[Location] The Starry Night

[Alice]

DESCRIPTION: Situated at the outskirts of Mura, Starry Night nevertheless is a popular place for poets to meet, exchange tips and advice and share their pieces. The main house appears to be of simple built, made of white stones that have turned silver with passing years. Their color remains to be a secret, since no other building made of the same material shows the same level of erosion. Some poets, however, believe that the incredible amount of creative energy has had an impact on the material world too. There is no further decoration, apart from two small windows with rounded edges and a sign above the entrance reading “If you can imagine it, you can create it”. As any Konti with some literary knowledge knows this is a quotation from Mura’s most famous poet. If someone enters the small front room, a sweet bell will ring. About a dozen of small wooden boxes are meant to store coats or any backpacks or bags in it that aren’t needed for the duration of the stay. A few comfortable chairs with cushions are provided for waiting or discussing pieces of poetry when it is too cold to use the real establishment. The door at the opposite site of the room which is painted creatively with the oddest shapes and in the brightest colors leads to it: a garden. Upon entering, visitors would find themselves in the middle of an extensive arrangement of plants, pathways and small ponds. It is constructed with a circular ground plan, including serpentine gravel paths framed with bushes and small trees, flower beds showing the most lovely, colorful and fragrant exemplars, lawns smelling of fresh grass and fish ponds. The visitor would find themselves in a garden full of extraordinary colors and shapes inspiring and motivating them to remember and spread its natural beauty in their works. Additional, it’s a trend and running gag for Mura’s poet population to care for the garden themselves: They will happily remove foul leaves, feed the fishes or cut the lawn. Necessary tools are stored in a cabin situated right-hand from the entry. The center of the garden is a round stage made of flat stone plates and surrounded by many stone seats covered with straw to keep spectators warm. Everyone who wants to call themselves a member of Mura’s poet club has to visit the location regularly. There is nothing else required to join, the club is made of rumor, friendships and work relationships. Everyone who plans to organize or take part at a festival revolving around a good story or other new piece of written art is allowed to leave an advertisement notice at the front room. A small blackboard nailed to the back wall of the front room serves exactly that purpose. Many regular as well as one-time visitors use it to leave everything from the already mentioned advertisement to help cries and requests for partners, employment or employees. The only rule is: The request must have something to do with the profession of writing, although it doesn’t matter whether in prose or rhymes. Sometimes, quite often in fact, there is an answer scribbled under the request when the poster comes back, or someone has already contacted them. This successful system of information exchange proves that the Starry Night is the most important location for writers to meet, mingle and interact with others.