#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream

Couldn’t come to Kent State and not visit the memorial in honor of the four students who were killed during a protest against the Vietnam War while Nixon was presents, on the campus by the National Guard on May 4, 1970. Nine students were injured by bullets. Got up right when my alarm went off and drove to campus with my clothes to change into before the conference. Parked and walked the short distance. Air was cold. It was very moving. The leaves are brown and falling. The office wasn’t open, but I walked the memorial under the trees and felt so sad. Imagine, how young they were. Imagine it happening on the campus to the students here today. We have been having similarly troubling times in our polarized country with protesters and innocent people being killed and injured by ICE. Unimaginably tragic, young life cut short by an act of violence against student protesters. I walked around the campus a bit more and then the day’s workshops and presentations began. It’s such a friendly, peaceful, well run, well organized conference in the campus student center. The scientists are poets and the poets are scientists. Great conversations and activities in every session. My favorite, a workshop on waterways. When each of us walked in we were asked by the facilitators to write down the watershed we come from! So I brought the Charles River with me into the room. Also went to a workshop where we meditated for five minutes. Also went to a workshop on plants, birds, insects and trees and got the beginnings of what feels like a good poem I’m eager to work on. That was my prize of the day. The people are very nice and friendly. Tonight, poets Tracy K. Smith and Arthur Sze will speak. If they make it here, I guess. Could be another glitch as air traffic is suddenly halted throughout the country!

Updated, 9:00 p.m.

Well, Tracy and, I was wrong - it was Camille Dungy, not Arthur Sze, who read tonight, and they did both make it. Wonderful readings - I have heard Tracy a few times, but this is the first time I’ve seen/heard Camille, and she is a phenomenal speaker and reader with a powerful voice and joyful laughter. Now I am back at my hotel, quite exhausted. Wondering if I will get on my flight Sunday?

Tin soldiers and Nixon coming
We're finally on our own
This summer I hear the drumming
Four dead in Ohio

Four dead in Ohio (four)
Four dead in Ohio (I said four, I said four)
Four dead in Ohio (how many more?)
Four dead in Ohio (why?)
Four dead in Ohio (I wanna know why)
Four dead in Ohio (you better tell me why)
Four dead in Ohio (why?)
Four dead in Ohio (why did they die?)

From “Ohio,” by Neil Young