I’m yet on my homemade, hand-crafted Call It Madness Mad Book tour…. reading at 6 p.m. tonight at the exquisite St. Johnsbury Athanaeum. Book discussion Friday, at the Craftsbury Public Library, 5 p.m.

In between readings and work, family and chores…. summer spins on. An evening downpour yesterday drenches my swimming plans. Instead, I walk downtown and drop postcards in the mailbox, then keep on walking. The rain lessens. With my hood off, the drizzle curls these new-found ringlets, unexpected gift courtesy of chemo. The evening shines emerald.

At the river, I scramble down the bank, kick off my sandals, and wander among the water-smoothed stones and boulders. Not far from me, traffic rumbles along route 15. The river talks, too, this ancient place, waters carrying their chorus to the sea….

Summer night—
even the stars
are whispering — Issa