Simran Gleason

Along with all the other crazy things I do, I also scribble some verse down on random pieces of paper. These days I haven't written much at all, so what happens: I get published! Local literary journals, an anthology from Rochester, etc. A far bigger accomplishement than that, however, was getting to be the "Guest Poet" in my sister's 7th grade classroom (she's the teacher). I snuck out of a CHI conference in Boston, took a zillion buses to Lexington, and read some poems. Then the kids get to ask any question they want: "How long does it take to put your turban on in the morning." So we discussed my turban for twenty minutes, & I read them a meditation poem (Tassajara, Guest at the Monastery).

Here's a little selection of my poems. I'm not giving you any terribly coherent theme yet (maybe someday I'll reorganize), and they were written at all kinds of different times. Oh well.

Enjoy!
Simran.

ps: also check out my other shows.

Waterdreams

An illustrated poem. I wrote the poem in '92 after a long string of dreams with water in them. Lakes, crashing surf & eroding cliffs. Just recently, I drew a (digital) picture in long scroll format in hazy blue & white, & titled it waterdreams. Then I put the two together on one page.
Let me know if it works for you.

Tassajara, Guest at the Monastery

I wrote this several years after a visit to the Tassajara Zen monastery and hot springs resort, in the hills above Big Sur, California. A true story (as far as memory serves).

Red Tail

Another true story.

Maple Wind

One in a series of Chinese Painting Poems.

Chrysanthemums

Another in a series of Chinese Painting Poems.

Dawn of the Electronic Age Poet

I wrote this one soon after finding the newsgroup rec.arts.poems. Sometimes I really have to struggle with my conflicting tendencies to be a techno knurd and a luddite.

Where is that Poet?

This poem "won" the first international rec.arts.poems online poetry contest! (Check with anyone on r.a.p to find out how much of an "honor" this really is :-)