yes, the round-up is here!...and announcing THE NATURE OF OUR TIMES anthology

Apologies for the late start this morning! I discovered on Wednesday that I had reports to complete on my grant-funded projects for FY25, which I knew but hadn't quite realized there would be FIVE of.  And then there is the distraction of finding, down the street a piece, an enormous fig tree with a paper plate sign hanging off a lower branch: "FREE FIGS"!

I don't know about you, but the scent of the fig trees at this time of year follows me around, calling to my mouth...maybe there's something to the idea that deep in my northern German heritage was a swarthy Mediterranean soul...

So last night I was busy picking figs and forgot that I switched hostess duties with Margaret Simon. So sorry if you've been impatiently waiting to unleash your post last night or this morning!

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It's the 3rd Friday, so traditionally Climate Friday here at my juicy figgy little universe, and I have some nice news to share.  The same folks who collected and published DEAR HUMAN ON THE EDGE OF  TIME in September 2023 are putting out second ecopoetry anthology called THE NATURE OF OUR TIMES, and I'm so pleased that they've selected one of the poems I submitted for the online Gallery to be in the print book! It's billed thus:

Poems on America’s Lands, Waters, Wildlife, and Other Natural Wonders

A companion to the First National Nature Assessment (NNA1), Forthcoming, Fall 2025 from Paloma Press, in collaboration with Wick Poetry Center at Kent State University and Poets for Science

The first time I saw the call for poems back in January, however, it seemed to be focused on our little patches of backyard nature--so those were the kind of poems I submitted.  You'll find "Ordinary Grass," "invasive: a kudzudoku" and "Undone" in the Gallery, which is the one that will  be included in the book. 

There are a number of other poets from the DMV (DC/MD/VA) included, a few of whom I know, so I'm hoping we'll be able to organize some public readings. And looking at the Bios galley I was asked to review, I also find some Big Names: Diane Ackerman, Camille Dungy, Jane Hirshfield, Naomi Shihab Nye, Ray McNeice and Arthur Sze, plus many others you might know.  And of course, the editors: Luisa A. Igloria, Aileen Cassinetto, and David Hassler.  I'll let you know how you can order it when the time comes. For now, enjoy "invasive: a kudzudoku":

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the maine event

Greetings from Damariscotta, Maine! F and I are midtrip on this epic circumnavigation of southern Maine, currently hosted by a former teaching colleague who retired last year and promptly decamped to this lil village of 1800 year-round residents. Damariscotta, like most places in Maine that we can see, is very watery: it has its own river, several of its own ponds, and today we will take a short hike that ends with an ocean view. It's also The Oyster Capital of New England, so I believe the menu for the weekend will include at least a couple of oysters!

Last weekend we spent time with my fellow Inkling Molly at home in Bowdoinham. It was also a very Maine weekend, involving lobsters, blueberry picking and a JAM LESSON. I hope I'm not revealing anything personal when I show you Molly's dedicated jam cupboard; she definitely knows what she's doing!

On our way up to Molly, we visited as many beaches as we could fit in, knowing that the further north we went, the less swimmable the water temp would be for us dedicated Maryland beachers. I've been taking a jillion photos; it helps me notice and remember details, and I used these to fashion this triptych poem in response to Catherine's First Friday  challenge: Using Irene’s recent blog post as a springboard, write a triptych. 

I did so (on Molly's red sofa), and then I went to look a little further to see what anyone had to say about this form or approach to writing a 3-part poem; I found this article and its example poems interesting (and also was surprised to see that both poems shared my topic!). I didn't mean to make it read across AND down, but I think it works! (Click for a better view of the photo.)

It also captures the medicinal effect, for me, of even a few hours on any beach. I hope you feel it too!

In between the Molly visit and the Cybele visit, we spent 3 days in Acadia National Park--but that's another jillion photos and a separate post. Thanks to Jane at Raincity Librarian for hosting us today, and check out the triptychs by the rest of the Inklings.

Catherine @Reading to the Core
Mary Lee Hahn @ A(nother) Year of Reading
Molly Hogan @ Nix the Comfort Zone
Linda Mitchell @ A Word Edgewise
Margaret Simon @ Reflections on the Teche