Sometimes the Lights Onstage Are So Bright
by MJ Iuppa
To get here, we must learn to walk
inside of steps taken— turn corners
of corridors, of books opened &
closed— of looking into daybreak
where the sun glows upon rising
trees & a red bird, that rarely gives
an inch, sings its throaty tune of
cheer, cheer, cheer—
And truthfully, none of us are sure
of this encouragement that sticks
with us, even though we’d like
to say we found our own way.
About the Author
M.J. Iuppa is the Director of the Visual and Performing Arts Minor Program and Lecturer in Creative Writing at St. John Fisher College; and since 2000 to present, is a part time lecturer in Creative Writing at The College at Brockport. Since 1986, she has been a teaching artist, working with students, K-12, in Rochester, NY, and surrounding area. Most recently, she was awarded the New York State Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching, 2017. She has four full length poetry collections, This Thirst (Kelsay Books, 2017), Small Worlds Floating (2016) as well as Within Reach (2010) both from Cherry Grove Collections; Night Traveler (Foothills Publishing, 2003); and 5 chapbooks. She lives on a small farm in Hamlin NY.