Hello friends. Well, the world has seen carnage and hate and stupidity this week. I must admit I have a difficult time finding solace. The literary world is mourning the loss of Denis Johnson. In announcing his death the Michener Center for Writers reported that Denis Johnson kept on his desk this quote by Walt Whitman as a personal manifesto. “This is what you shall do; Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand … [Read more...]
Remembering
I had a hard time finding a post for today. I looked through public domain poems trying to find one that was appropriate, one that celebrates the soldier and laments the war. For that’s how I feel. I hate war. But I appreciate the men and women who have fought and continue to fight in our wars. I appreciate their sacrifices and those of their families. Then I remembered I had a war poem, one I hadn’t shared before because I was embarrassed by the publication of it. It was … [Read more...]
Words don’t fail me
Hiya. It's been 16 days since I last posted. Wish I could say there was a reason but . . . maybe there have been a couple, the first being that I have been unmotivated. Sometimes I feel like I am drowning in blather. FB, Twitter, email all bring me information that proves to be superfluous and sometimes distracting. Kim and Kanye share space with the 200 kidnapped girls in Nigeria. Lately everything seems noisy to me. So I feel disinclined to add to the chatter, especially … [Read more...]
Glimpse of Solace: Memorial Day
Bleeding Heart Amid the rubble of demolition, where nothing else has survived, a bleeding heart grows, red blood dripping from delicate arcs. from Constance Vogel Adamkiewicz's poem "Bleeding Heart" in Solace in So Many Words Here's to remembering and honoring those that came before us . . . … [Read more...]