About the Author:
Hi :) I am ... I never know how to fill these things out. It's not that I don't know who I am, I think, it's just that I don't really know what to mention first. If I mention my work first, does that make me a workaholic? If I mention my studies, does it sound pretentious? Oh who cares. Anyway, I'm Courtney. Born and raised in Michigan, but now I live in Brazil. Studied at U of M Flint and then when I graduated I joined the Peace Corps and lived in Paraguay until 2003. Then I moved to Brazil (long story), where I am now an English teacher and in a Master's Program in Education at the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. I like lots of stuff ... Going to the beach, drinking a cold beer, chatting with friends and family ... Not married, and not planning on being any time in the near future. I like to read, but I'd be lying if I said that I had half the time to read what I want as much as I would like to ... such is life. I play the guitar and I also like some artsy craftsy stuff ... I crochet (it calms the nerves), and I write really bad poetry. You can see it and other ramblings on my blog. I'm actually kind of relieved that only twelve people subscribe to it though (a third of that number is family, they have to love me, you see). I might be embarrassed if not. I'm kind of shy too, and I blush a lot, unfortunately. Nothing like wearing your heart on your sleeve. I try not to define myself based on directions or which hand I write with but just in case you are wondering, I write with the right one, but I think with the left. I love working with youth, particularly teenagers. I have been a bit burned out as of late though. It happens to the best of us. I don't know what else to say, so I'll shut up now.

Poetry by Courtney J. Campbell

Carnaval (a poem inspired by Eduardo Galeano's Notas do Além)

(Just a note ... I chose the Portuguese spelling of "Carnaval", as in "Mardi Gras", because I am referring to the Brazilian event ...)

It has been proven that no more than 10 angels
can dance on the head of a needle at a time.

When I am an angel,
I will lead a whole school of Samba in Carnaval
and we will dance half naked
happily and merrily,
myself and the other angels,
drinking and laughing
dancing and fornicating
our way to hell.

It has been proven that the temperature
of hell is 279 degrees Celsius.

When I go to hell,
I will bring a margarita and sit on the beach
like the silly tourist I try to avoid being in life now.
We will bathe topless
happily and merrily,
myself and the other hell-goers,
having given up chocolate for lent
in preparation for the next Carnaval.

It has been stated that heaven measures exactly
fifteen hundred square miles.

When I go to heaven,
I will buy a plot for our little beach house
where we can relax and plant roses,
swing on a hammock in our underwear,
myself and the other sinners
until Carnaval comes back around
and we say to hell with it again.

--Courtney J. Campbell

Copyright © 2006 by Courtney J. Campbell
Courtney's page at MySpace