The Poet’s Work and the War’s Work

1. I first came across the poetry of Dunya Mikhail in Eliot Weinberger’s New Directions anthology, World Beat. An Iraqi Christian who speaks Arabic, Aramaic, and English, Mikhail ran afoul of the Iraqi authorities because of her…

The Varieties of Roots and Fruits

The following selections are from Thích Nhất Hạnh, Answers from the Heart: Practical Responses to Life’s Burning Questions: It’s possible for us to have several spiritual roots. To me, Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, and all religions…

Mettā

If I do not love myself, I cannot love others also. If we really love ourselves, we cannot think wrongly, cannot talk wrongly, cannot act wrongly. If you know how to love yourself, then you…

BOMO

Lecture by one of the septuagenarian luminaries of liberation theology The unforeseen, ultra-disturbing developments in House of Cards Spiff gala after the Oaks on May 2 The renowned pianist sponsored by one of our generous…

To My Friends by Primo Levi

Dear friends, and here I say friends the broad sense of the word: Wife, sister, associates, relatives, Schoolmates of both sexes, People seen only once Or frequented all my life; Provided that between us, for…

Texting through the Tears

When there’s midnight silence She can hear his voice When she closes her eyes She can see him coming up the stairs I ask her to tell me Some of the nicknames he had for…

Reminder on a 3 by 5 Index Card

If you face obloquy You’ve got to practice If you face applause You’ve got to practice If you face indifference You’ve got to practice If you face heartbreak You’ve got to practice

Reckoning with War

Dear Friends of Saint Louis Mindfulness Sangha, The first of the five wonderful mindfulness trainings emphasizes cultivating reverence for life. The original version of the 12th precept of the Order of Interbeing reads: “Do not…