Things I Imagined
Monday, November 27, Jimi Hendrix and Bruce Lee Day, 7:00 a.m., while driving through Boca Raton, I conversed with the Creator concerning my artistic desires, one of which involved my hopes in, one day, receiving a Pushcart Prize nomination and winning. Revered in the writing world, Pushcart Press is a publishing house probably best known for its Pushcart Prize, wherein, annually, editors of small, independent presses select up to six writers as nominee referrals for the renowned literary award, thus getting published in a Pushcart anthology among other winners.
In the hours following my prayer request, I received word from The Elevation Review at approximately 3:00 p.m. the same day. This biannual magazine that published my poem, ‘WOMEN,’ revealed that their editorial team handpicked me to be a 2023 PUSHCART PRIZE NOMINEE! I nearly went through the roof of my car, at a red light, of course, yet proceeded to praise the LORD, i.e., my Heavenly Father, who makes all things work together for good and blessed me with the gift of telling stories through what I deem, the poignantly written word. I asked, HE replied, and I received.
To anyone wondering, no, all of my prayers have not been answered in general, let alone in a matter of hours, but, in this case, one was; yes, I still await responses for some and accept that others, especially those outside of His calling for me, will never come to pass because He plans to equip me with something better. And lastly, yes again, if He can answer me, He can answer you. Give Him a shout, but don’t forget the shoutout upon getting what you asked for in faith.
I am grateful to The Elevation Review (TER) team for giving ‘WOMEN’ a home among their publications earlier this year and for considering me worthy of this honor. Being chosen alongside five other Black poets, four of whom are women, makes me feel seen and heard yet again along my journey. Admittedly, at times, I am disheartened, as it often seems like tumbleweeds blow through my works more often than interested eyes; still, this now-crossed milestone tells me to continue honing my craft at all costs, even if I think something I penned or filmed is terrible and non-sharable.
Some say, ‘outta sight, outta mind,’ but I say, ‘outta mind, outta sight,’ in that manifestations are products of thought, and if something can be imagined, so can it be achieved. Another great thing about this recognition is that one of my favorite artists/poets/musicians, Jamila Woods, whom I’ve referenced in blog posts before, is a Pushcart Prize nominee herself, so I feel even closer to her creatively and, if nothing else, believe that I am in pretty good company.
So, there it is. I am Venus Se7en, and, in the words of SOLANGE, ‘I saw things I imagined.’
"Saw things I imagined.
I saw things I imagined.
I saw things I imagined.
I saw things I imagined.
I saw things I imagined.
Things I imagined.
Things I imagined.
Things I imagined
taking on the,
taking on the light.
Taking on the,
taking on the light.
Taking on the light."
For your listening and manifestation pleasure. Pay it forward if led to.
