Jerri Hardesty lives in the woods of Alabama with her husband, Kirk, and too many animals. Through her publishing company, New Dawn Unlimited, they publish the quarterly, "Alternative Harmonies" Literary and Arts Magazine, the "NDU Presents..." chapbook and anthology series, and now, the "NDU Poet's Access" chapbook series. Born in Florida, Jerri has lived in many locations around Florida, California, Indiana, Texas (the home of her adolescence and high school years), and Alabama (her current home). She began writing poetry as a young child and has continued throughout her life. She graduated in 1988 from the University of Montevallo in Alabama with a BS in English and Business, and graduated again in 1997 from Montevallo with a MA in English Literature. Since then, she has been writing, publishing, being published, performing, and enjoying total immersion in the Birmingham, Southeastern, and National Poetry scenes.
STARGAZING
The world isn't
Flat
And neither am I.
I'm round
Like the other
Heavenly bodies
And I spiral down
To a core
Of pure light
And love,
The source
Of my gravitation,
That mutual
Attraction
Between you and me
In close proximity.
We orbit each other
Spinning through nebulous clouds
Of dust and space and light,
Discovering the birthplace
Of stars
And souls,
And bathed in the crimson dawn
Of a red sun,
We awaken to
Earthrise -
Blue-green sphere
Shining
Through the black veil of space -
And unfurling our wings,
We glide on solar winds,
Sailing
Home again.