What He Delivered
 

The postman just brought me a letter which says three poems have been accepted by The Hudson Review - 'What She Wore', 'Thirroul' and 'Under The Sun'.

Yes, I am in shock. Astounded. Tears and laughter confused. But I had to tell you all, my sine qua nons!

And the greatest love to those of you who always take the time to read my things, interpreting with such beauty and insight - I would publish your crits along with the poems, if I could! Thank you for enfolding my vagabond heart.

Cally

Wow! Great news. Congrats, Cally!
RM

Congratulations, that's tremendous! A good home for most excellent poems! Bill

That's terrific news, Cally. Good for you!

Susan

Well Rickster - you are one of the main people responsible for this. You have always and ever seen inside what I meant, and described it in ways that fill me with gratitude! Love in bulk, and real hugs, too.

Cally

!!!!!!!!!!

Happy for you again.

Well done!

Goodness gracious.

Nemo

Well, your heart is so easy to "enfold." So glad to hear about your wonderful mail. Congratulations!

Best,
Jean

Great news, Cally. Congrats! That's a real coup.

Question: how long before they got back to you on the submission? HR used to take eight months or longer, and I just gave up submitting. If they're more responsive these days, I'll give them another chance to break my heart.

All I know about The Hudson Review is its reputation for independance and putting good writing to the top of the pile whether the writer is known or not. It has a history of promoting great writing. You better start working on your Nobel Prize acceptance speech now. You could do it in the style of Gwyneth Paltrow accepting an Oscar for Shakespeare In Love.
Seriously, this is wonderful news. I'll be buying a copy.

Thank you so much for these good wishes, my dear friends! Each of you has been a significant influence on me, and helped oh so much more than you could possibly know. Bill, so brilliant, Susan, such a great ear, Mary, such courage and constancy, Maryann and Ann, so magnificent, Salt, my sister and wiser half, Steve B., so under eachother's feet, and Michael, so balanced and unafraid to write the word 'beautiful' when it's true.

And Nemo, so me, no?

The best thing is opening a letter, a literal letter. It's feels like being the writer you used to dream of being when you were little - waiting at the letter box, the suspense. And Michael, it took about six weeks, maybe a bit more?? I have heard from others, though, that it can take much longer. The letter from Paula Deitz is wonderful. I look forward to meeting her immensely. The acceptance from the Calendar man in Belgium only took an hour, though! That stunned me!

We are scooting out now for a celebratory movie (Midnight in Paris) and champagne!!

Thank you, forever, all of you, for supporting me so much since this all began.

(And ahhh, Steve - I think I might outdo that Paltrow performance if I were ever given the chance, don't you??!!!!! And all the while, I'd be hiding behind the performance, hidden.)

xoxox

Lovely news, Cally, Congratulations!

Nice one, Cally!

You realise it's all down to that lucky ring I gave you, sweetie pie? You'd better leave it on, I'm thinkin' ;)

Seriously, though... fanbloodytastic news!!!! Well done & well-deserved :D

This is excellent news, Cally. I am happy not just for you but for the readers of The Hudson Review.

Big congrats, Cally! That is awesome.

David R.

Hurrah, Cally!

Great news, Cally, and merited at that!

Congratulations!

Well done, Cally. And one third as well done me, because they took one of mine at about the same time.
Ungraciously may I say:

1. Why do they take so flaming long about it? Over a year.
2. That contract you sign - you would think it was for a whole book. Two closely written pages. I'm not even sure I understand all of it. They want me to insist on an acknowledgement that the poem appeared in Hudson Review, such a number, such a date. But they don't tell me WHEN that will be, so how can I? Not that it stops me signing. I'l sign anything.

OK. Whinge over. it's a prestigious magazine (vile word). Or Sam said it was. That's why I sent stuf ithe first place. So lots of prestige to you, Cally, and, as I said, about as third as much to me.

The Hudson's one of the river's that runs through New York, isn't it? Why do we have no Thames Review. It sounds quite good.

The goil dun good!

Hurray, Cally! Congratulations!

cip cip callay!

How did I miss this news! Cally, I am so happy for you. Well deserved; excellent poems, a superior forum. Jumping for joy.

Three congratulations to Cally and one to John, to get the shares right.
Well done both!

Oh, I did not read comments. Apologies, John, you know I am happy for you as well, though you aren't exactly a newcomer to fame and good fortune. Still it is always a thrill, isn't it, to find editors who want others to read what one has written.

That is surely true, Janice. But there's always someone luckier, curse it.

Congrats to you, too, John.

I'm beaming love and thanks to all of you! As Janice says, it's almost unreal when this happens for the first time - I've had huge feelings, cross-currents, imagining these particular poems being read. Especially the one dedicated to Mark and an event that changed the course of my life.

And What She Wore - I can't believe that will be out in the world! Janice, your critique of that poem when it was here is one of the most brilliant and intellectually energetic I've read. Thank you for seeing me from the start!

Lady Jayne - of course it's the ring! 'Are you a treble clef or a question mark?' I ask it every day, and it answers, 'both'. For that's what a poem is - musical wondering - and poetry is what moved that ring from your finger to mine. Magic! I'm sending you a crystal tink!

John - I hope we make the same issue! That would be a thrill for me! And I hope we both make the same issue as Dave Mason, whose extraordinary poem about his mother's death has been accepted, too. Oh, and I think the contract and paperwork are such fun! It makes me feel very grownup!

If I feel like this, imagine what Alicia feels! Makes me feel like bait fish beside a blue whale!!

Thank you all with all my heart!

Cally

Just one additional little voice of congratulation -- this is indeed wonderful news!

A big voice, Gail. Thank you, for everything!!

Cally

Cally, how in the heck did I miss this?

Wonderful, indeed!!!

I'll add another "wow," Cally. Big congrats!

Excellent News Cally - Congratulations

Hey Cally,

I've always enjoyed the poems I've seen you post here, so all I can say is that those editors have good taste.

Yours, TB

Great news, Cally! Well-deserved!

A.