This afternoon, some fellow MFA poets and I (those still in town before the holidays) gathered at a cozy house to workshop poems, eat yummy treats, and enjoy each other's company. I appreciate this multi-generational group that represents a diverse cross-section of America (Utah, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, among Washington natives and others). I submitted a poem I wrote almost a year ago, but since have tweaked...just never submitted to be "workshopped".
I haven't written a complete draft of a new poem since the last week of this fall quarter. However, I have occasionally written in my journal (where I keep ideas and lines for poems). I've also been reading a lot*, and have enjoyed strategically buying meaningful Christmas gifts on a limited budget. But this is just the post-finals "vacation"...I need to get back to work. My thesis book is due in less than 6 months. The complete rough draft of 40-some poems (minimum 48 pages is required, I think) is due in half that time. Yes, I need to get to work.
* What is on my Christmas break reading list:
(those for fun)
- A Girl Named Zippy - Haven Kimmel (finished it last night!)
- The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath (read Ch. 1 last night)
- Blessed Are the Cheesemakers - Sarah-Kate Lynch
- Happy To Be Here - Garrison Keillor
- Lake Woebegon Summer 1956 - Garrison Keillor
(for my thesis or, at least, thesis book list consideration)
- What Work Is - Philip Levine (almost done reading)
- Without - Donald Hall (read in one sitting, will re-read...amazing!)
- The Great Fires - Jack Gilbert (finished, will re-read)
- Making Certain It Goes On - (collected poems) Richard Hugo
- Desire - Frank Bidart
- Queen for a Day - Denise Duhamel
- Awake - Dorianne Laux
- One Stick Song - Sherman Alexie
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