it’s like the sand of life leaks out from a hole in the sackscattered then stompedinto the surface but nothing gets lighterthe gravity of absencecrushes out the colors andsomehow grey weighs more the shadows know thingsthey are not tellingnow I see through a glassdarkly yes darkly it’s like death has an echothat bounces off shadowsreverberates…

The second annual Wild Goose Festival will take place this summer just outside of Durham at Shakori Hills from June 21-24. Come join me for a great experience. Here’s a short video from last year’s gathering. Peace,Milton

If you press me, I’ll tell you my favorite Paul Simon record is one of his least known: Hearts and Bones. I’m in the minority because it’s his least known record, I think, other than the soundtrack from his Broadway show. Nevertheless, it’s one I can listen to over and over. I thought about it…

Today we said goodbye to Lola, our eldest Schnauzer, who lived life with determination, never flinched from speaking up when she thought something (or someone) was wrong or there was a chance for a snack, and loved with her whole being. Life finally wore her out and we had to let her go on to…

How to live with the adjective inconsequential? That’s the way John Berger posed the question as I sat with his book a couple of days ago in the coffee shop waiting for time to start my after school job. He was talking about the role of the artist and writer in the face of the…

Over the past few weeks I have been editing a book manuscript for someone I don’t know. When I grade student essays, I know whose paper is in front of me, which colors how I both read and comment, but this time I am not being asked to teach, only edit. The hardest part, in…

I do wonder what was left out of the story.Jesus would walk up andsay, “Come follow me”and people just walkedoff from fishing boatsand families to catchpeople, be puzzled byparables, and remaingainfully unemployed. Part of me is curiousabout what was notworth remembering.Most of me marvelsat their unflinchingfaith, which feels farfrom familiar, forI have promises to keep.Go…

A couple of weeks ago, I arrived early for my shift at the computer store, so I got a coffee at the Barnes and Noble next door and sat down at a table to read a little of my John Berger book. The chapter I opened to started: It begins like this . . ….

Today is Steve Earle’s birthday. I’ve been listening to his songs all day, which is not so different from many other days, just more purposed. I love both his music and his story: he is a living testament to hope and redemption. One of my favorite tunes is “Some Dreams,” which was used as the…

if I had a nickel for every songwritten about how hard life isout on the road singing I’d have enough to buy the record and sing along with the self-indulgenceand understand how the beat of life(kick-drum-karma?) molds a melody out of misery in search of a sing-a-long to the click track of daily existence or…