Grief Motel (Pt. 1)

The queens discuss the craft of coping with grief.


James misattributes to Coleridge the Preface to the Lyrical Ballads,  which defines poetry as "the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings." The real author is, of course, Wordsworth, who also writes:  "I have said that poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquillity: the emotion is contemplated till, by a species of reaction, the tranquillity gradually disappears, and an emotion, kindred to that which was before the subject of contemplation, is gradually produced, and does itself actually exist in the mind." Read the entire Preface here.

Aaron's book, Stop Lying, is available for pre-order here. It will be published by the University of Pittsburgh Press Poetry Series on January 31. 2023.

James's book of lyric personal essays, I Liked You Better Before I Knew You So Well, is available here.

A terrific depot of mental health resources can be found at Mental Health America, an organization driven by its commitment to promote mental health as a critical part of overall wellness, including prevention services for all; early identification and intervention for those at risk; integrated care, services, and supports for those who need them; with recovery as the goal.

For trans and non-conforming gender folks, we recommend Trans Lifeline. They have a hotline  (information here) where you can talk to a trans/nonbinary peer with full anonymity and confidentiality. They promise no nonconsensual active rescue (calling 911, emergency services, or law enforcement)