Bio

Patricia Biela is a native of Maryland, and UVA grad with a BA in Psychology. A first generation American, she is of paternal Angolan and maternal Haitian descent. Biela is a Cave Canem South Fellow and has participated in 19 writing workshops including Callaloo, Cave Canem South, How Writers Write Poetry—International Writing Program-The University of Iowa, Hurston/Wright, Provincetown, and Dr. Tony Medina's Poetry Boot Camp—Howard University. Her poem "Back Speaks" won The Best of Poetry from Around the World Award from Wild Sound Festival Review in 2018. Her poems appear in Barely South Review, Berkeley Poetry Review, The Caribbean Writer, Drumvoices Revue, and World Haiku Review among others. She has a poem exhibited in Epiphany Salon and Spa, Washington, D.C. Biela has editing experience, and has written over 25 articles, some of which appear in Brainworld Magazine and Funds for Writers—Writing Kid. Her poem song, "Please Leave a Message" is on Amazon, iTunes, and more. Biela is a third generation educator, and teaches recurring poetry workshops to retirees, and to other adults.

earth's
crust
sifts ground
breakszig zags
strike-slipunlock the fault
first black republic last to be prepared for
ground's
give
island quake
eyes empty plates
feet unsteady   fingers   closed venus
flytrapsthe hour uncertain praying for God's mercy