Six years ago, I wrote that only a poet ~ someone whose very marrow oozed poetry ~ would commit to an entire Saturday spent writing poetry. I stand by that, even if it’s ‘only’ for 12 hours…the half marathon.you full marathoners? Double crazy!

I scribbled on blackboards as a very small child, ‘writing.’ I still do ~ scribble & write. It’s what I do, write. I also mother, grandmother, tend a garden and its birds & bees, be my beloved’s wife, read, and obsess over tea.

I grew up overseas, a fact which infuses much of my writing. It also means I’m so glad to see such an international crew of poets! ❤️  It was a long time, though,  before I could accept that my writing wasn’t going to sound like the writing of friends & colleagues. It still doesn’t, but it still finds homes. I have three published chapbooks, and will (eventually!) send off a book mss. I’d always rather write than do business stuff!

In the meantime? I love the poetry book club I helped start in my small Virginia town. I read a lot of poetry. For years I taught writing at a state university, while also directing a federal non-profit working with teachers k-university. I believe in social justice.

As I’m too old to go w/out a night’s sleep (even for poetry), I’m participating in the half-marathon. I always look forward to seeing what I produce when I crank it out. Traditionally, that’s a good way to silence the inner censor. Each year I’ve managed to surprise myself. Doesn’t get much better than that!

Here’s to good writing time for all of us!