WATERMARK

a poet’s notebook

Established 02004

Events

July 4, 2026

04 July 02026

Today we celebrate 250 years of the United State of America, a Celebration of Life at the funeral. Family & friends gather to honor and remember, to share the funny/sad stories, to create a meaningful tribute to the lost. There will be food, drink, and fireworks. Continue reading

Events, Family, politics, Unpopular Opinions

“4th of July”, 250 America, Celebration of Life, USA
September 30, 2004

Dad to cycle 520 miles in daughter’s memory

From NapaNews.com: The disease known as fibromyalgia is not a killer, but complications related to treatment of the illness took the life of 30-year-old Carrie Thomas last June. Now, her 64-year-old father, Mike Thomas of St. Helena, is preparing to take part in a week-long, 520-mile bike ride in her honor. The ride will take… Continue reading

Events

Ancestral (Artificial )Intelligence

I do not use AI to write. For me, writing is how I think, and I prefer to do it myself. If/when I post anything here that I suspect or know to be AI generated, I will tell you.

I have changed this from Artificial to Ancestral, after Abi Awomosu @ Substack. This medium was made with human history, human thought. All of it, bright and dark. It is ancestral.

Poems

Please do not assume that I am the speaker/ subject of my poems.

In these times of creative nonfiction and fictionalized memoirs, I think of the poem itself as true fiction: it is most likely not factual, but it must be true.

It is likely to be — it is best if it is — a truth I did not know before I wrote, and may not understand even then.

A poem is my way of discovering (dis-covering) what I feel; sometimes, what I think — but it is not necessarily biographical.

Events

04 July 02026

Dad to cycle 520 miles in daughter’s memory