Daniel Cleary, Stars, and March

Hello. Happy new month! March is here.

I’ve been lazy and indulgent, per usual, but here’s some news.

Last weekend I went to Sulzer Library in my old neck of the woods and finally met Daniel Cleary in person. It was a pleasure to hear him read his poems, and he finished with a song!  I’ve featured some of his poetry (such as “Fireside” and “More Snow”) and paintings on this site. So glad to shake his hand!

I got two of his books—The Green Ribbon (Enright House) and A Few Stray Leaves by Lagoons Editions.

BTW, Lagoons Sessions take place regularly at The Uptown Arts Center. The next one is Friday, March 16, and  features Beatriz Badikian-Gartler, Frank Rogaczewski, Ixtaccihuatl Menchaca, and Elizabeth Marino. The Uptown Arts Center is at 941 W. Lawrence.

Dan Cleary’s reading was hosted by the Tallgrass Writers Guild, which means Whitney Scott, who works hard for poetry. She heads up Tallgrass Writers Guild and also Outrider Press, which is known for its black-and-white anthologies.

The latest call for submissions is on the theme of  STARS and the deadline is coming up soon. Check out the details here.

The next Tallgrass Writers Guild reading is Sunday, March 25, at 2 pm, and features Susan Zamarow. There’s an open mic too.

Congrats to friend Lynn Sloan who has a new book of short stories launching today; it’s called This Far Isn’t Far Enough and comes from Fomite Press.

A local poet and musician Larry O. Dean posted this Emily Dickinson poem on his FB page and I’m swiping the idea since I love to share public domain poems that sound contemporary.

Oh one more thing, did I mention I have a photo up at The Passporte Fine Art Gallery? Check it out here – it is of a melon in case you couldn’t tell.

Peace, love, and solace

 

Dear March – Come in – (1320)

Emily Dickinson

Dear March – Come in –
How glad I am –
I hoped for you before –
Put down your Hat –
You must have walked –
How out of Breath you are –
Dear March, how are you, and the Rest –
Did you leave Nature well –
Oh March, Come right upstairs with me –
I have so much to tell –

I got your Letter, and the Birds –
The Maples never knew that you were coming –
I declare – how Red their Faces grew –
But March, forgive me –
And all those Hills you left for me to Hue –
There was no Purple suitable –
You took it all with you –

Who knocks? That April –
Lock the Door –
I will not be pursued –
He stayed away a Year to call
When I am occupied –
But trifles look so trivial
As soon as you have come
That blame is just as dear as Praise
And Praise as mere as Blame –

 

Emily Dickinson, 1830-1886

This poem is in public domain