finish line

 the week that was winter break
flew and plodded along 
 with icy marvels 
and deep cold.
the birches drooped
and the fence lines made new patterns.
 just over a week until i leave for australia!
more about that in a day or so.
good news graced the inbox
my two books available above on this site
(see the bar with the shop label?)
Poor (Wo)man's Asparagus and November, A Map
were just purchased for the poetry collection
at the University of Buffalo (Lockwood Library).
i am dancing to think that my poem/books are there.
 i loved the woven ice as the sun began to sink
 and saw scarlet and purple and greens in the dazzle
as i get my stuff together for the trip
to australia
i've spotted above this summer prunus print on arches
 and below 
four hosta papers
colored with north country ochres
i also realized this terrible headache
and weariness is
a sinus infection
so i got myself to the after hours clinic today
and am taking a killer antibiotic.
the wonderful doctor had an auspicious name: wendy.
there was a wonderful visit from hannah this week
who modeled a unicorn head
at brewer bookstore.
i had a wonderful and wonderfully long chat with an artist 
about some new teaching locally.
and more news is coming,
i promise.

accumulating

as i prepare myself
for the wonderful inevitability of teaching
in
australia
this march,
i'm spinning and weaving and dyeing and
writing
and getting this brain
(so often addled by teenaged emotional turmoil
 and the fallout
present in public school)
i return to my heart work
and of course, keep reading.
 how in photographs these things look like the skin
that paper makes
flax and milkweed, for example,
to work on,
to wear for protection.
 and walking slows this mind down
to consider these things
 to see
 up close how beautiful these skins are
here, the blue skin of atmosphere
the red skin of berry
the hidden sinews
of milkweed
twined into threads to weave 
weave a skin to keep warm and safe.