A poem from Rice & Rain

It's been a month since Rice & Rain came out. Thank you to those who supported it so far! ❤

"Last Offices" is inspired from my experience of washing a dead body for the first time when I was a student nurse. I must've been 19 back then ❤

You can order your copy of Rice & Rain here

I'm in Strange Horizons

My poem 'Home, as always' is published in Strange Horizons last month.



Read it HERE

❤

I got an award!

So glad to be Commended in the Poetry category of Creative Future Literary Awards.
I still can't believe it!

All the winner in both poetry and prose categories are published in a beautiful anthology which you can buy HERE

All these Brexit talks

Well, normally, I am a silent poet. Normally, I keep myself to myself and write stuff about myself and other people/things who/that are close to me.

But since this Brexit phenomenon happened, I cannot just be a silent  poet. I have to say something. Amidst all the arguments between Remainia and Leavea, and all the atrocities of blatant bullying, the most important thing I have learnt is that we gotta stand for what we believe in, especially if what we believe in actually makes sense.

So I wrote a poem about what I learned after this Brexit 'seismic' event/malarkey. In this poem, I understood that I have had a Change of Heart. Read this poem HERE

💚

Writing again

It's been a while since I last blogged! I couldn't believe I haven't written any poem for the last two months too. I have been so busy with university works and my career, that those two months seemed to have past so quickly. I mean, I'd always written something at least once a month before this 'hiatus'!

I'm so glad to share the news that I have been invited to submit a poem to an upcoming themed anthology based in Malaysia, so I have been writing again, and of course, my aim is to produce a very good piece of work for this.

I will also be on the next issue of the excellent magazine, Under the Radar (Nine Arches Press) - looking forward to this! UTR has published well respected poets like Angela Readman, Martin Malone, and many more.    Please watch out for their issue 17 in which one of my poems will appear.

 I had also facilitated creative writing workshops for the young people of Wolverhampton at Base 25. I guess I haven't really stopped delivering creative writing workshops at all!

I will be posting more updates about all of these here; I hope you guys are also receiving good and positive news about your writing.  😊 keep being creative!

Highly-commended in Carers UK Creative Writing Competition

I am so happy to receive my copy of 'No one should have to care alone', an anthology of winning, highly-commended, and chosen poems and stories from Carers UK Creative Writing Competition 2015. My poem, For Ted, is highly commended in this competition which was judged by award winning poet, Cheryl Moskowitz.

The anthology

A note from the judge

This 93-pages book is perfectly bounded and feels quite good in your hands. I'd just had a quick look at some of the  poems and stories and I am still to read all its contents, but so far, it has surely given me a very good impression of what this anthology is like. Some of the writers here are newly published while others are already 'veterans' (and have had won competitions such as Bronte Society Competition), and have publications in magazines like The Rialto, Mslexia, and many more.

My poem, For Ted (highly-commended)

You can get a copy of this anthology HERE

Last Tuesday's City Voices Review from Write Out Loud

So, last week, I was invited to perform at City Voices in Wolverhampton to read my poetry.
I was quite nervous because on the line up were two poet laureates and two other respected poets. At the same time, I was quite excited and had a very good time that night. 

Today, Write Out Loud wrote a very good review about City Voices. The little comment about me, even though there's a slight misspell in my name, is very humbling and encouraging.

I'd like to share with you that wonderful review HERE :)

Fancy reading a 'micro fiction'?

If you had a busy Monday, you might as well unwind by reading Microfiction Monday in which my very short story, Silent Thoughts, has been published. Here's the link; enjoy guys.


:-)

Creative Writing Competition (Carers UK)

I am glad to announce that my poem, For Ted, is highly commended in Creative Writing Competition (Carers UK).

The competition aims to give a different "perspective on what it means to care".

I'm happy to be included in their upcoming anthology. Also, I know that the simplicity but weight of the winning poem, After Diagnosis by Fiona Ritchie Walker, deserves to win.

Interestingly, I feel that this news is an early birthday gift for me (my birthday's tomorrow! :-0), and this news signals my lucky writing career in 2016!

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The Poetry of Staffordshire

So proud to have my poem, Cannock Chase, published in this beautiful new anthology - The Poetry of Staffordshire, from Offa’s Press. Alongside works by Dame Carol Ann Duffy, Jean Sprackland and some of my favourite OP poets. Finally, I feel that I am a well-established 'British' young woman and that I belong somewhere - I'm a Staffordshire lass! ;-)

 

To order a copy of this anthology of exquisite poetry, click HERE

 

 

I am on Eastlit

I am really glad to be  published in Easlit, an online  journal that focuses on Asia and Southeast Asia. I have few poems about and based on my memories in the Philippines, the country where I was born. Please check them out and I hope you enjoy your literary adventure to the Southeast! :)



copyright of Eastlit

 click here to read Eastlit

The Yellow Book Poetry Prize Presentation

On the way to the Westminster Palace

 

On the 24th of June, I was invited to attend the prize presentation of The Yellow Book at Westminster Palace.

It was a great  event which highlights the importance of our mental health and well-being.

My two works, Paper Plane & Morning Run are prize-winning poems. I love supporting projects like this. Here are the reasons why:

• Simple but Meaningful - The poems in The Yellow Book are simple but meaningful. I aim for my poems to be accessible not only to poetry readers/writers but also to everybody. What I've observed so far is that most contemporary poets write well-crafted but complicated poetry. When I say complicated, I mean most of them use difficult, non-day to day words. I call them "big words". Those that may read sophisticated to the eyes of poets but certainly will bore everyone else. For example, when I ask my partner or friends (who don't normally write/read poems) to look at modern poems, they corrugate their brows as they confess that they don't understand them. Now, how come? Shouldn't poetry be accessible to everybody - whether they be poets or not? I believe that simplicity is what will make poetry everlasting. If we are gonna make our readers look up a word at the dictionary at every stanza, how can we expect poetry to survive in the future? As a poet, I aim not to only impress my fellow poets but my fellow human beings as a whole.

  

  With two of the judges Helen Ivory (left) and Lydia Towsey (right)

  
  
  

• Good Purpose - The Yellow Book will be distributed to GP Surgeries, hospitals, as well as prisons. The poems in it are meant to give hope. Poetry should serve a purpose and as a nurse and a student counsellor, I am just glad that my poems will be able to get the chance to inspire and give hope to others.

To get your free copy of the book, click HERE. You will need to pay for postage and packaging though.

On the balcony of Westminster Palace with The Yellow Book in which 2 of my poems have been published
 

Review: Ponds Perfect Care Lemon Cold Cream Deep Cleanser

So I've been using this cream cleanser for a couple of months now.

I actually got it whilst I was travelling in Thailand for a mere £3.00. It is a 'deep cleanser' and most people use this as a make up remover which, I must say, works really well. However, I use it as a cleanser AFTER I wash my face.

 

I just use a dab of this cream and massage it onto my face and neck. Then I wipe it off with some water-damp cotton to prevent it from clogging pores (the instructions actually state to wash your face off or wipe it with a cotton).

And as you can see, all the remaining dirt that my normal facial wash couldn't remove was actually swept away with the use of this excellent cleanser.

What do I love more about this cream?

• Texture - unlike other products which leave you feeling oily/greasy, this cream has a very soft texture to it and it actually leaves my face supple, almost velvety to touch
• Cleanser PLUS Moisturiser - After using this cream, I no longer feel the need to moisturise my face as this product also acts as a moisturiser. It's 2 in 1. And I must say, it is a very effective moisturiser! I normally sleep with my heater on and that causes me to dry up overnight but this product protects my skin from that. (Also it actually saves me from buying a moisturiser, how practical!)
• Mildly scented - I love it's lemony scent which leaves my face feeling fresh and clean.

Any Cons?
I would say that for some people, because of the lemony scent, the cream might be a little irritable to the eyes. That's only a guess as this product really suits me and I've got no problem with it whatsoever. I can't really fault it!

For those who don't live in Thailand, you can get this through Amazon. The only issue is you would have to pay double or more than it's retail prize in it's 'native home'.

I would definitely recommend this product. And yes, I will be getting one again! :-)

Poetry prize-presentation at the House of Lords

I'm so excited to receive my invitation to the House of Lords for the prize-presentation of The Yellow Book. My partner receives an invitation too. Apparently you can't go into the Palace of Westminster without an invitation.

I'm really excited! I'd never really been invited to prestigious places like this... until now :-)

To read more information about this creative project by Rethink Your Mind, click HERE

Changes! and a New Blog to launch soon :)

Oh how we cringe upon hearing changes! Whether it be good or bad, there's always be a smidge of anxiety with it.

I just want to announce the future changes in my blog - Since I want to concentrate on using this blog for pure poetry and anything literature-related topics, I will be taking down the Other (hearts) section of this blog and replacing it with Literary Travels (or guide to places related to literature/poetry). How exciting!!!

But don't cringe if you will miss the random topics I normally post because I will be launching a new blog about my Other Hearts.

Basically, it will be an exciting blog about how the things I heart leads me towards Happiness :-) I will be notifying you guys as soon as the blog is ready.

For the mean time, enjoy looking at my Other <3 section of this blog while it's still here.

Good day,
Roma
xx




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Selected to be in The Yellow Book and Tweeted by Stephen Fry

How often can a poem help people with mental disability or at least uplift a person's mood when he is having a bad day?

I am very glad that two of my poems will have the chance to do this. I'm excited to announce that I've officially got 'prize winning' poems at the Rethink Your Mind Poetry Competition! The prize is publication in The Yellow Book which will be distributed throughout the UK and awarded to me (and to other selected entrants) at an upcoming event at the House of Lords. I can't contain my happiness because I will not just get to receive an award at a prestigious place but also my poems will have a chance to put a smile on someone's face!

Find out more HERE

And thank you Stephen Fry for congratulating us!

 

 

I'm in Tamarind Magazine

It is so funny how you come across your work in a magazine when you least expect it. Today I visited the lovely Tamarind Magazine and found out that the haiku I submitted last year was actually published in their issue #12.

I am so delighted to see my work in it as it is my first publication in Australia and it has also left me with a feeling of 'Hang on, that author is me!' and 'That's my poem!' It's such a sweet surprise!

 my haiku in response to rosellas painting (bottom left):

morning birdsong -
the promises
we never keep




 

Gratitude for Greater Happiness

In a world full of modern life challenges it is easy to overlook our blessings and get into the habit of complaining. Being grateful is one of the techniques you can practice to achieve greater happiness in life.

A study of group of psychologists from University of California and University of Miami shows that being grateful makes us happier in life. The 10 week study of 196 people involves one group who are asked  to write down things for which they are grateful and another group to write down hassles that happen to them in those weeks ( i.e traffic on the way to work, a colleague who does not appreciate you). The study reports that the ‘gratitude’ group becomes 25% happier than the ‘hassle’ group.

Showing gratitude is an act of kindness to others and even to yourself. By saying ‘Thank you’ we allow ourselves to fully appreciate what life has provided us, either or small. 

It is not only a way of appreciating others but also a way of helping ourselves into more positive mental health through happiness.

So how can we practice gratitude? Here are some tips:

Keep a gratitude journal: Everyday find one thing you are thankful for and write it down on your diary. It does not have to be something big. You can write something as simple as ‘I am grateful for spending time with my family’ or ‘I am grateful because I have a job to go to’ or even ‘I am grateful because I am alive’. Sometimes I even find myself writing mundane things such as ‘ I am grateful for spending time with my dog’ or ‘I am grateful for the fun spent playing poker with my granddad!”

Do a gratitude meditation or a Thank You prayer: The purpose of a gratitude meditation or a Thank You prayer is to radiance our feelings our appreciation to the universe. Personally, I find praying at night very helpful, not just for the sake of my religion but also for the sake of my spirituality. I find that after I pray or meditate, there is always a smile that gleams on my face. I feel elated and blessed with the life’s abundance.

In order to do a gratitude meditation, you need to sit or lie down quietly and at ease. Allow your body to relax, be aware of your natural breathing. In your mind or out loud, say your thanks to how you have taken care of your body or how your family, friends and loved ones treat you. Imagine you are sending these vibrations of gratitude towards them and in return you are getting such profound happiness in your heart for being loved.

Write a Thank You card: Expressing gratitude has an immense impact on people. You can write and personally deliver a Thank You letter to someone who has been kind to you or has provided some positive changes in your life. You can deliver a Thank You letter to a family member who has helped you with challenging chores or a friend who has made you feel appreciated. You can even read your own letter in front of them.

In my experience I have given thank you cards to my mentors, teachers, and even to my partner who had been taking care of me when I was sick few months ago. I find giving Thank You cards an affirmation that I really appreciate them and they appreciate me. And because I start to realise how much importance I am to them, I learn to be appreciative of myself too. I feel happier because I know I am blessed in many ways in life.

Reference:

Emmons, R. A. and McCullouch M.E. (2003) Counting blessing versus burden, Journal of Personality and Psychology 84 (2), 3002, 377-89

Survey: What poem to read for International Women's Week?

Hello everyone. As I have mentioned in my previous post, I will be performing my poetry at City Voices for International Women's Week.
I've got the list of what I want to read. But I just want your opinion on what kind of poem to read for my 'closing' performance.
So please help me :) See that survey at the top right corner of this blog? Would you kindly pick an answer?

NOTE: If you are using mobile, click 'view desktop version' at the bottom first, then look at the top right and answer the poll

Thank you very much,
Roma

Health MUST really come first

I have been very frustrated. I have been ill with chest infection/shortness of breath for the past three months. I'm still under investigation with my gp and respiratory consultant. This is the third time I have been sick from work. It took me 3 months (during my previous 2 episodes of sickness) before I recovered. But now, this time, it's been 3 months and I am still unwell.

 

I can't even go out , meet with friends, or go to the gym because a little bit of cold or physical exertion gives me phlegmy chest and shortness of breath.

I feel like a stagnant water. Not moving, not achieving anything.

 

 

Sometimes I ask myself, 'What can I do?' I had been careful with my health. Never smoke, don't drink, exercising 3 times a week, eating healthy, sleeping properly, and oh, taking A LOT of vitamins.

But still, my body gets tired, I experience too much fatigue and infections from work (nursing), from waking up early or staying late at night, and driving in cold and snow. And no matter how many times I try my lungs still give in.

This is the third time I'm sick - my gp once told me I was only 25 but had the immunity of a 65 year old woman.

I MUST REALLY take care of myself first. Don't worry about work, about achieving anything just yet. Focus on your body first, Romalyn.

I hope to share with you my journey to recovery.