Love is like coming home

Some years I HATE it when The Poetry Forum at Larry's (TPFAL) is closed for the summer season. Some years I'm relieved, hard-focused on my weariness and craving rest. I was the latter this year. Imagine my surprise when Dave Baratier called to say they'd moved my feature slot to opening night. What goes through one's head at that moment?

One: Larry's is my home venue for the most part. I first read in public there. I found my legs, my voice while reading there. I'm a part of the system there. But these folks hear me nearly every single week during the poetry season, and I haven't written much since June. I don't have enough new material for a feature.

Two: Okay, so, Rose.... They're asking you for a favor here, and you need to do whatever it takes to support TPFAL, so quit whining and just do it.

Three: Okay.... what can I offer the Larry's folks that I don't normally offer the Larry's folks? Only one thing: Rose the performance poet whom they never see vs. Rose the page poet whom these see every week.

So... all that said, October 3 feature at Larry's was a great night. Night full of energy and the welcome embraces of returning friends. I have been fighting allergies for weeks now and had a terrible, unladylike slurpy honker going on and no Kleenex, but I'm told the poetry was fantastic.

I don't usually place all my eggs in the basket based on feedback style ratings. But I was pretty happy with the second half, so I'll call it a successful night.

Love is like coming home to a place where everybody knows you and likes you anyway.