#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream

Rockport, MA

A late walk after preparing for my poetry reading this afternoon in Cambridge with my Monday night poet’s group. I spend a half an hour choosing the poems I will read and then change my mind completely, prepare an alternate line-up. I want to read “Lake of Laurel and Ash,” because the Laurel blooms in another week or two. It’s a hybrid - a lyrical essay or prose poem. And then I want to read my longish poem from Longboat Key, “Post Cards From The Gulf.” And that’s what I do. Frank arrives home from his morning meeting as I’m heading across the field, so he walks with me to his bench where he’ll sit overlooking the river while I walk in the woods with the dogs. We see a painted turtle laying her eggs in the field. It’s warm and fragrant in the woods, and I want to linger, but all the new plantings need to be watered before I go away for two nights: and I must plant two honeysuckle shrubs I bought a few days ago and mulch some of the new plantings in full sun. It’s a hugely busy and fun day. Frank and I drive to Cambridge for my reading with my friends – what a pleasure to read in this tribe to our intimate full house of listeners. I’m happy with my choice of poems. And then Frank and I drive up to Rockport to a concert for which I bought tickets months ago: Mountain Man, a trio of three female vocalists. And frank and I have not been away like this for an adventure for a long time. We linger at dinner overlooking the Atlantic talking about his operation and his recovery and how this experience has changed us both in positive ways.