Georgia Greeley • Soundings

About Soundings

In her first book, Soundings, Georgia Greeley brings the eye of an artist and the heart of a poet to her reflections on nature, relationships, art, illness and mortality. A deep love of family and friends are at the core of Greeley’s poems—smart poems full of grace and warmthGrace, generosity, perception, deep affection and wry humor characterize the poems in Georgia Greeley's wise first book, Soundings. The love of family and friends forms a core theme in Greeley's work, whether in poems about travel or gardens. Ultimately, these objects of her affection become characters orbiting like planets throughout the book. Greeley is a poet buoyant with conviction, always in possession of the unshakeable belief //liftoff is possible. — Ethna McKiernan, author of The One Who Swears You Can't Start Over (Salmon Poetry, 2002)

About Georgia

Georgia Greeley is an artist, vocalist, and writer who lives and works in St. Paul. She has published poetry and memoir pieces in several small press magazines, and children's short stories in educational magazines. Her fine press broadsides and handmade artist’s books have appeared in juried shows in the Twin Cities and its suburbs.

Why Flowers

They have petals soft and twitchy as cats' ears

stand in the rain with no clothes on

root in air, water, or soil

sing at our wakes

scent our graves

stun our senses with vibrant color —

pull us fully into the moment.

From Soundings, by Georgia Greeley

Georgia on Writing Poetry

Writing poetry is like doing mathematics of the heart. I can take all the disparate elements life throws out, struggle with the equation, come out with 2 + 2 = 7, and it is the truth. Poetry holds and balances; poetry heals and comforts; poetry laughs and cherishes; poetry is capable of bringing understanding and peace to our hearts and to our world.

From The Double Meaning of Yield: Laurel Poets on Writing Poetry