Monthly Archives: March 2017

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →