I Remember High School (after Joe Brainard)
I remember getting on the school bus before 7 am. I remember it was an old man who picked us up, hell maybe sixty-one years old! I remember reading Richard Lattimore’s translation of the Iliad…
Author: Mark J. Chmiel
“Observe What’s Vivid”
1.“There is a story in the Jewish tradition about a student going to see a great rabbi, not principally to study Torah or Talmud, but to watch how the rabbi ties his shoes.”–Eboo Patel 2. “I…
“Stand up against Governments, against God”
For in the years to come you will find yourselves up against gods of all sorts, big and little gods, corporate and incorporeal gods, all of them demanding to be worshiped and obeyed – the…
Ralph Nader
As consumer advocate par excellence, Ralph Nader has improved the quality of life of millions of American citizens. As gadfly of the presumedly immutable two-party system, he has aroused the wrath of the powerful. He…
What Rubem Said to Maria Evelina
Yes, Raquel’s birth was a purifying experience in that it empowered me to say, “this is important,” and the rest becomes blurred. Her birth re-integrated things in my life. For example, when she was born…
Favorite Mary Oliver Poems
Instructions for living a life: Pay attention.Be astonished.Tell about it.–Mary Oliver, from “Sometimes” Laura …When I Am Among the Trees When I am among the trees,especially the willows and the honey locust, equally the beech, the oaks…
I Was Talking to Ram Dass about You and…
How things were going in Italy–The heat, the workloadThe limited energy for creative endeavorsI sounded a little worried I supposeHe put his arm around my shoulders and said,“She knows the scoreShe knows gratitude is where…
From a Recent Notebook
Of course, Diane di Prima is in My Canon… Because she honored Suzuki Roshi’s unprecedented presenceBecause she made the case for old-school being literally in touchBecause she gave primacy to cosmologyBecause I gifted C. with…
Share the Wealth Sunday 31 July: Celebrating Mary Oliver
Last night in Our Good News class, Dianne Lee read Wild Geese to us. This led me to think it would be worthwhile to invite fans of Mary Oliver to do likewise this Sunday night:…
Patisotagāmi and NATO
The following will offer you a different take on Russia, Ukraine, and NATO than you hear in the mainstream media: Russell Brand with Aaron Maté: We Have Been Lied To… [11.5 minutes] Scott Ritter: NATO…