Sudie-Stirred

Sudie Rakusin is an artist and ecofeminist who lives in North Carolina on the edge of a meadow with her Great Danes, surrounded by her gardens and the forest. Sudie works in oils, pen and ink, papier-mâché, and mosaic. Soon, she plans to learn welding.

Winged Willow Press established in 1998, is Sudie's small independent publishing house. She has written, illustrated, and published three children's books and two coloring books for adult womyn. Her latest book is Savannah Blue's Activity Book, a bilingual coloring and activity book in both English and Spanish.

Sudie Rakusin's art has been widely reproduced in newspapers, magazines, and calendars and can be found in such books as The Once and Future Goddess by Elinor Gadon; Seasons of the Witch by Patricia Monaghan; and the Wickedary, Outercourse, and Quintessence by Mary Daly. Sudie is a regular contributor to Sinister Wisdom and Sage Woman. Her work has also been published in Inciter; Big Mama Rag; Common Lives, Lesbian Lives; Women of Power; and Green Egg, among others.

Sonnet for Sudie

Dear Sudie, summer’s here and here’s to you
the artist with a heart of yes I will
the artist with a poet’s point of view
the artist making music with a quill.
At first, I saw your drawings in a book
the women with such grace and dignity
I found more pleasure in a second look
I felt the dancing women dance with me.
The honeysuckle’s blooming on the vine
I stand outside inhaling its perfume
a hummingbird comes near to me, a sign
to sing a song of praise to Sudie’s bloom.
For Sudie’s drawing so alive and clear
I hold a vision of her very dear.

© 2005 Mary Meriam