<< Back to Muses Way

Name:  Mary L. Ports

Location:  California

Age:  75

Pets:  bluejays, ravens, songbirds, squirrels, lizards, skunks

Favorite Poet:  Kahlil Gibran

Favorite Poem:  From "The Prophet"  All poems

How long have you been writing poetry?: I've been dabbling in poetry for the last decade or so.

What/Who inspires you to write?: My lifelong friend and mentor, Paul Pascal, has been my source of inspiratiion. During the last five years of his life, he dictated literally thousands of poems and epigrams which I thrive upon daily.

Favorite Quote or Motto:

"It is for thee to learn, O thou embodied soul on earth
What is required of thee from thy day of birth
Seek ye the Truth that brings thee to thy Goal
Where thou mayest rest in Peace, the liberated Soul."

Writing Awards, Publications, and other Achievements: Poetry award for Kaleidoscope in Bell's Letters and poems published quarterly therein. Story "Tribute to a Tree" published in the Canyon News, and other accepted poetry submissions. Chapbook published through Shadow Poetry called "Kaleidoscope."

Kaleidoscope by Mary L. Ports ISBN 1-932447-12-1 $10.00 + shipping

Additional Poet Information: While teaching for the Los Angeles Unified School District, my chief interest has been the character growth of children through all teaching media available but especially through music, art, poems and stories.

When I was born in ' 28
The depression surely sealed my fate
My brothers who came later on
Never suffered that phenpmenon

Since early childhood, after my grandparents died and both parents were working, I was often left in charge of my two younger, energetic brothers. Babysitting, cooking, cleaning, gardening and homework occupied most of my time but the discipline and character building of both brothers took top priority. Shortly after I graduated from high school, my interest in children peaked. I worked as a young governness.

After years of working and traveling with different famillies, I decied to become an elementary school teacher. Working in the L.A. Unified School District for twenty-five years was a joy to me. I come from a long line of artisans and had majored in music and art so I was able to teach in a creative way. My students and I wrote and sang many songs and plastered the halls with murals we created for all accasions. We filled our classroom library with many self-made books and poems which we shared and read daily.

After I retired, I served as secretary for my dear friend and mentor, Paul Pascal. My parents had died and Paul became like a surrogate father, sharing his love for philosophy and religion. He took me under his wing and taught me what books can't always teach -- a love for life. Because of Paul's influence, I , too, began writing poetry.

I plan to continue writing for my own enjoyment and for "Belle's Letters," a quarterly magazine for poets. In the future, I would like to write more children's stories and try, in some way to reach and expose those subtle, unseen forces which dominate our lives. I long to touch the hearts and minds of children and to teach them that everything changes and grows -- for the better.