Oh, Winter, dear, you heard my plea;    you have returned to play with me,to chill my nose and make it run,    to fling your flakes in reckless fun. I welcome you with open arms    embracing all your… Continue reading

Happy Epiphany,    the day that celebrates the arrival of the kings,but more importantly,    the day that proclaimsthat the Light has arrived,    Light for all,no matter our creed, race, or nationality. Light for all people!     Hallelujah! Gloria in excelsis… Continue reading

Winter, where are you?    Have you abandoned us?End of a snowless December,    drought and tinder and strong winds–fire danger high. Winter, where are you?    60 degrees, sunny as October.December's been mostly 50s    and nights nearly too… Continue reading

I hang suspended between    Christmas and New Years. I swing slowly in the hammock    of nonengagement,strung from one maple to another    in the shady yard of childhood. This week has always been thus:    vacation from school… Continue reading

(*originally posted in 2013) Let your Christmas gloriasresound long and loudlyinto this new year. Why save them for December?     Gloria in excelsis Deo! Are you afraid you may run out?     Gloria in excelsis Deo!    Such is… Continue reading

(*originally posted in 2019) The bed cradles the mattress,    the mattress my pillow;the pillow cradles my head,    and my head, my brain. My brain cradles my dreams,    and those dreams hold the memoriesof Christmases past,    not… Continue reading

Once again,    if you think the Christmas storyis all cozy baby and doting parents,    angels singing, cows lowing, and doves cooing,listen to the song of Zechariah (Luke 1: 68-79). "Who," you may ask, "is Zechariah?" Zechariah and Elizabeth    are… Continue reading

When I was a child,    too young to read and write,my mother would set me down    with a sheet or two of writing paper,and I would "write" a letter to my Gramma Ash    who lived far away… Continue reading

Today,may you accept yourselfjust as you are,every part,without exception,without excuses. Today,may you welcome your lifejust as it is,every part,without exception,without excuses. Today, may you embrace family, friends, and neighbors,just as they are,every part,without exception,without excuses. Today. Text and image ©… Continue reading

I stand again before the Nativity, pondering: On the left, the shepherds:     Why us?     Why this blast of angel joy        in this forsaken field?    Why not a gathering of rabbis?        the Roman counsel? … Continue reading