Take a Break for Poetry

The reason that our little library in Northport is having a poetry evening on April 11 is that April is National Poetry Month, a fact that almost escaped me this spring, my focus being in several other directions. But Poetry Month it is, and the library is one good place to find books of poems. Another good place is your local bookstore, Northport’s being Dog Ears Books on Waukazoo Street. Accordingly, the table by the front door now features work by (in alphabetical order) Wendell Berry, Al Bona, Fleda Brown (who be a bookstore guest on June 22), Jim Harrison, Todd Mercer, Anne-Marie Ooman, Mary Ann Samyn, and Kenneth C. Wylie. Except for Berry, all these poets have strong Michigan connections, even roots, and every one of them merits your lingering attention.

But now a caveat: I will be away from my bookstore for at least a week and a half, beginning with Sunday, April 8. Bruce will return home from his latest trip while I’m gone on mine, and David will be around, too, but while David and/or Bruce will open the bookstore now and then as the spirit moves them (call to see if someone’s there before making a long trip, unless you’re out for the scenery whether the bookstore is open or not), there will be no regular posted spring hours at Dog Ears Books until the last full week in April. This is because once Memorial Day rolls around, we’ll be open seven days a week until Labor Day. Vacation? Now or—not never, but not until September! 


As for my destination, I’ll keep that for a later surprise—when I get there and have pictures and stories to share. For now, I'll leave you with a favorite verse:

My heart is warm with friends I make,

And better friends I’ll not be knowing,

Yet there isn’t a train I wouldn’t take, 

No matter where it’s going.

       - from “Travel,” by Edna St. Vincent Millay