14 Years

Today marks 14 years of my daily writing practice — I've written at least one poem a day since a snowed-in morning (rare in these parts on the eastern seaboard, probably even more rare now because of climate change) in 2010 when I drifted over to Dave Bonta's microblog The Morning Porch, and where I read his post that day  morningporch.com/2010/11/159121245/ - and was moved to respond in the comments box in a poem.  I did that for a few more days afterwards; though I'm not sure I posted all of them in this same way. Dave noticed, and invited me to post my poems on Via Negativa—and I've been doing that ever since.

Out of my daily practice, I've learned some helpful things about myself and my process; and I've put together 4 books and 4 chapbooks from the running review (and the revisions) I do of my writing. At least, these are things that I've found to apply to myself--

- Writing is the best way to keep writing.
- Before any thought of publication, there's the joy of meeting yourself on the page.
- Doing this (above) reminds me every day that writing is an opportunity to play; to follow ideas down rabbit holes, discover things, pay attention in this space of writing, no matter how brief every day (I typically do 30-45 minutes).
- Writing poems, I've found, is my preferred form for "processing" how I experience the world: in language, in images.
- Despite what anyone will tell you about "published is published in whatever form," your writing is yours. 

Especially in the last 2 weeks, I feel even more intensely how poetry has the capacity to "save" me - from utter, unfocused distraction; from utter despair...

I'm very grateful for my daily practice, and I'm very grateful for the additional writing community I've become connected to through the years, through Dave and Via Negativa.

***

And here, below, are some snaps from my undergraduate+graduate Advanced Poetry Workshop yesterday, during which my daughter Gabriela came and helped lead a workshop on making poetry zines. It was a JOYFUL session!

​

---