last spring at a reading
from the latest
of her many books
anne lamott told us
she left goucher
to become a writer
that’s funny
i smiled to myself
i went to goucher
to become a writer
i didn’t follow her example
but i do follow her advice:
i sit my ass in my chair
write shitty first drafts
take it bird by bird
and love myself
as unconditionally
as i am capable
her plan worked for her
i’m doing everything i can
to make my plan
work for me
every time i set foot
on goucher ground i think of her
and wonder would she wander
these woods would she work
in this hall what here
captured her imagination
what does she hold dearly
from her time here
and i send up some thanks
for her perfect princess self,
my personal patron saint
of imperfection
and, even more, of writing
