kids in bed

the kids are in bed 

After I have played with them

Read to one 

and then the other 

soothed fears

bolstered them with love 

and now I curl up to sleep myself

reflections on rejections

 Id be lying to say I wasn't affected 

I believe I have been rejected three times recently, and that too my three most recent submissions to ariel chart, pra&a and Chen Chen's workshop. 

I have numerous reflections on these. 

1. I need to take reflections in stride. After all, even JK Rowling got rejected several times 

2. Perhaps my rejection from Chen Chen in particular is a good thing - I'm supposed to be present to support my son in his work, which I can't if I'm in class for 4 weeks in july I guess. 

3. Maybe I should be using the time to really get cracking on the manuscript. You know, print everything revise everything, lay it out select. I already have 80, think I may have another 40! must get them out and them select. and believe in myself that surely I will have 40 at least from this 100 over poems that are good enough for publication? 

4. I may ask Esther Vincent to help me vet my work for me, for a fee. 

5. I'm scared. 

6. for chen chen again, I should have sent my best rather than follow the word limit so closely. Really think if I had sent just two, the elephant and the what I want to be, I would have been selected. sigh. 

7. okay. time to move it. 

Thank you God!