by Gabriela Salazarinspired by TBAWP’s 2020 freewrite As soon as I laid eyes on his- I knewJust as the sun would rise tomorrow, He would be mine He’s the ocean His waves pulling me in deeper and deeper A perilous paradise I am lost…
tbawproject
We are an affiliate with the National Writing Project and a partner with the University of South Florida.
Please address correspondence to co-directors, Dr. Michael B. Sherry, mbsherry@usf.edu, and Mari Aviles, aviles2375@gmail.com
Marcos Who…
by Mari Avilesa humble imitation of Sandra Cisneros’s “Abuelito Who” Marcos who plays notes into silenceand asks who hears him. Who is a melody and a bass linewho is a six-stringtwelve-stringa bass.Whose fingers are made of magicis too broken to play Who…
First Love
by Julia Genkingerinspired by TBAWP 2020’s group discussion Falling in love for the first time is easyYour first companion, your first commitment to someone you care forYou’ve never been destroyed by love before.Love is joy.And when it ends your pieces…
Portraits
by Anonymousinspired by Mari Aviles’ demo-lesson Everyone in my family has a different smile. My mother’s smile is wide and shows all of her teeth, open and inviting, and the skin around her mouth shows the wear of years of…
Altered Spaces
by Courtney Nickelinspired by Asimina Mobley’s mini-lesson Sunday, March 8 4pmI hustled around Trinity Sportsplex frantically decorating and making sure everything was in order for my son’s 8th birthday party. 28 children (mostly boys) arrived with their parents. They…
Intrusion
by Karen Holbrookinspired by Samantha Beatty’s mini-lesson Hidden away inside the coat jacket was a sealed letter. I gently pulled it out from the safety of the pocket and wondered who this letter was intended for. The dusty gray jacket…
Vigils
by Katharine Werthwineinspired by Courtney Nickel’s mini-lesson I remember the day you stumbled,Out of the airWhen your lungs sputter,Out of air. How I kept vigilThat night, brightenedBy the fire crackling down your spine.Your body crackled with pain,Your bones, kindling. Today…
The Realities of Teaching & When Quarantine Hits
by Jessica O’Brieninspired by Karen Holbrook’s demo-lesson Mrs. OBrien Jessica Teacher &…
Heartbeat #3
by Julia Genkingerinspired by Courtney Nickel’s mini-lesson My Perspective 9/16/19:I got the call Monday night as I got home from my last class of the day. “Hey, how did it go at the doctors?” I asked my mom, who I…
Sacred
by Lisa Inserra inspired by Mieke Valk's demo-lessonand with special thanks to The Goat Rodeo Allstars It was a Saturday night party of twenty-somethings in the 5th floor walk-up of Joe's midtown Manhattan apartment. She rang the bell. Joe excused…
