www.keyspoet.com
Welcome to Keyspoet, better known as the online alias of Cori MacNaughton, an artist, writer and (according to my friends) modern-day Renaissance woman, currently living in Largo, Florida, on the Gulf Coast of west central Florida.
Ever since I was a child in my native Los Angeles, California, I have been very aware of the beauty and wonder of the natural world which surrounds us all. Small wonder, as coastal California is extremely beautiful, and contains a number of unique geological features and ecosystems in close proximity to one another. My early summers were spent with my mother's parents in New Mexico, and they introduced me to a myriad of wonderful places in and around the four corner states, particularly New Mexico and Arizona, as well as southernmost Colorado.
I have always felt very close to animals, often moreso than to many people, and have a longstanding commitment to protecting the natural environment and its inhabitants, as well as creating new habitat where feasible. From camping in the Rocky Mountains with my grandparents, to driving up and down Pacific Coast Highway as a young adult, to moving across the country and discovering the very different geography and ecosystems of Tampa Bay, Florida, to living for ten months in Luxembourg, Europe; every place I have lived and visited in my life has taught me valuable new lessons, and has allowed me to come to a deep appreciation of all people, across the globe.
I am never happier than when surrpounded by nature, whether camping, sailing, SCUBA diving, or just walking in the park with my dog. The night sky is a special joy for me, and I hope to ultimately find a home in a more rural setting, where I can pursue my love for organic gardening, orcharding and tree farming, and craft a life of substance and service, while helping others to grow fish and food-bearing plants for their own use and that of their surrounding community. Happily, I have found a wonderful man who shares these goals, which we will attain together. And, naturally, feeding and entertaining our friends, families and acquaintances in the process!
I have been an artist and writer to varying degrees for my entire life. In addition to writing poetry and essays, many of which I will be posting here, I am also a visual artist, employing painting, photography, sculpture and mixed media into my work, as well as creating beautiful jewelry, primarily with sterling silver and natural stones.
This page is under construction, and I will be adding much more to it in the coming days and months. Please feel free to check it out and let me know what you think.
Life is a gift, and it is up to us to make the most of it, with intelligence and skill.
Blessings to all.
Artists Boo Ehrsam, with grandsons Evan and Aidan, and Cori MacNaughton, with Newfoundland-mix dog Sprinkles, at the 28th Annual Rubonia Mardi Gras in 2007, in Rubonia, Florida.
Sprinkles got more beads that day than the rest of us combined. ;-)