“The Puppet” by Johnny Welch
The Puppet If for a moment God would forget that I am a rag doll and give me a scrap of life, possibly I would not say everything that I think, but I would definitely… Continue Reading
My Favorite Books — a list by Joan Didion
The late writer and journalist Joan Didion was easily one of the finest wordsmiths of her era—inspiring the next generation as well. Author Zadie Smith remembers encountering Didion’s writing for the first time. She remarked,… Continue Reading
The 13 Virtues of Benjamin Franklin
In his new book, Kindness and Wonder: Why Mister Rogers Matters Now More Than Ever, Gavin Edwards uncovers the real story behind the gentle everyman, Fred Rogers. Most interesting to me was a list that… Continue Reading
Michelangelo makes a shopping list
Michelangelo's shopping list Not only was Italian artist Michelangelo one of the greatest sculptors and painters of the High Renaissance, he created art even when making a shopping list. Most likely, the extra effort was… Continue Reading
“March Moon” by Langston Hughes
March Moon The moon is naked. The wind has undressed the moon. The wind has blown all the cloud-garments Off the body of the moon And now she’s naked, Stark naked. But why don’t you… Continue Reading
8 Tips for Writers from Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut is one of the most important American writers of the 20th Century. His classic novels include Breakfast of Champions and Slaughterhouse Five, the sorta-autobiographical tale of the Allied bombing of Dresden in 1945.… Continue Reading
“Finish Every Day & Be Done With It” by Ralph Waldo Emerson
The American poet and abolitionist Ralph Waldo Emerson is considered a leading light in the Transcendentalist movement of mid-19th Century. In April of 1854, Emerson wrote a letter to his daughter Ellen (who was 15)… Continue Reading
“Knowledge is power. France is bacon.”
Back in 2010, on the social news and discussion site Reddit, the topic arose of "What word or phrase did you totally misunderstand as a child?" A user named Lard_Baron has this charming reply which,… Continue Reading
“I Am For… (Statement, 1961) by Claes Oldenburg
Artist Claes Oldenburg wrote this manifesto in 1961 for the catalogue of an exhibition at Martha Jackson Gallery called Environments, Situations, Spaces. However, Oldenburg didn’t like the term ‘manifesto’. He dubbed the piece a “literary… Continue Reading
“Washing Dishes” by Thích Nhất Hanh
Washing Dishes “If while washing dishes, we think only of the cup of tea that awaits us, thus hurrying to get the dishes out of the way as if they were a nuisance, then we… Continue Reading