Day 52 – The Bridge is Over
I am highlighting the most influential poets in my life this week in appreciation of Thanksgiving. One poet that keeps coming back to me is Kris Parker, commonly known as KRS-ONE. The reason he became influential to me is complicated and it has a long history. I will talk through the short of it here. […]
Day 51 – The Road Not Taken
Robert Frost (1874–1963) was an iconic American poet known for his mastery of rural imagery and deep philosophical insights. He was a one of the turn of the century pragmatists, for which I am fond. Despite struggles early in life, including financial difficulties and personal losses, Frost achieved fame for his accessible yet profound poetry. […]
Day 50 – Anthem – Part Eleven
My next poet in the series of “poets that I am thankful for” is Ayn Rand. Now she was not a poet, in the true sense of the word. However, I do consider her short story Anthem to be one long poem dedicated to her moral philosophy. This work inspired many others that would follow […]
Day 49 – I Am Waiting
My week spent remembering the poets that I am grateful for would not be complete without acknowledging Lawrence Ferlinghetti. He one of the first of the famous Beat Poets of the 1950 – 1960s and hailed from San Francisco. He ran the City Lights bookstore, which I had a chance to visit when I was […]
Day 48 – Chimes of Freedom
Every hundred years or so, it seems the world produces a poet that represents the soul of an entire social movement. It seems that baton was passed to Bob Dylan, the famous folk singer turned rock legend. When I grew up, I disliked Bob Dylan but then one day I was travelling on a long […]
Day 47 – And Here I am, Fighting Dandelions
AND HERE I AM, FIGHTING DANDELIONS It’s not their bright yellow more frank than boastful. Yet, though hurried and harried careering and careening I fare forth to cut down dandelions. I patrol the lawn, resenting how they spread like a foreign policy. At times I catch one in flagrante delicto (in fragrant delight?) in an […]
Day 46 – Sabbath Poem I
I have decided to spend this week giving tribute to some of my favorite poets. Since this is a week where the United States celebrates Thanksgiving, I thought I would post some of my favorite poems from the “poets’ that we should have listened to.” First up is Wendell Berry, who is one of the […]
Day 45 – Warrior Rituals
A while back, I was watching a show that featured Native Americans preparing for battle. They were painting their faces, a ritual I’ve seen portrayed in countless movies. At first glance, it seemed like just another trope. But then I started thinking about warrior rituals across cultures—the powerful ways societies have prepared themselves mentally, physically, […]
Day 44 – Slow Down to Speed Up
Have you ever been so sure about something that you acted before pausing to question it? I have. And more often than I’d like to admit, it’s led me straight into frustration. One particular moment stands out—a lesson in slowing down that changed how I approach challenges forever. Our team was struggling. We weren’t closing […]
Day 43 – The Goal is Failure
Day 43 of the commitment brings a paradoxical but transformative perspective: failure should be our goal. If that statement feels uncomfortable, you’re not alone. For much of my life, I misunderstood what goals should be. I followed the advice to make goals “specific, measurable, and achievable.” But as time went on, I realized something profound: […]