Hello Friends.
Saturday morning some poems (strange lines? weird words?) popped up out of the haze of a migraine. They felt interesting, vibrant. So, I wrote them down. The next day, I read them with a clearer head. They were mostly awful. As anyone with a consistent writing practice knows, this is part of the gig. And also why it’s a very good idea to not rush to publish or post. Things take the time they take.
On Sunday, I spent some time fleshing out one of the short, random thoughts. It turned out to be one of those pieces I like, but don’t know what to do with, or even what it is. Is it all it’s ever going to be? Undetermined. Does it belong somewhere? Not yet. Was it worth my time and effort? Absolutely.
The poet/writer Maggie Smith shared this pro-tip this week (thank you divine timing) in her Substack, For Dear Life:
Trust in the value of making things, not just in the value of the things you’ve made.
You can read her brilliant pep talk here. Cannot recommend highly enough, subscribing and reading every damn thing she writes.
I created Life at the Bottom of the Canyon as a way to share longer, wayward pieces that might or might not make their way into some other thing, so I’m sharing this today for paid subscribers— a somewhat vulnerable, quirky glimpse of playing it fast and loose, and seeing what happens. I’m a little nervous about sharing it, but I’m going to take Maggie’s advice and trust the value in creating it.
My hope for this space is that it be a co-creation. I’m very curious to know your thoughts/feelings/reactions to not only this rando piece, but anything you read here. The comments are waiting for some good, honest, (kind and well-meaning, please) chat, so jump in! Let me know what you’re thinking or wondering.
What follows is based on a true story. I’ve taken creative liberties with what was said or thought, but my friend really was electrocuted. It happened in Maine, on a rainy summer day, and if you knew my friend, you’d kinda get how maybe she was chosen for this. She’s an extraordinary steward of the land she tends to, and deeply connected to the earth and its elements. The picture above was taken on the grounds of her home in Maine.
Of course I am hugely relieved she wasn’t more seriously hurt, but I am also of the strong opinion that Zeus chose the perfect person to turn into a momentary stick of lightning. If anyone would know what to make of that kind of physical and spiritual voltage, it’d be her.
I hope, if nothing else, you enjoy the short time it’ll take to read this, and maybe think a little deeper about the things that grab on and don’t let go.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Life at the Bottom of the Canyon to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.