September 12: Unsure Poem, Beautiful Day, Busy Night

I've had a great day.  Teaching Good Books went really well.  The students were laughing and participating.  I dropped off the grant I wrote this morning.  Check that off my to-do list.  All I have left is posting to my blog and reading for Mythology tomorrow.  It's going to be a good night.

Of course, my day isn't over.  I'm going to be driving my daughter all over tonight.  First, we have to go to the first meeting of the year for Faith Formation at church.  Then we have to cut out of there early so she can make it to her hip hop dance class at 7 p.m.  My wife is going to a picnic for her women's group from church, so the majority of the childcare falls on my shoulders tonight.  However, we have a babysitter coming to take care of my son, and my daughter is pretty self-sufficient.  As long as she isn't too moody, I'm in the clear.

I do have a new poem written, but I'm not sure about posting it today.  It may offend some people, and I want to run it by a poet friend to see what she thinks.  After I get her feedback, I promise to post it tomorrow.  I think it's pretty funny.  Maybe a little irreverent, but not too bad.  I'll see what my friend says.  Therefore, you will have to be satisfied with the Phil Levine poem I blogged this morning.  It's better than anything I'll ever write, anyway.

Saint Marty hopes you've had as good a day as he's had.  We all deserve it.

Not a big fan of smiley faces!



September 12: New Week, Fresh Start, Philip Levine

This morning, I actually feel energy for the things I have to do today.  I've already finished writing a grant that I have to submit today for next year's U. P. Book Tour 2012.  Looking over the details for the tour, I just found out the organizer is trying to book U. S. Poet Laureate Philip Levine for a reading.  I am so excited about that prospect.  Phil Levine has been one of my favorite poets since I started writing.  He's originally from Detroit, worked in the factories down there as a young man, and made a better life for himself through poetry.  He's one of my heroes.

I love the feeling of a fresh start, and that's what today feels like to me.  As I sit here, eating my cheese and wholegrain bread for breakfast, I'm ready to throw myself into today's tasks.  That grant for the book tour has been looming over my head for a week, so getting it done lifts a weight from my shoulders.  Everything else I have to accomplish today seems miniscule in comparison.  Plus, I might get to meet Phil Levine next summer.  How freakin' cool is that?

Saint Marty is going to leave you with a poem from Phil Levine this morning (since he's not sure if he's going to get a poem written himself today).

What Work Is

by:  Philip Levine

We stand in the rain in a long line
waiting at Ford Highland Park. For work.
You know what work is--if you're
old enough to read this you know what
work is, although you may not do it.
Forget you. This is about waiting,
shifting from one foot to another.
Feeling the light rain falling like mist
into your hair, blurring your vision
until you think you see your own brother
ahead of you, maybe ten places.
You rub your glasses with your fingers,
and of course it's someone else's brother,
narrower across the shoulders than
yours but with the same sad slouch, the grin
that does not hide the stubbornness,
the sad refusal to give in to
rain, to the hours wasted waiting,
to the knowledge that somewhere ahead
a man is waiting who will say, "No,
we're not hiring today," for any
reason he wants. You love your brother,
now suddenly you can hardly stand
the love flooding you for your brother,
who's not beside you or behind or
ahead because he's home trying to
sleep off a miserable night shift
at Cadillac so he can get up
before noon to study his German.
Works eight hours a night so he can sing
Wagner, the opera you hate most,
the worst music ever invented.
How long has it been since you told him
you loved him, held his wide shoulders,
opened your eyes wide and said those words,
and maybe kissed his cheek? You've never
done something so simple, so obvious,
not because you're too young or too dumb,
not because you're jealous or even mean
or incapable of crying in
the presence of another man, no,
just because you don't know what work is.

Coming next summer, hopefully

September 11: A Day to Remember...

The Fall Back Festival at Mitchell United Methodist Church rocked Negaunee.  For those of you who didn't make it, you should feel utterly bereft as human beings.  The food was great.  The fellowship was even greater.  But the music (particularly the sexy keyboard playing) was heavenly.  Hang your head in shame if you weren't there.  You made Jesus cry.  (If you can't tell, I was spoon-fed Catholic guilt as a child.)

All kidding aside, it was a great time on a day when we should all remember to spread some love around.

I find it hard to believe that it has been ten years since the 9-11 attacks.  My daughter was born in December of the year 2000.  She has no memory of a world without 9-11.  She knows what terrorism is.  She knows what war is.  She knows what Al-Qaeda is.  When I was her age, my biggest worry was who was going to take me to see Star Wars next.

I wish I could somehow give my daughter and son a world without 9-11.  I can't.  The best I can do is tell them, every day, that they are blessed, they are cherished, they are loved.

On this day, Saint Marty remembers to hug those he loves...

Cross at Ground Zero

September 10: Fall Back Festival, New Cartoon, Autumn

It has been a gorgeous autumn day.  Yes, folks, I said autumn.  We can no longer delude ourselves.  Summer is over.  We are in the second week of September.  The kids are back in school.  The leaves are changing colors.  A few mornings this past week, there was actually frost on my windshield.  Of course, that can happen mid-July in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, but you get the idea.  It's Fall.

Tomorrow afternoon, Mitchell United Methodist Church in Negaunee is having its Fall Back Festival.  That means we're setting up tables and chairs and grills in the parking lot, renting a bounce house for the kids, and playing live praise music for a few hours.  If you want some free hot dogs and pop (soda, for those of you from Wisconsin) and some really good tunes, show up.

I spent most of the afternoon looking over poetry for Passages North, the literary magazine I help edit.  I actually enjoyed it.  Just talking about poetry makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.  It's like drinking gin and tonics all day without having to worry about a designated driver or a hangover.

By the way, I would like to welcome the newest follower of Saint Marty.  My friend, Linda, became official in the last 24 hours.  I may make my goal of having ten followers by Christmas.  I'm just happy to know that people are actually reading what I write.

Well, I have a new cartoon for you this evening.  Hope it makes you laugh.  Please, stop by Mitchell UMC tomorrow afternoon.  Get some free food.  Say "hi" to the handsome guy with the halo playing keyboard in the band.  You don't have to become a member of the church.  There will be no preaching.  It's just about hot dogs, music, and fellowship.

Saint Marty promises.

Confessions of Saint Marty