Oh, how the world could use a full dose of William Stafford at this critical moment. Though he died nearly 23 years ago, the trail this brilliant poet left behind burns so brightly and what’s at stake is so important that I want to hazard a guess on how he would make sense of recent…
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You may have it and not even know. Or simply not be aware that your malady has a name. For me, it has been over 25 years since I was stricken in the early prime of my adult life with Adult Onset Poetry Syndrome. Symptoms: (Note: 3 or more symptoms mean you have it!)…
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That was better than religion… How satisfying it was to hear that feedback after one of my recent poetry-based presentations. And when I heard it a second and third time I was even more pleased. Now let me be clear, I take little credit for these comments, however I do believe in the power of…
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One of the saddest things you’ll ever see are hundreds of people on a beautiful beach in Hawaii trying to be happy. Truth is, we can’t try, demand or force ourselves to be happy. And we certainly can’t make ourselves be inspired or in love. Truth is, we do what we do and then…
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Let me warn you this is not a typical memorial tribute, because its subject is anything but typical. You see, Helen Burgio was a force of nature in so many ways. I particularly loved her sense of humor, though a few times when I teased her too hard or about the wrong things she…
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In conversation with a close friend recently, we ranged into a territory that felt important, maybe even profound for us both. We began to talk about that edge where the urge to help takes on a somewhat driven quality. It is that place where a good instinct to help, can morph into something not so…
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Listen to me… You’re no artist! Ever heard that little inner voice in your head say such a thing? Have you ever talked back to that voice? After all, what is art, if not our own simple, honest and immediate response to life. It took me years of writing to begrudgingly call myself a writer and a…
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It all shows up together… The shock, the grief and the unbearable pain, right along side the amazing courage, compassion and strength to keep moving forward. Who could blame anyone for reacting in fear after this latest terrorist attack in Paris? Of course this would also be a time where hastily made comments may not be as…
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