A poetry success, books and the return of the mice

Gosh indeed, but the good news continues. The lovely people at Every Day Poets have accepted my poem, Spaces, for publication later in the year, so that’s very pleasing. January is looking pretty darn good on the literary front so far, I must say. Frankly I’m gobsmacked.

Speaking of matters literary, here’s today’s meditation poem:

Meditation 41

Bronze is for burning.
In the altar’s

sweet hollow,
hide the strange gifts

you carry:
bowls; hooks; firepans.

Keep apart only
the basin

forged from the women’s
bronzed whisperings –

the little sparrows
at the temple entrance.

Hold it to your skin.
A memory. An accounting.


At work, I’m sorting out that dang quality form and sending out vast supplies of minutes. Those ones the Professor said were “excellent” have already been re-sent twice as one of the Committee didn’t like one of the words and wanted it replaced by another, but didn’t give me any ideas as to what that might be. And yes, my first brilliant guess was wrong, so I had to send it round yet again. Sigh …

Still, at least we’ve had a team meeting in Starbucks this morning – that’s two decaff coffees this week. I’m such a wild thing, you know. Where will it all end? I dread to think.

I’ve just finished Juliet Archer’s novel, The Importance of Being Emma. It’s a charming and witty update of Jane Austen’s Emma (fairly obviously), which is really very well done, and is one of the new range of books starting to come out from the Choc-Lit site. Well worth a look for sure. And that front cover is stunning. Wish I had legs like that. Even in spite of the fact that I’m not a great fan of chick-lit, I’m already looking forward to Archer’s next attempt at an updating of the Austen canon (am I spelling that right? Who knows …). Which I gather will be Persuasion. One of my favourites indeed.

Tonight, I’ll be preparing myself for Part 3 of the Anne Frank story. Last night’s episode started with her father attempting to unblock a very tricky toilet situation, the poor dear. Ah, if only I hadn’t been about to take my first bite of a slice of chocolate cake at the time, I might even have been fine … Those of you who watched it will know what I mean. I’m not explaining it to the rest of you – for your own good, you know. However, I’ve learnt my lesson: I’ll make sure I’ve finished eating before I switch it on tonight. As I can’t not watch it – it’s utterly gripping TV.

Oh, and the mice appear to be back, darn it. One of the traps was lying across the kitchen floor when I got up this morning, but sadly without its occupant. However, the poison has gone. Cue evil laughter, mwa-ha ha ha.

Finally, to keep my literary feet well and truly on the ground, I've had a rejection for The Bones of Summer. Deeep sigh ...

Today’s nice things:

1. Getting a poem accepted
2. Writing poetry
3. Starbucks coffee – again
4. Books.

Anne Brooke
Anne's website - up on short stories and poetry, but down on the novels front ...