B is for Blue Heron

When shifting through me collections of books, I found  had a hard time deciding on a book/story for the letter B. I have a lot ob B titles, not as many as M or D  titles though, but I struggled to pick a book that I would enjoy reliving enough to blog about it. After a while I settled on Blue Heron by Avi. Many of you are probably familiar with the name at least, or have heard/read some of his books. He's a diverse middle grade/YA fiction writer who writes about field mice adventures (Poppy & Poppy's Return), Edgar Allen Poe (The Man Who Was Poe), teenager girls who become sailors (True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle). Yeah, it is pretty diverse bibliography.

I discovered Avi when I would go on Saturday mornings to my local library in Fredonia, NY. In 1992 I was scanning the shelves of the new releases and found this book and I knew I had to read it. The artwork caught my eye. I love herons. It looked like it was done in watercolours and I wanted to be sitting on that rock. So, I checked it out. The silly, stupid, best part of it was that I was the first to check out from the library. Side note: my first library card number was 530. Yeah, I still remember that dumb detail.

I honestly can't remember much from the book. The last time I read it was over five years ago, I think, when I re-read it. So, it's been a while. I remember it was a story about a teenage girl who goes to visit her father for the summer at his lake house. It is a story about finding oneself, that much I do remember. 

Note: I do want to re-read it. It is only 186 pages, so I will likely do a quick read and an update in a few days to this post.

So, I have a deep love for Blue Herons, and the first time I saw one in the wild I was super excited by the discovery. I didn't have a camera, but I remember trying to remember the details of this tall statuesque bird wading in the waters of a creek in the early evening. It just stood there. At first I thought it was a trick of my eyes, but it moved slightly and I saw the long beak and it's wings. It was beautiful. I smile when I remember that moment.

Now the pantoum. This will be tricky, not having a fresh memory of the story, but let's see what we can do, Dear Readers.

Heron Sight*

It is when there is no sound

and the darkness crawling in

above a creek or lake that

is where you'll likely spy.

And the darkness crawling in,

just after  the sun has gone down 

is where you'll likely spy

this statuesque avian ballerina.

Just after the sun has gone down,

to feed upon the littlest fishes

this statuesque avian ballerina,

in a silent dancing delight.

To feed upon the littlest fishes

that the water can possibly offer.

In a silent dancing delight

is when you could catch it unawares.

That the water can possibly offer,

a meal fit for a Great

is when your could catch it unawares

with no sound your feet to make.

A meal fit for a Great

above a creek or lake that 

with no sound your feet to make

it is when there is no sound.

*-I updated the wording because I wrote this later at night and forgot to review before I post. I think it sounds much better because of it (at 10:06 am).

Okay, I lied. I ended up using my memory of the first time I saw a heron, that's not really a bad thing, is it? I did get a little existential at the end. I would love a comment or two about what you think of the poem though, Dear Readers.

Leave me some love and what excited you the first time you saw it in the wild?

Cheers!  

WIPpet Wednesday: Love in Ferns

I made it!!!

WIPpet Wednesday:
      *17 lines from 6/3. Hmmm.... 6 + 3 = 9 + 2 + 0 + 1 + 5 = 17

Read my fellow WIPpeteers here.

It had been three or four years ago when we first met, in a dance class of all places. I wasn’t the dancer type; I just wanted a fun elective to take. The class was folk dancing and most of the class was girls who were majoring in dance or theatre, there were some were guys needing an elective to graduate, and a few random people, like me, who wanted to learn to dance. I met Callie on the first day of class, but didn’t talk until three weeks later. We had learned several group dances and were moving onto partnered dances. I was still quite shy, so the teacher paired the people without partners. Thus we were paired together for the Polka. 

Callie often wore billowy skirts and dresses. The kind that plume out when you twirl around. This she did often, and especially during class. I just wore shorts and a tee shirt and usually felt clunky next to her. The teacher Ms. Grestanoski began the explanation of the dance. Trying to follow I soon began lost, Callie leaned over and whispered in my ear, “don’t worry. I already know this one. I help you.” She smiled and I felt more at ease, or maybe it was the warmth in the pit of my stomach that quelled the sudden butterflies. This was how my friendship with Callie began.

Fun Fact: I took a Folk Dance class in college and learn the Mayim Mayim dance and the Tarantella. The tarantella is a fast and footwork heavy dance (at least what I remember of learning it). Also, while I am polish, I do  not know how to polka.

It's been a good week so far. The evil day job is gearing up, making the days long. I am loathing the phone again, but that's normal. I am almost home in the evenings and getting stuff done. It hasn't been this productive in months. Well, productive in theatre, yes. Productivity in writing was at an all time low the last two months. I am so pleased that I did manage Blogging A to Z and NaPoWriMo, that kept me afloat. Now I am writing stories and poems and beginning to get back to where I was earlier in  the year.

The weather has broken. The rampant humidity has abated and we received a few days of rain, with today baring the skies with a bright blue and balmy temperatures. Nothing quite like other parts of the country and world though, such as India, California, and Texas. Glad to hear that the rains had ceased and the drying out has begun, as I know quite a number of folks in that state.

Today check-in is much more to mu liking. I have more to report and that makes me happy. So without further ado, the check-in!

This Week:
     *Reading: finished Crispin: The Cross of Lead (Avi), which I think I mentioned for Sunday's (Monday) post. I began reading Murder in Three Acts (Agatha Christie), another Poirot mystery. I seem to be fond of the little Belgian detective. Also, I pulled out Wicked (Gregory McGuire). I think it's time to tackle that beast. I plan to also re-read The Golden Compass (Phillip Pullman) and write a review of the book versus movie, but that in the coming months.
     *Writing: I wrote yesterday about 1877 words. I nice little piece of flash fiction. It's needs to be edited and revised. But I plan to post in on #writestuff's monthly challenge and maybe even submit it to a contest or two. Depends on how the editing process goes.
     *Social Media: visited 4 blogs from Sunday's check-in. Going to visit at least 2 to 4 for today to get me caught up. Also, visited about three blogs over Monday and Tuesday. Getting back in the saddle!
     *Housework: Dishes...DONE! Laundry....DONE! Lawn...DONE! Vacuuming...downstairs done!
     *Submissions: submitted 2 poems to The Lincoln Underground. Alas, due to time constraints, graduating editors, and funding the summer issue is going to be the last issue (for now?). This journal was the one that while they rejected all of my work up to this point, they still give me constructive criticism and pushed me to keep submitting.

This (upcoming) Week:
     *Reading: continue with Murder in Three Acts.
     *Writing: write something daily.
     *Blogging: post to #writestuff's monthly challenge.
     *Editing: edit the working title Fern Love for possible submission.
     *Submissions: 1 new submission by Sunday.
   
A Round of Words in 80 Days is the blog challenge that knows you have a life. Come and visit the Blog Hop here.

This weekend is hanging out with the Whovian peeps and either hanging at the Love Shack, or going to Eldridge Park with Sara's daughters to ride the carousel and the dragon boats (with the fellow Whovians in tow). What are you, Dear Readers, up to now that it is June?

Post Zombie Prom and Check-in...

Tyburn: a six line poem consisting of 2, 2, 2, 2, 9, 9 syllables. The first four lines rhyme and are all descriptive words. The last two lines rhyme and incorporate the first, second, third, and fourth lines as the 5th through 8th syllables.

This is NOT an easy form. Granted it is my first time trying this form. So, I will write a second poem in a form that I am more comfortable also.

Theatrical Flow

Mic Checks

Places

Spotlights

Are Now

To the stage for Mic Checks, Places called--

When the moment spotlights are now trawled.

Tetractys: 5 lines of 1, 2, 3, 4, 10 syllables. A Double Tetractys is 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 10, 4, 3, 2, 1. And triple Tetractys is 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 10, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 10.

Therical Flow V.2

Stage

the show

begins now

curtains open

hear the music play, as the story is

given life by the actors, in movement--

Just another day...

another show

we do

this.

Which do you prefer, Dear Readers? I am partial to the second, as it feels more like me. The Tyburn was an interesting time, but I am not thrilled with the end. The concept is what I what, but I cannot seem to find the right word combo that rhymes. Maybe it still works. Any suggestions on word choice, Dear Readers? Leave me some love and let me know...I'm curious what you have to say. I consider all suggestions.

Okay, ROW80 check-in time. It's been a quite weekend on thew writing front. But today is June 1st and the beginning of my 3 month hiatus from theatre (except of VP duties with The Lake Country Players). I am looking forward to coming home after work and working on the house, writing, reading, spending time with friends and family.  I have been so busy the last couple of years that I am surprised I remember any of it.

Zombie Prom has just finished. It was a grand time! I got to reconnect with my KLP family, bond with new and old friends. We made magic! We sung! We danced! We lived! My time at Enrico Fermi High is done, but the memories will live forever. There's the Andrews sisters secretaries in That's the Beat for Me, or playing a Motorwise Guy in Come and Join Us/How Do I Say Goodbye to Love?

As much as the post-show crash hasn't quite hit me yet, I do feel that the world is a little more empty.  The skies are grey (after a much needed day of rain), and the temperature is much cooler, which is leading to the empty feelings, I think. I am spending some time reflecting on the last couple of months. These people of Enrico Fermi High are my family and now that I am not seeing them everyday, I feel lonely. But, I also feel happy. When magic happens you can't feel bad.

So, my check-in this week is starting light, but in truth I need to build up. Thus, I hope that as the week goes on I will; have more to report on.

This Week:
    *Reading: started reading Crispin: The Cross of Lead (Avi). Continue reading and add, Murder in Three Acts (Agatha Christie)
    *Housework: laundry is done and put away dishes on docket to finish tonight.
    *Writing: today's post is the most words written this week, but I have written a number of poems last week, more than one a day some days.

This Week (upcoming): stripping down my goals even further to the bare essentials!
     *Reading:  Crispin and Mirder in Three Acts.
     *Writing: going to try something a little different this week. Write for 30 minutes Tuesday through Friday.
     *Social Media: 4 blogs daily.
     *Submission: 1 this week.

A Round of Words in 80 Days, the blog challenge that knows you have a life. Come over to the Blog Hop for a visit.

What have you been up to this week, Dear Readers? How do you bounce back after being busy with other projects, hobbies, life?

A little promo from the show featuring Eddie Flagrante's Harem, I mean secretaries....