Poetry is Not a Luxury

When difficulties surface,                                                                                                                     
                                         body language tells all--                                                                 catches me                                                                                       in the act of being real and I wonder if          it's fair                                                                                                                                                     to call myself poet.                                                                                                                         Afterall, I should know how to share                                      space, make everything                              okay, but challenges come along, a risk to work together.  No small thing to share space,                                          communicate,  overlook frustrations--                         I should know                                                   how to do this--but I'm still learning. 

This Weekend in Kirkland--NW Book Festival

Count your blessings, I hear my mother say to me as I reflect on how I just spent the last few hours at the NW Book Festival in Kirkland. Count your blessings, she'd say to me, when my little girl pout meant I was disappointed with expectations that differed from reality. Count your blessing, she'd say, again and again, to remind me that there was an early morning windstorm that knocked out power, closed the 520 bridge and ripped off most of the yellow and orange leaves I wish could last longer. So, though I wish there had been more people to talk to about Cave Moon Press, and my poetry, my thanks to Doug and Tanya Johnson, with Cave Moon Press, for driving over to support me at the exhibit table. My gratitude to Debra Schneider, King County Library staff, for making sure people had tables, signage and meals they ordered....and thanks to the writers and friends of writers for showing up. Tomorrow is day-two of the festival and I'll return to participate in the 10:30 AM Poetry Panel along with poets Michael Dylan Welch and Laura Lee Bennet....more reasons to count my blessings!!