THE 2009 GATLIANNE CALENDAR IS AVAILABLE!
"Gatlianne's poetry won't weight you down with a drab and erudite stuffiness, rather she'll ease you into a peaceful rocking chair overlooking the dew-sprinkled back yard of the natural wide world. She'll point out the dancing bug and reason whether your heart feels as lost and idle as the bug appears to be. You'll nod your head, breathe in the southern air, and read on. Her work is misted with a simple zen aesthetic, playfully seductive, and as genuine as an effortless wave to a passing friend. How is it southern poets always seem to have this innate quality? Then again, should we ask why when we can simply enjoy what is gifted to us? Gatlianne's poetry shows that she understands our intrinsic human connection and how unpretentious it is in every way. Life's magic isn't in the sparkle, but in the calming spaces between. Much like that, her words are weaved in pretty lines, but it's the vibe behind them that comforts and brings a feathery smile to a reader's face. "
James H Duncan
Writer
MY LIFE UNLIVED
I am not afraid of death
If I were to close my eyes tonight
And not wake upon the morrow
I would have died peacefully
And without regret
Knowing that I had lived my last day
With a zest for life
Knowing that I’d made a difference
In someone’s life
Other than my own
Knowing that I had been an inspiration
Knowing I had been a true friend
Knowing that I’d led my life by example
And had spent my last day
Being myself
For I am who I am and I apologize not for it
For who I am is a product of where I have been
Leading me to where I am going
And if my path ends tonight
I will die unafraid, unencumbered by doubt of self
Triumphant in my person
At ease with my accomplishments
No, I am not afraid of death
I am only afraid of my life unlived
© M/Gatlianne 2009
Photo Credit: Lewis Metts
