The Mourning Dove

Posted by Anne Born on June 16, 2018
Posted in: New York. Tagged: , , . 1 Comment

There’s a mourning dove near my window in the Bronx. She’s new. I hear her in the morning now, and at twilight sometimes.

I grew up listening to the soft grey birds near my house in Michigan. Over breakfast. The cooing, the pattern of cooing, that plaintive, slow soft grey cooing. The other birds set off on a frantic chatter, but the doves, they were the calmer voice of reason. A sultry mezzo countering the soprano chorus of ingenues.

There was another dove on the windowsill at work today in Queens. She let me watch her until my shadow forced her away. I’ve never seen one up so close before.

I tell you this and I know you’ll think, oh, listening to that sad sound from the visitors by her window now must remind her of home and lazy Michigan summers.

It’s not that at all. It’s that now I know: home must have been reminded of me.

The River

Posted by Anne Born on February 23, 2018
Posted in: Uncategorized. Leave a comment

I am the pioneer, not you.

When you came, I had already seen

the vast stretches of tall cool grass and trees shading, standing,

watching.

When you came,

I had already known

the warmth of late summer twilight and the chill of an early fall sunrise.

I am the pioneer, not you.

I washed over your tired feet and soothed your limbs and your pain

I was there to refresh you and I watched you smile at the taste of my

clear water.

Do you remember the quiet winter when you skated across my frozen surface,

shouting and laughing with your friends?

And then the spring, when you built little boats and I tossed you in them?

I am the pioneer, not you.

I washed over my banks over and over again and you said I didn’t know where to stop.

I flooded the hills and the paths over and over again

and you thought I was wrong, that you could fix me.

I came up to your silly bridges

and lapped against the fragile wood structures you buried in my riverbed.

I’ll win you know.

I carried away your simple tents and your plantings and playthings

And you.

I carried you all on my back down stream until nobody remembered

you,

But you will remember me.

You will say,

“The spring of aught-six was

a bad one, the river was a terrible thing,” and you will fear me now,

you will run from me

and you will move your tents away and you will have to bring my water up hills to your homes.

And I will miss the time when I washed over your feet and you sat along my banks, sipping my clear water.

It’s different now.

It’s my nature that you should fear me.

I am the pioneer.

Not you.

(Written about the St. Joe River in my hometown of Niles, Michigan. It is now, as pictured above, 6′ above flood stage). Photo credit: WNDU

Reviews are in!

Posted by Anne Born on February 3, 2018
Posted in: Camino de Santiago, Spain. Tagged: , , , , , . 1 Comment

Thank you to the lovely people who have written kind things about our new book!

Buen Camino! Tips from an American Pilgrim – available on Amazon, B&N, and by special order at your favorite independent bookseller.

All are FIVE STARS!

Great motivation book for the Camino de Santiago

PorCliente Amazonel 20 de enero de 2018

I really liked this book by Anne Born on the Camino de Santiago and was surprised how easy it is to read. Even though it is an information book, the story really flows and the anedocts are really interesting. I was able to go 3 times on the Camino this year, last time end of October. But this book made me want to go back as soon as possible 🙂

A wonderful book that transports you to Spain and then is your companion throughout!

ByKarenon 3 February 2018

Anne writes a delightful book that is a joy to read. She wets your appetite if like me you have never been a pilgrim and give you a mountain of helpful information that you would need for your trip. It is written in a warm style, offering you the opportunity to think about taking some time out from a busy life to walk, providing yourself with ample opportunity to relax, reflect and contemplate. Highly recommended to pilgrims and non-pilgrims alike.

A Small Gem Of A Guide To Walking The Camino

ByJ. Haskinson January 1, 2018

“Let me start by saying I love this book. It is interesting and informative and a wonderful read whether you are planning to walk the Camino soon, or are like me, thinking about putting it on your “Maybe One Day” list.

Anne Born’s voice is so warm and friendly it often reads like a memoir, but it is full of useful information. Anne covers everything you need to know right down to avoiding blisters and what to use if you get them. (Neosporin, Chapstick, and a nice big bandage)

She talks about why someone might want to do this, (there are so many varied reasons) and how to make it happen. She offers advice and information in a way you feel like you are sitting across the table from her.

In the chapter, “What Do I Need?” Anne leaves nothing out. Including the poignant reason you need to bring a small rock. (No spoilers)

I started reading this book and finished it the same day. I marveled at how much information Anne packed into such a small book with such a friendly, yet reverent tone.

The glossary at the end is very helpful to understand some of the unfamiliar words and how to pronounce them correctly.

Anne’s personal journey walking the Camino is fascinating and truly a joy to read. I heartily recommend this guide for the Pilgrim-To Be and the Wannabe-Pilgrim as well.

There is so much here to love.”

I loved the organization of the book and the simple titles …

ByAnonymouson January 6, 2018

“Anne Born has compiled a fundamental consolidation of all things one should know when planning a long walk across a country…not in an encyclopedic format, but as thoughtfully presented factual categories of information for your consideration and tidbits to inspire AND keep things in perspective. I loved the organization of the book and the simple titles of each chapter. Can’t get lost here! And you know exactly to where you should return when wanting to “read that part again”.

Once you’ve completed Buen Camino! you can go forward searching for more detail or other opinions, should you feel the need and Anne leads you to those resources.

Prior to my first camino, I craved all specifics about the camino, over and over again. Redundancy seemed soothing and Buen Camino! feeds this need. Anne has approached this book from the perspective of “A Day in the Life of a Peregrino”. So helpful ….and calming.

As a 36 day pilgrim trekker on my inaugural, followed 2 years later by a short 5 day journey from Samos to SdC and a 15 day hospitalera assignment in Ribadiso, I consider myself experienced enough. In Buen Camino! I learned more than a dozen tips I wish I had known prior to my first step, perhaps before I had bought my plane ticket. Glad to know them now as there are always caminos on the horizon!

I recommend this book for returning pilgrims, first timers and your family members to understand what is ahead for a pilgrims’ journey. Get your highlighter out and enjoy!”

A Must Read

ByStacey A. Quartaroon January 24, 2018

“I loved this book! It is informative and provides lots of helpful details for anyone thinking of taking a pilgrimage. Of particular interest to me were all the personal anecdotes spread through the book from Anne’s many trips to the Camino (and it was noteworthy that one can experience the Camino in a variety of ways). A must read!!!”

Buen Camino! Tips from an American Pilgrim

Posted by Anne Born on November 10, 2017
Posted in: Camino de Santiago, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , . 3 Comments

New BOOK Notice!

Not a guidebook, no maps, no long-winded legends or history – just lots of helpful suggestions to anyone planning their first Camino or just waiting to go back.

Available now on Amazon and Barnes & Noble – $6.99 paperback and Kindle

Recommended for anyone planning to walk the Way of Saint James – or as a pilgrim’s gift to your family.

What is a typical day like? Where do you stay, how much will it cost? Why on earth do people do this? Buy the book!

These Summer Months – Look for our promos!

Posted by Anne Born on March 8, 2017
Posted in: MTA Journal, New York, Poetry, The Late Orphan Project, These Winter Months, Uncategorized. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Just a quick heads up – pub date is April 14, 2017!

VIDEO

With the help of Empyre Media Productions, we produced a short film, featuring three of the contributing authors to These Summer Months, to give you all a glimpse of the wonderful variety of our work. A quick shout-out to Empyre Media Productions for their expertise. Look for it here!


PODCAST

Two 15-minute podcasts are up on Our Salon Radio. Featuring the editor and contributing author, Anne Born, the podcasts will be a chance to get better acquainted with The Late Orphan Project and both anthologies: These Winter Months and These Summer Months. Look for “Born in the Bronx” here.

OPEN MICS

Inspired Word NYC has developed a series of events to highlight the upcoming Queens Lit Fest in Long Island City, April 29 and 30, 2017. Look for editor Anne Born with Inspired Word NYC, reading from her new book of poems written on the NYC subway: Turnstiles.