kindness poetry unity

Mending Our Broken World with Gold

Our Broken World People talk a lot these days about the divisions in our country and our world. With good reason, they lament the brokenness we see among a large swath of the population, and the despair many feel that the “normal” world will never be regained. I have a different view. I come at this chaos with the idea that we are making a hairpin turn in civilization, and won’t be returning to “normal”.…

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aiding Ukraine unity

Children Aiding Ukraine’s Children

Children Standing Together as One Family I’m always moved to see adults joining together from many countries to aid Ukraine in its fight against Russian invaders. And  when I see children moved by the plight of other children, it’s especially touching. They’re not only sympathizing, they’re taking action! This group of children got together to do something tangible to help Ukrainian kids. They raised funds with handmade goods and baked treats, sending tthe proceeds to…

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Speaking Plainly in Poetry

Sometimes speaking needs to be be done both plainly and in poetry. The essayist’s keyboard writes journalistically, but a poet’s pen tends to curve. It speaks truth aslant of literal meaning. It breaks into lines, cadges meaning from comparisons, and is known to divert utterance with entertaining rhythm or rhyme. I’m thinking about saying a thing with curves, speaking plainly in poetry. Uttering my truth in metaphor while making its essentials clear as glass. To…

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Season of Light – This Is Our Family

This is our family every year in December. We’re the Hanukkah-Christmas celebrators. My brother and his family are observant Jews, and we celebrate Solstice and Christmas. And we get together and meld our holidays in love. This particular difficult year, it’s nice that Hanukkah and Christmas Eve are one day. Someone in the interfaith community said this coinciding of the two sacred holidays should be taken as a sign that tolerance and brotherhood are what…

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