Packages came in the mail yesterday. One was a selected Merwin I’d ordered, since it was time to have more Merwin. Another was a new book I’ve been excited about for months. I slept well last night, dreamt of finally destroying Germany so I could end my alliance with the English. Now I’m listening to English glam rock from the late 80’s.

I’m pretty much out of bookshelf space in my office, which poses an interesting question about priorities.

I asked an advanced class what they were reading, and was well-pleased to hear a couple of names that I’d been meaning to read, myself. Olena Davis was one of them; I forget who was raving about her work but I think it was Tua. Found out later how those neat poets had gotten on all of those reading lists: the interesting ones grew out of Rachel Richardson’s intermediate class. Is there a way to keep Rachel Richardson in North Carolina for some time to come?

Licorice is now proudly carried at the Bull’s Head Book Store on the UNC campus. Please, go there and spend your money! Please, tell others to do so as well! Sadly, what appears to be the official page for the Bull’s Head sells only one book. That book isn’t Ellen’s.