Author: v. anastasi

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: moments of reflection and appreciation that transcend the superficial babblings and paltry visions of the infantile. Here at the deepening ground, it is my intent to make time and space for the reflection, appreciation, and creative imaginings that sustain the human soul.

The Nature of Love in a Troubled World: Thoughts from David Whyte #Poetry #DavidWhyte #Love

25 May 2022

Looking at the small shelf of books beside my bed last night, I noticed my copy of David Whyte’s The Bell and the Blackbird. My wife purchased the collection for me a few years ago when I expressed an interest in the book after a colleague introduced me to Whyte’s poetry. If you are familiar … More The Nature of Love in a Troubled World: Thoughts from David Whyte #Poetry #DavidWhyte #Love

Streamed Life: Lessons from Wolf Creek #Poetry #Life #Rest

17 May 2022

The academic year winds down, and all the responsibilities and tasks that come with it come crashing in like a tsunami. At the same time, gigs are picking up and I’m readying myself to serve as an AP reader in early June. In the midst of this, I tweaked my neck and it’s taken multiple … More Streamed Life: Lessons from Wolf Creek #Poetry #Life #Rest

I, Too, Sing New Orleans: Photo of the Day Poems #Poetry #NewOrleans

10 May 2022

The purple polka-dotted Fender is what got me. I’ve never been to New Orleans; the closest I ever got was Gulf Shores, Alabama back in the late 90’s when my wife and I were living in Florida. I’ve never heard Buddy Guy in concert; my closest New Orleans musical experience was a live performance of … More I, Too, Sing New Orleans: Photo of the Day Poems #Poetry #NewOrleans

Above All, Remember to Live #Poetry #MaryOliver #Live

5 May 2022

As I sat in bed last night, debating between Marilynne Robinson’s Home, Andrew Klavan’s The Truth and Beauty, or Mary Oliver’s Devotions, I eventually settled on Oliver’s collection of poems. Sleep would be coming quick, so a poem or two felt like a safe bet, especially when Robinson’s novel doesn’t include any chapter breaks (sheer … More Above All, Remember to Live #Poetry #MaryOliver #Live

Photo of the Day Poems – Somewhere between Tripoli and Moscow #Poetry #Life #NPM22

30 Apr 2022

For one final celebration of National Poetry Month, I’ll dip back into my collection of Photo of the Day poems drawn from The Guardian website back in 2019. Three years ago, in the final week of April, the following two images appeared and inspired these poetic responses. The stark contrast between these images needs to … More Photo of the Day Poems – Somewhere between Tripoli and Moscow #Poetry #Life #NPM22

Our Inevitable Struggle #Poetry #Nettles #NPM22

27 Apr 2022

Today in British Literature, I reintroduced the “Life is Full of Adventure and Struggle” unit as we began our journey with Frodo Baggins in Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring. As part of the teaser, I shared Vernon Scannell’s “Nettles” with my students, emphasizing that this poem actually comes from a contemporary poet, not a … More Our Inevitable Struggle #Poetry #Nettles #NPM22

Blackout Poetry for a Quiet Morning #Poetry #Morning #Solitude #NPM22

24 Apr 2022

A week away from the normal routines of life is refreshing, even if it comes with other, pressing responsibilities. We have just returned from New Jersey where my son and daughter competed in a regional speech tournament. While there, I spent most of my time either judging rounds (ten, to be exact) or watching my … More Blackout Poetry for a Quiet Morning #Poetry #Morning #Solitude #NPM22

A Poem a Day: A Twist on Traditional Haiku #Poetry #Haiku #NPM22

18 Apr 2022

Having missed International Haiku Poetry Day, let me leave you with this three haiku sampler from David M. Bader’s book Haiku U: From Aristotle to Zola, 100 Great Books in 17 Syllables as today’s selection for National Poetry Month. As Bader himself notes in his humorous foreword, “Deciding which books to include was difficult, as … More A Poem a Day: A Twist on Traditional Haiku #Poetry #Haiku #NPM22

A Poem a Day: Blackout Poetry for Resurrection Day #Poetry #Resurrection #Easter #NPM22

17 Apr 2022

Having not actually written anything new recently, a quiet hour to write (or blackout) tonight was a gift. Flipping through the same book that I have been using for nearly six years, I gratefully unearthed the following poem just in time for Resurrection Day, known to many as Easter. The celebration that finds its source … More A Poem a Day: Blackout Poetry for Resurrection Day #Poetry #Resurrection #Easter #NPM22

#Poetry – A Poem a Day (Especially for Good Friday): Wendell Berry #GoodFriday #Pain

15 Apr 2022

If you’ve followed my blog for the past two years, you will be familiar with Wendell Berry. His Mad Farmer poems have brought such life to my soul (these two years especially). So it’s somewhat surprising that I haven’t posted one of his poems until today during National Poetry Month. However, as I flipped through … More #Poetry – A Poem a Day (Especially for Good Friday): Wendell Berry #GoodFriday #Pain