers
on the boughs, swathing them in a purple lace so fine
that Belgium's best lacers would denounce the craft.
To the yellow-winged birds, bodies not fully feathered,
lying in the grass, who my husband suggested be returned
to their nest and assigned another tree, I meant no harm,
sparing them,
saving their voices,
sheltering them.
First appeared in Ariel XXVII 2007
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Portrait of American Hope
The dead and living were left floating
like boats that sail the Great Lakes
when Katrina washed New Orleans away
as if she were out of fashion.
Survivors littered fields, faces marred
by frowns and tears, but one woman sat,
head and shoulders draped
with a red, white and blue flag.
First Appeared:Möbius: The Poetry Journal 2007
The dead and living were left floating
like boats that sail the Great Lakes
when Katrina washed New Orleans away
as if she were out of fashion.
Survivors littered fields, faces marred
by frowns and tears, but one woman sat,
head and shoulders draped
with a red, white and blue flag.
First Appeared:Möbius: The Poetry Journal 2007
Madonna and Child
My priest said Jesus had golden hair,
was the son of Mary and Joseph;
was crucified for my sins––and I believed,
not knowing children attending segregated
schools learned white people were good;
black bad, that black children preferred
pink dolls to those who were chestnut,
but I knew my olive skin
(not even when the summer sun
glazed it caramel) never hid my blue veins;
I had run my finger along Mother’s arm,
looking for the same slender cables,
disappointed the mahogany didn’t break,
had asked, which five-and-dime
she bought me from,
wondering if it were Cunningham’s
where she got my blonde baby doll
whose hair I pen curled ‘til I was twelve,
‘til mother bought me a doll
with light brown skin, a pink swimsuit;
tan lines, long sandy hair I could braid,
but Jesus still was a yellow- haired baby boy,
held by a veiled woman in blue robes,
seated on a throne,
never the son of a mother who knelt over
a crib, wearing a bonnet, full black skirt,
white servant’s apron,
living in a one room house.
First Appeared: Xavier Review Fall 2008
My priest said Jesus had golden hair,
was the son of Mary and Joseph;
was crucified for my sins––and I believed,
not knowing children attending segregated
schools learned white people were good;
black bad, that black children preferred
pink dolls to those who were chestnut,
but I knew my olive skin
(not even when the summer sun
glazed it caramel) never hid my blue veins;
I had run my finger along Mother’s arm,
looking for the same slender cables,
disappointed the mahogany didn’t break,
had asked, which five-and-dime
she bought me from,
wondering if it were Cunningham’s
where she got my blonde baby doll
whose hair I pen curled ‘til I was twelve,
‘til mother bought me a doll
with light brown skin, a pink swimsuit;
tan lines, long sandy hair I could braid,
but Jesus still was a yellow- haired baby boy,
held by a veiled woman in blue robes,
seated on a throne,
never the son of a mother who knelt over
a crib, wearing a bonnet, full black skirt,
white servant’s apron,
living in a one room house.
First Appeared: Xavier Review Fall 2008
CV
Georgia Ann Banks-Martin
georgiabanksmartin@yahoo.com
Academic Preparation:
MFA in Creative Writing Queens University of Charlotte
Concentration: Poetry Charlotte, NC
Committee: Alan Michael Parker, Sally Keith, Peter Stitt, Brighde Mullins
Thesis: Rhapsody for Things Learned or Remembered
B.A. in English, Language Arts, Huntingdon College
Montgomery, AL
Concentrations: Secondary Education, Communications Studies
B.S. in Psychology, Auburn University Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
Concentrations: Pre-Clinical Psychology, Fine Arts
Professional experience:
Public School Teacher 1998-2005
English, Honors English, Reading, Drama grades 7-12
Coaching:
Cheerleading and Debate grades 11-12
Cheerleader: As head cheerleader coach, I found creative ways to obtain funds for the purchase of new uniforms and team equipment. I was instrumental in maintaining good relations between my team and other school teams, as well as developed interesting and exciting promotions, activities that increased support for the entire athletic department from advertisers, outside fundraising firms, and sponsors.
Debate: My award winning debate team members graduated with honors in Forensics, which included lifetime membership in the National Forensic League (NFL). I arranged for my teams to compete and host tournaments, while maintaining our NFL charter. This included updating our National Forensic League web presence after each tournament. Maintaining records of wins and losses and submitting the proper paperwork to ensure both local and national recognition of outstanding team members. In addition, I used this information to generate funds and interest for in my program from school leadership, making certain that winning team members were interviewed by media representatives and that copies of articles, pictures and awards were displayed in a place of consequence. Graduating team members’ names and forensic honors were posted on a special hallway bulletin board.
Museum Educator 1994-2004:
Ten years of combined volunteer and paid experience in museum education, (Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts) that began with me conducting gallery tours, then grew into an instructional position in which I taught art lessons to underserved community youth. I also made new contacts for my program, and arranged meetings with the head of organizations with which relationships had been developed; also, I maintained written records of student participation, weekly lessons and student work samples.
During this time I also, worked on the Auburn University Montgomery, student newspaper, as a page editor. My connection to the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts allowed me to develop a relationship with the PR departments of both the museum and Alabama Shakespeare Company that afforded me press releases photos of coming exhibits, and programs.
Skills:
Over seven years experience in education, which includes public speaking, team promotions, fundraising and communications, and working with both special needs and regular students
Good technical proficiency: word processing, database record keeping, PowerPoint, Internet based research, and Internet communications.
Exceptional program administration, design, organizing, setup, and hosting abilities
Publications:
Poetry
Evening Guitar. African-American Review. Forthcoming 2009
Zinnias. African-American Review. Forthcoming 2009
Montgomery Stairs. After Shocks: The Poetry of Recovery for Life-Shattering Events
Memorial Day. Ariel XXII 2007
On an Autumn Day. Fiera Lingue. October 2008
Portrait of American Hope. Möbius: The Poetry Journal 2007
Thanks for Broken Road. Nomad’s Choir 2006
Tired. Pearl. Forthcoming 2009
Leaving Home. Poetic Hours 2004
Named Strays. Poetic Hours 2007
South Carolina Morning. Prick of the Spindle- 2008
Nothing . South Ash Press. September 1994,
The Red Room. South Ash Press. October 1994
Anonymous House, Conjure Woman, Early Southern Spring, Hiding History,
Months after the Crash. Thanal Online, 2007
Madonna and Child forthcoming. Xavier Review. Forthcoming 2009
Book Reviews:
The True Portrait of AIDS
Book: Case Walking: An Aids Case Manager Wails Her Blues by Julene Tripp
Her Circle Ezine
Tea and Self-Reliance
Book: The Teahouse Fire by Ellis Avery
Her Circle Ezine
True Birth
Book: Voice of Ice by Alta Ifland
Her Circle Ezine
Professional Service:
Submissions Reviewer-African-American Review
Artworks Short-Term Steering Committee
Evans Collection Out-Reach Committee
Textbook Committee
Senior Class Sponsorship Committee
Yearbook Chairperson
BBST Committee
Community Outreach:
Community Out-reach-Instructor-Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts third grade program
Connections Program-Instructor-Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts
Readings and Panels:
Salute to the Arts Festival 2008
Writing by Degrees Conference 2008
Honors and Awards:
Ariel
Capitol City Jaycees-Spoke Award
Dean’s List
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts-Service Award
National Forensic League Degree of Honor
Who’s Who among America’s Teachers
Organizations:
Modern Language Association
Association of Writers and Writing Programs
georgiabanksmartin@yahoo.com
Academic Preparation:
MFA in Creative Writing Queens University of Charlotte
Concentration: Poetry Charlotte, NC
Committee: Alan Michael Parker, Sally Keith, Peter Stitt, Brighde Mullins
Thesis: Rhapsody for Things Learned or Remembered
B.A. in English, Language Arts, Huntingdon College
Montgomery, AL
Concentrations: Secondary Education, Communications Studies
B.S. in Psychology, Auburn University Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
Concentrations: Pre-Clinical Psychology, Fine Arts
Professional experience:
Public School Teacher 1998-2005
English, Honors English, Reading, Drama grades 7-12
Coaching:
Cheerleading and Debate grades 11-12
Cheerleader: As head cheerleader coach, I found creative ways to obtain funds for the purchase of new uniforms and team equipment. I was instrumental in maintaining good relations between my team and other school teams, as well as developed interesting and exciting promotions, activities that increased support for the entire athletic department from advertisers, outside fundraising firms, and sponsors.
Debate: My award winning debate team members graduated with honors in Forensics, which included lifetime membership in the National Forensic League (NFL). I arranged for my teams to compete and host tournaments, while maintaining our NFL charter. This included updating our National Forensic League web presence after each tournament. Maintaining records of wins and losses and submitting the proper paperwork to ensure both local and national recognition of outstanding team members. In addition, I used this information to generate funds and interest for in my program from school leadership, making certain that winning team members were interviewed by media representatives and that copies of articles, pictures and awards were displayed in a place of consequence. Graduating team members’ names and forensic honors were posted on a special hallway bulletin board.
Museum Educator 1994-2004:
Ten years of combined volunteer and paid experience in museum education, (Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts) that began with me conducting gallery tours, then grew into an instructional position in which I taught art lessons to underserved community youth. I also made new contacts for my program, and arranged meetings with the head of organizations with which relationships had been developed; also, I maintained written records of student participation, weekly lessons and student work samples.
During this time I also, worked on the Auburn University Montgomery, student newspaper, as a page editor. My connection to the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts allowed me to develop a relationship with the PR departments of both the museum and Alabama Shakespeare Company that afforded me press releases photos of coming exhibits, and programs.
Skills:
Over seven years experience in education, which includes public speaking, team promotions, fundraising and communications, and working with both special needs and regular students
Good technical proficiency: word processing, database record keeping, PowerPoint, Internet based research, and Internet communications.
Exceptional program administration, design, organizing, setup, and hosting abilities
Publications:
Poetry
Evening Guitar. African-American Review. Forthcoming 2009
Zinnias. African-American Review. Forthcoming 2009
Montgomery Stairs. After Shocks: The Poetry of Recovery for Life-Shattering Events
Memorial Day. Ariel XXII 2007
On an Autumn Day. Fiera Lingue. October 2008
Portrait of American Hope. Möbius: The Poetry Journal 2007
Thanks for Broken Road. Nomad’s Choir 2006
Tired. Pearl. Forthcoming 2009
Leaving Home. Poetic Hours 2004
Named Strays. Poetic Hours 2007
South Carolina Morning. Prick of the Spindle- 2008
Nothing . South Ash Press. September 1994,
The Red Room. South Ash Press. October 1994
Anonymous House, Conjure Woman, Early Southern Spring, Hiding History,
Months after the Crash. Thanal Online, 2007
Madonna and Child forthcoming. Xavier Review. Forthcoming 2009
Book Reviews:
The True Portrait of AIDS
Book: Case Walking: An Aids Case Manager Wails Her Blues by Julene Tripp
Her Circle Ezine
Tea and Self-Reliance
Book: The Teahouse Fire by Ellis Avery
Her Circle Ezine
True Birth
Book: Voice of Ice by Alta Ifland
Her Circle Ezine
Professional Service:
Submissions Reviewer-African-American Review
Artworks Short-Term Steering Committee
Evans Collection Out-Reach Committee
Textbook Committee
Senior Class Sponsorship Committee
Yearbook Chairperson
BBST Committee
Community Outreach:
Community Out-reach-Instructor-Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts third grade program
Connections Program-Instructor-Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts
Readings and Panels:
Salute to the Arts Festival 2008
Writing by Degrees Conference 2008
Honors and Awards:
Ariel
Capitol City Jaycees-Spoke Award
Dean’s List
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts-Service Award
National Forensic League Degree of Honor
Who’s Who among America’s Teachers
Organizations:
Modern Language Association
Association of Writers and Writing Programs
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