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.

Are You Digging a Well or Just Making Holes? #Love #SoulMate #BlackoutPoetry #Poem

27 Jun 2022

True love is the deepening ground of life. Unfortunately, so few are willing to labor together in the field, transforming the hard soils of life into the oasis offered to us in true love, especially in the midst of trying times. Most so-called “love” peters out just inches into the earth. So few are willing … More Are You Digging a Well or Just Making Holes? #Love #SoulMate #BlackoutPoetry #Poem

A Letter to My Daughter: Richard Wilbur’s “The Writer” #Poetry #RichardWilbur #Daughter #Writer

20 Jun 2022

My daughter has turned eighteen. As John Lennon once wrote, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans” (“Beautiful Boy”). He understood, as a father, how quickly time escapes us. For all of us who have become parents, this truth is painfully real. It drives me more into the present, trying … More A Letter to My Daughter: Richard Wilbur’s “The Writer” #Poetry #RichardWilbur #Daughter #Writer

Surrendered: Another Lesson from Wolf Creek #Poetry #Peace #Hope #Rest #Sonnet

13 Jun 2022

It’s not Wolf Creek, but it will have to do. If I could have had a decent camera with me a few Sundays ago as I floated down the creek that borders our property, staring up into the cerulean sky with only a few cumulus clouds floating by, then I could have captured the exact … More Surrendered: Another Lesson from Wolf Creek #Poetry #Peace #Hope #Rest #Sonnet

From Exhaustion to Awakening: Photo of the Day Poems #Poetry #Photography #TheGuardian

29 May 2022

I found my creative voice again last week! Despite the busyness of wrapping up a school year, I carved out the time to parody Smashmouth’s “All Star,” Billy Joel’s “Piano Man,” and The Proclaimer’s “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” as parting gifts to my students. That evening, I felt energized and revived. I even managed … More From Exhaustion to Awakening: Photo of the Day Poems #Poetry #Photography #TheGuardian

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