I have a growing collection of phrases that I have come across reading. I started writing them down just to see what they might become. One of them became the title of the poem below, though I’m not sure this is an ice cream shop I’d enjoy. the flavor of fear social anxiety a la…
spring forward it is a childish act of communal arrogance to think we can change what time it is simply by agreeing to do so the sun will be nonplussed in its rising and setting, no stars will be dismayed the moon will not be late we have given our folly a name that smacks…
I saw an article several weeks ago that said a study had shown that people who surround themselves with books they have not read are better adjusted because they are continually reminded of all they do not know. I didn’t even have to finish the article to feel vindicated in my life choices. Right now,…
In last night’s poem, I wrote would that we had a ladder to make a consolation of ourselves I didn’t realize my autocorrect had its own poetic intent until I read the poem again this evening. What I meant to type was would that we had a ladder to make a constellation of ourselves I…
solstice come sit in the dark with me and look at that moon that is so at home in the night let us reach deep into the pockets of our souls for scraps of hope and wonder come look up at the firefly stars flinging their light lay back on the blanket of dead leaves…
A season isn’t something that befalls you, it is something that you inhabit. —John Berger, The Seasons in Quincy: Four Portraits of John Berger habitation in the fulness of time they hit the road when the days were accomplished they stayed a couple of nights then they went back home when the king got angry…
Maybe it’s because I went into the family business. My grandfather, Milton I, was a preacher. My father, Milton II, was a preacher. I am Milton III. In the spring of my first year at Baylor, I walked down the aisle at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church one Sunday night and told Marshall Edwards that I…
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. (Luke 2:6 KJV) understatement I first learned the story the same way Linus told it: in language so old that some of the words were forgotten or meanings had changed “the days were accomplished” who says that…
resounding there is no such thing as silence in the calm of any quiet you can hear hearts breaking dreams dying thanks giving sadness sounding hope harbinging losses mounting faith enduring love outlasting grief weighing grace pervading hands holding listen closely listen . . . for your name your name mine, too Peace, Milton
two-lane life is a road but not the interstate think two-lane blacktop that hits all the lights intentional inconvenience that makes you stop in soul food cafés filling stations of the heart hurry is not on the menu the details of our days are not detours traveling together takes time . . . whatever sorrow…