Featured Poet: Mary Ann Sullivan, New Durham
 Mary Ann Sullivan has an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Norwich University and a Doctor of Arts degree from Franklin Pierce University. As a cloistered Cistercian and later Dominican nun, Mary Ann wrote poetry using a monastic practice called lectio divina. That poetry appears in her e-chap Mending My Black Sweater, published by eratio Editions, a Brooklyn-based publishing company. Her poems have been published online at places such as the BBC Arts Online and BlazeVox. Her literary interviews and commentaries appear in sites like Jacket and The Poetry Library, Southbank Centre, London. An Associate Professor at Hesser College in New Hampshire, Mary Ann teaches creative writing, composition and communications courses. Primarily a digital poet, she is the editor of The Tower Journal and enjoys lecturing on the topic of Digital Poetry, having done so at places like The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, and the American Association of University Professors’ 2010 conference. Her dissertation is called “Digital Poetry and the Greek Notion of Nous.” Samples of her digital poetry can be found at the links below.
I wrote David and Goliath at a time when the pressures of life were hindering my ability to write poetry. For me, old testament figures serve as symbols and metaphors. In this case, Goliath symbolizes all that hinders me from creating, whether it be actual human beings, the business of life, or my own personal flaws. With this poem, I confront and slay the giant.
David and Goliath
I will take one small stone
and I will stand before the giant
who threatened so many
and while the crowd screams,
goads on
mocks
with experience gained alone
at my leisure
with a solitary sling
I will in a short moment
To the forehead
Send a stone
Direct
There
And then
And then
Having felled the glumox
Continue
at my leisure
to right
to writing
write
right
For more information about Mary Ann Sullivan visit:
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