Day 6 Poetry Teaching Trip to Kefalonia Greece: Skyline lunch at il Borgo, visiting the mountaintop Byzantine Castle of Agios Georgios, Argostoli nightlife including a live performance of Astor Piazzolla tangos. Sigh…
Day 5 Poetry Teaching Trip to Kefalonia Greece: After reading my poem at the Zervati Cave, a boat ride through Melisani Cave, a swim at Antisamos beach, sea bass for lunch in Sami, crawling around Ayioi Fanetes Monastery / the Acropolis of Kyatis, first views of Myrtos Beach, and basically a lot of adoring the Kefalonian mountainous countryside.
Day 5 of my Poetry Teaching Trip to Kefalonia Greece: I read my poetry in a Greek cave! I read my poetry in a Greek cave! I read my poetry in a Greek cave!
The poem: “Hawk Shadow Here to Help,” temporarily retitled “κότσυφας Shadow Here to Help” in honor of the blackbirds singing around us.
The cave: Zervati Cave on Kefalonia Island.
Day 4 poetry teaching trip to Kefalonia Island Greece: walking the mountain town of Kastro, exploring the Medieval Church of Evangelistria (1508), an impromptu visit inside a mountainside villa with the angriest cat in Kefalonia, a gift of preserved bergamot oranges, trees full of bougainvillea dates almonds oranges, and Sophia’s awesome dinnertime story of the time she slapped a crooked priest.
Day 2 of my 10-day teaching poetry on Kefalonia Island Greece trip: Arriving at The Ionion Center for the Arts and Culture for the Arts and Culture in Metaxata, my first dip in the Ionian Sea, a beachside lunch with a view!
Holy. Moly. I’ve been awarded a residency at Ragdale for next spring, fully funded with a fellowship!!! I’d never applied to do any residency before being invited to apply to this one, and wow I never expected all this. Thank you Jeffrey Meeuwsen, Amy Sinclair, Regin Igloria, and the Curational Board, selection committee, & staff at Ragdale Foundation for this amazing opportunity. I’m honored and elated. Having this to look forward to will certainly help keep things glowing when winter winds come a-blowing.
