An ARC, an ARC, my Kingdom for an ARC . . .

Look at this treasure

that came in the mail today:

an Advance Review Copy (ARC)

of Karen Hesse's new book:

safekeeping

!

It looks enticing:

"a novel of tomorrow"

with generous doses

of

Karen Hesse's own photographs

!

I am eager to begin.

!

Spring and Focus

Hellooooo, Spring!

Come on in.

You are always welcome here.

I'm always intrigued by how a writer chooses to begin a story,

especially with what focus:

will it be far out, giving the lay of the land,

as in movies 

when the camera begins high up 

and gradually moves in closer

and closer 

and closer

until it focuses on

the main character?

Or will it begin close up

immediately putting the focus on

a central person

or image 

and later moving out

to give us the lay of the land?

In paintings and photographs, too,

I like to think about

the artist's choices:

where is he/she directing our focus

and why?

It is spring in North Carolina,

a good time

to think about

beginnings.

So Much Depends Upon a Teacher

Yesterday, I showed this photo of a box of treasures that came from a school in Texas:

This isn't just a random collection of 'stuff' - each item feels specially chosen and warmly offered, from the school tee-shirt (which I've already worn proudly) and thermal drinking cup (they know I drink tea and water while I write) to the fine, fine chocolates (they know I love chocolate) –

that come with this warning

(they have a sense of humor)

and these seeds

"seeds of esperenza and morning glory"

to be scattered 

(representing hope)

Clipped to the top right of the card is

a trio of trinkets

representing cats, dogs, journeys

(Love That Dog, Hate That Cat, 

and many journeys)

and letters, amazing letters

full of enthusiasm and humor and warmth

Listen to this one line:

"I like to say your name, it has a creek in it like a door closing real slow."

Referring to my Skype session with them, one says:

"All of the love and happiness imported straight from New York 

makes me flabbergasted!"

And poems - how about this one:

So much depends upon

Tacos

We gobble them

we make them

we fight over them

TACOS.

And of course, also in this box of treasures,

this perfect little red wheelbarrow

which refers to the William Carlos Williams poem

that means so much to the boy in LOVE THAT DOG:

so much depends/ upon / a red wheel / barrow // glazed with  rain / water // beside the white / chickens

This is a school with such a good feeling about it, from the teacher and students with whom I bonded several years ago, to their librarian and principal and fellow teachers and students - and there are more schools like this out there

ones where the administration and teachers and librarians 

set the tone

and 

so much depends upon

their energy and compassion and enthusiasm

and you can feel it

in the students

in their words

and their actions

and I feel honored to know them.

They are changing children's lives:

so much depends upon them

so very very much.

Teachers and Librarians

Above: a box of treasure from a school in Texas

a box full of words and thoughts and gifts  

and loads of warmth

I'm going to write about this school

tomorrow

but for now

I'd like to salute

teachers and librarians

everywhere

who

make all the difference

in a child's 

life.

Did you have

a teacher or librarian

who

made all the difference

in your life?

Mm?

The Habit of Seeing

"I like to change my habit of seeing."

I think it was the musician John Cage who said this

but it might have been another musician or artist or writer.

Maybe you are working on a book

and the intricate pieces of it are becoming 

as tangled as a mangrove forest

(above)

Maybe you change your setting

so that everything is new again

Maybe you kick off your shoes

and walk in the sand

Maybe you ponder the wildlife

And visit old friends

(wildlife of another sort)

Maybe you contemplate

the blue green ocean

and the white white sand

Maybe you do all that

and restore your mind

and your soul

so that your story or song or painting

realigns

so that you see your way ahead

calmly and clearly.

Maybe.

Beaming you all sun and sand and blue green water.

Invasion of the Children

This past weekend

three of our great-nephews 

bounded onto the scene.

Invader number one:

Zoom zoom zoom

from here to there

and there to here

up and over and under

jump and run and gather.

Invader number two:

Find sticks and pinecones

bring them to the yard

make beds and fire pits and forts

zoom zoom zoom.

Invader number three:

Find the remote

find the crayons

fingers here fingers there

zoom zoom zoom.

Gotta love 'em.

Gotta gotta gotta.

Beaches and Writing

Maybe you love beaches

especially deserted ones

where the only sounds you hear 

are the waves and the seagulls. 

Maybe you come here to walk

and to empty the mind

so it can absorb the rhythm

of the water.

Maybe you stand in shallow water

and see the sun reflected

at your feet

and then look up

at the blue blue sky

and that astounding

sun.

And maybe then

when you are realigned

you go home

to write.

Mm?