Every teacher has them, students who risk using their gifts and talents, and shine. Often it’s hard to keep track of all the creative things students and ex-students are doing, but I like to try.

Today one of these bursting-with-talent students was featured in the Tri-City Herald, Julien Malard.  Julien shines in just about every area you can imagine. I was priviledged to work with Julien in one discipline we both love, writing. On Sunday, May 6th, Consort Columbia will be performing the world premier of his poem, “ Ode to Spring.” It’s not often a 13 year old’s poem inspires a concert, but Julien is an unusual student. And Julien is willing to share his talents with us, and we are richer for it.

May 6th  CUP church at 3 pm.

Read the article:

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/arts/story/8829120p-8729936c.html

On a Friday night just north of Seattle, three Irish musicians played reels with  pipes and fiddles, two year-olds twirled, eight year-olds chased each other, and a few adults danced in Third Place Commons. The Commons and Third Place Books  is the place to be on Friday nights for good food, music, author talks, and of course books! 

www.thirdplacebooks.com/

I was privildged to to meet Cheryl McKeon, who arranges author talks for the store, and read in the Den to a small group.   Reading in the Den

Who knows ,maybe I’ll graduate to the main stage one day! Be sure to check out their collection of rare books. I’ve got my eye on a George R.R. Martin, signed, First Edition!

Perceptive readers, you have no doubt noticed that this web page looks different than it did a week ago. I’m trying to make it easier to read and to find information. At this point, things may look a little plain, but it’s a work in progress, and I have some wonderful folks helping me. So be patient, and hopefully the construction won’t cause too many delays.

“The year was 2081, and everyone was finally equal.”

Today, the world seems a little duller  knowing that Kurt Vonnegut is gone. I think the very first Vonnegut I read was Cat’s Cradle when I was in high school, recommended by my good friend Jeff. We didn’t have Slaughterhouse-Five on our course syllabus, so Vonnegut’s books became a subversive pleasure–something to read when I should have been doing my homework or reading the approved novels. Books are so much more joyful when you aren’t required to read them. Still, I introduce Harrison Bergeron every year in my English classes and hope my students go on from  there to meet Billy Pilgrim, Kilgore Trout, Eliot Rosewater , and maybe to practice a little bokononism some day. I like to think Kurt will be watching from one of his alternate planes of existance..and smiling.

Relentless Light, my poetry chapbook, made its debut last Saturday. www.finishinglinepress.com

Bone Structure

The shape of bones beneath the skin,

white winged clavicle, curve

of metatarsal arch, an alabaster span,

the fine intrigue of hands,

twenty-seven bones, splayed

as the sycamore in winter

against a soft edged sky,

visible as the swell a finger traces

across the apple of a cheek, then lingers

down along the line of jaw,

the frame of bones both intricate and strong

as thoughts beneath the flesh of words.

Kristos Voskres! Voistinu voskres!

Kristo gesso! Buhar ha sho nay!

Le Christ est levé

Se levanta Cristo

Χριστός αυξάνεται