Windhovering
the writing of Jerry Windley-Daoust
Why are we reading if not in hope that the writer will magnify and dramatize our days, will illuminate and inspire us with wisdom, courage, and the possibility of meaningfulness, and will press upon our minds the deepest mysteries, so that we may feel again their majesty and power?
Annie Dllard
New Words
A Truce for the Fourth of July
Image by: Architect of the Capitol via Wikimedia Commons A Truce for the Fourth of July God knows, we’ve fought enough these past few years — but for one night, we make a truce. A poem. As darkness settles over the land,we … Read More
RBG and Antonin Scalia Taught Us Civility Matters More Than Votes
Their friendship transcended their ideological differences. Will we follow their example? Twitter exploded in the most predictable of ways following the announcement of the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It took minutes, not hours, for some users to unsheathe … Read More
What My Grandfather Said About the War
My grandfather didn’t like to talk about the war,but if you asked, he would share this story. On a cold April morning just outside Monte Casino,he walks into a field, dry stalks breaking under his feet.His living breath makes small … Read More
Americans Need to Stop Fueling Partisan Violence. Here’s How.
Millions of Americans say they could justify violence in the wake of an electoral defeat. To stop a post-election nightmare, we need to act now. Does anyone else wake up at 3 a.m. worrying about the future of democracy in … Read More
Reading Lists
AAA Book Club The AAA Book Club is a men’s book club that has been meeting…well, just about forever, but at least since I joined in 2006. We only read nonfiction. The “AAA” stands for affordable, accessible, and…what? No one … Read More
Maybe Graduation Isn’t All About You
What if graduation rituals celebrate more than individual achievement? My daughter wants nothing to do with her high school graduation: she doesn’t want to wear the cap and gown, she doesn’t want to take graduation pictures, and she definitely doesn’t … Read More
The Healing Power of Old-Fashioned Phone Calls
The humble voice call may just be the premier venue for rich (and healing) conversations. Every Sunday since things shut down for the coronavirus emergency, I have been taking an hour or two to connect with far-off friends and family. … Read More
Spring Harvest
A poem. I have come here to harvest humusfrom the rotten bottom of the compostI left by the apple tree last fall. Raking away the shrouding cover of dry leaves reveals the dark heart of newborn earth. Leaning into the spade, I slice through the … Read More
Real Men Wear Their Babies
I should have known why my toddler daughter and I kept getting sidelong glances from the three tough-looking guys who were fishing at the end of the municipal pier. After all, it’s not every day you see a 6′ 7″ … Read More