Eliza Writes Things

SPECIAL: Live Poetry Performance at Wofford College

Listen to my live poetry performance at the Wofford College JJR Auditorium before family and friends, also broadcast on Instagram live! I read and offered the context of my favorite handful of poems from my writing in the past year, covering topics ranging from the romantic nature of Jesus' relationship with me, my anti-pornography stance and story behind it, racism in the American south, and the Charleston Emanuel AME Nine. elizawritesthings.com @elizawritesthings

Poem: "Black Coffee" - finding the courage to live as our true selves

Join me for a reading of my original poem, "Black Coffee," and discussion on how we as women can learn how to live as our true selves, celebrating all that we bring to the table. If you are an Apple Podcast listener, please leave a review of my show! Instagram: @elizawritesthings elizawritesthings.com Music: "Beer Belly Blues" by John Deley

Poem: "Electric Chair Blues" - a rebuke of capital punishment

CONTENT WARNING: sexual assault, white supremacy, and capital punishment Join me for a reading of my original poem, "Electric Chair Blues," and discussion of how the death penalty is informed by white supremacist narratives, racist history in America, worship of pride and power, and a misunderstood ethic of what law and order should be. I cite Bryan Stevenson's "Just Mercy" and the studies of his legal counsel nonprofit, the Equal Justice Initiative, for information on why the death penalty is unhealthy for our country. Buy the book: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson eji.org/issues/death-penalty/ If you are an Apple Podcast listener, please leave a review of my show! Instagram: @elizawritesthings elizawritesthings.com Music: "Beer Belly Blues" by John Deley

Poem: Wednesday of Holy Week -- the Holy Spirit's ache for Judas

CONTENT WARNING: mention of Judas' suicide Join me for a reading of my original poem for Wednesday of Holy Week about the Holy Spirit's relationship with Judas the Apostle. I discuss how this poem is meant to color in Biblical characters to help us better see ourselves in them and understand our relationship with Christ by example. Remember, Christ aches for you to simply open yourself to relationship with Him. You do not have to prove anything to Him, all He asks is that you receive His love and respond with love in return. Thriftbooks link: Bible Basics for Catholics by John Bergsma If you are an Apple Podcast listener, please leave a review of my show! Instagram: @elizawritesthings elizawritesthings.com Music: "Beer Belly Blues" by John Deley

Poem: "Asylum Song" -- institutionalized mental illness and hope after mass shootings

CONTENT WARNING: mention of severe mental illness, behavioral hospitals, and the most recent mass shootings. Join me for a reading of my original poem, "Asylum Song," and my discussion on how this poem is informed by the unfortunate sub-human treatment mental health patients receive in institutions that cannot and do not truly regard them as human, our need to bother caring about things that harm the human dignity of every person, and where I find hope in the wake of enormous tragedies. Read "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Stetson here. I'm serious--please read it. If you are an Apple Podcast listener, please leave a review of my show! Instagram: @elizawritesthings elizawritesthings.com Music: "Beer Belly Blues" by John Deley