I’m reading an essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson titled The Poet written in 1844. Here’s the main argument: Poets are called upon to write honestly about the world. If they can manage this, we can hold on to our humanity. There’s a specific passage that reads, “He (The Poet) is isolated among his contemporaries byContinue reading Your Painful Secret
We had a fantastic conversation at book club last night. Everyone was fired up over Song of Myself by Walt Whitman. It’s such a powerful poem, and the ending is truly astounding. For me, it perfectly captures what it feels like to read a piece of literature deeply. I’m going to share a few stanzasContinue reading What it Feels Like to Read Deeply
How can I describe what it feels like to read poetry by Walt Whitman? It’s intimate, for sure. He’s right there with you, standing starkly “natural” in the open woods, letting the sunshine breathe on his bare skin. Every word is both private and perfectly natural. He shows you the smallest details, making them biggerContinue reading Reading Walt Whitman
The sea of Philosophy is wide and worn deep – it spans in all directions unending and complete. It’s an ocean first tranquil then unhinged – and I am but a traveler, sailing its brim. I peek over the edge of this boat of mine – to find on the surface a reflection supine. I’mContinue reading The Sea of Philosophy