How does Wendell Berry know what to say? This is from 2004: If we have become a people incapableof thought, then the brute-thoughtof mere power and mere greedwill think for us. If we have become incapableof denying ourselves anything,then all that we have will be taken from us. If we have no compassion, we will... Continue Reading →

Wendell Berry continues to sustain me. It is late November, Thanksgiving,and the slow rain falls as all dayit has fallen. The mists driftin the treetops along Camp Branch.The ewe flock grazes the green slopeas in a dream of a paintingby Samuel Palmer. There is no wind.It is completely quiet. From the distancecomes only the sound... Continue Reading →

I wasn't going to share a poem this morning, but this, randomly, was the next poem in my book: All that patriotism requires, and all that it can be,is eagerness to maintain intact and incorruptthe founding principles of the nation, and to preseveundiminished the land and the people. If national conductforsakes these aims, it is... Continue Reading →

Hello. Yes, I'm back with another Wendell Berry poem that showed up in the perfect moment. I'd almost decided that I wouldn't share one today, but... the message arrived, right on time! We travelers, walking to the sun, can't seeAhead, but looking back the very lightThat blinded us shows us the way we came,Along which... Continue Reading →

And hasn't it been such a costly year? 2020 feels unredeemable in so many ways. But here's some thoughts from Wendell Berry. By expenditure of hope,Intelligence, and work,You think you have it fixed.It is unfixed by rule.Within the darkness, allIs being changed, and youAlso will be changed. Now I recall to mindA costly year: Jane... Continue Reading →

Whatever happens,those who have learnedto love one anotherhave made their wayinto the lasting worldand will not leave,whatever happens.This Day: Collected & New Sabbath Poems, Wendell Berry You're right - I still haven't finished my book of poetry by Wendell Berry. This poem (which again appeared in the knick of time for today's post) is at... Continue Reading →

I spend all week reading a poem or two a day, thinking that I won't find the perfect one to share on Sunday. And then - it arrives. Just in the knick of time. I would not have been a poetexcept that I have been in lovealive in this mortal world,or an essayist except that... Continue Reading →

What do the tall trees sayTo the late havocs in the sky?They sigh.The air moves, and they sway.When the breeze on the hillIs still, then they stand still.They wait.They have no fear. Their fateIs faith. BirdsongIs all they've wanted, all along.This Day: Collected & New Sabbath Poems by Wendell Berry An introduction to today's post... Continue Reading →

At least, I hope that Wendell Berry is writing about hope in this poem, because otherwise it feels as though life might be pretty useless. So I'm going to cling to the few sentences of hope that I see in this poem because it's been another gut-wrenching week all around. Here by the road where... Continue Reading →

I'm still making my way through This Day: Collected & New Sabbath Poems. I've hit a section in which most of the poems make me stop and relate them to today's world. I had a hard time deciding which to share today, but this one seemed like a nice escape from the human chaos we're... Continue Reading →