Filling the Aesthetic Gap
An intermission-like snack for these last few hours of Standard Time
A weekend out of town, the quickening accumulation of daylight, mentally preparing to lose one precious hour this coming Sunday (or finally being forced to give back the one we borrowed in November)—which somehow is not made less shocking by the fact that February contained a bonus 24 hours; the sudden jutting out of leaves, buds, blooms; swirling song sparrow calls, vibrant blackbird trills, and eerily alien-like signals from the bats waking up from their slumber—all of this, all of this has rattled a weekly routine I was just getting accustomed to. While I get back into it, or re-adjust for the new season, I offer you an intermission-like snack of a post.
The micro-seasons exercise continues, and I’ll post the next set very soon. I am also compiling the full list of collected micro-seasons to both a) keep myself honest and b) provide a reference for anyone who, like myself, appreciates a solid summary.
My birthday project—writing a 54-word short story every day for 54 days—is progressing. I admit there have been days where I only come up with a title, or write down the essence of what the emerging vignette could be. But that’s ok. I come back to them, flesh them out; rearrange and restate. Like cardio or drinking enough water, there are days when it feels like a punishment and days when it feels like a gift. I’ve written 35 vignettes so far and will continuing sharing some of them here in the Stirred publication.
Earlier this week, I received a lovely rejection letter from a magazine to which I submitted four poems. Honestly, it was a lovely response. First, there was a name signed to it, which not all publications or editors take the time to do. Secondly, the editor actually commented on my submission. “Your poems are beautiful,” she wrote, calling out the one of four submitted that was her favorite. She saved the disappointing news for last by conveying that unfortunately none of the poems I submitted fit into “the aesthetic gap we need to fill for our upcoming issue.” I quote that literally, because you know what? That makes sense to me. This is a small-to-mid sized art journal with an editor who has a vision what she wants to convey in each issue. The poems I sent them didn’t assist in fleshing out that vision. I can live with that. No one wants their work to be thought of as that rug in the room which people notice and say: wrong size, wrong color.
So, thank you, Dear Editor for your genuine reply and gentle encouragement.
Finally, a couple of nuggets from the champagne trail—two does getting used to the new camera placed a few yards from where GH01 used to be.
WARNING: the following video depicts heavy breathing.
Wishing you all a wonderful week. May you fill your own aesthetic gap with something gorgeous and illuminating.
-Angela
Brilliant!