cynthia cox appointed october’s poco poet-in-residence
Twitches, aka Cynthia Cox, is a 39-year-old workaholic who often neglects her own writing in favor of teaching writing to others. She is looking forward to her month as poet-in-residence as she hopes it will help her recommit to her poetry. She also believes that getting off her stodgy old duff and breaking free of her particular writing mold will be good for her, at least, if not necessarily for anyone else. When she does write poetry, she posts it on her blog, The Twitching Line. She’s also had work published recently in Cider Press Review, Epicenter Magazine and Albatross.
She is one of the few lone liberals who dares to live in the red, red state of Texas. She and her husband currently share their living quarters with one cat, two dogs and zero children. She is proud to teach English at Cinco Ranch High School, one of the few public high schools in Texas to receive the National Blue Ribbon honor in 2008. She loves Mary Oliver and thinks hotels should keep a copy of James Wright’s The Branch Will Not Break in their bedside table drawers instead of the Bible.
She attempted to study poetry in a creative writing program in college, but failed miserably, focusing mainly on fiction that never involved more than a man staring out a window. Her inability to plot a decent storyline as well as her allergy to all things form led to a long hiatus from writing (and a much more accessible degree in English literature).
After devouring the copy of Bill Moyers’ book The Language of Life that her sister gave her for Christmas, Cynthia sat down and wrote poetry for the first time in 10 years, quit worrying about what others were going to say about it, and started writing and performing with the short-lived Houston poetry troupe The Twitching Limes (from which the name of her blog came to be). After this group dispersed, she started her blog to reach out to a newer, virtual group of writers on the web.
She finally understood herself as a writer after reading a statement from critic Charles Mudede (written in review of Kate Preusser) — to this day, it’s still her favorite quote about the writing process and the written word:
As everyone knows, there are only three types of writers worth reading: aesthetes (those who have a gift with words), intellectuals (those who know a lot of difficult things), and intelligent writers (those who are very thoughtful).
Cynthia! I’m so happy to be writing with you. That’s a great photo, wonderful smile you have. I’ve been reading your poems for the last few months, and have loved every one of them. You are one talented writer.
Yay! So thrilled you will be our poet-in-residence!!! I can’t wait to poem with you.
I am so excited! I’m so excited I want you to marry me. Will you? Please say you’ll be mine (of course I will share your poemness with everyone…I just want you to myself first).
I can’t believe I just wrote that out loud.
Us gals with glasses have to stick together. That’s what I am sayin’.
Ooops. Blythe. Can I get married to Cynthia? (Uh-oh. Now I’ve done it.)
Deb, our four eyes shall be eight. Because eight is enough. Enough - I just ate.
Oh, and I have an idea for a type of open collaboration I’d like to try, but I don’t know how to pull it off as it involves the writers NOT seeing what others are writing…I guess I could have everyone email me their line? Would that work?
I don’t know how any of this works yet. I don’t even know if I should be asking this question in the comments. But I am anyway. I’m a rebel. Or a dumbass.
Good lord. After re-reading my bio, I realize I really need to watch my dangling modifiers.
Babe, do whatever you want here. There are no rules. Just don’t make out with my wife! (That would be Blythe, who is currently Deb’s wife while I am married to Nathan, my electro-hubby.)
This is all very clear, isn’t it? And perfectly normal, right?
Will someone please tell me what a dangling modifier is? Show me. Highlight or whatever. I’m a Spanish teacher. I’m happy when students can put three words together.
Oh, Cynthia, I love your haircut. Makes me want to go short again.
Welcome Cynthia. I’ve always been impressed with the work I’ve seen on your blog — great stuff. I know you’ll have a good time here.
Christine, it’s what I call some men’s BLEEP BLEEP BLEEP.
Hey, censor! You and your bleeping bleeps can just move right along, thank you very much. Humpfh.
A rather simple way of explaining is it that it’s when a modifying phrase is placed awkwardly, making the meaning of a sentence unclear. Such as: “This morning I read the newspaper in my pajamas.”
My newspaper always gets in my pajamas. Pesky thing!
I am so excited to see that twitches is joining us. I heart her!!!! I cannot wait to collaborate!
Slynne, glad to see you’re so stoked about it.
Hello! Sorry I’m so late saying hi, I’ve been out of town for a week. This is going to be great … well it already is, I just missed the beginning!
hi! welcome! a self-professed rebel and dumb ass? awesome!!!
this is carolee, the poet formerly known as the polkadotwitch. now it’s just carolee. (and whatever else these guys may call me behind my back. hee hee.)
can’t wait to poem with you!
Hello all!
Hi Cynthia,
Looking forward to reading your contributions here. Ah, Language of Life was it for me, too! Very cool.