My poem “Why We Wait for Rain” was published this past week by Red River Review. You can read it here: WHY WE WAIT FOR RAIN. The poem came about because Arizona has a very dry climate (usually), and the smell of rain just about does me in. It’s the creosote, just so you know.
I’m usually so lax about my submission process, including record-keeping and goals. But this year, as you might recall, I have set a goal for myself. This publication is the third one so far (although one of the others published five poems, I am counting publications, not pieces), and there is another one that will be published near the end of this month.
I had a lovely package to open the other day. Sheila Morris’ latest book, Four Ticket Ride, with a beautiful inscription and . . . wait for it, my name in the dedications! Made me so happy I could have cried if I wasn’t smiling. Read about it on Sheila’s blog here. I can’t wait to read it! Click the book image to purchase through Amazon.
Guess what’s coming up in March April?! NAPOWRIMO
Who is with me? Let’s write a poem a day, starting March April 1! I did it last year, and I felt quite productive! Of course, this year I will have company. That might cut into my productivity. Merril, a big thank you to you who pointed out my error. I won’t have as MUCH company in April (I think) as in March so actually April should be better for NAPOWRIMO.
This is a tangent, but the gardener and I bought some new flowers for the yard.
Cyclamen
Make it a lovely week, my dears.
I really like your poem, Luanne. And I seem quite often to have a tin ear for poetry. Congrats! It’s not easy to get poetry published, no es verdad?
Thanks so much, Roger! Have a fine week ahead!
Wow, Luanne. Congratulations!
We’re getting snow, and then tomorrow snow turning to rain. You can have some of it. 🙂
Beautiful flowers!
Isn’t NaPoWriMo in April?
Thank you, Merrill! LOL! Yes, April! I saw somebody posted March yesterday and assumed I was wrong. I like April better!! We don’t want rain or cold here. Thanks no thanks!
Hahaha. You’re welcome!
OK, I changed it in the post. I’ve been making a lot of mistakes over the last week. Forgot a friend’s birthday. Stuff like that. I hope I am just overwhelmed right now. The alternative is too scary.
I am the one always fact checking stuff from Facebook, too, and I just went with the March thing. Makes me mad at myself.
I’ll go with overwhelmed and/or tired? My Monday post last week I forgot to delete all my gibberish at the end. . .so right there with you. 😉
Oh, that’s right! I guess I was trying to be in good company haha!
Hahaha. Thanks! 😉
I love the poem Luanne, it’s full of a lush sensuality that speaks of longing for rain.
That is such a wonderful compliment, especially coming from someone who writes Like That. Thank you, Andrea!
You’re welcome, and thank YOU 🙂
Double congratulations
Thank you!
Beautifully evocative poem
And a double thank you ;)!
Beautiful poem, Luanne. Congratulations!
Thank you so much, Jill! Have a fabulous week!
Congratulations, your poems are heartfelt.
Thank you so much, Sally!
I love your poem, too, Luanne – and congratulations on having it published!
One of the freshest scents I’ve ever smelled was rain in the spring. Priceless.
I appreciate very much your plug of my book – I never know what to expect from readers. I”m sure you understand the feeling, but thank you for the promotion for sure!
I’m sure I will love it as much as the others I’ve read! Rain in the desert has a very cool smell. The creosote does have a bittersweet odor. The rain in Michigan smells like worms!
Congrats! It’s a good year for you. I am so jealous of your flowers. Our yard is covered in snow and another storm is predicted for tonight. Another month or two….
I hope your weather is better than expected! I am craving spring. I must be sooooo spoiled. 🤣🤣🤣
More congratulations Luanne, you sure deserve every publication and it seems they are stacking up – I knew they would!! If you are worried about your memory pop into your local health store and grab some gotu kola herbal supplements. I put myself on them at Christmas time and am back on form already. Sometimes we just need a little extra mineral assistance 🙂
Thanks for the tip, Pauline! And for the congrats! Your light catcher has been throwing amazingly brilliant rainbows into my living room! I think of you often!
It’s the best time of year for our light catchers isn’t it Luanne – as we approach the equinoxes they work really well!! I’m happy to hear you think of me as they sparkle and shine 😀
So that’s why! So beautiful!
I enjoyed your poem and I’ve learned something. I didn’t know what haboob was so had to look it up. Freezing drizzle! I think we’ve been having some haboob here, mixed with our snow. Wicked stuff. Anyway, congrats on your publications!
Haboobs are tremendous dust storms. The sky turns black and thick dust coats everything. Then you hope it doesn’t rain right after because the rain turns that dust into glue. Thank you, Anneli!
Congratulations, Luanne!
Thank you, Jennie!!!
You’re welcome, Luanne! 🙂
Ah, Luanne, love that poem.
Congratulations! I’m still submitting to litmags, and amassing a nice little pile of rejections. Or Word files, not paper piles:)
Lovely cyclamen! That kind only grows inside here in NC.
Just after publishing this post two rejections slapped down in my email inbox. The stinkers. Cracks me up about cyclamen being indoor flowers! Good luck with your submissions, Cheryl!
Many cyclamen species grow well outside here. They generally have a smaller flower than the ones you have there. They are all beautiful! Thanks and best wishes to you, too!
I didn’t know there were different kinds either. The gardener just told me he bought my mother an indoor one (Michigan)!
I love your poem, Luanne, and congrats on its (and all the other) publication. Rain after a long spell of dry heat is the best. NaProWriMo is intriguing, even though I wouldn’t consider myself a poet. And yet … I hope you get under from being overwhelmed soon! xo
Maybe you will join me in the project in April! Thanks so much for all your support, Marie!
Ah, I love supporting you 🙂 I’ll think more about April. I’ve got some stories to finish off before March and I need some time to figure out if I can write poetry or not 😉
Ok! I will keep my fingers crossed!
Congratulations, Luanne. Your poem Why We Wait For Rain really is outstanding. No wonder it got published, my dear poet. <3
Thank you so much, Carol! You are so kind! Xo
What a lot of great news and aspirations. Congrats on your publications and good luck writing a poem a day. I love cyclamen!
Thanks, WJ. I’m relieved I don’t have to start writing for six weeks yet. Not only are the kids here, mom comes for ten weeks and another uncle, as well as the daughter’s BF’s parents. I’m all tuckered out ahead of time!
A powerful poem, Luanne. Congratulations.
And I see you live in much warmer climes — it’s snowing like crazy here in S. Ontario, but you are getting ready to plant cyclamen (which is my favourite indoor flower)! Enjoy the good weather.
I am amazed to think of cyclamen as indoor!!! Can hardly believe it! I am reading a Louise Penny set in the winter right now. Brrr! Canada has cold winters! (Although that is Quebec haha)
Congrats! A marvelous poem. Oh, the smell of rain can send us into sensual heaven, can’t it? However, the smell of snow can sent me crawling under a blanket. 🙂
Yes BUT I used to hate the smell in Michigan. So wormy! Thank you, Pam!
;-0
I love the poem, Luanne!
Thank you so much, Clare!
Luanne, I’m so excited you’ll be doing National Poetry Writing Month in April. Maybe I’ll give it a try this year! Big congrats on the publishing credits. You deserve it!
Yes, please do it, too! And send me a kick-in-the-pants email every so often hahaha.
Will do! And we will definitely compare notes. In April!
What a lovely poem. Now I feel like I’ve been in Arizona, waiting for rain. Congratulations!
Congratulations on all the acceptance of you pieces. Always good for the soul. I love the smell of rain though I’m ready for a bit less of it now and would like it to spread itself through the seasons more. I know how dry Arizona can be but the mountains are now full of snow and I imagine plenty of rain down in the valleys. I lived in the mountains 12 years.
I loved everything about this post; I’m just sorry it took me so long to get to it. Love the cyclamens, congragrats on the dedication. Reblogged the poem…loved it. Thanks for accepting my late reply!
Oh, Rae, that is so sweet of you! Thank you so much–for reblogging and for loving the poem! 🙂