National Poetry Month, Lilacs, Apple Blossoms and Melancholy, Earth Day, Zoom Poetry Inspirations, and a Book Giveaway
- At April 25, 2021
- By Jeannine Gailey
- In Blog
- 11
Cherry Blossoms, Poetry Month and Melancholy
This week, the world seemed to spring into bloom – crabapple and apple blossoms, lilacs peeked out, and dogwood bloomed. Finally, it seems Seattle has decided it’s really spring, and brought back it’s chillier weather and rain to celebrate.
One night I went out at twilight and took pictures – and got a few shots of flowers under the moon, which I thought was really cool.
It’s still National Poetry Month for another week, and it’s also five days til my birthday. For some reason, I have felt less like celebrating and more melancholy than usual for spring, April, one of my favorite months. The pandemic year (and some months) perhaps has finally gotten to me? Or my MS is kicking up after last week’s excitement? I’ve also been really tired, going to bed earlier than usual. I got a job rejection that really hit me hard. It’s been harder to give myself the pep talks that usually keep me writing and sending out work. I can’t explain it.
Birds and Blooms, Earth Day, and Pictures in Cherry Blossoms
It was Earth Day this week. Last Earth Day, I planted an apple tree and cherry tree in my yard, and over the last year, we’ve faithfully watered, fertilized them, and kept the deer from eating them, and this year, we were rewarded with a few leaves and a couple of blossoms on each. This last year we planted a Strawberry Tree and another cherry (this time, a fruiting Rainier cherry) and we are watching them grow in containers on the back deck. The birds love them. All of the tulips are almost done blooming now – remember last weekend, they had just opened? It’s definitely been a week to celebrate that brief burst of bloom as much as possible, and attend to the garden, cutting back, planting, putting coffee grounds on the roses. Sometimes it’s time to plant, and sometimes it’s time to nurture what you’ve already planted. Maybe I should try this on myself!
I tried to attend to my own inspiration and sadness, and so I signed up for an early-morning Plath seminar (fantastic, and led to me buying several more Plath books) and went to a couple of Zoom poetry readings. (So many good ones are available right now – keep your eyes on Twitter and Facebook for announcements.) I subscribed to a few literary magazines (like most people, I can never afford as many as I want, but I try to mix it up this time of year.) I also tried to capture as much of the magic of our brief spring flowering as possible with my camera, including typewriters in surprising places. Even when I’m not writing, I can practice photography. I can rest, read, and pay attention to the small beauties around me.
A Book Giveaway
Anyway, wishing you a happy last few days of April. Hope you can enjoy some flowers and poetry.
And since the publisher of my third book, New Binary Press, has closed due to health problems, I’d like to give away one signed copy of Unexplained Fevers (now unavailable anywhere else – I still have a few copies) to someone (in the Continental US) that leaves a comment on this blog post. It can be a comment about anything – a book you loved, a flower that bloomed – but make sure to include your e-mail contact info so I can get ahold of you if you win! Good luck!
Lucinda Lawson
Last week snow covered the bleeding hearts arching over the overgrown flowerbed, and I feared for their blossoms. Instead the snow insulated them, protected them through the dark of night and saw them into the next sunrise before melting away. A good reminder to me that sometimes what seems like it might end me could actually be my preservation unrecognized.
Yvonne Higgins Leach
I have always wanted to tell you how great your photography is too!
yvonneleach@hotmail.com
Deborah Kate Hammond
Thanks for another sunday of beauty and honesty and lovely images too! debkat48@gmail.com. I know I had this book but cannot find it on the shelf so may have loaned it out.
Pat Valdata
Imminent birthdays can affect us in a lot of ways. I hope the flowering trees and the goldfinches will help you feel better. That book cover is great!
Catherine
Happy National Poetry Month! I can’t wait for the lilacs to bloom in New England.
Jennifer Barricklow
Thank you for the beautiful photos, as always. I love seeing what’s blooming in different parts of the country (and the world).
Of course Unexplained Fevers is now unavailable – it’s the one I haven’t purchased yet. LOL!
I wish you a happy birthday and a year filled with every good thing.
Jennifer
barricklow@juno.com
Jeannine Gailey
Thanks Jennifer! Just an FYI, there is a copy or two still left at Open Books: https://open-books-a-poem-emporium.myshopify.com/products/gailey-jeannine-hall-unexplained-fevers
Veronica Hosking
Happy Birthday!
Jennifer Barricklow
Got one! Thanks. 🙂
Jeannine Hall Gailey
Thank you!
Jeannine Hall Gailey
Great! I hope you enjoy it! Take good care!