During the week, I often come across poetry, a bit of writing, or a photo that gives me pause in a satisfying way where I reconnect with the present. I’d like to share these moments with you.
This poem celebrates the colors of Fall. Yaskhan writes about poetry, haikus, and photography. I felt this poem as I read.
October Chill:
autumn comes
Yaskhan
upon trees
coppery soft
frail amber blooms
gather shadows
north winds stir
rosette twilight
birdsongs hush
the whispering breeze
orange, red maple leaves
ignite a crimson light
October lilts
frosted sigh
pumpkin moon
adorns ebon frilled sky
The poem put me right into the treescape above. “rosette twilight” is a beautiful description.
My grand-niece turned four yesterday. Her mom put on a Halloween-themed party with homemade treats for the kids. I thought they were adorable, even if the eyes were staring.
Maria Popova publishes a newsletter, The Marginalian: Reflections on keeping the soul intact and alive and worthy of itself.
This week was her 16 Life-Learnings from 16 years of blogging. My favorite pieces of prose:
“Be generous. Be generous with your time and your resources and with giving credit and, especially, with your words. It’s so much easier to be a critic than a celebrator. Always remember there is a human being on the other end of every exchange and behind every cultural artifact being critiqued. To understand and be understood, those are among life’s greatest gifts, and every interaction is an opportunity to exchange them.”
“Expect anything worthwhile to take a long time.” This is borrowed from the wise and wonderful Debbie Millman, for it’s hard to better capture something so fundamental yet so impatiently overlooked in our culture of immediacy. The myth of the overnight success is just that — a myth — as well as a reminder that our present definition of success needs serious retuning. The flower doesn’t go from bud to blossom in one spritely burst and yet, as a culture, we’re disinterested in the tedium of the blossoming. But that’s where all the real magic unfolds in the making of one’s character and destiny.”
That’s it. Have a pleasant week, and enjoy your Sunday!
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