Anthology

The old, the sappy, the happy and hopeful poems of my youth to the present.

Masks
By Shel Silverstein, Everything On It

She had blue skin,
And so did he.
He kept it hid
And so did she.
They searched for blue
Their whole life through,
Then passed right by-
And never knew.

Dream Deferred
By Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore--
And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

If I Can Stop One Heart from Breaking

By Emily Dickinson

If I can stop one heart
from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;

If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,

Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,

I shall not live in vain.

Quotes

"And now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good." - John Steinbeck, East of Eden

"That's why I'm talking to you. You are one of the rare people who can separate your observation from your preconception. You see what is, where most people see what they expect." - John Steinbeck, East of Eden

"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable." - C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves

"I asked them to describe their world as it was and as they would like it to be. It was a simple exercise I'd done many times, a way for people to bridge the reality of their communities and their lives with the things they could conceivably change." - Barack Obama, A Promised Land

"Jesus is not trigger-happy. Not harsh, reactionary, easily exasperated. He is the most understanding person in the universe." - Dane C. Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly

"He found himself understanding the wearisome of this life, where every path was an improvisation and a considerable part of one's waking life was spent watching one's feet." - William Golding, Lord of the Flies

January 2021

It's a season of changes and beginnings, and I've been forming old habits to offset the new year. 

Currently Reading: Two books, and then some. First, I recently finished "How to Communicate," a psychological self-help guide that explains common blind spots in the individual and provides helpful tools for successful communication in close relationships. Second, I am midway through A Promised Land. It is like a juicier, detail-packed and intimate account of Becoming. I have to say, President Obama writes his biographies in a way that is coherent and articulate; it's always easy to follow and refreshingly honest.

The "and then some" refers to the countless books I've started, but not yet finished. I have dipped my toes in "Democracy in America" (been wanting to read this one for a while), Gentle and Lowly (highly recommended by a speaker I admire), and my guilty pleasure -- High Fidelity.

Reading has been one of my great joys as of late. I like lighting a woody candle, turning on soft background music, and curling up into bed with a good book. It makes me feel like life is simple and enjoyable again. Sometimes, it's nice to escape from our own thoughts. 

Currently Listening: I've been listening to music every day lately. It's necessary to have a good playlist when working from home. I have a playlist titled "Places We Don't Walk" (yes, nod to Bruno Major -- although the compilation is not entirely in his realm or music genre, it's a good starter for the soundtrack). This playlist is a closer look into my thoughts, my mood, my zone. I'm listening to it now, and I already feel toned down -- in the best way possible.

Quote of the day: "I asked them to describe their world as it was and as they would like it to be. It was a simple exercise I'd done many times, a way for people to bridge the reality of their communities and their lives with the things they could conceivably change." - A Promised Land, Barack Obama, 2020

Until next time.