Narration by Val Cole

READING A MAP, by Joanne Leva

Fall River. Smith Mills. New Bedford. Freetown.
A slow drive into charcoal blue. Silver
Beach. Ethereal Grey Gables. Frozen
Creek. Flying Horses Carousel. The wind

was whipping along the coast and you were
West Chop bent at the hip. Your arms cradled
dozens of Conque shells. And I was East Chop.
My arms full of shells, too. We were a mile

apart but still so connected. Looking
back, I think that sea air whipping and shells
falling from our arms were a kind of map.
A way of wandering we understood.

Heaven Heights. Pie-in-the-Sky Bakery

Get to know the poet:

1) Q: What is the theme of your poem?
A: Love on a spiritual level. Soulmates. On finding your person in the world.

2) Q: What motivated you to write this poem?
A: My husband, John, was an alcoholic and an addict. He was also a brilliant jazz musician. After COVID, he lost his day job, his extra income from performing in local and regional gigs, and the community of random jam sessions with friends. His mental and physical health declined until one Sunday, when I returned home from church, I found two police officers waiting for me in my driveway. Just like the movies...

3) Q: How long have you been writing poetry?
A: 38 years

4) Q: If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?
A: Definitely Diane Seuss. She is my hero!

5) Q: What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?
A: I have worked with other actors from the University of Pennsylvania's theater department in translating my poetry into movement and physical space. It makes sense to me.

Here is a link of the performance: https://joanneleva.com/video-joanne-reads-at-muse-house/

6) Q: Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?
A: Not really. I'm a big fan of movies, tho.

7) Q: What is your passion in life?
A: Poetry