LUSH POETICS

Today, I worked on ensuring that a bookstore an ocean away will come through on paying the amount owed on 60 books it had ordered direct from moi Meritage Press. (So much for avoiding a distributor's cut by avoiding a ... distributor.) I think the financial situation stabilized -- which is good because if the bookstore had reneged, that would have eliminated one book from Meritage Press' publishing schedule this year.

Such is the frailty of poetry (publishing) economics. 'Twas enough to drive me to drink, and I did. First, I polished off some left-over 1998 Finca Dofi Priorat. Then I popped the 1996 Clos Clare shiraz...which I am currently enjoying. Sip.

Poetry -- it ain't just lush but it turns one into a lush.