Marie Harris

writer, poet, voice

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TSA

July 6, 2016 Leave a Comment

In the midst of all the major screw-ups and minor hassles of air travel, there comes, now and again, a little moment to savor. One such moment occurred this week as we returned from the Canadian Rockies to New Hampshire, clearing Customs in Calgary. Having waited on a predictably interminable line, my husband and I, along with our adopted Puerto Rican son, passed through the airport security routine without incident, only to hear our son’s name being called. He was summoned by a no-nonsense security guard for a further scrutiny. I was prepared to object to what I assumed was racial stereotyping when she explained to us that US security required that anyone traveling without carry-on luggage be subjected to this additional procedure. She then barked out, “Man, please, for pat down!” No man arrived. She repeated her request a little louder, but no one came. She was becoming visibly irritated, so I said, “Men never come when they’re called.” I may be the only traveler who’s ever been given a high five by an airport security guard.

Filed Under: Words in Progress Tagged With: travel

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Words in progress

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A Poet for Your Bookshelf, Classroom, or Library

Welcome! Come on in and browse through my books of poetry, anthologies I’ve edited and in which my poems appear, and some essays and articles on subjects ranging from blue water sailing to New England farm stays to birding. You can also find photos of my collaborations with painters, sculptors, photographers and musicians. Listen to audio clips of a sampling of my voiceover work.

As a poet, I perform and teach at colleges & universities throughout the country, and in residencies in elementary and high schools, libraries, writers’ workshops and retreats, and senior centers. Read More…

Words in Progress

Walking Song

WALKING SONG …reminding herself that she was only an elderly woman who had got up too early in the morning and journeyed too far, that the despair creeping over her was merely her despair, her personal weakness, and that even if she got a sunstroke and went mad the rest of the world would go […]

My Brother is Gone from Us

Basil Harris (pictured with sister Anne, summer 2016) He died today. Farewell, sweet singer.

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