Tonight is a night to celebrate for me. Ian McRae, our sharer, friend, and favorite poet, is coming to our town to read from his poetry for the first time at the Cambridge Poetry Group, which meets on the last Thursday of every month at Battenkill Books, our very wonderful local bookstore.

This is a two or three-year project, Ian and I have been talking (and often arguing) with one another for a long time. Like so many young creatives, Ian wasn’t sure he had the talent to be a poet and didn’t really think it was possible.

He also likes to argue. He met his alter ego in me; I love to argue also. I am a major supporter of the idea of encouragement. He also needed some positive and encouraging feedback. He’s moving quickly now.

But he also just wasn’t ready. He’s ready now.

Maria jumped into the fray, and when we both read Ian’s poetry. We knew he was the real deal. He has a  unique perspective gift with language and imagery. He went to a couple of poetry readings, freaked out, then settled down, and is happy to be reading his work for the first time tonight.

Ian is very special; we are feeding him first to celebrate and going with him to the reading. This is a big deal. We both see Ian as a special talent, I hope to come  home with a new poem I can post on the blog.