To be fair, I’m celebrating this first anniversary a little bit late. But Holy Week took precedence! But even without a new baby and one of the highlights of the Church Year, this date sort of snuck up on me. I had been thinking about my book as I’ve been writing poetry over the last year and as I wrote on various pieces of poetry that I enjoyed. But somehow, April arrived very early. On one hand, it has felt like Spring for me since mid-February (at least, the Spring I’m used to as a Michigander). But on the other, it felt like this time was still far off in the future. One whole year! Or only one year? And yet, here we are.

April is an interesting time of year. When the poets think of it, their minds almost always go to Eliot’s line, “April is the cruelest month.” This line makes sense in the context of “The Wasteland” (and for tax season), but I have rarely seen April as such. April is a time for new beginnings, of life and new birth, and sometimes of the Ressurection. It is also, in the literary world, national poetry month. And now it holds a special place on my calendar for the anniversary of my book!

Since publishing Where the Moss Grows Old I have grown as a writer and a poet. I have had the opportunity to dig into more forms of poetry and consider them, and I’ve been given the chance to organize what I want to do next as an author and a poet. Yes, I do have another collection in the works, and it will be different from this first one. But I like that. My life and the world have changed a lot in the last year, and I think that is reflected in my writing. Poetry is varied and wonderful. So if you have the chance during poetry month, take a few moments to read some. I also hope to continue my series on poetry as I and a number of you have enjoyed it. Thank you for your feedback! If you have a piece of poetry you’d like to share, please do so! I love finding new and unique pieces. 

And for all of you that encouraged me to write my first collection and who supported me through it and bought my book, thank you! I wouldn’t be celebrating one year later without you! I look forward to sharing more of my work with you in the future.

Blessings to you and yours,

~Madelyn Rose Craig