Poets are human. So are editors. The past couple of months have been high stress, and the beat goes on for the moment. We’ve been selling our house in rural eastern NC to move to Raleigh for the sake of my stepson, as well as ourselves. My West Virginian wife is a culture lover, and my stepson is already happier than I’ve seen him in a while, hanging out with a bunch of new pals in our neighborhood. As a native New Yorker, I have been used to certain amenities that the inner banks just cannot provide. So, we’ve loaded up the Subaru and Corolla and have moved to southeast Raleigh. Our move isn’t even complete, but I’ve already attended two great concerts in Raleigh: the old 97s in a great small theater called the Lincoln (which reminds me of a NY style rock and roll hall), and the amazing Alejandro Escovedo in a club called The Stag’s Head (along with fellow Connotation Press editor Al Maginnes and his wife, Jamie). These were fifteen minutes from our new home. That’s the good thing. Real city comforts and convenience.
But it ain’t all gravy. I now will commute to work at ECU; it’s about an hour and a half each way. Things cost more (so bring me in to read, y’all; I need the money).
I hope to join and participate in the poetry community in the Triangle area. To that end, I am mulling over starting an occasional reading series somewhere to take advantage of the presence of writer friends passing through Raleigh and surrounding territories. The community of writers is special to me, and I hope I will feel less isolated here in Raleigh than I have in Washington, NC. Here’s to a happy and safe 4th of July. Enjoy this month’s Congeries: it’s fireworks and will not cost you a finger.
XOXO
John