July 31, 2008

Home sweet home at last. I’ve been on the road for nearly a month! My songbirds are missing, after two weeks without seed. Josef’s birthday. I think he’s 48. Bought him some Daniel’s chocolates but they had no marzipan, which he relishes, being a good German.

In the news, a young man is stabbed and beheaded on a bus from Edmonton to Winnipeg! This progressive country is often host to some of the most gothic and bizarre incidents of violence. I don’t understand how the perpetrator can be charged with second-degree murder. Doesn’t one have to be insane in order to do such a horrific thing? I find myself trying to read between the lines in the news coverage, which never delves beyond the facts, understandably, but how to make sense of such madness? What possessed him to appoint himself executioner? Why did he pick this particular person as his victim?

Good news. I am thrilled and honoured to be selected for Rocksalt: An Anthology of Contemporary BC Poetry, the first in over thirty years. Editors Harold Rhenisch and Mona Fertig requested a poetic statement. Why do I write poetry. What does it mean to me. I was unable to provide one right away, as I was on the road but upon my return found myself procrastinating. I don’t like being pinned down, would rather hide out in the poems. This is what I came up with: Continue reading →