I like to renovate and redecorate, so welcome to the new space.  I have moved some things around here and also put some things on my website, which I hope you will visit.  I changed the name of this blog to “Talking to Myself” because, honestly, I do that all the time.  For those of you who previously have been eavesdropping, let’s review: I was toying with the idea of trying to develop a “virtual poetry group,” but after talking to some other folks and taking into consideration my other commitments and goals, I had to let the idea die.  It was a nice service with some lovely flowers …

Something strange happened to me last April, during Poetry Month, which brings me to this next bit.

After taking a hiatus from the act of submitting my poetry for consideration for publication, I am back in the “Po Biz,” or, as I like to call it, the “Mostly No Biz.”  Just kidding. Not really.

Look, “no” is a huge part of what poets do, and I am all right with that aspect of writing.  With poetry – and forgive me if you’ve heard me say this to myself before – I take rejection as an invitation to revise.  I read and re-read and re-read the poor little poems that come back to me, unwanted.  Sometimes, I readily accept that invitation to revise, feeling embarrassed that I sent my poem out into the big world with its clothes on wrong side out.  And sometimes, after I read and re-read and re-read,  I think my perfectly appropriately dressed poem just needs to find the right adopted home. 

My hiatus had nothing to do with fear of rejection.  As to what did prompt it, that is for another day.  Or maybe never.  But probably another day, because it might be worth exploring with some other poets and readers.  The important thing is I have not taken a hiatus from writing.

Let’s see, what else can I tell you? Oh! I am set to run my first 5K in a few weeks.  That experience, or the associated injuries, should warrant a blog post or two.  I have started taking ballroom dancing lessons.  I hate the Fox Trot.  Too uptight.

So, it’s good to touch base.  I hope you are all well and warm and filled with the spirit of rejuvenation.  2012 looks promising!    Fingers crossed the Mayans are wrong …