CYNDI MACMILLAN's Blog
 Writing a biography irks me. How much to reveal? What tidbits to conceal? The Basics: I’m a 45 year-old, stay-at-home mom of an adorable two year old girl. I’m happily married to a wonderful man who is my living contradiction, the quiet to my loud, the calm to my frantic. Life continually amuses, bemuses and confuses me.
My first poem, which I wrote at five, was entitled, “Lov is Magik” and my father kept the fading, folded paper I scribbled it upon in his wallet for decades. I have tinkered in poetry ever since, but my main passion is fiction. My short stories have been published in the local papers. Occasionally, I dabble with creative non-fiction. I have a several chapters of a book completed which I’m hoping to submit to Avalon Books. Despite years of living in Ontario, I will always consider myself foremost a Montrealer. Now living in Waterloo County, home of Research in Motion, maker of the Blackberry, I am content in our downsized apartment which is close to uptown, but overlooks Laurel Creek. Though considered Canada’s Silicon Valley, the city is surrounded by a picturesque countryside filled with Mennonites. It is not uncommon to see a Mercedes Benz carefully pass a horse drawn wagon. Even our local hardware stores provide parking for buggies. We have many wonderful festivals, two universities, and culture galore. I spent years as an E.C.E. teacher and adore children. Now, that I have one of my own –after 16 heartbreaking years of infertility – my days are filled with finger paints and drinking imaginary tea from tiny pink tea cups. Sleep is a distant memory and writing is my night time balm. My hubby works evening shifts. After my girl is asleep, my imagination runs wild and I write. I am a Jill of all trades. I've worked as a personal care attendant in a home for young people with physical and developmental challenges. Had a short go as a dishwasher in my younger days, oh joy. I've also been an engraver, a store manager, a cashier at the Sally Anne, but my last job was as at an office where I worked on databases (I WISH I was a geek.) As a newer member of Poetry Soup, I am often dazzled by its diversity,the quiet, shy voices, the bellows in the foreground, the cackles in the corners. There is so much talent here! I love the contests run by its members as I enjoy a challenge.
Nice to meet you! Looking forward to growing together, as writers and friends. Hugs, Cyndi
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Most Recent Blog Post
SPAT VS DISAGREEMENT
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Blog Posted:1/15/2013 7:56:00 PM
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"1810 was the year of Wordsworth's great quarrel with Coleridge. When Coleridge moved to London to live with Basil Montagu (whose son was the inspiration for the poem "Anecdote for Fathers"), Wordsworth felt compelled to tell Montagu some unpleasant things about Coleridge's personal habits, in particular the opium addiction. When Montagu reported Wordsworth's concerns to Coleridge Coleridge was deeply hurt, and shunned Wordsworth. London is a long way from the Lake District, but when Coleridge came home to visit his family in 1812, and went out of his way not to see his old friend, Wordsworth became very angry at the snub. Later that year, Wordsworth apologized for any misunderstanding, and there was at least a superficial healing of the rift." (Allpoetry.com)
Lookie, a soap opera. Oh, the shame.
I wanted to share this.
Poet scuffles, both public and private are not new, nor should the occasional squabble get the community's panties into a twist.
It seems like ages ago I read something that hurt my feelings, and I mean DEEPLY.
The poet had no idea I would react the way I did. Now, I publicly voiced my hurt on a comment on a blog and the poet contacted me via soupmail. We not only worked things out, but today I consider him a dear, trusted friend. This scribe blows me away, not only with his words and vision, but with his perception and spirituality. Just call me Ruben-nesque. ;-D
Perhaps, one day, we will have another ... disagreement ... lol... we are both too passionate and verbose to simply be insipid, timid and/or politically correct. We may even kick up some dust on this field called poetry, but we will do so with a genuine, mutual respect and a clear understanding of each other and ourselves.
I do NOT think all disagreements need to be kept in some back room. Some, certainly. But the occasional tankard slam at the friendly pub? Naw. The nose to nose stare down, growl, scowl and howl? Nope. Not those either.
Then again, I’m part French. We argue. We argue loud and openly. We make up loud and openly. We kiss far too much. LOL. When my husband visited my hometown he turned to me and said, "Dear God, there is an entire city just like you? Heaven help us!"
This photo is actually a Vancouver couple, kissing during a riot
But I do think that there should be expectations on how those around us voice their thoughts, views and conflictions. We should be able to say, “Hey, I don’t like what you said and how you said it. Capiche?” We should be able to say, “Dude, look I get your point, but I couldn’t disagree more and we will never see eye to eye on this matter.” We should even be able to say, "I think your bus stop is next. C'mon!"
One poet here and I will never agree on certain aspects of poetry and yet I consider her my soul-sister in a thousand ways. I wouldn’t hesitate to stand on my chair and bandy words with her, for she knows my passions and my heart, and she also knows that just because we do not share ideals in certain things, I look up to her and respect her opinions. Her heart is huge. BET you know who it is?
We are family, here! YES? Or NO?
Well, unless you come from some soulless and heartless clan, pod people impersonators, Stedford wive-wanna-bes, I imagine that there have been times around YOUR dinner table that some angry words were tossed about, a finger or two were pointed and someone pushed back a chair and then stormed from the room. Tears were probably involved, maybe even a “I’ll hate you until I die.”
This isn’t the first dance I’ve done with poets.
And yes, we are not all the same, some of us are thick skinned and others are so sensitive that even a sharp look will cut them to the quick.
But one thing I will say that I’ve noticed about ALL poets: WE INTERNALIZE THEN REACT BY TURNING EMOTION INTO WORDS. Some take longer to react. Others can spin out something in 0.6 seconds. When you add the internet’s immediacy to the mix, it can lead to some rough retorts that someone wishes they could recant.
This is just me blathering on about something you all know, already.
I just wanted to make it clear that I believe there is nothing wrong with the occasional squabble. Why?
1) It is honest. Certainly more honest than gossiping to three other poets in soup mails when the object of your annoyance probably has no idea how or why he has slighted you.
2) It can clear the air. Feelings are exposed. Perhaps leading to an apology and a fresh beginning. It can even become an AHA moment to some.
3) Zipped lips lead to larger hurts and an exasperated conflict. You can’t fix a problem unless you acknowledge there IS a problem.
BUT, that being said
1) Be honest about your OWN feelings ... use “I” whenever possible...
2) Make it clear that when you disagree with a point that you still hold the poet in high esteem. It’s about one view, not who they are.
3) Don’t just jump on the bandwagon. If the battle ain’t yours and your emotions are not involved, don’t add fuel to the fire. Instead try to diffuse the situation by seeing all points of view and really trying to identify what is the true cause of the upset.
Love you guys.
And I hope the two poets who I’ve mentioned in this blog understand how much they mean to me and that I am grateful for their kindness and wisdom when I was being such an ornery, loud Frenchie Frog.
Xox
Cyndi
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My Past Blog Posts
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THE IRONY OF MY IGNORANCE--RE: BANGLADESH
Date Posted: 5/19/2013 7:15:00 AM |
HO HEY: WRITE ME A PUB SONG, WINNERS!
Date Posted: 5/14/2013 9:16:00 PM |
A LOVE LETTER TO INDIA... A TRIBUTE, FOUND ON THE CONTEST PAGE, update on pub songs
Date Posted: 5/14/2013 6:47:00 AM |
PRAYERS AND CONCERN FOR BANGLADESH
Date Posted: 5/7/2013 12:34:00 PM |
Daily Haiku: The journal of Contemporary Haiku
Date Posted: 5/7/2013 5:30:00 AM |
DOES ANYONE HAVE NEWS OF OUR LINDA-MARIE?
Date Posted: 5/7/2013 4:51:00 AM |
HAIKU AND PHOTO-- Use as a prompt, share news, whatever
Date Posted: 5/5/2013 4:54:00 PM |
HAIKU AND PICTURE... feel free to use as a prompt, add a haiku, thought, news, whatever! <3
Date Posted: 5/4/2013 11:16:00 AM |
MOMMY BLOG: TACTICAL PARENTING
Date Posted: 5/1/2013 8:35:00 PM |
SOME OF THE PEOPLE ON SOUP. WHO I THINK YOU ARE. TAKE A PEEK!
Date Posted: 4/29/2013 8:14:00 PM |
SYLVIA, A CROWN OF SONNETS, FOR CRAIG & ALL PLATH FANS
Date Posted: 4/26/2013 4:11:00 PM |
Sak Vid Pa Kanpe, ghostwritten... YO RUBEN!
Date Posted: 4/25/2013 12:10:00 AM |
NEXT DARE, FIX SOMEONE'S UNFIXABLE. PROVE IT CAN BE DONE! WHO'S IN? RUBEN, I TAG YOURS... LET ME DO IT!
Date Posted: 4/24/2013 5:43:00 PM |
OH, LORD, I SWORE I'D NEVER SHARE THIS... JUST FOUND IT... CIRCA 1998
Date Posted: 4/24/2013 4:58:00 PM |
OLD SERVING OF CRAP FOR PD AND RUBEN... COME 'N GET IT WHILE IT STINKS TO HIGH HEAVEN
Date Posted: 4/23/2013 3:43:00 PM |
Z IS FOR ZARIA, WINNERS and CONGRATULATIONS!
Date Posted: 4/16/2013 10:30:00 PM |
NEW CONTEST, HO HEY: WRITE ME A PUB SONG
Date Posted: 4/11/2013 8:33:00 PM |
A POEM FOR FRANCINE ROBERTS, FREE VERSE
Date Posted: 4/10/2013 8:32:00 PM |
ONTARIO'S PROVINCIAL FLOWER-- Photo for all, but especially for PD
Date Posted: 4/10/2013 11:22:00 AM |
THE THORNY CROWN, A RONDEAU
Date Posted: 3/28/2013 9:57:00 PM |
SOUPERS, PLEASE READ. AN IDEA I SENT TO TPS. WATCHA THINK? WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THIS, TOO?
Date Posted: 3/27/2013 4:53:00 PM |
LINDA IRMA --- PD---- LOVE AND SYMPATHY CARD, SOUPERS PLEASE SIGN.
Date Posted: 3/26/2013 6:03:00 AM |
101 WAYS TO OUT YOURSELF AS A POET. WHAT MAKES A POET... FOUND HERE.
Date Posted: 3/25/2013 5:02:00 PM |
PALADIN, FREE VERSE
Date Posted: 3/21/2013 9:32:00 PM |
INTRODUCING MY NEW FORM: the I DO NOT CARE
Date Posted: 3/20/2013 8:27:00 PM |
My Poems
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| Date Posted | Poem Title | Form | Categories |
| 5/18/2013 | POETRY | Free verse (vers libre) | poetry, |
| 5/13/2013 | MADE IN BANGLADESH | Ghazal | change,clothes,death, |
| 5/10/2013 | Contemporary haiku | Haiku | children,family,mother,sw |
| 5/7/2013 | LOVE CLAMORS, A DIRGE FOR CIVILITY | Villanelle | care,people,rights, |
| 5/6/2013 | haiku for Catie | Haiku | games,sexy, |
| 5/5/2013 | SUNDAY SOJOURN | Haibun | garden,morning,time, |
| 5/3/2013 | a cluster of men | Haiku | summer, |
| 5/3/2013 | haiku - For Moms | Haiku | life,may,mother, |
| 5/3/2013 | haiku 7 - verbless | Haiku | seasons, |
| 5/2/2013 | FLOWER FAERIES | Quintain (English) | fairy,flower, |
| 4/28/2013 | WOMEN, FOR DEBBIE GUZZI | Free verse (vers libre) | friendship,gender, |
| 4/26/2013 | SYLVIA, FOR CRAIG CORNISH, FOR ALL PLATH FANS | Crown of Sonnets | life,poets,writing, |
| 4/20/2013 | THE POET'S CREED | Free verse (vers libre) | poetry,world,writing, |
| 4/18/2013 | TYPEWRITER | Free verse (vers libre) | lust,writing, |
| 4/17/2013 | IT---FOR A TEACHER AND FRIEND ON HER RETURN | Free verse (vers libre) | poetry,writing, |
| 4/11/2013 | GET ME TO THE PUB | Lyric | funny,life,places,song,me |
| 4/10/2013 | TWELVE DOLLARS, UNLESS PRICED DIFFERENTLY, dedicated to Francine Roberts | Free verse (vers libre) | nostalgia,women, |
| 4/9/2013 | haiku 2013 | Haiku | flower,food, |
| 4/8/2013 | THE ADJECTIVE IMPERATIVE | Couplet | on writing and words,word |
| 4/1/2013 | MY JANE | Sonnet | romantic, |
| 3/31/2013 | haiku for Charles | Haiku | nature,people,time, |
| 3/28/2013 | THE THORNY CROWN | Rondeau | easter,faith, |
| 3/26/2013 | THE FIRST OF APRIL | Haibun | holiday,hope,pain, |
| 3/24/2013 | CRUCIBLE | Villanelle | hate,suicide,teen,heart,h |
| 3/21/2013 | PALADIN | Free verse (vers libre) | people,sympathy, |
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Fav Poems
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| Poem Title | Form | Categories |
| The Sowing | Free verse (vers libre) | devotion |
| Ten Little Toes | Rhyme | daughter,lifeold,old,,gra |
| Woodland Rhapsody | Quatrain | inspirational |
| Contradicting Keats | Sonnet | introspection,life |
| Surrender to Love | Rhyme | loveme, |
| A Totum Pole Ode | Concrete | native american,people, |
| MORE DREAMS TO ROW | Rhyme royal | inspirational,life, |
| FALLEN LEAF | Dizain | nature, |
| When the Tab Comes Due | Free verse (vers libre) | inspirational,introspecti |
| Lighting My Candle From Within | Quintain (English) | caregiving,introspection, |
| The Kirk by the Sea | Couplet | nostalgia,religion,love, |
| Moonlight On The Ward | Choka | health,life, |
| Nocturnal Poetry | Rhyme | imagination,life,poetry, |
| Slumber | Epic | dedication,epic,slam, |
| FROSTY MOONLIT STROLL | Couplet | inspirational,seasons, |
| Our Thanksgiving | Light Poetry | holiday, |
| Tomorrow's Grace | Etheree | peace, |
| A New Star Shines Above Hawaii | Rhyme | dedication,music, |
| UNSPOKEN | Lyric | angst,love,people, |
| Jesus, Our Savior | Shape | religion,life, |
| Monarch of Summer | Verse | animals,devotion,inspirat |
| Untouched | Rhyme | forgiveness,me,me, |
| Midnight Pearls | Than-Bauk | introspection,love, |
| Beaucoup Blooms | Terza Rima | nature,spring,spring, |
| On Heaven's Doorway | Narrative | inspirational,life,care,c |
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