So, it's April
For many of you, April is your favorite month. Why? Because flowers finally start blooming again after a long winter. That is at least what I've heard so much of since I've recently returned to the tri-state area. "Thank god for warmer weather!" "Look! the trees have buds on them!!" "Look! There are crocus blossoms in your yard!" (ah the crocus... read on!)
Springtime in New York. People just adore it. My sister notices it far more than I do. All my friends point it out to me on the ends of excited fingertips. I say, "Oh, yeah!" Because I don't notice. Because I have been gone and not enduring the specific weather *here*. But sure, I bought some new shorts so that'll be fun. And in the mean time I can wear jeans, cute longer shorts, baggy shorts with leg warmers, maybe. Another sweater or so. It's spring.
Spring and April go hand in hand. They just do. And let me tell you this:

April, more importantly than that it is Spring, it is national poetry month. I think it is somewhat funny, or we could say, ironic - as the two poetic quotes that come to the top of my head regarding April are in fact negative.

First, from my much adored (and oh - after reading her biography, much maligned) Edna St. Vincent Millay:

To what purpose, April, do you return again?
Beauty is not enough.
You can no longer quiet me with the redness
Of little leaves opening stickily.
I know what I know.
The sun is hot on my neck as I observe
The spikes of the crocus.
The smell of the earth is good.
It is apparent that there is no death.
But what does that signify?
Not only under ground are the brains of men
Eaten by maggots.
Life in itself
Is nothing,
An empty cup, a flight of uncarpeted stairs.
It is not enough that yearly, down this hill,
April
Comes like an idiot, babbling and strewing flowers.


Not the most chipper poem, oh poetry month!
But since I'm at it, let me also mention T.S. Eliot:


    April is the cruelest month, breeding
    Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
    Memory and desire, stirring
    Dull roots with spring rain.


Alas!!! April!!! Why are you natural poetry month!
- in any case, it is.
And the past two (if not more) years I have said, "I will write a poem every single day in April to commemorate it" and I am sure I in fact did start out doing such - and should look for those, and that can be another post..   i haven't said such this April, and felt vaguely something but not much ealrier, and came up witha few lines. But really perhaps I should  -  though truly, truth be told - this April I want to focus more  about actually *getting out there* in the poetry community. Getting published. Getting seen. Getting heard. Existing. Having a presensce.

 That is my hope. That is my goal. One of a few.  Because April is something else also..

It is 'Script Frenzy Challenge"  month!!  And damn me if I didnt even DO the NARRATIVE challenge (and I didnt!!!)
http://www.scriptfrenzy.org/   - voila!

Which I clearly need to read up on!!

I also have a lot of other projs to do... like put my 101 Hobbies into order!
Not to mention my taxes. yarg!
indeed
and clean up my pad....
hah.. my pad. yeah.

-Val!
ciao for now