Monthly Archives: March 2017

march 31, 2017 Not a poem but about Poems Nicholas Kristof’s March 30 nyt column

Friday,  March 31, 2017  “we need the humanities more than ever to counter nationalism and demagoguery.” I happened upon Nicholas Kristof’s March 30 column about the importance of art and the humanities.   In the process, he’s written a strong … Continue reading

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March 29 – e e cummings “. . . the voice of your eyes . . . “

Wednesday, March 29  —  e e cummings – “. . . the voice of your eyes . . . ” Early spring,  mid-semester, lots of neighborhood hustle and growth,  clean elegant sunshine,  leaves budding out.    Perfect day for e … Continue reading

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March 27 Denise Levertov — “then it is that the miracle walks in, on his swift feet . . .”

Monday, March 27  “your graceful confident shrug and twist  . . . ” Is it harder to stand still in a place of grief or a place of joy?   That question came up last evening in the kind of … Continue reading

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March 24 – Rumi “The Guest House”

Friday,  March 24 “some momentary awareness comes As an unexpected visitor.” One of my soul friends of many years emailed Rumi’s “Guest House” yesterday.   When readers send poems, they create a place of stillness in me and sometimes change … Continue reading

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March 22 – a repeat request “Kindness” (from March 3) + how to find any poem or poet

Tuesday night, March 21 A couple days ago one of our readers wrote asking about a specific poem: “please remind me who was author of the poem of Kindness, I saved it as a word document failed to acknowledge author. It has … Continue reading

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march 20 about laughter to begin the work week

Monday, March 20, 2017   — “laughter begets liking, and liking begets joy, and joy begets love” Meister Eckhart  (c. 1260 -c. 1327) Meister Eckhart, a German Dominican, theologian, philosopher and mystic, was known along with his writings for sermons … Continue reading

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St. P’s Day — remembering an immigrant from long ago

Friday. March 17  — an immigrant story from decades ago – “her real name was  – – – – >  Silvia:  S-i-l-v-i-a” John McPhee’s brief, tightly woven, contemplation of an Irish immigrant dear to him, first appeared on the list one year … Continue reading

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March 15 – Lance Swain’s story from March 2014

Wednesday  March 15  —  is it spring yet? A clean sky & a bright moon, 17 degrees, sun and wind on the way.  My university hosted a Conference of Mercy Higher Education site visit from Sunday afternoon until yesterday about noon. … Continue reading

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March 13 – snow and a poet new to me, Dunya Mikhail

Monday  March 13 “If anyone stumbles across it, return it to me, please.” Last Friday I spent the afternoon visiting with, and an evening listening to, Joy Harjo at the University of Michigan’s Michigan League.   Joy emailed on Wednesday to … Continue reading

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Joy Harjo in Ann Arbor

Friday, March 10 “It’s so hot; there is not enough winter. Animals are confused. Ice is melting.” Joy Harjo emailed me while I was in Canada talking about my life with Bill Clarke.  She arrived in Ann Arbor yesterday afternoon … Continue reading

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