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.
This poem needs no introduction. As the temperatures dropped to the high fifties on Friday and I slipped into one of my favorite hoodies, I knew Autumn had arrived. No better way to celebrate the changing of the seasons than to read “To Autumn” by John Keats. Grab a cup of hot cider, sit down … More The Quintessential Poem for the Season #Poetry #Autumn #Romantic #JohnKeats
Summer draws to a close, a new week begins, and I return to the deepening ground of Mary Oliver’s poetry. Hear the invitation to spend our lives “on some / unstinting happiness,” but not according to the world’s definition. Rather, the simple overlooked gifts that poets like Mary Oliver and Wendell Berry capture so beautifully. … More Mary Oliver Mondays: A Lesson from Late Summer #Poetry #Summer #Roses #MaryOliver
We’ve all played the fool at some point in our lives, especially in the name of love. Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers sang of it long before I sat down with my guitar and composed the following song. Sometimes we’ve played the fool for power, fame, or glory, fleeting as they are. Like King Solomon … More Whose Fool Are You? #Fool #Love #Longing #Song
At the end of long weekend, I returned to the wisdom of Wendell Berry. Oh, for the peace of simple things and the dumb life of roots! (If you haven’t read The Peace of Wild Things, then you MUST follow this link to hear Wendell Berry read the powerful companion piece and fitting follow-up to … More Longing After a Busy Weekend #Peace #Poetry #Simplicity #WendellBerry
“[A body] belongs to the world of love, which is a world of living creatures, natural orders and cycles, many small, fragile lights in the dark.” Wendell Berry – from “Health is Membership” Reflection: The Bull Thistle By Vincent H. Anastasi 2022 Magenta flames stopped me on my way, burning on the spiny base of … More Magenta Flames: A Reflection #Poetry #Poem #Thistle #Nature #HolyGround
August and July brim over with wedding celebrations. My son’s marriage earlier this month brought the total number of wedding anniversaries from the last week of July through today, August 22nd, to FOUR just on my side of the family. In the coming two months, I believe we will celebrate three more weddings on my … More Awaken the Dawn #Song #Marriage #Anniversary
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
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
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
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 deepening ground 