Ernest Dempsey and I met in 2007 when he reviewed my book "Sightlines: A Poet's Diary" on TCM Reviews--Tami Brady's review site. Since then we've become writing friends across the waves. On Riehlife I've often referred to him as "Our Man in Pakistan." Have some fun reviewing the Riehlife archives that feature Ernest Dempsey's wit and wisdom.

Here is Ernest' ode to the New Year, thanking his friends both far and near. Thank you right back, Ernest!
--Janet

________________

FROM ERNEST

2011 is about to be past for good in my part of the world. With special thanks to Janet Riehl, I dedicate the following to all my friends of the writing/publishing world.

On The New Year
by Ernest Dempsey

We say a year goes by, a new one starts
I try to find the sharp divide
Sharp as the calendar date
Within the book of my life
I see the past, the present, the future
No dates, however, no codes, no endings
The year in my life is a dream
Connecting who I was, am, and will be

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!
Ernest

Connection and the possibility for connection surrounds us. The oxygen we breathe together connects us.

What do we share? What brings people together? What separates people. What are the barriers we build?

The recent memorial service in Tucson concluded with a reading of W.S. Merwin's poem "To the New Year."

We share this poem with you and wish you peace in the New Year.

TO THE NEW YEAR
—W.S. Merwin, from Present Company

With what stillness at last
you appear in the valley
your first sunlight reaching down
to touch the tips of a few
high leaves that do not stir
as though they had not noticed
and did not know you at all
then the voice of a dove calls
from far away in itself
to the hush of the morning

so this is the sound of you
here and now whether or not
anyone hears it this is
where we have come with our age
our knowledge such as it is
and our hopes such as they are
invisible before us
untouched and still possible

Copper Canyon Press
P.O. BOX 271
Port Townsend, WA
98368

Poetry has an algebra of its own.

1) How is poetry like an algebra equation?
2) What is the ration and proportion of poetry?
3) What is your definition of "earned abstraction"? How does a poem earn the use of abstract concepts and words?

For the four of us, it was definitely McDonald's only a few blocks down the street in Alton, Illinois darkness. Safety in numbers with more laughs to boot. Lloyd--noted professor and author. George--doctor with creativity to burn in all the arts. Liz--a brave woman who is no stranger to fighting for miners' rights because she's been in the mines herself. And me.

The question of the night was: "How do you tell the truth in memoir?"

Here's what we figured out. Don't think that the readers will think what you think they will think. Projection, yes. Also, "responsibility entanglement." As in "Oh, my mother would just die if she found out that..." This isn't your fault or your look-out. Fret not.

Surrender to the work. Let the work lead you. It's not about it. It's a larger story. It's about the work and making it the best it can be.

You have to own your dance, as a friend taking Tango told me. You have to own your life and how you write it.

* Hey! SF Book Festival just awarded an honorable mention to our audio book "Sightlines: A Family Love Story in Poetry & Music" in the audio/spoken word category! [In 2007 "Sightlines: A Poet's Diary won a DIY (Do It Yourself) honorable mention.]

* I was one of three invited readers at a literary salon. Nervous as all get out, but it worked just fine. Listeners were inspired by the "Sightlines" poems to remember their own family stories and resolved to write about them.

* Authors Access Podcast interviewed me on how to make and produce and audio book.

* Alethea Eason's two-part interview with me on Studio 101 was well-received. "Healing Grief with Poetry" one the Editor's Choice award and is now her most read article. The second part explores creativity and community.

* Gave workshops at two conferences: Story Circle Network & The Missouri Writers Guild. Topic: "Poetry? Prose? Who knows?"

So, there you go. Sometimes it pays to look back so you can see where you've been and where you're going.

ITHACA
by Constantine P. Cavafy

When you set out for distant Ithaca,
fervently wish your journey may be long, —
full of adventures and with much to learn.
Of the Laestrygones and the Cyclopes,
of the angry god Poseidon, have no fear:
these you shall not encounter, if your thought
remains at all times lofty, — if select
emotion touches you in body and spirit.
Not the Laestrygones, not the Cyclopes,
nor yet the fierce Poseidon, shall you meet,
unless you carry them within your soul, —
unless your soul should raise them to confront you.

Fervently wish your journey may be long.
May they be numerous — the summer mornings
when, pleased and joyous, you will be anchoring
in harbours you have never seen before.
Stay at the populous Phoenician marts,
and make provision of good merchandise;
coral and mother of pearl; and ebony
and amber; and voluptuous perfumes
of every kind, in lavish quantity.
Sojourn in many a city of the Nile,
and from the learned learn and learn amain.

At every stage bear Ithaca in mind.
The arrival there is your appointed lot.
But hurry not the voyage in the least:
’twere better if you travelled many years
and reached your island home in your old age,
being rich in riches gathered on the way,
and not expecting more from Ithaca.

Ithaca gave you the delightful voyage:
without her you would never have set out:
and she has nothing else to give you now.

And though you should find her wanting, Ithaca
will not surprise you; for you will arrive
wise and experienced, having long since perceived
the unapparent sense in Ithacas.

Translated by John Cavafy