Blindness doesn’t deter Houma ‘writer’ from putting thoughts to paper

Myrna Badgerow, a writer who lives in Houma, has been nominated for a 2008 Pushcart Prize, the highest recognition given to authors whose works appear in smaller literary journals and magazines in the U.S.

Badgerow’s short piece “The Circle of Thoughts,” written in 2004, was nominated for the award by Mississippi Crow, a literary journal published in Minnesota. “Circle” was published in the Fall 2007 issue of the journal.

The Pushcarts will not be handed out until after Jan. 1. No money is awarded. The prize for the writer is having her or his piece appear in the prestigious Pushcart collection of literary works, published annually since 1976.

Badgerow’s writings have run in Mississippi Crow seven or eight times. Editor Nadia Giordana had asked the author to submit her writings to the journal after reading her works in other publications.

In addition to Mississippi Crow, Badgerow has appeared twice in Stellar Showcase Journal published out of Canada and seven or eight times in Distant Echoes, a journal published in Columbus, Ohio focusing on writings pertaining to military life.

“Circle” is a prose reflection on the vitality of literary art, although the author principally writes poetry.

“I never call myself ‘poet’ – only ‘writer,'” Badgerow said. “‘Poet’ is something others bestow on you. I call myself an apprentice. I’m still learning. That’s what keeps me humble.”

Badgerow, who is visually challenged, was born in Pointe-aux-Chenes and lived for 25 years in Chauvin after marrying in 1975.

“You can’t get more bayou than that,” she joked.

She moved to Houma following her husband’s death in 2004, though she had lived in the city briefly prior to that year.

Badgerow also wrote the poetry collection “My Words, My Thoughts, My Heart,” published in 2004. She has authored another poetry compilation titled “Breath of the Bayou,” which will be published soon.

“I’ve been writing creatively since 2000,” she said. “I stumbled upon creative writing. I had never given it serious thought. I said, I could do that. I honed the craft.”

“Because of my blindness, I cannot appreciate the visual arts,” Badgerow said. “I somehow found a way to take what I imagine it looks like and put it into words. I can’t do it by way of visual art.”

Badgerow’s writings allow readers to see things from her perspective.

“It’s a way to educate others about what my world is like,” she said. “Writing is like a child molding Play-Doh. It’s always changing, never the same. It’s the magic of writing. That’s what I say in ‘Circle.'”

Giordana said she quickly became enamored of Badgerow’s poetry.

“She’s one of the best poets out there that’s not noticed,” she said. “She’s a talented writer. We want to help her get noticed.”

Giordana said “Circle” is “succinct and beautiful,” though Badgerow artfully claims not to be a writer in the piece, only “a weaver of words.”

“It’s a beautiful piece of short prose,” she said. “It’s almost musical, but not quite. She’s unique. (Her work) is also understandable. Some oddball poetry out there no one can understand.”

Badgerow said, “Mississippi Crow publishes all types of pieces, but she (Giordana) enjoys stuff about the written word.”

The author found out about her Pushcart nomination in an unexpected way.

“When I was sent the proofs to check for typos, at the bottom of the page it said, This piece nominated for a 2008 Pushcart,” Badgerow said. “I thought it was for the following piece (by another author). I zoomed in. I realized she meant me. I was totally stunned.”

Badgerow compared her Pushcart nomination, rather prosaically, to a cake.

“Everything else is the icing,” she said, “but the icing’s been good lately.”

The icing for Badgerow has been the use of her poem “Truths” on an upcoming CD called “The Truth” by the New York City band Against the Wall. The band speaks Badgerow’s poem on the album.

“I got paid for the use of it,” she said.

The author has to use large fonts and magnifying tools to read off her computer monitor. Though knowing how to read the language, Badgerow is not dependent on Braille.

Besides, she has three children and four grandchildren who assist her. She keeps several persnickety pussycats for companionship as well.

However, for now, Badgerow is trying to take in the satisfaction from her achievement.

She summed up her literary approach this way: “I’m so humbled by anything. Words are the masters. We do their bidding.”

Houma’s Myrna Badgerow is among the nominees for the 2008 Pushcart Prize for her short piece, “The Circle of Thoughts.” * Photo courtesy of MYRNA BADGEROW