Our About the Author series continues with Sharon Keys Gray.
“I AM NOT A POET!” I told myself. Those words resounded in my mind with decisive emphasis on not. Recalling that as a child in grade school nothing caused me to panic more than receiving a homework assignment to write a poem, confirmed this to be fact. I, who had earned straight ‘A’s in English grammar and also won the class spelling bee, became completely paralyzed when asked to attempt to compose a poem.
I remember the hollow unsupported sensation
in my stomach on hearing the assignment; like standing in an elevator that
drops so fast that it feels like your stomach is still at a previous floor
while the rest of your body has fallen away somewhere below.
My eyes would grow
round and wide as quarters, then my gaze would drop to the floor in accession
to defeat. Nonetheless, I’d spend hours
staring at an empty page in my composition book, pencil poised in hand in hope
that some phrase, some snippet might leap to mind that I could capture before
it was lost to me. It never did. I accepted this as divine revelation that a
poet I was not destined to be.
I did experience success in high
school, however, crafting creative writing pieces and writing essays. Consequently, over the years I retained the
notion that someday at my leisure I would write a novel. One evening a couple of years ago, the idea
resurfaced and I decided the time to begin to write had come; but how to
start? It occurred to me that there might
be others like me in the area who were perhaps meeting and honing their
craft. So, I surfed the Web to see what
was available and there I found the Women’s Writing Circle. There was a meeting scheduled the very next
Saturday and I sent an email confirming that I would attend.
Nervous and shy at first, I shrunk
into my chair to observe the meeting.
But the ladies of the Circle were so warm and encouraging that I soon
came out of hiding. I’d brought a piece
that I’d written and shared it with the group.
To my pleasure I received both genuine praise and kind suggestions on
how I could make the piece more powerful.
Such a happy discovery was the Women’s Writing Circle for me!
I believe it was the ladies of the Circle who
slew the demon that suppressed my ability to write poetry. For it was not long after starting to meet
with the group that my first poem drifted to consciousness as I lay sleeping
one night. And, when I read that poem to
them, saying that I am not a poet, their resounding reply . . . “OH YES YOU
ARE!”
I have three poems featured in the
Slants Of Light anthology. “Alone In My
Sunshine Room” was inspired by my thoughts and reflections as I sat in a sunny
room of my house. The poem called “A Glance” was inspired by
the view out of a window on a snowy day.
The elegy “When Death Comes Late” flowed from thoughts of an aging
family member’s perspective on life.
Although still intent on writing that novel, I am happy to have a poetry
muse as my companion.
Sharon Keys Gray
grew up in one of the poorest neighborhoods of Philadelphia and is proud to say
that she is successful product of the Philadelphia Public School System. “My teachers saw potential in me,” says
Sharon. “They encouraged me and nurtured
my talents, and I am forever grateful to them.”
Sharon has made her career in Information Technology and works for a
large financial institution. “I continue
to enjoy my career,” she says, “but I feel compelled to write, which perhaps is
a calling to a second career.”
