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Greetings,
Last year this time, I was finding my footing here in Montpelier,
looking for work and figuring out my future trajectory. I've been
occupied as a barista, office assistant and artist model. I'm still
getting used to this full-time working schedule. Outside of that and
making friends, I haven't been as prolific in producing poetry as in
years past.
That is, until this past September, when I participated in a small
group poetry postcard project with some friends of mine in which I had
to write and send off a poem a day to someone in the group. It was an
invigorating exercise and one I'd like to continue. In that vein, I'm
inviting you be on my postcard poetry roster for this year. Let me
know by e-mail or post if you (or someone you know) would enjoy a
one-of-a-kind poem written on a postcard sometime this year. (I'll
need your snail mail address for this.) I can't guarantee when it
will arrive, but it will between now and May 2009. No charge, just
for kicks.
Since I was uprooted early last year, I didn't get around to writing
my annual letter last year. For that, I heartily apologize.
This past year, I've conducted two after school poetry workshops at
Brattleboro Area Middle School for the BEAMS enrichment program, which
resulted in some wonderful collaborative poetry. I am so glad to have
met these young writers and sincerely hope they continue on with their
craft. I've also blogged occasionally, which you can read by going to
my website: www.phayvanh.com. The site, surprisingly, still receives
quite a bit of traffic each month. I've also got poems in the April
issue of Bakka Magazine
This summer I look forward to writing again with friends on a couple
occasions, including at Soul Mountain, a poetry retreat in CT hosted
by the poet Marilyn Nelson. It has been a while since I've
participated in a writing community, and I miss it so much. I'm
really looking forward to this one particularly.
Many of you noticed I've been away from the stage. Please note I'm
working on a new show. I'll keep you posted.
All the while I think of you and am grateful for your continued
support for my endeavors. Thank you so much for you kind words and
thoughts, your suggestions and connections. My heart is swollen from
all the love I've received thus far.
Until I see you again, do stop by the Tea Lounge in Brattleboro to
pick up the current Quarter Poems (or I can send them, if you're
away). Keep in touch as always. Here's one dedicated to that frilled
shark they found off the coast of Japan last year.
Eulogy
for the bone cold dark
for the silent slick of millennia
across your unseen skin
for the needle sharp dark
for the unheard piercings
of your hundred teeth
for the cradle comb
for the throwing net
the hands of man finally descend
for the dwindling dark
for the tired triple lids
now seeing first light
~ Phayvanh Luekhamhan
* PO Box 1224, Montpelier, VT 05601 * www.phayvanh.com
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