Published in Consilience
I am very proud to be included in Issue 12 Struggle of Consilience, an online journal that explores the spaces where the sciences and the arts meet.
Still We Rise Zine by The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press
One of my poems is featured in the Still We Rise Zine and I’m so happy to share pages with so many talented writers and artists. I worked on the design and editing.
welcome
have a look around. You can find a selection of my poems as well as my collaborations. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.
Hope is a Group Project – Anthology
“Hope is a Group Project – a poetry anthology ” is an inspirational collection of poems about hope, featuring 98 international writers and original illustrations by Scottish artist, Colin Thom and is published by The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press
Seaside Syllables – Anthology
Seaside Syllables is a poetry anthology created and compiled by Kim Brake @kimbrakephotography brought 10 women together in an international collaborative project that collectively inspired creativity and connections
Expressions from the Heart – Anthology
“Expressions from the Heart” is an international poetry anthology containing poems by 40 women writers from 15 countries compiled and edited by Ishita Ganguly and is now available worldwide via Amazon.
I am so proud to be included with a poem.
hold
a dream
turned into paper
sharing space with poets
anthology
Newsletter via Substack
You can now find me and my newsletter on Substack.https://mirjammahler.substack.com/ I will share writing, writing prompts, books I love, ideas, thoughts and inspiration. You can sign up here on Substack
Poetic Inspiration – a blog post for Querencia Press
I am beyond proud to be included in the Querencia Press Winter 2023 Anthology with an ice bathing series.
My 22 favorite books I read in 2022
Reading and reading but somehow not keeping up with posting. These are 22 books that stood out last year for many different reasons. You can see all the books I read in 2022 here Homeland Elegies Akhtar, Ayad Ghosts Alderton, Dolly Dependency Ditlevsen, Tove Youth Ditlevsen, Tove Childhood Ditlevsen, Tove...
Querencia Press Winter 2023 Anthology
I am beyond proud to be included in the Querencia Press Winter 2023 Anthology with an ice bathing series.
resilience
recovery
impossible expectations
healing takes time
rest, restore, slowly build
resilience
patience
memories
tinted objectionably
sometimes even tainted
recall and reconstruct reality
patience
travel
travel
somewhere, anywhere
close or far
never the same without
you
to share
views, laughs, benches
make a wish, travel
time
Mattina
mattina
a venezia
cappuccino e cornetto
una giornata d’arte
biennale
immersione artistica
un mondo creativo
che piacere guardare questo
paradiso
Dragonfly
dragonfly
request renaming
no simple fly
no fiery fierce dragon
fairysoar
better fit
for beautiful creature
libelle or libélula or
queen
Ghosts fleeting presence
ghosts
fleeting presence
stuck on earth
dealing with unfinished business
roaming
Orchid
scanty
little orchid
water, substrate, fertilizer
nothing helped, she sulked
miserable
dreading attention
once I ignored
suddenly she thrived beautifully
shy
Wörter, Illustrationen, Inspirationen – Schreib- und Illustrationswerkstatt 23.11.22
Gedichte schreiben – nein, das ist gar nichts für mich, oder vielleicht doch?Wie kann ich meine Ideen und Gedanken illustrieren? 23.11.2022, 09:30-11:00 Kokoschinski UlmHafengasse 19 89073 Ulm Der Erlös der Veranstaltung wird an Frauen helfen Frauen e.V., Ulm gespendet. Anhand von Mirjams Schreibimpulsen und inspiriert durch Arianes Illustrationen schreiben wir spontan kleine...
Tiger
believe
your teen
when they say
there is such a
thing
as being
much too clean
let them set own
standards
Olive tree
ancient
olive tree
shares its fruits
someone born another century
curing
transforms bitter
into delicious treat
recipe passed on through
generations
Foxes
adventure
await outside
the foxes‘ den
prepare in their sleep
emerge
web both tingle
in anticipation of touch
pleasure
my last poem
if
this was
my last poem
I would keep adding
words
building my
endless elfchen chain
like soft ocean waves
words
and silence
coming and going
never tiring always reinventing
poems
my spirit animal
this
is you
this is me
we are not alike
connect
spirit animal
can show me
to trust, persist, endure
love
standing
standing
still am
you left me
missing you so desperately
wish
could sit
together on bench
contemplating the endless river
together
star left behind
star
left behind
after the others
have gone to bed
welcoming
the sun
greeting the birds
bow to new day
morning
prompt „morning star# by @altpoetryprompts
Elfchen 69/111
letter you wrote
letter
you wrote
many decades ago
one lonely summer night
remember
endless vacations
no chats, texts
not even landline telephones
isolation
long letters
keep in touch
share our teenage dramas
friendship
sent you
a box full
all your old letters
delivered
younger self
to you doorstep
reminiscing with joy
today
On the other side music video
“On the other side” was published in “Expressions from the Heart” an international poetry anthology containing poems by 40 women writers from 15 countries compiled and edited by Ishita Ganguly @iamauthorishitaThe anthology is available worldwide via Amazon. Watch the video here Music and video editing by Noah Mahler @noahmahlermusic
Schreibwerkstatt Kleine Gedichte
Schreibwerkstatt: Kleine Gedichte inspiriert durch die Ausstellung »Malerische Poesie – Grafiken von Chagall und Zeitgenossen« in der Kunsthalle Weishaupt mit Mirjam Mahler am Donnerstag, den 29. September, 15 – 16:30 Uhr. Mehr Infos hier Short poetry workshop at the Kunsthalle Weishaupt inspired by the exhibition “Poetry in painting -graphic works...
afraid of falling
afraid
of falling
at lightning speed
from a race bike
instead
just walking
tripped and fell
hurt my knee badly
dangerous
overcome inherent fear
overcome
inherent fear
becomes self-fulfilling prophecy
might fall, will fall
brave
feast in motion
feast
in motion
famished from flying
ferocious hunger, delicious appeasement
satisfaction
undress each other
sunrise
morning hike
lake skinny dipping
old couple watching amused
laughing
sweet indecency
undress each other
walk into the lake
smiling
#mirjamreadsbutforgetstopost
Reading and reading but somehow not keeping up with posting. I also read this year: Olive, Again (reread, to be discussed in the Book Club I host)Daheim by Judith HerrmannDie Heldin reist by Doris DörrieRebecca by Daphne du MaurierA Room of One’s Own by Virginia WoolfThe Hours by Michael Cunningham...
pool jump in
pool
jump in
break favorite goggles
get out, replace, adjust
swim
arms trembling
eyes bright red
rest proud, writing poems
motion
path
path
outdoor home
by the river
every walk new discoveries
solace
poems come
thoughts roam freely
accompanied by singing birds
comfort
humming
tree
concert hall
bees humming fortissimo
the sound of silence
gone
a tree stood tall
concert hall
orchestra of bees
humming fortissimo
now it’s gone
the sound of silence
nonabrasive
nonabrasive
feeling vulnerable
words can hurt
gently use thoughtful consideration
self-protection
nonabrasive
nonabrasive
soothing force
elements of contradiction
freeing wind, cleansing rain
nature
prolific
prolific
create endlessly
quantity becomes quality
write more, write better
ameliorate
prolific
keep trying
again and again
million grains of sand
pearl
Copenhagen Trilogy by Tove Ditlevsen
Book Club Apri 2022 The Copenhagen Trilogy by Tove Ditlevsen is breathtakingly beautiful and incredible sad. What a voice. Childhood, motherhood, love, marriage and writing, all the writing.
Sula by Toni Morrison
Sula by Toni Morrison is a book about friendship and family and about everything that can go right and everything that can go wrong.
blue, how dare you
blue
perfect sky
how dare you
on this horrible day
gloom
thank you
I needed perfect
on this horrible day
hope
Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar
Book Club March 2022 Not easy, not fun but smart and well crafted and very important to understand our world a little better. Everyone should read Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar, find some nice people to discuss it after reading it.
mediterraneo
mediterraneo
deliciosamento salado
con mis lagrimas
y momentos muy felices
añoranza
mediterranean
deliciously salty
with my tears
and the happiest moments
longing
longing
longing
pencil chewing
not paying attention
boring tulip biology lesson
glancing
shyly towards
the cool row
a most beautiful person
ache
unrequited love
felt my glance
annoyed look, I blushed
reciprocate?
pounding heart
scribbled love letter
torn into small pieces
heartache
deep breath
get over it
next spring new tulips
love
first
people, rules, expectations, beliefs
worthy
reassess value
forget about appearances
do not hesitate, claim
ownership
The Overstory by Richard Powers
After reading The Overstory by Richard Powers I look at trees in a different way. Read it. In July of 2021 I wrote a daily tree emotions poem. Read them all here.
golden light
golden
light bathing
transforms mundane entities
into priceless rare treasures
ephemeral
Ali Mitgutsch
imagination
discover stories
find your language
pictures full of surprises
grateful
phantasie
entdecke geschichten
finde deine sprache
bilder voller überraschungen
dankbar
Ghosts by Dolly Alderton
I read Ghosts by Dolly Alderton as a “palate cleanser” between several of my book club books. I had read about it but did not know any details and was pleasantly surprised by this story about love, relationships, friendships, parents, mental health and living in today’s world.
Der Gang vor die Hunde by Erich Kästner
Der Gang vor die Hund – Going to the dogs is the original title Erich Kästner chose for this book, his editors went with Fabian, the last name of the protagonist and edited the book that was published in 1931. The original title is exactly what the books is, a...
Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King
Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King blew me away. What an incredible collection of short stories – they could all go out into the world as full books with highly layered interesting characters and stories. I don’t reread very often, but I’m sure I will reread this. I truly...
Here Sister, Let me Help You Up by Stephanie Chinn
Here Sister, Let Me Help You by Stephanie Chinn is such a positive and insightful book about self-love, acceptance and positivity. Perfect to give to a friend.
A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig
A Boy Called Christmas is a lovely story with many unique new and very creative ideas and explanations in a story you thought you knew. Not just for children and not just for Christmas.
Letter to My Daughter by Maya Angelou
Letter to My Daughter by Maya Angelou is a tender package of wisdom generously gifted to all of us. Pay it forward, pass it on.
I Will Judge You by Your Bookshelf by Grant Snider
I Will Judge You by Your Bookshelf by Grant Snider has been sitting on my bookshelf only partially read for way to long. What a delightful treasure. An ode to reading and writing with so much wisdom and insight. Give it to a reader or writer in your life.
Notes of Grief by Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie
Notes on Grief by Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie is a beautiful tribute to her father. Grief cannot be explained, but sharing it can give comfort both to the reader and to the writer.
11 elfchen 21 – homecoming
homecoming
patiently waiting
loved ones reunited
being together matters most
cherish
Creative Writing Short Poetry – Sign up Information
Creative Writing Short Poetry at the VH Ulm on February 3. Join me in a fun class that will inspire you to write (maybe your first) short poem.
11 elfchen 21 – clarity
clarity
avoid distractions
focus on details
leave out the superfluous
nuance
Grand opening
welcome
grand opening
come and try
most luxurious insect hotel
relax
room service
safe and secure
no birds, frogs, bats
unwind
astonishing views
delicacies to feast
be our guest today
exhale
These Precious Days by Ann Patchett
Oh Ann Patchett, reading These Precious Days is like getting a hug from your favorite person or being wrapped in a warm fuzzy blanket. I loved, loved, loved this collection of essays about love, friendship and being a decent human being. Thank you for sharing your words with the word....
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
This year I want to read 12 classics that I have not read before.
To the Lighthouse by Virgina Woolf
This year I want to read 12 classics that I have not read before.
Read 12 classics in 2022
This year I want to read 12 classics that I have not read before. So far I have thought about reading the following:
Something I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You by Alice Munro
This collection of short stories left me hungry for more. I loved how I was always left a little surprised, wondering what happened next, what was left unsaid. Excellent storytelling.
Books I want to read
Do you know that table in the bookstore with all the book you’ve always wanted to read? My table gets bigger and bigger with every book I read, but I still want to keep track, so here is a new category for that. TBR I own
Bonjour Tristesse Françoise Sagan
Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan is another wonderful book that I wish I had read sooner. An insight into a young woman’s thoughts and life and into another time. I wish I could discuss it with my mother, I know she loved this one.
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
Colson Whitehead creates a whole universe of multi-layered characters and plays with language in such a delightful and wise way. I felt transported right into the story.
Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout
A wonderfully quiet book about love, marriage, parenthood, relationships and finding yourself. Excellent!
Sharing November Calendar 20/24
wish
women worldwide
will be free
wander about, discover wonderful
world
Creative Writing Short Poetry at the VH Ulm, Feb. 3, 10 and 17
Creative Writing Short Poetry at the VH Ulm on February 3. Join me in a fun class that will inspire you to write (maybe your first) short poem.
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
Apples Never Fall picks up when most of the other stories have long ended, kids are grown, marriage is crumbling and then boom, everything changes. Not my usual genre but I have enjoyed every book by Liane Moriarty so far and this one was very entertaining. I also love learning...
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Our Book Club pick for November 2021. Another surprisingly current story and cast of interesting characters in what might appear to be a very old and dusty story. We had a very lively discussion in Book Club about love, happiness and choosing your destiny.
Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
I read and discussed Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf with my Book Club and was really surprised by how much this story that might seem dated and dusty touched all of us. It was my first time reading Virgina Woolf and I’m so grateful to be able to discover “new”...
All We Left Unsaid by Natalie K Martin
I could relate so well to All We Left Unsaid by Natalie K Martin, a story about sisters and grief and starting over. The relationship between the two women, the tensions of being both close but very different and the way we deal with expectations really drew me in. The...
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Wells
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls has made a lasting impression on me. Like the somewhat similar story in Educated by Tara Westover I was horrified by the family and fascinated by the beauty in the words used to describe it. Touching, a story about resilience, family and love. Very...
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
I was „forced“ to watch the 1931 Frankenstein movie during a family vacation as a child and remember being very, very afraid. Reading the original story by Mary Shelley has been a surprising experience and has left me with so many open questions. Looking forward to discussing it with other...
