Since May, I've known that one of my manuscripts was in the running for a major poetry award, but I had to keep quiet during the judging. Today I'm thrilled to let you know that A Month in Summer was a finalist for the 2020 National Poetry Series. I send all sorts of congratulations to the winners and much joy as well to the other finalists, whose names have just been announced. Among them is my friend Julia Bouwsma, a fellow Maine poet, whose work is remarkable.

It feels wonderful to see my name on this list, but of course the manuscript is still floating around, unpublished. I wish someone would just call me up and say, "Hey! Submit it to us!" But that is as likely as finding two alligators in my basement playing blackjack.

Anyway, for the moment, I'm just allowing myself to take pleasure in having made the cut in such a big competition. I'll procrastinate a little longer, and then I'll start over again.