Tag Archives: Hope

HOW WE REPINE — OR SING

Posted on January 16, 2015 by

“Each bird sings the song its beak allows.”                                              Mère Tarsisius This piece of wisdom has long been an … Continue reading →

Posted in Friendship, Personal Essay, Quotes, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , | 41 Comments

We Are All Invited —

Posted on December 27, 2014 by

  Come, come whoever you are, Wanderer, worshipper, lover of learning, It doesn’t matter. Ours is not a caravan of despair. Come, even if you have broken your vow a thousand times. Come, come yet again, come. —-     Jelalu’ddin … Continue reading →

Posted in Desert, Enlightenment, Memory, Poetry, Wisdom, Writers | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 39 Comments

Winter Closet

Posted on December 1, 2014 by

Thanksgiving arrived along with the first winter storm of the season here in the Northeast United States. Biting cold, snow, wind — please, Mother Nature, I’m not ready yet! The older I get, the less ready I am for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Color, Flowers, Nature, winter | Tagged , , , | 37 Comments

Spring in the Heart

Posted on January 4, 2014 by

Coming along the mountain path Somehow it tugs my heart Wild violet (trans. Lesley Downer) The mercury slunk down to – 12 Fahrenheit last night. Or thereabouts. At such low temperatures, what difference does it make? All is white, white, … Continue reading →

Posted in Etcetera, Flowers, Japan, Nature, Photography, Poetry, Spring, winter | Tagged , , , , , , | 22 Comments

A Glimmer of Hope (3): NATURE

Posted on April 25, 2013 by

Last week, the bombing of the Boston Marathon, another “little death” of innocence, plunged me into despair. Very slowly I began seeking, and finding, some glimmers of hope in an inner darkness: first came music, next came sharing of food, … Continue reading →

Posted in Color, Definitions, Etcetera, Flowers, Music, Nature, Personal Essay, Spring | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

A GLIMMER OF HOPE (2)

Posted on April 21, 2013 by

It was quite a week. Started out with the Boston Marathon bombing, continued with poison letters sent to a senator and the president, closely followed by a shameful sellout vote in the Senate against the wishes of 90% of Americans … Continue reading →

Posted in Etcetera, Food, Friendship, Personal Essay, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , , | 26 Comments

The Way It Is in the Winter of the Soul —

Posted on January 30, 2013 by

Almost February, the nadir of the year (according to me). Even though the light has begun returning, it is still a dark time, cold, snowy, gray when it isn’t black. My head tells me that, underneath the snowy blanket outside, … Continue reading →

Posted in Challenge, Etcetera, Life and Death, winter, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , , | 42 Comments

Kwitcherbellyakin —

Posted on January 10, 2013 by

I’m not really talking to you! I’m talking to myself, in another sort-of New Year’s resolution. Not a formal resolution, because I never find those work for me. More of an intention, really. In this case, an intention to tone … Continue reading →

Posted in Color, Etcetera, Flowers, Happiness, Mindfulness, Spring, winter | Tagged , , , , | 35 Comments

Invincible Summer —

Posted on January 12, 2011 by

In the midst of winter we find in ourselves an Invincible Summer. — Albert Camus Interesting that it is an early Existentialist (although he later denied the label), an exponent of a philosophy originally considered bleak and hopeless compared to … Continue reading →

Posted in Etcetera | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Plum Blossoms

Posted on January 11, 2011 by

Only slight taste of it — Spring makes its Bronx debut With ume and orchids — Photo and Haiku (after Basho) by David Elpern In Shochikubai: Three Friends of Winter we met the pine, the bamboo, and the plum blossom (bai, or … Continue reading →

Posted in Etcetera | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments