The Poetry Hotline
Mara called. I picked up the phone because my answering machine was full from the sonnets she had left on it the day before. I encourage those who call me up to speak in rhyme if they’re so inclined, and Mara is a particularly prolific poet.
When she asked me how I was doing, my answer was “frustrated.”
“I’ve spent the last two days looking for three things I’ve lost. I lost my cookie tin full of seeds for the garden, I lost my USB flash drive, and I lost….. Uh … Now I’ve lost the memory of the third thing I lost,” I complained.
“I have a tonic for that,” she said and proceeded to recite me a poem.
“Oh, I like it. Can you call back and leave it on my machine. Give me a few minutes to delete some old messages to make room,” I said.
Here’s an excerpt of that poem as transcribed from my answering machine: For Sale … A marvelous tonic for loss … 2 cents … Blended of fresh risen, birch sap, bee pollen … ballast to keep you afloat … and seawater … shoveled with sandbags along every small crack where the leaks press against your break … It will ease the ache … take two cups daily … brewed with every terrible thing you’ve thought … Did you think at all that this could be bought?
After listening a few times, I remembered the third thing I lost. It was a New River Current newspaper story about the building of the Hotel Floyd, clipped for a story I might want to write. Later in the day I found my USB flash drive, but I had to order a supply of new seeds.
Post notes: The photo is of Mara reading some new poems in the rain to a group of us in the library parking lot after the “Floyd Naturally” readings Thursday night, where our Writer’s Circle was hosted.
Tonight is the St. Patrick’s Day Spoken Word Open Mic at the Cafe Del Sol. We expect the bards, troubadours, and poets who come out to be in rare form.
March 16th, 2007 11:07 pm
Mara sounds like a dear friend.
My condolences on losing the USB drive. I worry every day that I’ll lose mine. I’d be lost without it. 2 Gb of data and all that lovely U3 software. Gaa, the geek in me would freak! Likely explains why I carry it around on a lanyard most days.
I know, I’m insane.
March 16th, 2007 11:11 pm
But the tonic worked! Because I found it. Although I did not find my the cookie tin of seeds and that was hard to adjust to. Where could a tin of seeds go?
I did fry my first USB drive. It was quite a set back for me.
March 17th, 2007 12:25 am
What a wonderful way to leave a message on an answering machine! I’m sure the tin of seeds will turn up, as soon as the replacements arrive 🙂
I’m a bit puzzled by the purple crocuses. We have some very similar ones in our garden right now, but it’s autumn here. They must be different species?
Thanks for visiting my blog.
March 17th, 2007 10:17 am
That drives me nuts when I lose things and I do it all the time!
Have a great time tonight and be sure and drinl something green!
March 17th, 2007 11:22 am
Colleen, this post is in regard to your Irish post but not sure if you will see it there. Have you read any of Frank MacEowen’s books? I am reading “The Mist-Filled Path-Celtic Wisdom for Exiles, Wanderers, and Seekers” and feeling so connected.
Look what I found for sale:
http://www.house-for-sale-ireland.com/property/kerry/waterville-property.html
Susan
March 17th, 2007 12:07 pm
I have no doubt that the bards, troubadours, and poets of Floyd will paint the town green tonight!
March 17th, 2007 12:16 pm
~~ You’re not alone on losing seeds ~~ I had a large package of them in the studio, and thot I’d very nicely placed them in a decorative tin…only to have put them somewhere so carefully, that to this day I’ve no idea where they went..
This year after my seeds arrived, I placed them on a file cabinet near the studio door — that way I see them everytime I go in or out the french doors…can’t miss ’em. Oh – an’ if Anything on this poor old computer dies, it’ll just go out with the recycle stuff..10 years an’ it’s time for it to die a prolonged death…sigh…
March 17th, 2007 1:41 pm
Susan, what is the book about? I’ll see if my library has it. I LOVE the cottage in Ireland. Joe and I are figuring the euro conversion rate (he says $250,000) and having some fantasies that have put smiles on our faces. I just re-looked at my whole photo album from when we went 10 years ago, so the law of attraction is now at work.
March 17th, 2007 2:15 pm
Go “Law of Attraction”!! You do know I’ll have to take a finder’s fee of “a visit” if you move into that cottage. hehe
The book is about several things but the part on Celtic spirituality and “longing” has me shouting “YES”!. I feel it. I’m only 1/3 of the way through so can give a better summary when I’m done.
He talks about waking up and our authentic self. “Waking Up” is an online name I took this year and I recently told friends I want to live an “Authentic” life….so just lots of his words are resonating with me. Here’s a link to the Amazon.com reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/Mist-Filled-Path-Celtic-Wanderers-Seekers/dp/1577312112/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-1740466-2725618?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174155126&sr=8-1
Here is Frank’s blog:
http://solasdana.org/
Perhaps more info than you needed. 🙂
Susan
March 17th, 2007 11:58 pm
Oh, Dear. Sorry about the seed tin. My mind has not been focused at all lately, so I understand your frustration.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Colleen!
March 18th, 2007 2:27 pm
Hello Colleen.
We bumped into each other at the Winter Sun. I’m the guy that was taking pictures and you mentioned that you do the same for you blog. I just wanted to let you know that I made it to your site for a look around. Would like to post some comments every now and then.
Luis Garcia
http://www.Raise4Fun.com
540 320 1045
March 18th, 2007 5:19 pm
Hi Luis,
I remember you. I’d like to hear more abut Raise4Fun and how it is at work in our area. Thanks for coming by and come by and read and commment anytime.
November 17th, 2011 10:36 am
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