July 7, 2026

RISE I want to tell you something: There is still good in this world. It isn’t front page news As headlines tend to resist subtlety. Although what is precious Seems far from subtle, Don’t you think? Like the woman I passed in the market Ivory haired With fingers...

June 23, 2026

Image: Barbara Ryther The Rocker   Its white wooden frame  Invites But doesn’t coddle Supports  But doesn’t envelop   It’s not a chair to sink into It’s a chair to partner with It holds you  You set it moving  Together you are rocking   Without effort...

June 11, 2026

Image: Melanie Kyer The Next Right Thing   Chances are, there’s a child or grandchild in your life who was obsessed with the Disney musical “Frozen.”  “Let it Go” was a whole mood in 2013. The sequel is slightly less well-known, but also has a few good songs. I...

May 28, 2026

Image Curtesy of Nina Bisognani We are all Immigrants Barbara Kautz’s reflection about her mother, titled “MUM,” inspired me to think of other immigrants who, like her, suffered hard times. They survived by drawing on their inner strength to grow and help build this...

May 14, 2026

Image: Barbara Kautz MUM Growing up, my mother knew all about hardship. She was raised by an older sister after their mother died when she was 11. Her family struggled during the Depression because her father, a finish-carpenter, rarely found work. She and my dad...

April 30, 2026

Image: Barbara Ryther Words fail me.   Well, not entirely fail, obviously. I still have words. But I can’t seem to make them do justice to what I see. Just months (weeks?) ago a wooden fence stood next to bare, scratchy branches, both covered in snow, the only...