intro

Hi, please bear with me as I learn how to post, mark up, etc. My name is John Moncure Wetterau. I grew up in Woodstock, N.Y., lived in Hawaii, lived for thirty-five years on the Maine coast, lived briefly in Dharamsala and Chang Mai, and, for the last five years, on Pam's houseboat in Seattle. I've worked at many jobs, mostly self-employed. I helped to raise a family and published ten books of poetry and fiction.

What else? A degree in computer science from the University of Hawaii. Four years in the U.S. Air Force.

I'm learning (slowly) how to draw. Here's a drawing of the Temple of Apollo on Naxos (Greek island in the Cyclades). We save our pennies and go to Greece every year. Since moving to Seattle, I've built two wooden dinghies---one for my son's boat and to learn about beauty, the other for Pam and me to row about Seattle waters.

I'd love to join this community, share what I've learned, and learn from you.

Named

Two women,
comfortably sixty,
“Oh, we see you
all da time walking.
Every day. We say:
look how straight he walk.
Straight walker!”
“Too old to bend over is why,”
I say. We laughing.
Only later I realize
what they have given me.
I am Straight Walker.

The Big Island
Hawaii

I wrote this twelve years ago when I lived on The Big Island for a year. I took a long walk every day to a cafe in Kapaau where I finished a novel. These gals were behind me waiting for coffee one morning. I am thanking them.

Port bow of the Iain Oughtred designed "Auk."

Our first voyage in the good pram, Pericles. Pam is holding up the stern light.