“It’s Friday, I’m in love” … with these poems
I ended yesterday evening at Baldwin for the Arts watching videos on oil pastel techniques and then doing some blending of colors. That little experiment is the featured image for this post.
Instead of 2 poems, I wrote 4. Instead of 2 consultations, I did 4 (2 still left to do) and I closed the day with oil pastels, an application to the Tin House residency for parents in the Fall, and finding information out about applying for Dodge Poetry Festival as a poet.
This morning, after having this incredible breakfast prepared by Chef Felicia, I did some writing. I’ve been thinking a lot about “Elegy” by Aracelis Girmay, which is a favorite poem to return to, and my own fears about heading towards a c-section. I’m nearly 32 weeks pregnant at this point. My previous pregnancies were vaginal deliveries, one at a maternity center and one in the hospital during the pandemic. Unfortunately, this baby has worked with our shared organ to place it firmly against the cervix/exit into the world, meaning that, if it doesn’t move, and if we were to attempt a vaginal birth, we would both most likely die. So C-section is the option. I’ve had 3 ultrasounds to see if it has moved but no, not a little millimeter. I had to schedule the operation, a few weeks earlier than my due date as well, for health reasons. I may have two or three more ultrasounds and while I hope that it moves, it’s not likely this far in pregnancy … but with all I knew about Black maternal health outcomes and complications, I am thinking a lot about elegies and wills and things.
It’s the young who need wills most anyway. At this residency, I have been thinking more of the wonder of that poem than logistics I hope will never need to be accessed.
After the meal, and writing a new poem, I thought to myself: how many little pieces do I have hanging around out there. I haven’t been especially prolific, I thought. I’ve written a few speeches for speaking engagements over the years, some poems, some creative nonfiction/lyric essays along the way. Some have been published, most not. There is a printer available at the residency - what vision! - and so I decided to print out what I have so far.
I have a whole book, I think, that can be sculpted and made into something polished and fine, something that incorporates multiple genres: flash fiction, lyric essays, poems, perhaps some visual art. Today, my whole goal is to get out to the greenhouse this afternoon and do some ordering.
And just for your enjoyment, if you didn’t get the musical reference, here’s The Cure with “It’s Friday, I’m in love.”
Here’s what I originally planned to do.
Friday
Tea and rest
Write 2 poems
2 consultations
1 chapter of werewolf romance
Acentos review .5 years
Charcoal and oil pastel afternoon/evening
What ends up happening? Maybe some art-ing, maybe some fiction, maybe some anthologizing, maybe organizing a new book!
