Christmas Regret

by | Dec 27, 2020 | Christmas

Christmas, like life, rarely brings us what we once wanted or imagined we needed. No doubt that explains why so many products of consumer capitalism’s holiday season create and feed a relentless craving for “the best Christmas ever,” a sales campaign designed to...

“A sad tale’s best for winter.”

by | Dec 26, 2020 | Christmas

Shakespeare’s late romance, The Winter’s Tale, is full of contrivances and plot holes, including perhaps the most famous stage direction in history, “Exit, pursued by a bear,” yet it remains among my favorites. The title itself is a mystery. The only plausible...

Prince of Peace

by | Dec 25, 2020 | Christmas

Octavian Augustus, first emperor of Rome, was known by many titles, including Divi Filius (Son of God), and Princeps Pacis (Prince of Peace). An inscription in Asia Minor states that Augustus’s birth “… has been for the whole world the beginning of...

A World Transfigured

by | Aug 6, 2020 | Uncategorized

A fragment of an unpublished poem on the Solemnity of the Transfiguration: Wholly Mystery, whom I dare approach,and in nearing nearly apprehendnot you so much as the gulf between,suffer these, my poor petitions,my tepid desires, as a motherabides her child’s tedious...