Peering in on Peer Support

Tonight I am going to spend an hour or two in my local independent bookstore listening to some of my fellow poets (and friends) read their work. We are all published together in a recently released anthology of poetry called The 2010 Poets' Guide to New Hampshire: More Places, More Poets, edited by John-Michael Albert (2009, by The Poetry Society of New Hampshire). I think these little diversions, while they may serve as distractions, are actually very important to the work of a writer; sharing your work, listening to other writers share theirs, checking out new books, and supporting your local independent book seller in all that they do. Each in its own, immeasureable way, has contributed to my growth as a writer of both poetry and prose in countless ways. There is of course a balance that must be found. How many diversions can one career support? Through practice I think I am finally starting to get good at finding that balance. Tonight I actually don't want to go out. Im tired from a hard workout this morning, it's a stormy cold winter mess outside, and of course I have a ton of work to do here, but I will go anyway. It's a simple Golden Rule thing, we have to support each other, or none of us stand tall.