Linda K Sienkiewicz

Writing life, line by line

Where did the phrase Lunatic Fringe originate?

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Why do we say that? Researching the origins of words and phrases fascinates me. Do you know where the phrase Lunatic Fringe came from? I'll give you a hint: It has nothing to do with fringed bang hairstyle, as this silly essay attempts to explain. Luna Gone are the days of locking people up in lunatic asylums (although proper mental health services are sadly lacking in the US), but … [Read more...]

What, Why, How: Terry Blackhawk

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What: I am one of the lucky children whose parents brought poetry into her life at an early age. The Silver Pennies poetry anthology was a constant companion, and by the time I was ten I was writing poems of my own, sealing them with wax, and hiding them in secret places in the woods behind our house. I edited Manuscript, my high school’s literary magazine, and in 1968 submitted for my final … [Read more...]

The book I never wanted to write

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Sleepwalker: I'm proud to announce publication of my fifth poetry chapbook, Sleepwalker. This collection contains the poems I never wanted to write, the ones I fought against writing for years. These poems speak to the painful healing after my eldest son’s suicide. They unearth the heartbreak of motherhood and deep loss. They embrace who my son was and what he will never … [Read more...]

Gen Z “Chaos Theory” Fashion

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Misfires or High Fashion? Call it mashups, misfires, or anti-fashion, Gen Z viewers claim that Portia’s crazy combo outfits from the TV show “White Lotus” work. And apparently older viewers are having a hissy fit. (from WaPo) I'm not sure why. I’m only in season 1 of ”White Lotus,” but I do love fashion. From what I’ve seen in photos, though, the mish-mash trend excites this baby boomer. I … [Read more...]

Jim Daniels: The Human Engine at Dawn

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The Human Engine at Dawn is Michigan native Jim Daniels' newest chapbook of poems, published by Wolfson Press. That's his grandfather on the cover, on the left, working on an engine at the Packard Motor Car Company in Detroit. Jim's other books include Gun/Shy (poetry), The Perp Walk (fiction), and the anthology RESPECT: The Poetry of Detroit Music (coedited with M. … [Read more...]