<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:8.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
line-height:106%;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal> THE PURSUIT<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The novel I’m not writing<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Won’t leave me in peace.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Its rugged Cornish cliff paths urge me<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>To put on my Mackintosh, call my dog, and <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Set out for a walk in ever-changing weather.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Its two-up two-down stone cottages wait for me<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>To tend the carrots and parsnips in their kitchen gardens<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>And fill their window boxes with a profusion of yellow, blue, purple, and pink.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Its plot of redemption and healing<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>With the moors, the turquoise sea, and a new tomorrow<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Has added layers and subplots over the years.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Its characters fill my dreams and tap me on the shoulder<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> to remind me I hold their fates in my silent hands. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>While unloading the dishwasher, I wonder if Jenny will take up<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Residence in the village or return to London.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I fold Laundry and hope the injured seal pup will survive<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>And that brooding Owen will find joy after great loss.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I spend a few hours on my computer looking up<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Authentic Cornish pasty recipes for the bakery and cream teas so popular with tourists.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I can’t understand why the elderly woman with cancer<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tells me her name is Marjorie whether I like it or not,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>But I want her to live to see the Christmas lights at Mousehole a few miles up the coast.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I ask myself how a tale filled with light and love<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Can feel like such a heavy burden to carry.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Perhaps it is time to set it down, make a mug of coffee,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>And bring it all to life.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Sally Rosenthal<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>