the writing life
So, here it is half-way through September and the colors are changing, the nights are getting cooler, Superior is getting rougher,and winter won't be long in arriving. The "Long White". Some of you who read this know I write. Sometimes I teach writing. Last winter I taught a workshop in Haiku. This winter I may do one for Haiku and another for Tanka. These are usually fun workshops with the students often doing far better than I. I like that. But, often I hear people who want to write say things like "I don't have anything to write about", "I want to write but I am just to busy with _______" or a hundred other excuses. I use to say these things too. Then, one day, it dawned on me that in reality I was making a choice. I was choosing not to write. Work, TV, a good book, the internet all were choices I was making. (Lot of "I's" in this piece.) Also, came the realization that it was ok to choose not to write. Acceptance. But, not an excuse. My notebook is almost always with me. My ears are always open. Stories and poems are everywhere. They get gathered in, stored at the back of the old brain box and occasionally, when the time is 'write' they end up on paper. Sometimes they go into the "mail" right away, sometimes they linger in notebooks to be rediscovered later, sometimes they go up on a writer's forum for suggestions. I've been lucky with submissions (or I just know who likes my work) and much of what I submit gets published.
Public readings at the monthly Community Poetry readings here in the Copper Country seem to go over well. Although it is really hard for me to tell. Still, it is enjoyable to listen to others read. At the last reading, here in Calumet, (at the Vertin Gallery) I was happy to hear Kristyn read two of her poems she wrote in Korea this summer and to listen to Elise do the best reading of e.e.cumming's "anyone lived in a pretty how town" that I have ever heard. Next month the reading will be at the 5th and Elm Coffee House here in Calumet. Later in the year it will be in Hancock. More and more places are asking to host these poetry readings. That's kinda cool. Who reads at them? Folks of all levels of experience. Old farts like me, high school, college, elementary students, local folks who would probably have never thought of doing this a couple of years ago, other local poets from the Universities or community. Usually not much in the way of egos at these. And that is good.
Other stuff. Leona is back doing Americorp in Chassell. She enjoys that but we have what does she do next year hanging over us. She is working on her Master's through online classes from Northern. Kristyn is settling in to be an instructor at Michigan Tech. And this weekend is the Parade of Nations. That ends with an international food fest at The Dee. Looking forward to that. Tonight I have Indian food cooking in the crock pot and it is about time to go home and have dinner. So, like the old haiku poets I'll leave you with a (Copywrite) haiku that has nothing to do (sorta) with any of this other stuff.
in the old dresser
my father's glasses, his wallet
a folded dollar inside
ta
Public readings at the monthly Community Poetry readings here in the Copper Country seem to go over well. Although it is really hard for me to tell. Still, it is enjoyable to listen to others read. At the last reading, here in Calumet, (at the Vertin Gallery) I was happy to hear Kristyn read two of her poems she wrote in Korea this summer and to listen to Elise do the best reading of e.e.cumming's "anyone lived in a pretty how town" that I have ever heard. Next month the reading will be at the 5th and Elm Coffee House here in Calumet. Later in the year it will be in Hancock. More and more places are asking to host these poetry readings. That's kinda cool. Who reads at them? Folks of all levels of experience. Old farts like me, high school, college, elementary students, local folks who would probably have never thought of doing this a couple of years ago, other local poets from the Universities or community. Usually not much in the way of egos at these. And that is good.
Other stuff. Leona is back doing Americorp in Chassell. She enjoys that but we have what does she do next year hanging over us. She is working on her Master's through online classes from Northern. Kristyn is settling in to be an instructor at Michigan Tech. And this weekend is the Parade of Nations. That ends with an international food fest at The Dee. Looking forward to that. Tonight I have Indian food cooking in the crock pot and it is about time to go home and have dinner. So, like the old haiku poets I'll leave you with a (Copywrite) haiku that has nothing to do (sorta) with any of this other stuff.
in the old dresser
my father's glasses, his wallet
a folded dollar inside
ta