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 (Um poema inspirado pelas Notas do além de Eduardo Galeano)

Foi provado que nada mais que 10 anjos
podem dançar na cabeça de uma agulha no mesmo momento.

Quando eu for anjo,
vou liderar uma escola de Samba no Carnaval
e dançaremos meio nús
felizes e com alegria,
eu e os outros anjos,
bebendo e rindo,
dançando e fornicando,
no caminho do inferno.

Foi provado que a temperatura
do inferno é de 279 graus celsius.

Quando eu for para o inferno,
vou levar uma margarita e sentar-me na praia
como a turista engraçada que evito ser na vida real.
Tomaremos banho topless,
felizes e com alegria,
eu e os outros visitantes do inferno
sendo que deixamos o chocolate pela quaresma
em preparação pelo próximo Carnaval.

Foi constatado que o céu mede exactamente
mil quinhentos milhas quadradas.

Quando eu for para o céu,
comprarei um lote para nossa casa de praia
onde podemos relaxar e plantar rosas,
pendurados na rede com nossa roupa íntima,
eu e os outros pecadores,
até quando o Carnaval voltar
e mandamos tudo para o inferno, de novo ...

--Courtney J. Campbell

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