After our son died, I remember looking for poetry that lent itself to how I was feeling. There wasn't much that really understood. I have a list of those that did. But recently I've found poets that actually speak of this sadness, having been through it themselves. And speak of how it changed them, drew them to writing again. Peake mentioned this book a while back about surviving existential crises with poetry. Can't say poetry helped me survive, but it did help order thoughts about things. It always has. That book is on my to read list. One of a million, but still.

As to my recent writing, I have been in a ordering the plot place, rather than a get it down on paper place. A few ideas have come together, so that is always useful, to get the butt in chair, and words on paper.

And my usual January, "OMG April is upon us soon" post! And my annual, will I do it again? query. Tradition is important!