~ Madeleine L’Engle, A Wind in the Door
Marriage: The Commonwealth of Joy – Thoughts from My Father-of-the-Groom Speech a la Wendell Berry #Poetry #Berry #Joy #Marriage
We have returned, having shrunk and grown, having lost and gained, having witnessed death and birth. In my father-of-the-groom speech, I ruminated on each of these thoughts as we celebrated the union of my son and his bride. The day was perfect, despite the downpour just before the ceremony and humidity that followed. I closed … More Marriage: The Commonwealth of Joy – Thoughts from My Father-of-the-Groom Speech a la Wendell Berry #Poetry #Berry #Joy #Marriage
Two Gems from John Keats #Poetry #Keats #Insects #Seasons #Life
Reading Andrew Klavan’s The Truth and Beauty stirred up the embers of my Romantic poetry fires. Most importantly, it led to a deeper appreciation for the poetry of John Keats. I have loved his most famous works for years including “Bright Star” and “La Belle Dame Sans Merci,” but I came upon these two wonderful … More Two Gems from John Keats #Poetry #Keats #Insects #Seasons #Life
On Marriage, Patriotism, and Life: Book Dart Quotes from Wendell Berry’s “Fidelity” – #BookDarts #Marriage #Patriotism #Life #WendellBerry #Quotes
July draws to a close, a month bookended by two key celebrations: the birth of America and the birth of my marriage! Between those two memorial stones falls a variety of family trips, community gatherings, and musical gigs that encompass a typical summer with August’s shadow looming. School is just around the corner. Time to … More On Marriage, Patriotism, and Life: Book Dart Quotes from Wendell Berry’s “Fidelity” – #BookDarts #Marriage #Patriotism #Life #WendellBerry #Quotes
An Invitation to Reflect #Poetry #Heron #Nature
Monday morning, as I looked out the windows of The Observatory (our family room), I saw a grey heron down in the creek. At first, I was content to simply admire him from afar. Besides, if I went outside and down to the water’s edge, I’d surely scare him off. But the lure was just … More An Invitation to Reflect #Poetry #Heron #Nature
The Communion of Quiet #Poetry #Communion #Quiet #Nature
A quiet evening by the open window reading Andrew Klavan’s The Truth and Beauty. The neighbor’s window air conditioner humming incessantly in the background. William Wordsworth’s timely sonnet about the pervasive nature of our modern world. A train whistle in the distance. The bread and the wine. What follows is the synergy of those experiences … More The Communion of Quiet #Poetry #Communion #Quiet #Nature
About
I am a lover of words – the way they sing together in neat or sprawling lines upon the page, conducted by the great wordsmiths of all time. The way a sudden turn of phrase or surprising combination of sounds resonates with the deep within me, causing pause…
the deepening ground 