Monthly Archives: January 2019

Thursday, january 31 –  “Stopping by a wood on a Snowy Evening”  written 1922 Twenty-some years ago, our university hosted the meeting of Jesuit national leaders (called “Provincials”).   All the brass coming to our city was a pretty big … Continue reading →

Monday,  January 28   “I used to want to be this bad at a job.” I hadn’t posted a poem from Detroit poet Jamaal May in a while.  He writes “Shift” with the subtle density of language that characterizes his poetry.   … Continue reading →

Friday,  January 25, 2019 I am participating in our regular January Board of Trustees meeting so I stepped back to the same date, January 25, 2017. one of my favorite poems ever. Have a blest weekend,   john sj Wednesday … Continue reading →

Weather.com  says that it’s -4º  at 8:00 am, peaking at +11º at 2:00 pm before heading down to -12º about 10:00 pm  — if you like high pressure and clear skies (n.b., I do.)  this is your kind of winter … Continue reading →

Friday, January 18,  2019  –  Honoring two strong thinkers as they pass Mary Oliver has anointed the pages of the “Work Day/Hard Time” list many times since the list began in September 2103. It’s a good bet that her language will … Continue reading →

Several years ago,  Joy Harjo sent me her new book of poems: Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings, (New York: W H Norton, 2015).  This mid-week morning I decided to return to two pieces from Conflict Resolution. Taut, clean words that opened my … Continue reading →

Monday January 14, 2019   “Companion is the one who eats the same bread.” This morning when I opened the blinds in my room, early sun and snow traceries on the courtyard cloister walk roofs took my breath away.    Sometimes the … Continue reading →

Friday,  January 11, 2019 After Wednesday’s story of Pedro Arrupe, sj in 1945 Hiroshima when the Atomic Bomb decimated the city, a soul friend of 40 +   years emailed me with several more stories from Hiroshima that day.   Sr. Gerry … Continue reading →

Wednesday January 9 – “What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything.” Fr. Pedro Arrupe, S.J. This man of great hope and playful humor served as the Jesuit Novice Director in Hiroshima, 1945, the day … Continue reading →

Monday, January 7 “Snow was blinding and blowing from a fierce wind . . .” Over these years of the Work Day/Hard Time poetry list I’ve learned to expect surprises. Strong poets almost never slip in an unnecessary word. “Flint-hard … Continue reading →