Monthly Archives: November 2013

“…the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting…”

Posted on November 28, 2013 by Tony Herman

Today, Thanksgiving Day, should not end before we think about the writers who have  changed us. For me, the one who floats to the top this year is Mary Oliver. It’s hard not to say “wow” after reading a poem like “Wild Geese” .  You might expect it … Continue reading →

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“They could tell it was Jun Do who’d picked which orphans ate first and which were left with watery spoonfuls.”

Posted on November 21, 2013 by Tony Herman

When Jun Do was a child living in an orphanage in North Korea, one of his responsibilities was to decide which of his peers would be punished.  That was just the beginning. As an adult, he was often in the impossible position of trying to let the … Continue reading →

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“I am the rest between two notes . . . in the dark interval, reconciled, they stay there trembling.”

Posted on November 14, 2013 by Tony Herman

This poem about tension and transition is classic Rainer Marie Rilke. He explored both of these dynamics frequently in a his letters, which were published in a book titled Letters to a Young Poet. (They are among the most famous, best … Continue reading →

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“Every behavior has more than one cause.”

Posted on November 7, 2013 by Tony Herman

Looking for a simple explanation for why some people are introverts and others are extroverts? Then don’t read Susan Cain’s book Quiet. Her explanation has not one, not two, not three, but four factors: our  inborn temperament, environment, free will, and how these interact at any … Continue reading →

Posted in non-fiction | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment