A Reason For Her Rhymes-Elaine McLaughlin to See Poetry Published,
May 19, 1996, article one

PIX#1 - Elaine McLaughlin

The goal of any writer is to get published. It’s a special moment, a genuine thrill, to see that first byline.

It’s been a long time coming but local poet Elaine McLaughlin has realized that goal. Elaine will have one of her poems, “Elegy of the Sea,” published in the forthcoming edition of the National Library of Poetry, “Shadows and Light.”

Surprisingly, though she’s been writing poetry for a long time, her entry in the National Library of Poetry was the first time she ever submitted any of her poems for publication. Last July Elaine was pouring over the Toledo Blade when she spied a notice for a poetry contest sponsored by the National Library of Poetry.

“They wanted an original poem that hadn’t been previously published. It had to be 20 lines or less and could be on any subject,” said Elaine.

Now Elaine has been penning verse for quite a while. “I’ve always liked poetry. I started writing poetry in high school. It’s a good way to express your thoughts and feelings.”

Feelings are central to Elaine’s poetry. She writes “of our emotions and needs in the world around us.”

Elaine doesn’t know how many poems she’s written since high school. She does know that she’s “got a notebook full of poems.”

Elaine selected “Elegy of the Sea” and entered it in the contest. In September the National Library of Poetry informed Elaine that Elegy had been chosen for publication. So she became a published poet on her very first try.

“I really didn’t think I had a chance in the contest,” Elaine acknowledged. “So I guess it shows people shouldn’t give up on themselves. You just have to try. It took me a long time.”

Elegy of the Sea was also up for a $1,000 prize. “I didn’t win the money, but it was my first attempt. So maybe next year,” Elaine said. “But it’s not the money, it’s the recognition that’s important.”

Elaine’s work employs a variety of poetic forms. She writes rhymed, metered poems; free verse; and haiku.

She signs her poems, “e. mclaughlin,” after the manner of e.e. cummings. “I don’t want gender to be a factor,” she explained.

A wide array of experience informs Elaine’s poetry, a world-wide variety, in fact. Elaine is living in Fostoria and the area for the third time. She was born at Shanute Air Force Base near Champaign, Ill., the second of four children, to parents Ken and Helga. Helga is from Germany. Elaine’s parents met when her father was stationed in Germany near Frankfurt.

Her father was a career Air Force man and so Elaine was frequently on the move. She lived in Fostoria and attended Riley School in the fourth and part of the fifth grade. She returned to the area during her high school years and graduated from Lakota High School in 1977. Now she’s back in Fostoria for a third time, having moved here from Toledo about a year and a half ago.

In between she’s lived in Panama City, Fla. Twice; Selma, Ala; Macon, Ga.; Alexandria, La; and San Antonio, Tx. At the age of 7 she moved to Tokyo, Japan for two years.

The Japanese are very gracious people. I remember that Japanese books opened from the left. I used to watch Japanese monster movies on TV but I couldn’t understand the dialogue. I remember being scared one time because a group of picketer’s were chanting ‘Yankee, go home,’ behind our house. But, all in all, the Japanese were very good people.”

And how does she feel about all the moving she’s done? “Moving is a double-edged sword. The good part its that you get to know and accept lots of different people. The bad part is not establishing relationships because you’re going to leave. I was always the new kid in school.”

Elaine’s creative bent is a family trait. Her father is an accomplished carpenter and her mother’s grandfather was a painter.

Her creativity isn’t limited to poetry, either. She’s well-versed in music and can pick up most any tune on the piano even though she admittedly can’t read music very well. She’s even done some modeling.

What’s more, like her great-grandfather, she paints. Water colors and pencil drawings are her medium and her tastes run to still lifes, landscapes and other nature subjects.

Elaine has two sons, Andrew, 12, and Stephen, 10. “Both of them are creative in their own way. Stephen is musical and Andrew draws cartoons, mostly caricatures of sports figures like Jim Kelly. It makes me feel good to see that they have creative ability.”

Now that she’s gotten one of her poems into print, Elaine intends to submit more of her poetry for publication.

“I used to think that people who get published are more educated, but maybe writing can’t be taught like that. But I’m going to pursue it more actively than I have been.”

Writing more poetry will occupy Elaine’s spare time when she’s not studying accounting at Owens Community College in Findlay or busy at her job in Arcadia with RPM Co., a specialty tool and die operation.

One thing is certain. Elaine has one especially devoted, loyal fan and that’s her sister Anita. It was a letter from Anita that tipped us off about Elaine. Anita wrote to tell us how proud she was of her sister and that she felt Elaine belonged in the Focus. We couldn’t agree more.

Another poet, Percy Shelly, wrote, “Poetry is the record of the best and happiest moments.”

We certainly hope that Elaine’s poetry affords her many more good and happy moments and that many more of her poems find their way onto the printed page where readers far and near can enjoy and appreciate her lyrical explorations. The Focus wishes Elaine every success.

“Elegy of the Sea”
by e. mclaughlin

A spring-whipped day of summer thoughts
Of souvenir shops, of trinkets bought
Of white sea-foam plunging to the shore
Oh how I long to go back once more.

Where ships do sail way off beyond
And seagulls call with no repond,
Children run along and kick the sand
This promised warm and sun-filled land.

Feeling the sand run between my toes
Watching clouds roll away as the wind blows
The sun softly glistens off the waves
Ah, these memories I try to save.

I hear each tide as it beckons to me
Of thoughts of where I want to be
My mind still playing this elegy
Of sitting by my favorite place, the sea.