Just back from France and I'm preparing for my next residency at Red Cinder Creativity Center, on the Big Island of Hawai'i.  I'm trying to make the most of my teaching leave, which ends mid-August.  So I'm going for a two-week writing residency at a dream house provided for artists and writers, on the southern side of Mauna Loa.  It's only 25 dollars a day, food is another 25 dollars for three meals provided by local chefs.  The director and owner is a painter, Helen Chellin, who's as nice and attentive as one could wish for.

It's remote, no cell phones, no wi fi.  We've said that before!   This time it's for real.

 Some years ago I started a series of poems at Hilo, and now I can open that door again, and let the flowers and perfumes and ancient goddesses whisper.  I'm listening!  My friend Annie in Auvillar said, "J'espere que le volcan n'a pas le meme horaire que toi!" ("I hope the volcano doesn't have the same schedule as you!") 

To top this off, I've been invited to cover the residency for "Poets & Writers," which includes a special section on artist colonies in a spring issue.  I love writing for them.  The editor, Mary Gannon, is a gem.  She's a real editor, and her suggestions always make an essay stronger.

I'm starting to get back in shape again after all that foie gras--getting ready for papayas and mangos and climbing up the lava beds.  Assuming our wake-up schedules don't coincide!