Breakthrough: advance, gain, improvement, progress, amelioration, betterment, enrichment, furtherance, headway

Breakthrough by itself sounds too hackneyed to express what's happened, so I've included appropriate synonyms as well (that's what you get on a poet's blog).

The breakthrough the doctors have been waiting for for months has finally come: yesterday Dad stood entirely on his own, bearing his own weight.

When I visited him in April at the last rehabilitation centre, this was the milestone the therapists and doctors were all talking about and working toward, and such has been the case since then. For so long I have heard of good but essentially small measures of progress, nothing that suggested this might happen now.

Yesterday Dad talked about walking, about cycling, as though they were inevitable. Now his walking seems within the realm of possibility. I don't know about cycling, but how I want to feel half as confident as he sounds! It's the best news I've had about his condition since we realised his cognition was returning to what it was originally.

I think he's going to walk again. I wasn't sure before, but now it seems real--and realistic.

Would you believe one of his physical therapists is named Zeus? This feels almost as grand a metamorphosis as those I've read in Ovid. The man three-feet-ish, in bed, occasionally on wheels, is now risen to five-foot-four with two legs. Thank you, Zeus, Miriam (yes, I remember you), and all the others. Thank you.

The poetry of Peter Sirr

On a friend's recommendation, I looked into Peter Sirr's work when I was in Dublin, and greatly liking what I saw, I bought his Selected Poems (Gallery, 2004). I could hardly put it down. Here are some quotes (note, the placement of the lines over one another can't be shown). The poems are richly, densely lyrical, deftly interweaving the common and the metaphysical.



the wrecked sun
creeping to its hut, the night hugging and hoarding

its secret alphabets


*


(speaking of a newsagent's)


the whole shop a shrine to the sustenance of desolation


*


I see a little man dragging over a great space
a wagon filled with goods. Or it may be
gods he brings, who knows? Whatever it is
is heavy and his progress across what surface
has been imagined is slow.


*


What if
the language slips like water through our hands
there are
liquids more surprising


*


I'll stay a long time here,

erasure's emperor


*


I was trying to be exact, I was trying to lean
a little farther in.


*

I stare for hours at water
an infinitely concentrated carelessness
begins there
in which I may be learning
to lend myself to myself
to lodge and withdraw like the sea
or be the beach ignorant of its own account

Hard to believe they have month-old triplets...

Mike and Vicki Duggan, still smiling

Finn, Neve, and Tia were born 15 June 2007

An update on my father

I'm just back from a whirlwind week in London, where I was regularly asked how my father's doing as he approaches the five-month mark since going into hospital. I don't know quite how to answer that question. Is he making progress? Yes, but very, very slowly--sitting up for an hour at a time in a wheelchair is one of his greatest accomplishments to date. He's completely himself, making bad jokes being the most prominent sign, but of course he's frustrated, I'm frustrated, we're all frustrated that six or seven months ago he was cycling across the prairie, miles and miles at a time, and now he can't stand, even with assistance.

Usually when I call the time is limited by his schedule of meals, medicines, bed turning, physical therapy, doctors' visits, etc., but tonight I found him on his own. We talked for forty-five minutes. That certainly hasn't happened since before his illness. It was such a pleasure to talk to him, to talk straightforwardly and ask questions about his health and mood and days as well as divert him with my bits of news. I don't mean TLS--I don't think he quite understands what that is. I tell him about the London weather and pace, about my week "babysitting" Francesca (if one can really babysit a fourteen-year-old), about the new long distance deal I have, that I mention when he worries about the cost of our lengthening conversation.

He mentioned the possibility of my visiting again before Christmas, and I fantasize about a windfall that could make that real. I felt so useful when I was last home--not useful so much in helping his recovery, but giving much needed support and solace to my mother, talking over the situation with my sisters, helping with the bills, the taxes, etc., anything I can do that he used to do. I think it's time for another random check of airline prices, on the off-chance I find a brilliant deal.

TLS--again

See today's issue of TLS for another poem of mine, "The War's Fourth Year." I'm especially pleased to have a political poem published there.

(Re)versing the Damage: Artists Respond to Climate Change

This flyer was sent to me, and though I am not connected with it in any way, it certainly looks worthy and interesting, so I thought I'd spread the word.

-------------------------------

(RE)VERSING THE DAMAGE:

Artists respond to climate change –

With spoken word artists and songwriters from across the country

June 28th –7.30pm –

at Cirocomedia, Portland Square, St Paul 's, Bristol , BS2 8SJ.

Bill McKnibben (author of The End of Nature) recently claimed that artists were ignoring climate change. Steve Larkin (one of the founders of Hammer and Tongue) guessed this was wrong and invited artists to submit their work. He has since assembled a vast array of songs and poetry, a selection which will be performed during this evening.

In partnership with The Climate Outreach and Information Network (COIN). Entry: £3/2

His Pantoum

My poem for my father on his illness, "His Pantoum," appears in today's issue of TLS. It means a lot that a poem so important to me personally will have such a reputable showing.

Readers' Poem

My poem, "The Dinner Party," was selected as the readers' poem for the last issue of New Welsh Review. You can read it here.

Just a thought about the British poetry scene

In last week's press, X
reviewed Y: One of the best
poets now writing.

In this week's press, Y
reviews X: One of the best
poets writing now.


--Peter Reading, Diplopic (1983)

Upcoming Courses

I've been planning some interesting FE courses for the next year. Here's what's planned so far:


At the Kingcombe Centre, Toller Porcorum, Dorset

From Friday, 17-Sunday, 19 August, 2007, Gerard Woodward and I will hold an intensive weekend workshop for poets--like a mini-Arvon. Activities will include workshops, readings, discussions about the contemporary poetry scene (including publishing), exercises, etc. The Kingcombe Centre is a wonderful retreat, and catering's included. From the website, select "Holidays & Courses" from the menu, then choose "August," and scroll down to find Gerard and I's course.

Saturday, 14 June 2008. For The Poetry School, I'll be teaching a day workshop (10:30-4:30) on Prose Poetry and Place. Drawing on the natural beauty of Kingcombe, this day long seminar will take participants into the meadows to explore the roles of place in prose poetry, through discussion, a writing exercise, and workshop. Between the topic and the surroundings, it should be a great day.


At The Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institute, Bath

October 2007-June 2008. On alternating Wednesday nights, 7-9 p.m., I'll teach The Opportunities of Form again (warmly known as OOF!) for The Poetry School. The first term will address dramatic monologues, the second term will introduce the prose poem, and the third term will explore the uses of the line in free verse.


At The Phoenix, Exeter

Saturday, 3 November 2007, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Publishing Your Poetry, The Poetry School. A popular, energetic class, packed with information.


At a yet unknown location in London

Saturday, 23 February 2008, 10:30-4:30? Publishing Your Poetry, The Poetry School.