Welcome to where I am, where my kitchen's always messy, a pot's (or a poet) always about to boil over, a dog is always begging to be fed. Drafts of poems on the counter. Windows filled with leaves. Wind. Clouds moving over the mountains. If you like poetry, books, and music--especially dog howls when a siren unwinds down the hill-- you'll like it here.


MY NEW AUTHOR'S SITE, KATHRYNSTRIPLINGBYER.COM, THAT I MYSELF SET UP THROUGH WEEBLY.COM, IS NOW UP. I HAD FUN CREATING THIS SITE AND WOULD RECOMMEND WEEBLY.COM TO ANYONE INTERESTED IN SETTING UP A WEBSITE. I INVITE YOU TO VISIT MY NEW SITE TO KEEP UP WITH EVENTS RELATED TO MY NEW BOOK.


MY NC POET LAUREATE BLOG, MY LAUREATE'S LASSO, WILL REMAIN UP AS AN ARCHIVE OF NC POETS, GRADES K-INFINITY! I INVITE YOU TO VISIT WHEN YOU FEEL THE NEED TO READ SOME GOOD POEMS.

VISIT MY NEW BLOG, MOUNTAIN WOMAN, WHERE YOU WILL FIND UPDATES ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MY KITCHEN, IN THE ENVIRONMENT, IN MY IMAGINATION, IN MY GARDEN, AND AMONG MY MOUNTAIN WOMEN FRIENDS.




Sunday, January 2, 2011

FIRST SUNSET OF 2011

O for a Muse of fire, that would ascend
The brightest heaven of invention,
W. Shakespeare, Henry V


As I stood at the kitchen sink, suddenly the world turned amber.


Or was it topaz?


The bare trees looked about to catch fire.


I sood on the soggy ground, shutter clicking, my socks soaking up the day's rain. (I had run out wearing only my bedroom scuffs.)

Everything seemed to go up in flames for a moment. My camera hand shook.

And then it was over. Time to go back to the kitchen and stir the chili pot, add more jalapeno, and hope for Shakespeare's "muse of fire" to visit me during the new year.

8 comments:

Charlotte Holmes said...

Astonishing, Kay! These photos seem to have been sepia-toned. Being visited by the muse of fire must look very like this.

Happy new year to you, my friend.

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

What a gorgeous sunset and fabulous photo Kay. Hope you and your family have a new year filled with good health and much happiness.
Sam

Vicki Lane said...

Gorgeous, Kay! May the muse of fire come sit beneath your special tree.

Tess Kincaid said...

Magnificent muse!

Mrs. Cape said...

I teach fourth grade at a small private school in Morganton, NC. My class is currently doing a poetry unit and they are very enthusiastic! I was wondering if you might be willing to come in and spend some time talking with my 11 children about your poetry,perspectives, and experiences, and maybe giving them some guidance with their writing. I think they would be thrilled to meet you. Thanks for your time and consideration.

Treesie Cape

Mrs. Cape said...

I'm sorry....I guess a way to reach me might be helpful. You can e-mail me at dcjetdriver@aol.com. I can then send you other numbers for better communication. Thanks!

Treesie Cape

Joan Ellen Gage Admin said...

Marvelous colors, lovely muse indeed!

Amy Cortner said...

Posey is more than a firecracker--my husband I call her the Amazing Poseytron, the New Atomic Particle. We are VERY lucky to have her at Caldwell. Thanks for showing some of her amazing work to a new audience.