Friday, September 23, 2011

Not Summer

On my wildflower calendar, it's the official first day of fall. Outside, it is, too!--a blue sky, breezy, coolish day. And, yes, leaves have begun to fall...

I celebrate with the fall issue of IthacaLit, a new journal with an opening theme of Journeys, and a deep identification with Odysseus, the Greek king of Ithaca and journeying hero who returned home disguised as a wandering beggar.

Editor Michele Lesko lives in Ithaca, New York, and begins her journal celebrating the fall colors of the northeast and the "art that takes you home," in this first issue being the bright-colored art of Lin Price, who teaches painting and drawing at Ithaca College.

Guest editor Sherry O'Keefe, a wonderful poet and blogger herself, has helped to gather a set of poems that take us various places and do bring us safely home.

Yes, I am in this issue, with a train journey poem, "Train Delayed by Lingering Fall," and a dog poem, "Golden Retriever."

You can find them both here, on one page, a nice layout aspect of IthacaLit!  I love how the page captures the silver and the gold in these poems! (You might have to wait a bit for the banner art at the top to upload, but it's worth the wait.)  So many fine poems, an essay, an interview--so much to enjoy in this inaugural issue of IthacaLit.

I appreciate the editors' view of art and their suggestion about how to enjoy it:

Please sit down with your favorite cup & journey to that home inside you, reached when we connect with powerful writing and strong images. The best art holds a slightly different journey with each visit. Read, stare, reread, keep staring...it's there.

I hope you'll take their advice!


Golden Retriever standing, Tucker, by Edward, thanks to Wikimedia Commons, and Golden Retriever, jumping, by ShreddingTex, via Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0, also via Wikimedia Commons.

8 comments:

Maureen said...

Congratulations on the poem's appearance in the journal. So much for 100 rejections, no?

Have a great weekend.

Kathleen said...

Thanks, Maureen! You are funny. I'm sure I'll still have a chance to get 100 rejections by September 1, 2012!

But I did get another acceptance today...for poems sent in March. So I guess they don't count on the tally.

Sandy Longhorn said...

Great work! Love the train poem and the buddha dog.

Enjoy the falling into fall.

Kathleen said...

Thanks, Sandy! You, too!

Anonymous said...

it's rather neat to see IthacaLit through your eyes. much of the warmth and color has everything to do with Michele. i am so pleased she decided to start IthacaLit so others can experience Michele's warmth. so good to have you as a part of this journey!

sherry

oh! and love these photos of golden retrievers. (for 14 years i lived with a one.)

Kathleen said...

Thanks, Sherry!

SarahJane said...

Do you have/know a golden retriever? Love the poem. Dogs are so inspiring. The "Lingering Fall" poem is terrific. Love that last line.
Sherry O' is one busy editor!

Kathleen said...

Thanks, Sarah. Nope on the golden retriever, but I have crossed paths with a few. The dogs of my childhood were mostly smart, lovable mutts of the collie/shepherd blend sort. Dear dogs, fond memories.