February 20, 2008

The World Keeps Turning, says Tom Waits

I am in the midst of moving. Usually, a move inspires a major clutter-purge, but I did one of those six months ago; all that remains, conceivably, is to trim down my book collection. The odds of that? Slim. Once something is signed to me, I can't bear to get rid of it. Perhaps I can rationalize that I need those books as raw material for when I sort my shelves according to spine color...

There Is Nothing Wrong in This Whole Wide World
(Installation by Chris Cobb, Adobe Books)

In my new place I've got a platform, maybe 10 x 10 feet, that I'll be able to set up as a writing area--complete with a hodgepodge of shelves (I'm hoping to vary color and height, but keep them all wood). All I will need, in the middle of it all, is the comfiest possible chair in which to sit and read. And possibly this monotype, by Dorothy Anderson Grow:


I'm a fan of her work--I already own one piece. This one makes me think of the patch of gin bottles in the woods behind Edna St. Vincent Millay's house. If you're in the DC area, the Washington Printmaker's Gallery is holding a reception for Grow (with a 3 PM gallery talk) on Sunday, March 2, from 2 to 5 PM. I'll be busy moving that day--but because my new apartment is just down the street, I hope to pop in for a bit. Location, location, location.

3 comments:

Steven D. Schroeder said...

All the best with the move, and congrats on your upcoming Versedailification. :-)

Anonymous said...

I would love to have a nice comfy indoor place to write poetry for poor weather days. I know what you mean by needing a nice comfy undistracted place to sit and write. Peace

Valerie Loveland said...

I've always wanted to arrange my book by color, but I couldn't stand not being able to find anything.