
All Natural and Incompatible
Somewhere the poet says, “I tried each thing, only some were immortal and free.” The poet says that, or I am misquoting the poet, or misremembering or the poet is not who I thought he is. I saw a tornado gathering over the Holyoke range today; it looked calm. Thomas ... Read More

Where Meaning Lives
Disregard the drooling mouths, the incoherent babbles, the lack of fine motor skills: babies are geniuses. At birth, babies can discern every speech sound found in every language. They may not produce much more than dirty diapers, but they absorb the sound profiles of languages like sommeliers sampling pinot grigios ... Read More

Crossing the Street in Tibet
Do not be daunted by the eight lanes of cars, buses, trucks, bicycles and pedibikes as they weave a snarled braid of traffic. Ignore traffic lights—the drivers do. Michelle Cacho-Negrete is a retired social worker in Portland, Maine. Her first book, Stealing; Life in America, was published in October. Four ... Read More