Welcome to Poetry Friday! This week we are hosted by clever and delightful Mona Voelkel, who I was lucky to meet at Highlights Poetry Palooza November 1025. Thanks for hosting, Mona. I look forward to what you will be sharing this week. I have a wee haiku at the end of my post.
Having just returned from visiting my family in Pacifica, California, I’m missing the Chit Chat Cafe where we had coffee almost everyday. I doubt I’m unusual, but I get very attached to places, and love out of the way stores and people that give a location an identity and character.
The Chit Chat Cafe is located on the Pacifica pier which stands on a sturdy but rusty foundation. As you get there, you are striking distance from crashing waves and a cold briny shower if you aren’t careful. It is free to fish on the pier and it’s usually busy with fishermen from many different countries who seem quite experienced. Inside the cafe is where fisherman buy bait and where customers buy coffee, sit, think and listen to the waves. That the cafe still stands year after year so close to the ocean is to me miraculous, but it does. The nearby streets of Pacifica are battered by the waves and the weather all along the beach..
The cafe is on the far right, a pink building.
I embellished painting of the Chit Chat with a bit with color.
Now I’m back in Syracuse where the weather is sunny and warm.
This morning I came across this tiny baby deer, standing by my porch, with no mother in site! Eventually, after a very long while, it made a few peeps, and scooted away to the woods. I have never seen a fawn this close, and never heard one. It so reminded me of my favorite book, The Yearling by Margaret Rawlings
Splattering of white,
new born big eyed wobbly deer--
lost but quite perfect.
Before I sign off I’ll mention that after my poem ESOPHAGUS came out in Little Thoughts Press, Claire Taylor, the editor interviewed me about my writing process and background. She posted it on the magazine website here. I enjoyed the interview and since it felt like a rather rare event, why not share it?
Have a great weekend!
Thank you, Mona, for hosting.
Wow! What a great interview. I love it. And, I love seeing you blossom as a watercolor artist. I think writing and visual artwork are intertwined. I love making collages…it helps me sort and see in a new way that I think supports my writing brain.
That fawn! Oh, my goodness….so sweet. Of course, perfect. I love that response from you. Delightful.
Linda, you are so kind! Thank you for your comment!
Janice, congratulations on your amazing ESOPHAGUS poem in LTP, so fun and informative!!!! I am amazed at your gifts for weaving cool information into gorgeous poems! OMG! I love your description and your PAINTING of THE CHIT CHAT CAFE (which is the name of a picture book if I ever heard one), and your haiku, especially that perfect last line! Thank you for all this poetry and art goodness!!!
Thank you! Your enthusiasm about art is inspirational! I have discovered a good name for a picture book..:)
What a fun cafe and what a sweet encounter! I love that you captured each one with your art — painting and poetry.
How wonderful to read that interview, Janice! Thanks for including the link. Loved that you shouted out Beverly Cleary (the Queen!)
Your fawn poem is lovely and your painting makes me want to go to the Chit Chat Cafe. 🙂
That little fawn was looking for some chit-chat, Janice! So beautiful, and your painting too!
Congrats on “Esophagus” and the interview! I love your watercolor. What a sweet phot of the deer. I hope it found its mama.