Possibilities: May 2018

Words are hoops
Through which to leap upon meanings,
Which are horses’ backs,
Bare, moving.
--Witter Bynner

Reflections on May

There's a lot to like about May. On a basic level, it offers some of the best weather of the year--warm, sunny days followed by cool, dry nights. May is a time to find a patio and sit there all night, sipping something, contemplating. You might consider the word itself: may. In its verb form, the word has two somewhat juxtaposed meanings. The first is to indicate permission to do something: After you finish your chores, you may write today. The second use is to indicate possibility: That thing you write may be really great and meaningful to more people than just you.
 

This month I encourage you to get a notebook, go outside, wipe the pollen off that Adirondack chair, and spend some time musing on what you'd like to give yourself permission to do and dream of what might result from your efforts.

School's Out for the Summer

I'm taking a cue from the undergraduates seeping out of Chapel Hill -- the place so deserted I wonder if I slept through the zombie apocalypse -- and taking some time off from teaching drop-in workshops. I'll spend that downtime planning classes for the fall and winter. Stay tuned for more info.

If in the meantime you're itching for a gathering of prompts and supportive sharing, check out the Writers' Salon at The Mothership. This takes place the 2nd Tuesday of every month in the back room; the next meeting is this Tuesday, May 8. More information here. 

More May musings

May as a noun also leads a double life. May 1st marks May Day, which in some cultures is a spring festival, and others a holiday to honor workers and labor.
 

If neither of these holidays is on your radar, you might (like me) prefer mayday, the radio call indicating distress, which comes from the French m'aidez -- help me! 

Books to Reread

Although the spring is a time of moving forward, I often find myself reaching back this time of year, rereading things that seized me earlier in life. Inexplicably, it feels time to reread The Great Gatsby. It's a beautiful and timeless tale of longing and aspiration, with some drop-dead gorgeous writing. If you haven't read it since high school, think about scheduling a review session with Jay Gatz or some other character that grabbed you in another phase of your life.

To Go Poem

Before you head off into your day, read this poem by Morgan Parker:

If You Are Over Staying Woke