Poem for a Distraction
Plus a report of what I've read, listened to, and seen in March 2024
This month I paid a lot of attention to the birds I see and hear in my apartment’s courtyard, where I like to sit and write in the morning. In honor of my new birding habits, here’s a poem I wrote last year:
March Report
I Read:
Thirst for Salt by Madelaine Lucas — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson — ⭐️ (this was not for me. When I saw it in my neighborhood’s little free library, I thought it would be a rom com about veterinarians. It isn’t.)
How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures by Sabrina Imbler — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The New Oil Painting: Your Essential Guide to Materials and Safe Practices by Kimberly Brooks — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus — ⭐️⭐️
Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I saw:
4 great blue herons
A rebuffed dark eyed junco mating ceremony
My friend’s dog sitting very patiently outside
Several transcendent bundles of rainbow chard
Rabbits playing outside the Hollyhock House
A whole bunch of seagulls swarming our beach setup
Happy as Lazzaro — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Several episodes of the Bachelor with my friend Miryam (who writes a great Substack, linked here!)
The Sweet East — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — worth noting that this may be my favorite movie of the year so far!
Defending Your Life — ⭐️⭐️⭐️
And the Whole Sky Fit in the Dead Cow’s Eye — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Io Capitano — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wonka — ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Love is Blind
Joyless Street (at the Hammer museum on a restored print with a live accompaniment!) — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3 of my siblings in real life!
The mockingbird I love listening to, finally
Fauve — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Godzilla minus One — ⭐️⭐️⭐️
An Allen’s hummingbird
Dune part 2 — ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I listened to:
13 things I collected on a walk — a playlist I made throughout the month of exciting songs that I couldn’t put down.
California towhees (they are LOUD in the morning)
A lot of house finches
a northern mockingbird
coyotes howling at sirens
Bitch by Meredith Brooks (I do not feel ashamed!)
Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, Should I Quit, and Hot & Bothered — 3 podcasts made by Not Sorry
POOG with Kate Berlant and Jacqueline Novak
Game of Roses (a bachelor podcast that analyzes the show like the staged professional sport that it is)
Home, before and after by Regina Spector
Bright Future by Adrianne Lenker — the kind of album that makes you want to call your mom.
Deeper Well by Kasey Musgraves
I applied to:
MyMa artist grant March
Pratt Munson open call
Forest City open call
White Water Gallery open call
I was rejected from:
Tides residency
a job at a company called Alma
USC MFA
MyMa artist grant February
CalArts MFA
Also going on
I still have prints for sale in my shop, and you can also order an original commission of a beloved place. Your support makes a big difference for me. :)
I also have an interview in Voyage Utah, a magazine that highlights creative people with roots in the state. You can read it here!
