Coffee Across America, or the World?

At the end of my last blog, I mentioned that I wish I could sit down with all of the Aurorean's poets. When I first started the Aurorean, I always intended to hang up a National Geographic-sized world map and stick a pin in specific locations that represent each poet published. I never did that. I wish I did.

My husband and I have always talked about something of a tour, a road trip if you will, called Coffee Across America. We envisioned hitting the road (between issues, of course), and attempting to have a cup of coffee (or tea, or whatever) with every poet I've published (at least those reachable by land, and of course, those that are not deceased). Now, I think, if I could do it (if I had the time/the motor home, the finances/the full-time until-further-notice Assistant Editor), I'd probably spend the rest of my life doing it. Because there are so many. Because a cup of coffee is never enough! We'd talk poetry into the wee hours and my trip would consequently and consistently get off-schedule. And I'd never get back to my corner of Maine to resume publishing the Aurorean. And that doesn't even address the issue of visiting with poets in places like Malta, Germany, Uzbekistan.

I'm fortunate to have met many of "my" poets over the years—at readings and poetry gatherings. But most of the "meeting" is by letter, by e-mail, and sometimes social networking. And each meeting is special, whether it's someone brand new to us or someone whose handwriting is so familiar by now that I can spot their submission in a big stack of mail. We'll continue to cherish those personal connections and meetings as long as we publish.

But just in case, if anyone knows anyone who'd like to finance a poetic road trip, you know where to find me.