My Dear Ruth,
I agree with Abigail... I noticed your absence. You're sort of like a garden, let you rest for a while and you come back even more productive and creative :)

I have to tell you how evocative your little boat was for me. I thought immediately of the Spanish word barco and was certain this could not be a coincidence. There it was, a bit of bark transformed into a boat. That sent me on the hunt. Barco in Spanish, barko in Greek, barca in Latin, barque in French. And the creation set to sail with a poem.

I thought of the ancients and how they set to sea on wooden craft. And the poetry that arose from these adventures. What a rich gift for a lucky birthday friend.

Enjoy your summer, dear Ruth. Rest. Create. Share. Your art and your poetry are much appreciated.

Love,
Your impressionable friend,
AG