Recent Poetry, September 2025

Good Writing

You know it when you see it,

Like pornography or art,

It’s elusive just a bit

But always has a beating heart.

Benedict’s Dharma

Henry, Patrick, ed.  Benedict’s Dharma: Buddhists Reflect on the Rule of Saint Benedict. (New York: Riverhead, 2001).

This is another book I’ve read in retirement. It’s not my intention to do reviews of every book I read. Just some of them that have left a strong impression. 

My Mother

They say if you’re doing an autobiography, you should start with your parents, since they indicate best of all where you come from. I probably won’t do an autobiography on this blog, but I will do reflective essays on both my parents. Probably stopping there.

My Father

Compared to my mom, my dad was a pretty simple guy. He was born in the foothills of the Ozarks in Missouri, but they moved to California when he was quite young.