Mark

I guess this is a productive use of my daylight hours during retirement. I don’t use a blind generally, just photograph if I’m presented an opportunity while ambling. The Eastern Towhee was semi-cooperative. The Sharp-shinned Hawk—let’s just say this is the best photo of a Shinnie that I’ve ever taken. 46 bird species on today’s amble: https://ebird.org/checklist/S322156284 #eBird #birding #BirdWatching #BadBirdPhotos #nature #OptOutside #birds #SpringMigration #spring

Some scenes from today, 1: I attended the letterpress sale and got some artisan papers for a nature center that can use them for programs. Several letterpress folks were there picking up heavy equipment. (Scott even designed his own fonts and poured molten lead into molds to create them.) #poetry #poets #RedDragonfly #RedDragonflyPress #letterpress #MNastodon #Minnesota #arts #LetterpressPublishing

@bikenite@fedigroups.social @ascentale@sfba.social @streetmeme@cycle.town Really good resources Phil and Streetmeme! Thanks for posting. #bikenite

@extraspecialbitter@indieauthors.social True! The bus is pushin’ daisies At least Joan Baez is still singin’ protest songs

@bikenite@fedigroups.social @ascentale@sfba.social #BikeNite A8 The last vestiges of winter melting in a strip mall parking lot.

@NaraMoore@sakurajima.moe @extraspecialbitter@indieauthors.social @stevendbrewer@wandering.shop @asakiyume@wandering.shop

For me, live has a couple draws.

1. Placing collaborators in a single scene. Especially if the M.O. is to observe, immerse, reflect & write, inspired by that scene. Inferences are inspired by the here & now, not expectations of how the scene will change temporally.

2. Community. Getting to know collaborators a bit more may enhance enjoyment & the outcome.

My $0.02

@bikenite@fedigroups.social @ascentale@sfba.social No, but my local bike shop requires that e-bike owners take their battery with them if they leave their bike for repairs. Insurance reasons due to fire risk. Probably overblown. #BikeNite a6

@extraspecialbitter Corrected version (“knight” in fifth link) #rengay #haiku #LinkedVerse #poem #poetry The dark night arrives

@samlitzinger@journa.host @GPJohnston@mastodon.social Yes, but they do like to punch down

@NaraMoore@sakurajima.moe @extraspecialbitter@indieauthors.social @stevendbrewer@wandering.shop @asakiyume@wandering.shop Cocktails and shuffleboard I hope we win this time

@extraspecialbitter@indieauthors.social @stevendbrewer@wandering.shop @NaraMoore@sakurajima.moe @asakiyume@wandering.shop Elegant job assembling & attributing links to authors. Do they use this style of attribution in poetry publishing? Turned out nice!

@extraspecialbitter @NaraMoore @stevendbrewer Thanks all three of you for your comments. I was hoping it would be received in a collaborative spirit. Curating & assembling, rather than stealing. Peace

@dgar @ModestinoSycamore @benroyce @geckzilla @futurebird ~1 cm exemplar: Baetis rhodani (olive dun) one of the most widespread and abundant mayfly species in Europe & North America. A favorite among fly anglers due to its frequent hatches throughout the year and its importance in freshwater ecosystems. Adult length: 0.8–1.2 cm “It’s as long as a Baetis rhodani”

@NaraMoore@sakurajima.moe @extraspecialbitter@indieauthors.social Y’all are more seasoned creative writers than I. Mine is short bursts with long hiatuses (hiati?) Cool if others jumped in too. A verse that popped into my head: You’re not a painter unless you paint You’re not a poet unless you Poe Quoth the raven: Nara Moore #BadPoetry

And more:

@Da_Gut Thanks for this. I had not seen it. Sharpies prefer European Starlings & House Sparrows?!? My new favorite Hawk. Or shall I say, my new favorite rapture 😎 #AlwaysLearning #birds

@extraspecialbitter@indieauthors.social Robin’s nest on the porch lamp interrupting mail service

@extraspecialbitter@indieauthors.social @NaraMoore@sakurajima.moe Streetcar passes We walk dark, tree-lined streets Back to our flat

@NaraMoore @stevendbrewer @extraspecialbitter Hello new pocket friends and poets, extra special bitter posted a haiku prompt this morning, and I replied, and we did a 2-person rengay throughout the day. Thought Nara and Steven would be interested to see where this conversation led. Check my feed, or #rengay

@extraspecialbitter@indieauthors.social selfies at the rock where pilgrims landed Champagne and goose bumps #rengay #linkedVerse

@extraspecialbitter@indieauthors.social @NaraMoore@sakurajima.moe The button that starts nuclear holocaust— a toadstool 🍄

@extraspecialbitter@indieauthors.social sautéed grouse with chanterelles? simply rapturous!

And some pics from the exhibition. Nothing can substitute for being there, and being there cannot begin to capture the depth, breadth, influence, and impact of Scott’s work elevating regional eco-poetry and prose.

In addition to numerous regionally important authors, Scott published works from nationally & internationally recognized authors such as Louise Erdrich and Barry Lopez. There was so much more, but I couldn’t capture it all. If you’re in Minnesota, I highly recommend taking in the exhibition at Anderson Center in Red Wing. It will be up through May 9. Sorry for lack of alt-text. #poetry #poets #RedDragonfly #RedDragonflyPress #letterpress #MNastodon #Minnesota #arts #LetterpressPublishing

@extraspecialbitter@indieauthors.social @stevendbrewer@wandering.shop @NaraMoore@sakurajima.moe @asakiyume@wandering.shop A perfect season Fleeting as a kinglet’s pose Let’s keep walking

@anlomedad@fedifreu.de Except the cockroaches and carrion flies. They’ll watch us die.

Scott published some of his own works in his own “vanity press,” Thistlewords Press, including a remarkable naturalist’s narrative about a year of nature observations—at least one observation for 365 straight days (Following the Earth Around). All of which were uploaded to #iNaturalist, to which he contributed many observations over the years. Red Dragonfly Press elevated the works of others, not his own work.

@extraspecialbitter@indieauthors.social the bus will take you Further and they serve free Kool-Aid

@extraspecialbitter@indieauthors.social Cigarette butts gathered in the gutter awaiting rainfall

@Aphelion@mastodon.sdf.org Nice! Very different thematically from Gary Snyder’s “For All,” but it reminded me of the lines: I pledge allegiance I pledge allegiance to the soil of Turtle Island,

@BlueWaver22 Because the treaty had Obama’s name on it. We know who owns the war crimes.

@rationaldoge@hachyderm.io You curated some fine verse for today. One that needs no citation.

@tzimmer_history But they are endeavoring to suppress votes. They did in the last election, and they’re doubling down on voter suppression strategies to try to ensure that it doesn’t come to nullifying a result.

@extraspecialbitter My apologies. Will fix. [Van Morrison had two songs: Here Comes the Night and Here Comes the Knight]

@extraspecialbitter@indieauthors.social a pickup truck weathered and smoking leaves the docks

@HakeemG @tzimmer_history All of that is true, but don’t forget voter suppression. Without voter suppression, Kamala wins. https://freepress.org/article/trump-lost-vote-suppression-won-here-are-numbers

@extraspecialbitter@indieauthors.social @NaraMoore@sakurajima.moe I’ve been enjoying it too. I’m somewhat of a rule follower, and a rule breaker. We could establish rules, like: If you want a rengay, hashtag as such Coauthors get X hours, then it’s fair game Etc. Or no rules. I prefer no rules. If my poetry gets too bad, you can always block me.

@avilewis@mstdn.ca This needs to be shouted from every corner and rooftop.

@extraspecialbitter@indieauthors.social @NaraMoore@sakurajima.moe Fruiting plum Late-season blooming Urban harvest Plum sauce for savory meals; Sipping plum wine, for warmth #RengaThis #renga

This is a limited edition printed from Melior type on Fox River Olde white vellum, hand-pressed by Scott King of Red Dragonfly Press-- a “micro-press” affiliated with the Anderson Center, Minnesota. www.reddragonflypress.org 16 pages; size: 6.5 x 5.25 $15.00 No ISBN 1st printing sold out. This 2nd printing, 2006, is a slightly more humble version. 220 copies were printed, though the colophon states 250 copies--according to Scott King, that line was cast before the paper was counted. Oops.

@FluentInFinance@mastodon.social …and all the silly news stories that focus on gas prices. The real focus should be on the insane costs of car centricity. Everything from purchase price (inflated by protective tariffs), car infrastructure (public & household), inefficient land use, pollution, public health costs, etc. Why the focus isn’t on affordable mobility options instead of gas price. Grrr! #OilyBoys #urbanism #media #Transit #cars #CarsRuinCities #CarsRuinBudgets

@cdarwin@c.im Should be charges for all of the systemic crimes that the Federales committed—both the perpetrators and those giving the orders and training agents to do things that clearly violate the Constitution, laws of the land, and virtually all law enforcement codes of conduct.

@extraspecialbitter@indieauthors.social @NaraMoore@sakurajima.moe [excerpt from that article: For three people the pattern is A-3, B-2, C-3, A-2, B-3, C-2, a form that also achieves balance among the three contributors. If we proceed according to this format, we’re looking for Nara-2, Mark-3, ESB-2. And maybe a title from Nara #rengay ]

@extraspecialbitter@indieauthors.social gulls argue, unseen from where the boats are moored #rengay

@greenpeace@mastodon.social This is a lesson that Cuba is painfully aware of now. They knew many years ago of their vulnerability due to oil dependency. They had goals to transition to renewables. Progress was slow—understandably, perhaps, as they have limited means. But I gotta believe that they regret not having more ambitious goals & moving with greater urgency. And shame on Trump for blockading them from getting oil. It’s tantamount to murder.

@nek@hear-me.social @bBuck@mastodon.social Agree. I can’t recall for sure, but I may have chipped in a few shekels to his campaign because… fricking #VoteBlue !!!!! But he’s been a major disappointment. Must have gotten the RFK Jr. brain worms.