If I appear excited this week it's because: I am.

I'm flying up to NYC on Friday.

To read w/ Lisa Jarnot at my friend Matt Henriksen's Burning Chair Reading Series: that will be: Sunday night.

Creeley Memorial Saturday night. And World Series maybe.

I only give readings of any length at all maybe 2 or 3 times a year.

So it's always a big deal for me. Especially out of town. Always try to reinvent myself to myself at these big deals. Been working on a set list and new poems. Practicing. No prose poems (g'bye
security blanket). Nothing too funny either (g'bye security helmet). Working so damn hard I can hardly write these sentences, friends. (This is actually my opening poem.)

Will be my second time in NYC. I've also been to London once and Chicago three times, DC once and Philly twice.

I've met very few of my heroes (but met John Taggart this weekend) but a number will be at the memorial for Creeley (who is also a hero).

Might get a chance to say thank you to John Ashbery, Rosmarie Waldrop and CD Wright. And say hi to old and new and future pals.

This past week or so has been one of those rare week or so windows where I think: I've got this poem writing business figured out. Only happens once or twice a year, but shit gets done.