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Alex Oliver's avatar

It was commo in summer, when we slept with sash windows open, for birds - mostly sparrows - to get into the gap created by over-lapping windows. As our house was east/west, they never frazzled. But dad and I would gently slip a hand into the gaps to shoo them out. Hence perhaps it never occured to me to write about them - but now that seeing one or two lifts my heart - now I see them differently. PS I saw you'd liked some comment I'd made, and preferring worthwhile organic growth I came to have a look...and shall continue looking'''

Stephanie Thomas Berry's avatar

Susannah, that is WILD. sometimes I think human creativity has a magic summoning power…

Stephanie Thomas Berry's avatar

And of course if something is going to have summoning powers it’s going to be a publication called “The Frogmore Papers” from Sussex!

Susannah Violette's avatar

I should add this week a giant grasshopper fell out of a tree whilst dying and landed on my head and died…! That has already become a poem too!! 😂

Susannah Violette's avatar

Yes, at this time I was walking in the woods everyday and writing constantly it was the first time I began to get published and though it was very painful and lonely I was utterly isolated - riches came from it. I know that I was deeply in tune with nature. (I also have a load of very quirky poems from that time that I have found hard to get published! Perhaps now is the time for them?!) there was definitely some kind of message/magic in this experience!

Stephanie Thomas Berry's avatar

Nature + Writing = ✨⚡️✨

Robert Willow's avatar

Wow, that is wild. What a coincidence. Must be some kind of sign from the universe!

Susannah Violette's avatar

I couldn’t help but think so!

Mike O’Brien's avatar

Okay - it’s better than Kate Baer - Have you thought of sending it to the New Yorker?

Susannah Violette's avatar

Ha! I’ve never sent anything to the New Yorker! 😆 I always assumed it was for ‚real‘ literary types!

Mike O’Brien's avatar

I sent one once - they sent me a nice rejection letter. More than I get from a lot of other places :)

Susannah Violette's avatar

Yeah a rejection letter is pretty nice!

Susannah Violette's avatar

Ooooh that’s nicely spooky! And I suspect was also a comfort for you too. ❤️