BCC Shines a Light On::
Julie Alden Cullinane
Name of the piece published by BCC:
Michael’s Poem
When/where was it originally published:
Bridgewater State University’s The Graduate Review
What is the background of the piece? What led you to write it? What’s your process?
This piece was one of the first pieces I wrote as I returned to graduate school for English after being out
of school for 20 years. I was an older MA student and was trying to keep up with the young poets, but I
realized I had so much to write about. Most importantly being a mother and what a struggle that was.
My oldest son was really sick as a child and this poem deals with how hard of a time that was.
How did you feel when it was first published and how have your thoughts or feelings on the piece
changed from then to now?
When it was first published, I honestly knew it had not found the right home yet. The Graduate Review
is mostly for students to review each others work so I felt like I wasn’t in company with peers my own
age.
Is there a specific message you'd like readers to take away from reading this piece?
Yes, that there is no perfect way to be a mother. All you can do is give them your best and love them
endlessly. All parents worry and that is all part of the job. Also, that as a woman and a mother you
should not care what other’s think of you, what your religion tells you, what society tells you. You have
to use your own intuition and go with your gut, learn to trust yourself it will never steer you wrong.
Where can readers find more of your work? (Website/social media, etc):
Chapter House Literary Journal: Feb 28th, 2023, Big Need
Red Wolf Periodical: Feb, 2023, How to Give Up Writing
Swim Press: Yes, March 12 th , Seasick, March 31st 2023
Bulb City Press, Michael’s Poem, May 19 th , 2023
Underscore_Magazine: The Red Line, May 15 th , 2023
Anti-Heroine Chic: April 19 th , 2023, The Next Slaughter
OPEN: Journal of Arts & Letters, The Porcelain God is a Female
Salmon Creek Journal: Gasoline Shampoo: Spring 2023
Washington Square Review: Poem, Summer 2023
HAD Literary Magazine: When the Hand of the Universe Reaches Down and Turns You in the Right
Direction: Graphic Memoir, June 2023
Renesme Literary Journal: Shades of Blue, Almost Alive, Nights Blue Fruit: June 1 st , 2023