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Canadian Poet and Illustrator
Literacy and the Arts are aspects of Canadian culture that are dear to Ronda's heart. It is her conviction that, by voicing
what we think and feel we can reach out to others on topics that are important to the quality of everyday life in
Canada. It encompasses a vision of fair treatment for all and, although she acknowledges the idyllic sense of it, Ronda firmly
believes that saying nothing toward social development (even locally if a global sense seems incalculable) simply encourages
degradation.
Combined with this viewpoint is her personal belief that more attention paid to one's personal state of spirituality would dictate actions toward social improvement.
"In our fast-paced society," she says, "people seem more inclined to run from one thing to another without paying attention
to soul or self-conscience / consciousness. We must find ourselves, whether through an appreciation of our natural environment,
an understanding of family heritage, history or other cultures, mythologies, etc. and hold on to that ... always keeping in
mind what we know is true on the bigger scale of life: that we are microcosms of a macrocosmic universe but, like the
cells in the human body, it only takes one going in the wrong direction to cause a cancer that can spread in many directions.
We are not only responsible to ourselves but one another."
Her poetry reflects a sense of spirituality more than
any other thing. It explores life/death issues, the one-life vs reincarnation theories, the one-religion vs the multitude
of proclaimed faiths and the passion and self-sacrifice of true love ... although, on occasion, more blatant issues are addressed.
Raised and indoctrinated in an evangelical Christian environment, her life quest has been to explore beyond the boundaries
of organized thinking to the point where she now considers herself a spiritualist and will give her system of beliefs no other
name. She believes that no matter what name we give Him (or Her) the one God, whether it be the higher aspect of self or an
external entity is, as is stated "All things to all men" and therefore, name is but a variable aspect of that intrinsic being.
Often
writing in Yeatsian style, Ronda's poetry is multi-layered, packed with imagery that sometimes also challenges the scholar
to expand their mind beyond established and assigned roles of symbolism. Sometimes writing in trance-like form, she seems
to channel Yeats himself and writes from his perspective. As a flexible poet, she writes in many styles choosing form to set
the mood and theme of each piece (from sonnets to haiku to sestinas and cinquains, free verse, prose, minimalist and other
traditional rhyming patterns).
Ronda's writings are a journey that will leave you inspired and motivated to continue
questioning the multitude of angles that her meanings might imply and how they relate to you as being held within your own
perception!
How do you choose between one talent or another?
This is the challenge that has daunted Ronda through many years. Her ability to sketch, draw, paint and work in 35mm
photography is matched by her literary talent in writing. After trying
her hand at all, Ronda has finally settled into an area where she can use these skill sets simultaneously! With a career background
in public relations, sales and marketing, she now ventures into the arena of publishing with a full portfolio in hand.
SkyWing Press is the culmination of Ronda's vision! A poetry
publishing company that will expose the public to all aspects of Canadian culture through its many skilled writers from all
backgrounds, writing in a wide variety of styles! The Canadian readership will meet with pure Canadian sentiment filtered
by Ronda's keen eye for quality of workmanship and the literary enthusiast will experience a variety of styles that they can
choose to enjoy and perhaps develop for themselves in their own writing as well.
No poet, not even herself, will be published
twice in SkyWing's collectible trade books so that ALL recognized Canadian poets will have equal opportunity to take
flight!
If you aren't interested in all the 'blah blah
blah' of the Credit list below then you may wish to go here:
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Publication Credits
Single Poems
"The Halfway Place" ~ CASSCADE 1982, Woodstock, Ontario
"Signpost" ~ Maxaipa 1985 ~ OBC, Willowdale, Ontario
"Getting the Business Done" ~ The Trillium Tattler, June 1990, Woodstock
"Fantasy Lover" ~ Poemata, November 1994, Canadian
Poetry Association
"red sun", "earth pines", "theatres" and "redclover" ~ CZH (Canadian Zen Haiku) Journal and Digest Online, Spring 2006 (under haijin name "kinshu ori") ISSN: 1705-4508
"White Crimson" and "Tooth-on-Tooth" ~ Innisfree Poetry Journal Online, September 2006 , USA
"Pulled From That Spindled Track" and "For Closure" ~ Labour of Love Literary Journal, COMING
in the Summer Issue, 2008, Toronto, Ontario
"Night Subterfuge" ~ Palabras Press March 2008 Online Newsletter
Chapbooks
My Harmonic Perfection, HMS Press, London, Ontario 1994 (Atlantic Disk Publishers, Books on Disk), ISBN 1895700027
/ 18957002221
Books
Whale Songs in the Aurora Borealis, HMS Press, London, Ontario 2004 ISBN: 1-55253-060-4
The Lion and the Golden Calf, SkyWing Press, Clinton, ON 2008 ISBN-13: 978-0-9809335-0-5 Being Released April 2008
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Essays and Articles
Why Poetry Matters: "We Absorb, Reflect and Process in Poetic Renaissance", feature article,
Palabras Press, March 2008 Online Newsletter
Editorial / Co-Editorship / Publishing
Co-Editor / Maxaipa ’85, Willowdale, ON 1984/85
Editor / The Trillium Tattler, Woodstock, ON 1990/91
Researcher, Editor, Publisher / Baird Sesquicentennial Yearbook;
150 Years on Prospect Farm, 1991 - Archived at the Woodstock Public Library and the Oxford Genealogical Society
Journalism
2004/5
The Blyth Citizen, Council Reporter for the Municipality of Huron East
Artwork in Publication
Precious Gems Series I – V by A.H. Batten, “Gems” /
cover image, tri-fold leaflets 1980/1
Peace by A.H. Batten, “Raven” / cover image, tri-fold
leaflet 1981
1981
Obedience by A.H. Batten, “Crucifixion” / cover image, tri-fold leaflet 1981
Whale Songs in the Aurora Borealis, HMS Press, Cover
Illustrator, 2004
Poemata, Canadian Poetry Association,
Cover Illustrator 2006
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