Category: other deepening places

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

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

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

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

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

#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

#Poetry – A Poem a Day: Gerard Manley Hopkins #NPM22

5 Apr 2022

Oh, the joy of Gerard Manley Hopkins! I wish I could capture the beauty of nature in the rich imagery and luscious syntax of this master. As much as I love “Pied Beauty” and “God’s Grandeur,” this poem resonates the loudest with me. In a time when so many people compare themselves to the false … More #Poetry – A Poem a Day: Gerard Manley Hopkins #NPM22

#Poetry – A Poem a Day: Billy Collins #NPM22

1 Apr 2022

Happy National Poetry Month! As we launch into this month-long celebration of poetry, there’s no better place to start than Billy Collins’s “Introduction to Poetry.” I don’t believe there’s another poet I enjoy listening to as much as I love hearing Billy Collins read his poetry. “Litany” was one of the first times I encountered … More #Poetry – A Poem a Day: Billy Collins #NPM22