Sharon Rothenfluch Cooper

Sharon Rothenfluch Cooper, an astrological Leo, is very much a today's woman and thrives on poetry 
and music.  Her work has appeared in many internet journals and magazines worldwide.  
She has several chapbooks published online in 2004 by Tamafyhr Mountain Poetry, 
Mood Magic and A Slice of Life.  MAG Press will be publishing her chapbook 
Reach Beyond the end of 2005 as winner of the 2005 International Chapbook Competition.  
In April, 2005, twenty-three of her poems were presented in the play, 
Soldier's Heart in Portland, Oregon to sold out audiences.  
She is a poet-in-residence at The Argonaut's Boat and soldiersheart.org.  
This year, out of 200 poets at Sol Magazine, ten were chosen to complete 
in the Poet Laureate Competition and she (was)  placed third.

 

Distinctions
 
This wasn't my pristine
beach with soft fine sand
that caressed the feet,
miles of clean expanse
uncluttered by man.
 
Rock littered the ground,
the size for skipping across water,
jagged chunks of littered driftwood
lay in decay, tar clung to the waterline;
spoke volumes about accidents at sea.
 
Seaweed tangled my toes as I
appreciated its individual kind of beauty,
raw, untouched by cleanup crews,
the kind nature deposits one day
then wipes away all evidence the next.
 
An open mind regarded
and acknowledged the difference.