Caroliena Cabada

Hopelessness

A photograph of a watercolor sketch of a landscape scene with a vermillion sculpture in the background.

Near the end of the first-year composition class I taught this summer, one of my students asked, How do you pay attention to the news without feeling totally hopeless?

Repeated Reread: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

I reread Fangirl when I just couldn’t look at a screen anymore. Whenever I needed it, I immersed myself in Cath’s highs and lows as a way to distract from my own creative angst.

Footprints: an anthology of new ecopoetry – Preorder available!

I’m thrilled to share that what is probably my most puzzling (to me) poem is going to be part of Footprints: an anthology of new ecopoetry by Broken Sleep Books! The proofs look gorgeous, and this poetry is vital. I’m honored that my poem “Geo Logic” is among such great company. Preorder here: https://www.brokensleepbooks.com/product-page/footprints-an-anthology-of-new-ecopoetry

Sept/Oct 2021 issue of Poets & Writers: My MFA

I talk about Iowa State’s Creative Writing and Environment MFA in the September/October 2021 issue of Poets & Writers!

Best Small Fictions 2021: Preorder available!

Best Small Fictions 2021 is available for preorder!

“I imagine turning to stare into the face” part of March 2021 Poetry We Admire from Palette Poetry

My poem, “I imagine turning to stare into the face,” originally published in Kissing Dynamite, was part of the March 2021 Poetry We Admire: Change selections.

#weekendcoffeeshare: Oversharing, underperforming

If we were having coffee, I’d probably oscillate between nervous laughter and tight-lipped silence. Right now, I’m a writer-in-residence at Iowa Lakeside Laboratory, a field research station operated by the Iowa Regents Universities. Like many things, this was something I was chosen for last year, but was delayed due to COVID. This year, I wasContinue reading “#weekendcoffeeshare: Oversharing, underperforming”

See you on the other side

Being vigilant and ready to fight for what’s right may be incredibly draining, but the flip side, hopefully, is also true: that being more aware of potential disaster could also help me be more aware of joy.

Recommit

The weeks have been overwhelming. After Spring Break, when ISU had switched to online learning entirely, and would be online for the rest of the semester, I felt capable of staying on top of my work. I streamlined the curriculum of the classes I teach. My professors were working out their own plans for onlineContinue reading “Recommit”

New poems

Inspiration during a pandemic elicits conflicted feelings. Nonetheless, I try to create mindfully, with good intentions, and share the best of what I can do. Three new poems in two publications recently. They show you where my mind has been. I’m grateful to these publications that are sharing timely work. I hope that the messagesContinue reading “New poems”