Home Stretch

Right now I have about 14 out of 20 poems prepared for completion -- 10 finished poems and 4 good ideas that need fleshing out. Fleshing out is often the fun part of forming a rough draft; getting the seed idea is what causes any irritation.

And 14/20 isn't a home stretch, that's a work in progress! But today I attended a poetry workshop and reading by Naomi Nye, and wow, now I have some five more solid ideas to round out the chapbook. She's a very kind, bright, and aware person, and deserves whatever positive reputation spread in her name. Her voice is as fitting for poetry as it is for song, and I'm jealous of her students.

Aracelis Girmay, a young, accomplished poem in her own right, performed as well. She's talented, but I'm less receptive to "social injustice and war crimes" poetry. However, she saved her stunner for last, a poem named "Loesfoeribari." It was the equivalent of being shown a plain white toaster and having its unremarkable features described, then ending with dropping a butter knife into the red-hot burners and watching the whole thing flash and explode. It was the stealthiest burst of joy I've ever heard in a poem, and added "Loesfoeribari" to my vocabulary.

My online order of Nye's book didn't arrive in time for her to sign it; I was forced to buy one of her books that's partially included in the ordered "Collected Poems." I didn't mind one bit.