Rita Coleman is smitten by the outdoors –– walking, gardening, the seasons –– and is fascinated by nature and wildlife. She is a bibliophile and her books have overrun their shelves. Rita lives with her husband, Frank, and their dog, cat, and rabbit amidst farmland in Southwestern Ohio. Numerous anthologies have published her work. Her poetry collection, In the Near Distance was published this year by Finishing Line Press. Learn more.
What past event do you often reflect upon, and how did that event change you?
I had decided to return to college. I was forty-two; my job had disappeared; my nineteen year-old daughter lived at home; I was engaged to be married. I would major in English literature, concentrating in creative writing. I was, after all, a writer. I completed my courses, one by one. I learned and practiced critical thinking, refreshed my French, tutored in French and English while earning my B.A. As a graduate student, I taught composition. Through perseverance, I expanded my knowledge of myself, people, institutions, and connections. I achieved my goal, a vision that took thirty years to manifest.
How does your work add to the quality of your life?
Writing poetry fills me with creative purpose. There is a daydream quality, or at least a flow, in which I am receptive to phrases, similar to audial prompts. As I heed these words by taking note on paper or phone, I am gifted with the beginnings of a poem. Feelings and thoughts offer a portal to discover images and actions. I gain greater understanding of myself and my world as I explore, question, deconstruct, describe what is around me. As I honor my gifts, I experience growth in relationships, discover grace in spiritual growth, and sometimes, find answers to age-old questions.
Tell us a story you would like to share with the world.
As I turned onto an exit ramp, I noticed a six-ton truck behind me. I braked for the cars stopped ahead, and the truck bore down on me, full speed. BAM!! I found myself drawn to a loving, mesmerizing presence. I was heading toward the Light! With no body, my soul/mind propelled me forward –– until a voice asked who would take care of my daughter.. As much as I wanted to live in the Light, I needed to care for my child. Lingering grief followed me for years until I began to reap the harvest of my lived life.
Note: Rita will be reading her work at MOTR Pub, 1345 Main Street, Cincinnati 45202, on Sunday November 24, 2024, and at Sitwell’s Coffeehouse Act II, 324 Ludlow Avenue, Cincinnati 45220, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.
Author photo: Courtesy of author
Side bar image: Pixabay/Edar
