Crowdsourcing
A Lullaby
The Redbud Hyphen is a literary magazine written by women from diverse backgrounds who are part of the Redbud Writers Guild. The following piece is the third essay for our focus on Love. Read more here about our exploration of the themes for 2026, which we will share this year through creative and reflective writing.
There are friends who push
a wheelbarrow of manure
to your flower beds, spreading
what is needed in your yard.
They teach you how to recognize
the chickweed’s egg-shaped leaves,
which y’all forage for a salad.
They teach you how to uncoil
& discard the bellicose tendrils
of bindweed. There are better
trumpets than its bleached-white
flowers, such as the horn of coral
honeysuckle. You learn to listen.
Y’all then collect fallen branches,
mulch nightmares into dreams.
From Welcome Calm, Silence Tyrants: Adult Lullabies (Shanti Arts 2026)
Melanie Weldon-Soiset is the author of the forthcoming book Welcome Calm, Silence Tyrants: Adult Lullabies (Shanti Arts 2026); “Crowdsourcing” is included in her book, in a section called “Lullabies for Environmental Justice.” A highly sensitive person (HSP) who prioritizes rest, is Melanie is also a #ChurchToo spiritual abuse survivor and a former pastor for foreigners in Shanghai. Melanie holds an MFA in poetry from the Naslund-Mann School of Writing and an MDiv from Wesley Theological Seminary. Melanie served as the final Poetry Editor at Geez Magazine. Melanie has deep roots in Georgia, land of Muscogee and Cherokee. She currently lives in Washington, D.C. on Nacotchtank land. To stay updated on her new book, please join her poetry and prayer missive through her website: www.melanieweldonsoiset.com.
Writing for children is often misunderstood as simple or easy, but creating meaningful stories for young readers requires creativity, skill, and a deep understanding of play. This webinar examines common misconceptions about children’s literature and explores what truly makes a story connect with young audiences. Ideal for aspiring authors, educators, and anyone interested in children’s literature; this session offers practical insights into the writing process, and the impact stories can have on young readers.
About Our Presenter:
Award-winning author, Natasha Tripplett, lives in Northern California where she writes from a tree house perched in a sycamore tree. Natasha is a Jamaican Jewish American author who is passionate about cultural representation in children’s literature. She is the author of The Blue Pickup, Award-winning Juneteenth Is, Planted with Love, and Downtown Doors. Natasha bubbles with excitement over antiques, chocolate, coffee on the front porch, and cozy movie nights in front of the fireplace with her husband and four children. You can visit her at NatashaBooks.com. The cost is $15, and all proceeds benefit our Women of Color Mentoring Program.
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