Keith Jarrett’s “The Köln Concert” by Mike Monteiro
Keith Jarrett's "The Köln Concert" Here’s a brief recap of Keith Jarrett’s day on January 24, 1975: He drives six hours from Zurich, Switzerland, where he played a few days earlier, to Köln, Germany. He… Continue Reading
“My Wisdom” by Naomi Shihab Nye
My Wisdom When people have a lotthey want moreWhen people have nothingthey will happily share it*Some people saynever getting your waybuilds characterBy now our character must bedeep and wide as a continentAfrica, Australiagiant cascade of… Continue Reading
“Burning the Old Year” by Naomi Shihab Nye
Burning the Old Year Letters swallow themselves in seconds.Notes friends tied to the doorknob,transparent scarlet paper,sizzle like moth wings,marry the air. So much of any year is flammable,lists of vegetables, partial poems.Orange swirling flame of… Continue Reading
“A Few Rules for Predicting the Future” by Octavia E. Butler
A Few Rules for Predicting the Future “So do you really believe that in the future we’re going to have the kind of trouble you write about in your books?” a student asked me as… Continue Reading
“To My Brother Miguel in memoriam” by César Vallejo
To My Brother Miguel in memoriam Brother, today I sit on the brick bench outside the house, where you make a bottomless emptiness.I remember we used to play at this hour of the day, and… Continue Reading
“Distant Lights of Olancha Recede” by Harold Budd
Distant Lights of Olancha Recede The boy, my boyLets the full charge flyThe sound is masked by the rolling thunder peeling off the Sierras Late desert evening, getting black, getting feralThe kilns haven’t felt fire… Continue Reading
“Speaking Tree” by Joy Harjo
Speaking Tree I had a beautiful dream I was dancing with a tree. … Continue Reading
“In the Evening” by William Reichard
In the Evening The night air is filled with the scent of apples, and the moon is nearly full. In the next room, Jim is reading; a small cat sleeps in the crook of his… Continue Reading
“Song for Baby-O, Unborn” by Diane di Prima
Song for Baby-O, Unborn when you break thruyou’ll finda poet herenot quite what one would choose. I won’t promiseyou’ll never go hungryor that you won’t be sadon this guttedbreakingglobe but I can show youbabyenough to… Continue Reading
“An Exercise in Love” by Diane di Prima
An Exercise in Love for Jackson Allen My friend wears my scarf at his waistI give him moonstonesHe gives me shell & seaweedsHe comes from a distant city & I meet himWe will plant eggplants… Continue Reading