Poetry, Ponies, Puppies, and Parrots
"Life is abundant, and life is beautiful. And it's a good place that we're all in, you know, on this earth, if we take care of it." --Alice Walker
In the US, April is National Poetry Month. Some years, I have celebrated by diligently writing a poem every day of the month. (This year has not been one of those years.)
April is also the month when, five years ago, my beloved dog Jack crossed the Rainbow Bridge. In observance of National Poetry Month and in honor of Jack, below is a poem I wrote two years later, in April 2021.
More than Dust
I didn’t want to vacuum
for weeks
after we left
you
on that table
in that room
lying
on your side,
asleep.
Not just because
I didn’t want to vacuum,
but because
I didn’t want to vacuum
you up—
any hair that was left,
any dander—
I wanted to keep
right where you left it.
Cleaning felt too final.
And then one day,
I brought you
back in a box—
a fine dust.
I sifted through it,
hoping for a tooth—
but found only
bits of bone.
It was a day like today—
full of birdsong and sunshine and pollen dust.
I don’t remember
when dust bunnies and pollen
finally forced my hand—
but I know I cried because
I didn’t want to vacuum;
it felt like another
goodbye.
I know now
that you
are more than dust
in a box
on the mantle.
But sometimes, I still press it to my chest
to hold you
close.
Because how I miss
the smell of you,
and the feel of that
dust when it was still fur and tail and teeth,
solid,
and barreling towards me.
What I’m Working On
My Debut Novel: An Expected End
I’m still running my “This Day In An Expected End” posts on Instagram—reading a brief (roughly one-minute) excerpt of a chapter from An Expected End on the day it occurs in the book.
Last week, I applied for a spot at the Lancaster Community Library Author Expo, which takes place in July.
My Next Novel: Goodbye For Now
I’m almost finished rereading the rough draft of my manuscript, and I’ve been keeping copious notes on all the things that need to be untangled, rethreaded, or cut out altogether. It’s going to be a big, messy job, but I suppose revising always is. At times I feel excited about it. At times I feel exhausted even thinking about it.
Outdoor Writing
Over the weekend, the Littles, two friends, and I visited the Eastern Shore of Virginia to view wild ponies from a pontoon boat for my May “ExploreMore” deadline. It was, to say the least, thrilling and magical.
Last week I had a call with the delightful and dog-loving Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Luray Caverns to begin working on my article featuring dog-friendly adventures around the state of Virginia. The article is planned for the August issue of Cooperative Living Magazine to celebrate National Dog Month.
Teacher Life
Although I have not written a poem each day this month, I have read one most weekdays of the month as a result of the National Poetry Month project assigned to my students, who have been presenting poems at the start of each class since we returned from spring break earlier this month.
Independent Bookstore Day takes place this coming Saturday, April 27, so I’ve been preparing for the Second Annual NEHS Independent Bookstore Day Bookstore Crawl. The timing, stops, lunch, etc. are all planned out. Ten students signed up to attend for the full day, which begins at 9:30 Saturday morning and ends sometime mid-afternoon. We’ll start off with coffee/tea at a Carytown bakery, visit several bookstores within walking distance, drive to a couple more bookstores, eat lunch together in Shockoe Bottom, and end with a visit to Poe’s mother’s grave. Last year’s bookstore crawl was a huge success, so I’m hoping for a similar experience the second time around.
What I’m Reading
It won’t be a surprise to learn I’m still reading (and immensely enjoying) The Measure.
While in the Eastern Shore over the weekend, my to-read list grew by three books when I visited the beautiful and waterfront Sundial Books in Chincoteague.
I have come to accept the fact that I am not likely to reach the end of my to-read list in my lifetime—but I’m sure going to enjoy trying.
Links to My Latest
“Paddles, Puddles and the Great Outdoors: Exploring Virginia state parks by water” appears in the “Explore More” column of the this month’s Cooperative Living Magazine.
Listen to a 5-minute podcast episode featuring An Expected End here, or anywhere you get your podcasts.
Archie and The Littles
The Littles are captivated by a herd of wild ponies grazing off the shore of Assateague Island during a pony tour with Daisey’s Island Cruises over the weekend. Look for my article about the experience in the June issue of Cooperative Living Magazine.
Archie yawns as he enjoys some head scratches.
What I Saw Outside
Pawpaw blooms along the James River
Wild ponies on Assateague Island, as seen from a boat in the Assateague Channel
Literary Calendar
April and May
April-May 2024 | Beer Dogs with Jackie McCool and various Virginia authors and animal welfare groups
Flip through the book to find photos of The Littles and an essay by me, as well as a piece by fellow author and dog lover Joyce Miller!
September
September 19, 2024 | 4:00pm-6:00pm | Beer Dogs with Jackie McCool at Richbrau Brewing
Stay tuned for more details!