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Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Not Right Now, Dear Reader, I Have a Headache



26º and clear skies, the sun already up

The title for today's blog is not a euphemism. At the moment, there is a blinding ache above, between, and behind my eyes. I know its source; I've taken the medicine. So far it has not abated. To make matters worse, it has been nothing but rejection city around here for the last two weeks. I think I'm up to seven or eight journals saying "no thanks" (most of them kindly or in form letter), since my last acceptance. So, I'm having a little pity party for myself right now and then getting over it.

I had already planned a shortened poetry time today given the grading that needs to get done in the next few days. When I realized I'd be writing a short blog today, I thought of the last three lines from Whitman's "Song of Myself."

Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged,
Missing me one place search another,
I stop some where waiting for you.

Until Friday...

12 comments:

Michelle said...

Feel better soon, Sandy. Headaches suck. By the way, can you believe I no longer get migraines? After all those years of puking and hurting, they disappeared when I got pregnant with Ben and haven't returned. If I had known this years ago, I would have gotten pregnant at 14 and saved myself two decades of misery. Sending positive thoughts your way.

Sandy Longhorn said...

Oh, M., that is GREAT news. You suffered some pretty horrible times, and I'm so glad those days are over.

Weirdly, I know a woman who was lactose intolerant, but when she was pregnant was able to eat all the dairy she wanted. Isn't the body amazing.

Nancy Devine said...

hope you feel better.
yes...i've been getting those rejections lately. (a few acceptances in the mix) it's hardest for me to handle rejection when a favorite poem of mine gets it. what i think is my best poem has been rejected some ten times, i'm sure.

Sandy Longhorn said...

N., thanks for the support. It helps just knowing others go through the same experiences.

Quintilian B. Nasty said...

Hang in there, Sandy.

Once the headache goes away, one tactic I've used to combat the darkness is writing angry haikus or tankas. Writing those can be a lot of fun. They also can stave off boredom. I wrote an acerbic tanka in faculty meeting last semester.

Or beer. Beer helps.

Justin Evans said...

Rejections this year so far:

Third Coast (today)
Colorado Review
Alaska Qaurterly Review

I am of course expecting a great deal more, as I have aimed high this time around.

Sandy Longhorn said...

Thanks, Q. Perhaps I shall drink my beer while writing my angry haiku.

Sandy Longhorn said...

Hey, J., I've got 2 of your 3 already as well. Can't wait to get home to see what else awaits me in the mailbox today! Thanks for sharing!

Erin at Being Poetry said...

Must be the week for rejections. I got one yesterday that was a xeroxed quarter-sheet. Makes me savor the rejections that come with a personal note! (Oh, and I like acceptances even more).

Sandy Longhorn said...

Erin, thanks for stopping by and offering support! Here's hoping the acceptances arrive next.

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry about the headache--I hope the blasted rejections weren't at fault!

I mind rejections, but what I mind even more is when the response times are so much lengthier than average, which naturally shoots my ever-optimistic soul through the roof.

(word ver: shrot. Just right, I think.)

Sandy Longhorn said...

Thanks, M., the headache has lessened but still persists. It's a sinus thing. I medicate and get through it.

The same with rejections: medicate and get through them.