"Nature Will Heal"
Finishing Line Press,
April 2012.
Order by clicking
the button below.
"A microscopic observation
of nature that clarifies
ethereal means of healing and comprehending existence."
IWPA honorable mention
Winner of the 2013 Illinois Woman's Press Association
Mate E. Palmer Communications Contest - Honorable Mention
for poetry book, "Nature Will Heal."
Mate E. Palmer Communications Contest - Honorable Mention
for poetry book, "Nature Will Heal."
IWPA First Place, Creative Verse - Single Poem
Winner of the 2019 Illinois Woman's Press Association
Mate E. Palmer Communications Contest -
First Place, Creative Verse, Single Poem, "secrets in the soil"
Judge comments: "Moody, effective imagery. Well done."
Mate E. Palmer Communications Contest -
First Place, Creative Verse, Single Poem, "secrets in the soil"
Judge comments: "Moody, effective imagery. Well done."
"I Am"
My poetry chapbook, I Am, from Finishing Line Press was released in June 2017.
Book jacket reviews
of I Am note:
"Tracy Ahrens’ poems take us on a spiritual journey, reminding us that each person is a piece of a puzzle wondering where we belong. Her love poems in this wonderful collection capture the essential truth of the human condition: We seek the union of love but finally realize that we are alone, disappointed, and misunderstood, but still searching for an essence of love, knowing that 'none will measure up to.'"
– Loren Logsdon, teacher, editor and short story writer
"I Am, by Tracy Ahrens, is a book of poetry that is more than simple words but rather a painting of a heart. Emotionally spellbinding, there is a poem for every emotion we experience when going through a breakup or abandonment, be it lover, friend or family member. Always honest, sometimes scathingly sad, the words are like a stone thrown through a window; breaking upon the page as sharp and crystal clear as tears. It is not easy to put your fears and anger, loss and hope into words and lay them out for the world, but Tracy has done a brilliant job with a book that will speak to anyone that’s had a broken heart. A hauntingly beautiful collection for anyone."
– L.B. Johnson – Award Winning Author of Small Town Roads and other non-fiction
Click on the following button to link to the publisher's web page for the book.
Book jacket reviews
of I Am note:
"Tracy Ahrens’ poems take us on a spiritual journey, reminding us that each person is a piece of a puzzle wondering where we belong. Her love poems in this wonderful collection capture the essential truth of the human condition: We seek the union of love but finally realize that we are alone, disappointed, and misunderstood, but still searching for an essence of love, knowing that 'none will measure up to.'"
– Loren Logsdon, teacher, editor and short story writer
"I Am, by Tracy Ahrens, is a book of poetry that is more than simple words but rather a painting of a heart. Emotionally spellbinding, there is a poem for every emotion we experience when going through a breakup or abandonment, be it lover, friend or family member. Always honest, sometimes scathingly sad, the words are like a stone thrown through a window; breaking upon the page as sharp and crystal clear as tears. It is not easy to put your fears and anger, loss and hope into words and lay them out for the world, but Tracy has done a brilliant job with a book that will speak to anyone that’s had a broken heart. A hauntingly beautiful collection for anyone."
– L.B. Johnson – Award Winning Author of Small Town Roads and other non-fiction
Click on the following button to link to the publisher's web page for the book.
Two of my nature poems were selected and published in the Prairie Writers Guild 2013 anthology called "From the Edge of the Prairie."
It's their 10th anniversary edition containing 254 pages. It contains the work of 58 writers and artists who have comprised the PWG over the past 10 years. Within the edition are works of nature "in all its glory" - the book states.
The Prairie Writers Guild was founded to encourage, develop and promote writers in Northwest Indiana. The anthology has been published annually since 2004.
See their website at PWG
Fine Lines
My poetry and photography appears in the Spring, Summer and Autumn 2018 editions of Fine Lines creative writing journal based in Nebraska.
See Fine Lines via this link: Fine Lines
See Fine Lines via this link: Fine Lines
Statement ...
"Poetry is an escape for me from journalistic writing. It’s a time to play with
words as life moves me. It’s the ultimate brevity – a pen stroke – a signature
that etches lasting impressions."
- tracy ahrens
"Poetry is an escape for me from journalistic writing. It’s a time to play with
words as life moves me. It’s the ultimate brevity – a pen stroke – a signature
that etches lasting impressions."
- tracy ahrens
|
My poetry has appeared in the following publications
Sunshine Magazine, Litchfield, Illinois
American Poetry Annual, 1996
Treasure the Moment, vol. 1 by Quill Books
Above the Bridge magazine, Michigan
Eureka Literary Magazine, Eureka, Illinois
The Oak magazine, Rock Island, Illinois
Karamu, Charleston, Illinois
River Oak Review from Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois
Red Owl arts & poetry magazine, New Hampshire
Blueline literary magazine, State University of New York College at Potsdam
Northern Stars Magazine, Michigan (Jan.-Feb., March-April and Dec. issues 2006)
Aries Literary Magazine, Texas
AVOCET: A Journal of Nature Poems, New York
Tipton Poetry Journal, Zionsville, Indiana
Impressions, Eureka, Illinois
Prairie Writers Guild 2013 anthology, "From the Edge of the Prairie," Indiana
Fine Lines, Nebraska
Another Chicago Magazine, Illinois
American Poetry Annual, 1996
Treasure the Moment, vol. 1 by Quill Books
Above the Bridge magazine, Michigan
Eureka Literary Magazine, Eureka, Illinois
The Oak magazine, Rock Island, Illinois
Karamu, Charleston, Illinois
River Oak Review from Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois
Red Owl arts & poetry magazine, New Hampshire
Blueline literary magazine, State University of New York College at Potsdam
Northern Stars Magazine, Michigan (Jan.-Feb., March-April and Dec. issues 2006)
Aries Literary Magazine, Texas
AVOCET: A Journal of Nature Poems, New York
Tipton Poetry Journal, Zionsville, Indiana
Impressions, Eureka, Illinois
Prairie Writers Guild 2013 anthology, "From the Edge of the Prairie," Indiana
Fine Lines, Nebraska
Another Chicago Magazine, Illinois
"we really enjoy your use of imagery, descriptive language and insight..."
- Peter Leverich, editor of AVOCET, a journal of nature poems, NewYork.
Review discusses "Nature Will Heal"
Stephanie Taylor who hosts a blog called Women's Issues and Triumphs recently interviewed me regarding my poetry book, "Nature Will Heal."
Women's Issues and Triumphs is a blog summarizing articles from different news sources concerning the topic of women. Interviews and reviews are also part of her quest.
Please read her post at your leisure as it shines a little light on my poetry.
Click here: Women's Issues and Triumphs
Women's Issues and Triumphs is a blog summarizing articles from different news sources concerning the topic of women. Interviews and reviews are also part of her quest.
Please read her post at your leisure as it shines a little light on my poetry.
Click here: Women's Issues and Triumphs
Poetry fan mail about "Secrets in the Soil"
"secrets in the soil" appears in
Another Chicago Magazine, issue 56
My poem, "secrets in the soil" appears in issue 56 of Another Chicago Magazine. See my poem by clicking on the button link here.