“Sleeping in the Forest” by Mary Oliver
Sleeping in the Forest I thought the earth remembered me, she took me back so tenderly, arranging her dark skirts, her pockets full of lichens and seeds. I slept as never before, a stone on… Continue Reading
“Earth, You Have Returned to Me” by Elaine Equi
Earth, You Have Returned to Me Can you imagine waking upevery morning on a different planet,each with its own gravity? Slogging, wobbling,wavering. Atiltand out-of-syncwith all that movesand doesn’t. Through years of trialand mostly errordid I… Continue Reading
Thoughts and habits not conducive to the work — from “The Creative Act” by Rick Rubin
Thoughts and habits not conducive to the work Believing you’re not good enough. Feeling you don’t have the energy it takes. Mistaking adopted rules for absolute truths. Not wanting to do the work (laziness). Not… Continue Reading
“Letters from the Ming Dynasty” by Joseph Brodsky
Letters from the Ming Dynasty I. Soon it will be thirteen years since the nightingale fluttered out of its cage and vanished. and, at nightfall, the Emperor washes down his medicine with the blood of… Continue Reading
“Canary” by Rita Dove
Canary for Michael S. Harper Billie Holiday’s burned voicehad as many shadows as lights,a mournful candelabra against a sleek piano,the gardenia her signature under that ruined face. (Now you’re cooking, drummer to bass,… Continue Reading