Russ Messing has been named as the Healdsburg Literary Laureate for 2017-2018. Messing is a farmer, teacher and psychologist and was recognized at the March 20 Healdsburg City Council meeting. He is pictured above with Healdsburg Mayor Shaun McCaffery.
Messing wrote a poem for the occasion, which is printed below.
HEALDSBURG, HOME
Think now of your heart, your gut, your soul,
whatever parts of you that plant you strong,
plant you solid on this earth and in this time.
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Think of place and peace and promise,
of what got you here, of why you stay,
and give neither credit nor blame to another.
You are here and this is your now.
This is your town – you lucky soul – your home,
and here is your plaza, the center.
Dance on, picnic on, or meet a friend.
Have an ice-cream or read your book.
Listen to the palms, daydream, or plan.
Go on, have a seat, sit back. Now put away your cell,
make-up your noon-time soap, or dream a story –
one with kids by the fountain, dogs, and long-lost friends.
Maybe throw in some hope, a dream or two,
a what-if and a how-come? include yourself,
and end, always end with a thank you and a smile.
Yes, end with a thank you to your lucky stars
that you and Healdsburg found each other,
that this is your story and that you are home.
– Russ Messing
