BIOGRAPHY

Maryann Hazen Stearns, author of poetry collection "Under the Limbo Stick," has poetry appearing in over 360 e-publications, and in print publications throughout the US, Canada, Switzerland, India, and Britain, including the following anthologies:  Alchemist, Best of Map of Austin Poetry, Best of Melic Review, Envelopes of Time, Kimera, Listening to the Birth of Crystals, Louisville Poets' Guild, Manifold, Mind Mutations, Moonshade, Niederngasse, Portals Poetic Passages, Red Booth Review, Taj Mahal Review, Visions, Warrior Poets, and When I Was A Child.   Maryann is Associate Editor of MindFire Renewed, occasional poetry competition judge, an active member of The Alchemy Poetry Club, the Woodstock Poetry Society, and Poets & Writers.  She is currently listed in A Directory of American Poets and Fiction Writers and occasionally teaches Poetry as Pastime at Sullivan County Community College, NY. 

Favorite Quote:  "Ink runs from the corners of my mouth. / There is no happiness like mine. / I have been eating poetry."  —Mark Strand, "Eating Poetry" 

 Maryann Hazen Stearns expresses experiences with an artistic slant.  Her introspective reflections draw the reader into thoughts which are well-worth divining, and how precious are our memories.   Food descriptions break up the usual train of sight and sound details, reminding readers of smells, flavors, textures.  With words straight from the everyman's English dictionary, the average becomes something beautiful in these lines.  The ability to capture the smaller nuances of life is neatly balanced by an overriding sense of something larger than life itself.  Well structured work merges mechanics with content to create skillfully crafted poetry with easy to grasp metaphorical images.  Richly suggestive language creates a depth beyond the surface.  The work is well thought out and contains careful subtle use of alliteration and good detailed word usage to describe each scene.  Compact language, gentle flow. With a remarkable premise for a title and poem topic, "The Bone Hunters' Vacation" rises to the occasion with a shrewd yet emotionally honest look at why families do the things they do, saying it is not so much from ritual as it is from a need to revisit the meanings underneath everything.  Excellent phrasings and compartmentalization of the everyday things that comprise life, and the good use of alliteration all add to the "read me aloud" invitation implied by the poet.  This well thought out piece is rife with subtle nuance.  Excellent opening and closing lines, that include a clever word play of the first word in the final line.   Brief, calm comparison between bones and shells, life and sea highlights a fine use of detail.  The penultimate line has good internal rhyme and a rhythm reminiscent of a small wavelet breaking on the beach.  Nicely done!