Dear Scott,
I made you this internet collage comprised of (beautiful) images that remind me of you. I really hope you like it.
Love,
Taylor
Happiest of days to you, friend. I hope your weekend is full of even better things than Ellie giving the sneaky middle finger to you in a photo, though it’s hard to imagine what’s better than that.
I went to AWP last week, for what felt like a week. For you nonwriters, AWP is the biggest literary conference of the year. Workshops, lectures, readings, a bookfair big enough to kill any sane person’s love of books, famous writers all around, lots of glasses, lots of beards, lots of notebook scribbling, lots of beers. I schlepped apricots, trail mix, water, my phone, notebooks, and about ten pounds of books around the city of Boston for three days straight. Other things that occurred: lattes, reunions, inspiration, Anne Carson, free chocolate, free pens, free buttons, literary journals, poet swoons (see: Anne Carson), and I met my pen pal for the first time, with whom I have been corresponding for a year. Magic! Below are some tidbits from the weekend too good (read: weird &/or awesome) not to share.
“I believe that the future of poetry belongs to dead poets.” -Valzhyna Mort (poet)
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“I prefer myself to Charles Simic.” -James Meetze (poet)
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“You’re some kind of something and I like it.” -Dara Wier (poet)
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“They will try to make you choose between the things you love but you do not have to choose.” Muriel Rukeyser, as quoted by another passionate woman
THEY WILL TRY TO MAKE YOU CHOOSE BETWEEN THE THINGS YOU LOVE BUT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE.
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“For nonconformity, the world whips you with displeasure.” -Emerson, as quoted by a college professor dude
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“I am just another person in all normal regards except for my love of lemurs.” -James Tate (poet), as quoted by another poet
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“Lanyards are a great way to humble people.” -Jacob Otting (poet & comedian)
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“This wig is terrific.” -Terrance Hayes, reading one of his poems (SWOON)
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And here are some patterns I am loving this week, by Phoebe Wahl.
And that is all for now. Besides for the joy of another friend engaged, the speed of a new (old) car, the sound of the rain (rain! not snow! woah!), the crunch of breadcrust littered with seeds, and the feel of a hot mug in my hands.
Scott in the Guggenheim’s whorl
stared at a Picasso with both eyes
forward, said to me “I see the Eiffel
tower, a saxophone and some boobs
on a plate.” We laughed in the museum
and got in trouble for photographs
and got kicked out a closing time
and talked right up to the stop
where we split off from each other
in the underground undergrime
of the subway. I zoomed to Kathryn
with her foster dog who did not
love me but he loved my thigh
and dinner at a tiny restaurant
where we cried in the moment
in between dinner and dessert
when the cook in the kitchen
right behind us began slicing
tomorrow’s onions. Eyedrops
and overdue birthday presents,
hummus scooped around, wine
and wine and a whiskey, a bouquet
and a beer and asleep in Sam’s
bed with the lock fully bolted.
And so much to eat every day,
scalloped potatoes by Kath
in the sweet lowdown space
where she’s made her small home.
And Andy so tall that we hug
like a tree and a sapling. And Max
even taller, so full of face that I’ve missed
since last winter in Bushwick when
the cabs were all taken. Awe of piled
trash on every street, awe of the ease
of jokes and jingles made around a small
wooden table. Only three tiny pills
twice a day for Sam. Schiele for free
in a gallery uptown. The subway running
as if the storm never blew. Sean lives
with Scott and they’re both my true
friends. Poems and lentils and The Strand
and more whiskey. Running down 12th
like a bat outta barn. Coffee in mugs
and coffee to go. Dancing in honor
of a liver restored. And back on the bus
to my home in the country, fat to the gills
on signage, on sweetness.
garlic scapes are awesome
roses smell awesome
tampons are awesome
women that use diva cups are awesome
old ladies who dye their white hair purple are awesome
men with babies strapped to their fronts are awesome (so is anyone with a baby strapped to their body)
bare feet are awesome
mixed recycling is awesome
happy hour prices are awesome
bicycling feels awesome
tie dye is awesome
“Made in the USA” is awesome
having a sister is awesome
homemade hot sauce tastes awesome
grilling is awesome
finishing projects is awesome
making pancakes for yourself is awesome (so is making pancakes with anyone)
driving a tractor is awesome
getting high on coffee is awesome
artichokes are awesome
handshakes are awesome
wordplay is awesome
DJ names are awesome
blueberry season is awesome
reading is totally awesome
i think rollerblading looks awesome but i only did it once so i don’t know for sure
being taken out to lunch is awesome
feeding people is awesome
riding shotgun is awesome
James Brown will always be awesome
writing poems is for sure awesome
giving poems to people is awesome
whiskey is awesome
ginger beer is awesome
old friends are the most awesome of awesome
homemade muffins are awesome
thrift stores are awesome especially the sunglasses section
records are awesome
the word “platypus” is awesome and so is “spritz”
hip hop lyrics can be really awesome
bartering is awesome
letters in the mail are undeniably awesome
bacon is awesome why didn’t anyone make me eat it earlier it so so goddamn awesome
summer coming on is awesome
Misha is number 1 awesome
treasures are awesome (like bird bones or gemstones)
wind turbines are awesome
root beer floats are awesome
notebooks are awesome especially new notebooks
woodcuts are awesome
worms are awesome
herbs are awesome
friendship bracelets are awesome
monks are awesome and so are nuns
hats are of course awesome but we already knew that
getting an mfa is awesome and i’m almost done doing it!!!! awesome over & out.
This Friday is the Spring Sideyard! All the info is on the gorgeous 70s poster below, designed by Misha. The only thing about this event is that you must now, right this minute, please I am asking you nicely, do a No Rain on Friday dance. Please just do a little shimmy for no rain on Friday. Normally I shimmy FOR rain, but this week my shoulders are aligned with the sunshine.
I hope to see you there! I will be thinking of all my friends and loved ones who live far away who I know would love to be there! I miss you all!
A month ago, there was a birthday party. The theme was “under the sea” and I was a jellyfish and Ellie made me a crown.
There are streamers curled and dangling from my tutu but you can’t really see them. Misha’s hair was huge and awesome and we danced to the band for hours. Everyone sang happy birthday to me, Lauren, and Sara, my other Pisces of the party, and we all birthday-hugged each other while they sang.
And then the singing was over and we all went back to drinking. And dancing.
What a night!
(Thanks to Colleen Dawson for taking these photos. They’re wonderful!)
panache, perhaps 