#3 + #4

Vermont College called me around noontime, when I'd snuck home to let the dogs out. (Long night of conferences ahead.) This is acceptance #3.

Vermont College is ranked as one of the top five low-residency MFA programs on Atlantic Monthly's list. Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean it will be the best fit for me, but for those who are obsessed with those sorts of rankings (and one who is could have a field day on Seth's blog), it's nice to know.

New England College called me some time this afternoon, leaving a message regarding my acceptance. They even have their own poetry MFA blog. This is #4.

Whew. Still many more to hear from...

I did sign up for a Split Rocks course for the summer: The Work and Play of the Poem. Most courses take place on the Twin Cities campus (though long ago, it was in Duluth, and I'd stay at Mike's house--Mike was my husband's best man, for those of you who don't know), but this one is at the Cloquet Forestry Center, which is part of the appeal of the class--an actual retreat--but also the instructor, Michael Dennis Browne, who essentially helped me fall in love with poetry. Up until the classes I had with him at the university, I loved all genres equally, enjoyed characterization and memoir and loved the sweeping arc of prose. But to be in a class of MDB's, to me, was magical. Poetry lit up, like those candles you see in the windows at Christmastime. A warm, homey glow, a perfect companion. So even if I am not accepted to Minnesota again, I will have this opportunity in the summer to study with him, and I think it will be entirely refreshing.