Yesterday met with some success at Children’s Hospital. I was able to “trick” a quiet young man into writing with me for an hour. During my previous session a couple weeks earlier he had turned down my offers saying, “I’m not a writer type.” I wasn’t convinced, but gave him his space and went on to work with someone else.

During my prep this past week I remembered that he had been watching The Fast & the Furious and guessed that might be my way in. I even wrote a start to an ode to the movie in hopes I might hook him.

He remained a bit resistant, but I started right off by asking him why he liked the movie. He sat up a little. Began speaking above a whisper. And soon the details were rolling out. I kept him going and, reluctantly, a few lines spilled out. He’d tell me about one of the cars he loved and then I’d draw out a detail. Before he kicked me out for the day we had 3/4 of a poem draft and he agreed I could come back next week.

I needed a day like yesterday—the small success—to spur me on. I know this role will continue to evolve and be full of challenges, but to have done one thing well gives me reason to work harder.

‡‡‡

Last night’s reading was a great cap to the day. I met several of the other Writer’s-in-Residence and heard a great variety of wonderful work. It was fun to read among them and be represented by my poems so immediately. It doesn’t happen that way too often (at least in person) and the results were nice.

‡‡‡

River’s nap is almost up and a walk is on the horizon. Cheers.