Dear Friends,

First, some recent news:  Through the miracle of print-on-demand publishing, I was able to design a line of VISION AND A VERSE BLANK JOURNALS AND NOTEBOOKS featuring some of my own favorite V&V photographic moments on the covers.  I'm hoping the covers – a Kerry rainbow, Yeats' Waterfall, and of course – an open book! -  will act as creative prompts on your own artistic journey.  Happy journaling!  And sketching… writing… collaging… painting…. doodling… I plan to add more cover designs before the holidays, so check this site. If interested, allow a business week for printing and two weeks for economy shipping. Express and priority shipping are also available.

Over the summer, I was happy to have poems appear in BRAIDED WAY MAGAZINE and ARLINGTON LITERARY JOURNAL (ArLiJo) ;   I was especially honored and delighted to be invited to read at the 11^th NYC POETRY FESTIVAL.

COMING UP, I'm very much looking forward to being part of the exhibition THE LIFE OF WATER at PhotoPlace Gallery, Middlebury, Vermont, opening on September 28^th and in the gallery thru October 21, 2022.  Curator Ann Jastrab put together (in her own words) "a magical set of images"; I'm thrilled that my photograph "Cauldron" is part of this. Click here for more info and to view the on-line exhibition gallery. 

So here we are at the Autumn Equinox - Mabon – when day and night are of equal length. Named after the god of Welsh mythology in Celtic folklore, Mabon is essentially a harvest festival.  Ancient Celts and pagans used this day to give thanks to nature for a good harvest, celebrating Mother Earth for her abundance and gifts. It was sometimes called "The Witch's Thanksgiving".   It was also a festival of balance, harmony and reflection.  What have we reaped?  What will we sow next?

Summer's end. Autumn's start; a threshold I'm reluctant to cross, but I'll give thanks at the ocean.  The photo is a poignant moment I observed; the poem is a very simple tanka I wrote
(5 lines, 5-7-5-7-7 syllables) inspired by the image.

I'm wishing you a plentiful harvest to give thanks for; may we all recognize the need to share the Earth's fruits in the coming winter months.