Category: Correspondence

Message from a Friend

A friend sent me this last night: How beautiful Arabic-translated-to-English is….I can’t remember where I was when I heard this or what it’s from: “I’ve waited to speak with you because you are expensive to…

Theatre!

Friday night, I sent the following message to Katie Consamus: Isn’t acting one of the most demanding practices you could ever imagine?! Do you ever  stand back in awe at what you all do? Do…

Before Class (Waking Up 101)

In the School of Revolutionary Mindfulness When students arrive early to class No I-Phones  are anywhere to be seen In the minutes before class begins Students and teacher are sitting Breathing calmly and smiling

To Do List/73

To cling not to the horrible (“Ach, my suffering, it’s so terrible… Have I told you about it this week?”) To cling not to the beautiful (“Damn! That takes my breath away!”) To light my…

Dipa Ma

We are so fortunate to be alive at this time, so many teachers to learn with and from. Here’s one: Dipa Ma who was born in East Bengal, lived for years in Burma, and spent…

Dear Mark

Dear Mark, Here is my reflection of Dear Layla, I thought at first that I should apologize for the scatter-brained style of writing I’m sure this letter will take. Then I thought, he probably doesn’t…

That Day at Café Ventana

What I really want to say is Lindsey, thank you For sitting here Sunshining at Café Ventana All those wrist bracelets that have 33 stories behind them All those memories of El Salvador Paralleling my…

Thơ

Little Sister At the end of our lesson At the Bread Co on South Grand You gave me a simple assignment: “Write a four-line poem in Vietnamese” You came to this country at age eight…

Tonight

Extraordinary buzz of life and brilliance at tonight’s Writing to Wake Up! Thanks to Josh Aranda, Libby Dunn, Tony Albrecht, Lindsey Weston, Jenn Reyes Lay, Cami Kasmerchak, Justin Lorenz, Emily Camp, Ann Heyse, Brittany Accardi, Lindsay…