The Watchful Eye is in the World

I’m happy to report that the April 17  book launch was a success in both attendance and book sales. I had hoped for twenty people to show up. The actual total was forty. In addition to a few family members, Attendees included friends, old and new, as well as a number of The Learning Center (TLC) members I did not know personally. Roger Smith, TLC director, warmly welcomed everyone and Swanhorse publisher, Leigh Rich handled book sales. My good friend, Pearl Attaway, who had come from Athens was a huge help with pouring wine and replenishing snacks.

I led off the reading with a few short food related poems, “Druthers,” “About Tomatoes, “ and “The Traveling Onion.”. The audience was receptive and sharing my poetry was fun. After I read, Roger opened the floor for questions. Savannah poet, Marc Thomas broke the ice with a craft question, asking how I decide on the closing line for a poem. His question provided an opportunity to talk about the value of classes and workshops. I responded that sometimes a mentor or friend will help a poet to determine when a poem really opens and on which line it should close.  Leigh, who had edited the collection asked about the poems she considers feminist leanings. Her comment prompted me to read a poem called “Not Just.” Without actually using the word “rape,” it spoke to dangers all women are aware of. That was not the happiest poem to end on, but it does represent a reality and illustrates the breath of life experiences poetry can and does address.

The final minutes were spent signing books for those who had purchased them.  Those moments of personal connections were among the most delightful of the evening.  Two people bought copies of my second chapbook Minute Men and Women which includes minute (sixty syllable) poems based on lives and events uncovered in my years of family history research.  One woman asked that her copy be inscribed to a couple who will be married in October 2025. I was thrilled that she chose poems about generations of my family as a gift to two people about to begin their own family history.