A lovely surprise

A few weeks ago, I sent a copy of my broadside poem "Achromatope" (hear me read it) to Oliver Sacks. I did so because the poem is based on a case study he wrote up in his book An Anthropologist on Mars, and because I'm a big fan of Dr. Sacks' books.

The other day, I went to the post office to pick up a parcel. I was thrilled to see Sacks' name and address stamped on the bubble-pack envelope, which I tore open before even leaving the post-office. Inside was an inscribed copy of his new book, Musicophilia, into which was folded a short letter, written with a fountain pen on heavy paper, thanking me for the poem, which he called "quite wonderful." I was planning to buy the book anyway, but this is so much cooler.