A spring getaway to the Ozarks—eleven years running

                                             Tree still in winter dress this early spring

Last week, in Eureka Springs, a gathering of poets from surrounding states and Arkansas closed out another Lucidity Poetry Retreat held at the Inn of the Ozarks Convention Center. The final meeting was the Awards Banquet ON Thursday evening. In previous years, many of us prolonged our goodbyes at a local cantina, but as far as I know, the practice is kaput.

Poets from as far away as California and New Mexico and as close as Missouri, Texas, Tennessee, Illinois, and Oklahoma traveled this spring not only to renew inspiration and gain new techniques for writing, but also to savor the ambience and fellowship of like-minded folk, as well as that of the unique resort town. New friends will become old friends and old friends will be like family.

From Sunday afternoon until Saturday morning, I lived in 505, the annex at the Writers Colony at Dairy Hollow. That way, I had a full day and a half to work on my own writing before Lucidity consumed the next two days. Friday was my time again as well as Saturday morning. I decided to leave earlier than noon and arrived back home mid-afternoon. By Monday morning, we’d had to remove all furniture from the living room for a ceiling re-do.

Other Arkansans who attended Lucidity were Pat D., Norfork; Fay G., Jonesboro; Erin J., Springdale; Kate L., Fayetteville; John M., Searcy; Pat O., Cherokee Village; and Charles S., Viola.

The poem I come back to for National Poetry Month was written by Faye Boyette Wise, a Saline Countian who says her only claim to fame is being born on the fourth of July. She is too, too modest. Mrs. Wise is to Benton what Kitty Yeager is to Arkadelphia: the unofficial ‘poet laureate’ of the city.

APRIL COUPLETS
--from Faye’s book, BLESSED CONNECTIONS. 

Walking my boundaries is daily delight
With marvels of morning blessing my sight.
Sky in the east is a rosy-mauve hue. 
Johnny Jump Ups tint meadow floor blue.
Lavender petals of apricot blooms
Are silky string-art from angelic looms
Hear the brook babble where small foxes drink
The sing-along-song of a bobolink.
Spider webs woven by spinners of night
Leave shimmery veils to sparkle in light
A breeze lifts my hair and tickles my face
And I laugh aloud for love of this place.
Earth is so lovely it’s simple to see
How much more beautiful heaven must be.
Sudden rain showers surprise April’s calm. 
I catch clear droplets like pearls in my palm.
When God walks his boundaries, world neighborhood
Hope He laughs aloud and still calls it good.

Here is one of mine:

PETIT JEAN IN APRIL (Cameo pattern)
Slender
sapling on mountain
path stretches skyward; at its feet
three pale blue
Phoenix violets rise above
winter’s leafy, brushwoodsy
blanket.

Hasn’t this been a wintry April? Brr! Brr!

             The newest building at the Writers Colony at Dairy Hollow, Eureka Springs

c 2018, PL dba lovepat press, Benton AR USA