We thought that big tree out back was on its last legs, so to speak. It never completely dropped all of its leaves last fall; they hung around like bad guests, unable to take the many hints (some quite violent) that the party was over. And yet this is now the greenest tree, already passing out of early spring green towards the deeper ranges of summer - or so it seemed this afternoon as I jogged past it. I'm sorry I don't know its name.

And the lilacs are busting out purple all over, stinking up the place real nice.

Up here on the second floor of our palatial estate we're feeling the effects of daylong sunshine and a western exposure. Two fans manage to push the heat around just dandy. The a/c is supposed to kick in on Friday.

The AP English Literature test is set for Monday. And then...

The sophomores are beginning a last assault on U. S. poetry.

The juniors are wrapping up Shaw and will soon be trudging onward, deeper and deeper into the guts of 20th century British short fiction.

Impulse made me set up a Wendell Berry discussion list the other day, so that the three or four WB fans in the universe might speak to each other. If you are one of them, click here.

What do I think of May? I think May turns into June not quick enough. I think May needs to lighten up and buy some snappy new shoes. Even if it isn't really, May feels like something new.