Poems of my journey

Hi everyone,

R.I.P., CONNECTING DOTS, published by Boyds Mills Press, 2004.

NIGHT SONGS

As starry hours slowly sweep
We turn together in our sleep.
Sometimes I wake and watch her there
In rumpled sheets and tangled hair
Pillow tucked beneath her head
Breathing near me on the bed —
A quiet every-night event —
Then drift away again, content.

Outside in dimly shadowed light
Voices thrum away the night
And as they sing their ancient themes
We mingle in each other’s dreams.
Time moves softly, slow and deep,
We turn together in our sleep
Until the morning comes and then
She wakes and life begins again.

(c) by David L. Harrison, all rights reserved.

No more Pirates

Hi everyone,

I’m looking down the list of titles that Boyds Mills just took out of their line. I’m going to miss PIRATES and those wonderful paintings by Dan Burr. Its recognitions included: Kansas State Reading Circle List, 2009; NCTE Notable Poetry Books, 2008; nominated for Cybils Award; VOYA’s Nonfiction Honor List, 2009; Texas Bluebonnet Master Reading List, 2010-2011; Indiana Young Hoosier Book Award Master Reading List, 2011-2012; selected by Missouri Center for the Book to represent Missouri at the National Book Fair in Washington D.C., 2013.

Dan and I introduced PIRATES at Texas Library Association in 2008. We had no idea who the guy dressed like a pirate was. He just appeared and stood in behind us for the picture. The Center for the Book held a reception in Warrensburg for Dan and me. Here’s the link. What a great party that was! http://books.missouri.org/content/david-harrison-and-dan-burr-book-signing I didn’t attend the National Book Fair in Washington, D.C. Sandy said I should have gone. Cheryl Harness did you go the year your book was chosen? I think I heard that more than 100,000 people go to those affairs. Here's a poem from PIRATES, published by Wordsong, 2008, (c) by David L. Harrison, all rights reserved.

WHAT’LL THE KING SAY, CAP’N?

Nice and easy, Cap’n.
Do nothing you’ll regret.
We’re helping ourselves to all your gold
And we’re not finished yet.

I’ll have your pistol, Cap’n.
Your knife will also do.
Ah, those rings are pretty things!
Hand them over too.

What’ll the king say, Cap’n?
Seems you lost his loot!
Seems you lost your pistol, Sir,
Your knife and rings to boot.

What’ll the king say, Cap’n?
Your kindness can’t be matched!
Let’s hope the king’s as kind as you
And leaves your head attached.

Blasts from the past

Hi everyone,

It was a long week but a good one, as long as I don’t count losing all those books from print. I think I’ll amuse myself — and hopefully you — by posting a few excerpts from books are will be no more. Here are the two opening pages from EARTHQUAKES: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST MOMENTS; Boyds Mills Press, 2004. The dedication read: In Memory of John Harrison.

(Settlers in rustic cabins rousted by violent earthquake.)

In 1811, at two in the morning
just nine days before Christmas,
settlers in New Madrid, Missouri
all woke at once.
Their furniture was bouncing,
pots and pans flying.
Cabins shook.
Chimneys tumbled.
Roofs fell in.

(Outside ground is splitting, streams flowing into cracks, tree trunks flying.)

Outside was worse.
Trees snapped in two.
The ground rolled.
Here and there it cracked open,
swallowed streams,
and squirted muddy water.
People hundreds of miles away
felt the shocks.
At that time it was
the worst earthquake
in our country’s history.

Announcing a book signing by Maryann Wakefield

Hi everyone,

Tomorrow our friend, Maryann Wakefield, will be signing her new novel, A GENTLE SUN COMING, at Barnes & Noble in Springfield from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. The store is at the corner of Glenstone and Battlefield.

If you don’t know Maryann, here is a bit more about her. She had a long and successful career as an elementary teacher and principal. She also worked in administration for the Springfield Public Schools district and taught courses at Drury University. These days she has more time to spend with her other passion, writing fiction inspired by a lifetime of observations, experiences, dreams and what-ifs. Among her affiliations, she sits on the board of Writers Hall of Fame, an organization that recognizes outstanding writers and promotes student writing, including a scholarship program for college bound future writers.

If you’re out and about tomorrow, I hope you’ll drop by Maryann’s signing to meet her and maybe buy a copy of her book. She’ll be glad to sign it for you.

A Place to Start a Family

Hi everyone,

This morning I spotted my next book of poetry, A PLACE TO START A FAMILY, posted on Amazon even though it doesn’t come out until January 18, 2018. I’m happy to show you the cover at least. Giles Laroche has done another wonderful job and I think you’ll agree when you see it. Way to go, Giles!