I don’t think it’s going to get much more official: my essay topic for the semester is “Repetitive Stasis and Repetitive Motion.” It will need a better topic before it’s all said and done, but that should get me started.

The difficult task now is to do an essay that doesn’t just focus on what I have learned already or congeal the last year’s worth of thought on the subject (because I have thought about it… a lot), but an essay that continues to drill down into the particulars in ways I’ve not yet thought of. I had my meeting with Ellen today, and I think she thought I was overly focused on crafting a beautiful essay, at the expense of that discovery. I did come off that way, I think because it hadn’t occurred to me that I would do anything but continue to apply this topic to my own work and find ways of improving. I desperately hope for a good night’s sleep tonight; I have an incredible enthusiasm right now but my body and mind are so tired right now that I cannot express it appropriately or put it to good use.

Today and tomorrow I will spend some time sharpening up the description for Tuesday’s faculty meeting and will likely put together a list of 10-15 possible poems for inclusion, which Heather and I can winnow down to 3-4 before I go. Feeling that the topic is a lock is freeing, though– I am finally focused on one thing rather than three possibilities, and my need for some definition is met. The particulars can fall into place quickly now, so that the processing may begin.

Foolishly, I brought only two books to the residency that are not by faculty. Why did I not bring the poems I am considering? Some are online, but some are not.

Do you have a poem that uses repetition that you love love love? Do tell me.

Some terrific lectures so far: Brooks Haxton, Alan Williamson, Stephen Dobyns. I have yet to be disappointed by anything. Surely it will happen. Surely it will. I will not bet on it.