Samskāra
“She’s really got it bad.” I’ve never spent time with her. “She’s an addict. Big time.” Really? What’s she on? “Polarization— She can’t get enough of it.” Samskāra, Sanskrit, noun. A personality trait conditioned…
Category: Our Heroic and Ceaseless 24/7 Struggle against Tsuris
Communication
I know I arouse your disbelief Because I do not text But there’s a simple reason That I still use a cell phone to call you The most important thing I have to share I…
Inspired at the London Tea Room on a Friday Afternoon
The joy in hearing your stories O Cynical Optimist (Your serene green eyes Your face radiating confidence) Like that woman who looked Ten years into the future And knew with whom She needed to be…
So Be It
Bella Levenshteyn After I sent you the Cardenal poem About bloody coltan cell phones You asked me what I think you should do Now that’s easy: Share your light
Out of the Blue
But I don’t do that with anyone in the world “But I want you to, with me”
Deep Listening
He has continuous eye contact Not looking away at people To the left or right Or coming toward us Ever steady But he’s not staring He’s beholding He’s present Relaxed All there Taking it all…
Karma Yoga, with a Shovel
We knew it was coming 6 to 10 inches Dread: The roads will be terrible! Exhilaration: No school! That morning he left his house Shovel in hand He approached one older neighbor With his usual…
Perhaps It Was All Very Innocent
I returned to working at Lashonda’s House And had the shift on Thursday evenings One night after I left the house at 10:45 I went to the grocery to pick up a few things As…
One Fine Day
Dear Bella Levenshteyn Would you take a ride with me On 55-South? You pick the exit Anywheresville We’ll find a diner or truck stop Burger King even
Another Yom Kippur
Reading Koheleth Listening to Rostropovich’s Bach Drinking Stolichnaya Writing a postcard to Bella Balaban