There’s a curious form of time-shifting that comes from returning to a place we once knew well. When I travelled to Japan a few weeks ago, I was delighted to hear once again the phrase, “ki o tsukete.” Usually these words are translated as “take care,” but the literal translation is a little more magical, […]
It’s a curious thing, to be surrounded by people but still separated. Even for a devoted introvert like me, there is a desire to communicate, to greet neighbors and acknowledge strangers as we move through our days. It’s easy to prioritize connections with family and colleagues and dear friends, but there’s no person from 24B […]
When we’re perplexed, it helps to dig down in the roots – and this goes for language, too. One of my favorite lessons from divinity school was a casual conversation about the root words for Bravery and Courage. The root for brave is linked to a front or face. Bravery is a kind of armor, […]
Help, head. Help heart. One of the joys of sorting through bookshelves is coming across old friends. This week I re-met Maira Kalman’s terrific My Favorite Things, which features the equally terrific Lydia Davis’ poem, Head, Heart. Stopped me in my tracks. Heart weeps. Head tries to help heart. Head tells heart that’s how […]
This week I have read several thoughtful articles with advice for bloggers, all urging focus and thematic clarity (rightly so). But today I am writing not about investing, but about poetry, experts and editors be darned. Because Seamus Heaney’s work has helped me more than all of those blogger-advisers put together. Because poetry is one […]