Two acceptances today – one where the editor told me they thought a touch of punctuation might be in order. I agreed with them – I had looked at putting a dash in that very place but then decided, in the interests of simplicity, to leave it out. Nice to find I’m synchronised in my thinking with and editor. I bet if I’d put it in they would have suggested leaving it out. That has happened before.
The second was for a members’ anthology. They asked for 3-5 submissions. If you send five you are guaranteed that one will be accepted. I didn’t see the point of that, as I send them in to be tested, so I sent three. One was accepted, so I passed the test.
So far, so good. I still have a couple waiting for decisions, and really should get on with writing more. My literary legacy won’t write itself.
I had what I though was probably an adverse reaction to medication last night. If I say it was a digestive upheaval you can fill in the details for yourself. I didn’t get a lot of sleep and still felt actively ill in the morning so, regretfully, I took the day off. It was lunchtime before I got downstairs and after 2.00 before I felt like doing anything. That activity took the form of writing a rather dull explanation of what a haibun is (I was asked a couple of days ago) so I left it when Julia returned home in favour5 of drinking tea and watching TV.
Mint Moth
I’m feeling better now, though slightly resentful that I told the doctor I didn’t want to alter the medication. I don’t think their medical education, despite being long, is very flexible. When a patient tells you he doesn’t want more pills as a known side effect is digestive disruption, and he already has trouble like that from another set of pills, I think it might be a good idea to listen and work out a different solution. But what do I know?
Mint Moth
Pictures are Mint Moths – I was discussing them with Helen earlier.
I look forward to the haibun explanation. I am a complete poetry novice, and I would like to know the rules. I do know I have enjoyed a surprising (to me) amount of your poems. I think there’s hope for me yet.
Do be careful with all the medications. They are not one size fits all. I was on one that knocked me for loop, but I talked the doctor into letting me take 1/2 a pill every day, which was better, with the same results, but then I started 1/2 pill every other day (so 1/4 the original dose) and the resulting blood work was golden. When I worked in nursing homes, I cannot tell you the number of people I saw who were just knocked out from their piles of medication (In my opinion.) I voiced the opinion many times, but no one listens to the activities director.
Be your own best advocate. xo
When my mother had to go into a nursing home their specialist Parkinson’s nurse reorganised her medication and she improved considerably.
I will get on with the haibun explanation. 🙂
Congratulations on the acceptances, Simon!
I hear you about the drugs and side effects. 🙂
🙂
Well done for passing the submission test. It feels as though you are on a roll with your poetry at the moment. Do you think that this is because of your current poor health or in spite of it?
Good question. I originally wrote some reasonably successful poetry about 15 years ago, had 12 published and one commended in a national competition. I then went into hospital to have a long-term nagging problem seen to and seemed to lose the urge to write. I’ve always wondered if things going badly are a better environment for my writing.
Congratulations on the writing. If you are having digestive problems should you give up the biscuits?
If only . . .
In blame the salad. Too much health in one go isn’t good for you.
Those mint moths have distinctive markings. Sorry about the digestive upset. Hope the medication gets sorted soon. Congrats on the poetry acceptances.
Thanks Laurie. they are going to put me on the slow release version and see what happens.
pretty little thing that mint moth!
They are good company in the evening because they fly in day and night. I used to like having a cup of tea and watching them after we had sent another group of kids on their way with their pizzas. 🙂
I am livening up my explanation of haibun and will post it soon.