Author Archives: janishaag

I can count on one hand the peoplewho’ve called me “darling” in a kind way,and, it occurs to me now, that none of them were sleeping with meor were related to me. They haveall been women older than I who, … Continue reading →

If hope is the thing with feathers,as Emily so quotably wrote—dashes and all— hope is also the thing with flowers,a profusion of the blooming thingseverywhere in my small orbit, and I must ask the indulgenceof others who listen to myexuberant … Continue reading →

I drive by and sigh with longing,as if passing a mausoleum,which it is, in a way— the rectangular white buildingonce home to booths and a livelycounter tended by teenaged servers,ice cream scoops at the ready. Now it’s silent, abandoned, the … Continue reading →

The sweet, small, clumsy feet of April came intothe ragged meadow of my soul.—e. e. cummings ••• I set my rain-booted ones in April’s clumsy feet,clomping through puddles like someone much younger and closer to the ground,not minding the dampening … Continue reading →

(Folsom Boulevard, Sacramento, California) Walk into the foyer of the store,and you’re hit in the floral sensewith all manner of bouquets at reasonable prices, perfectfor spontaneous gift-givingor, in the case of small bunches of about-to-bloom daffodils,for a vase at home … Continue reading →

And now some of the same monkswho trekked 2,300 miles acrossa good chunk of the United States are walking through Sri Lankawith their simple message of peace,offering blessings to hundreds who line roadways:May you be happy.May you be peaceful. May … Continue reading →

These flowers are like the pleasures of the world.—William Shakespeare, from “Cymbeline” ••• It’s possible that Shakespeare came into the worldand left it on the same day 52 years later, though no one knows for sure. Both are commemoratedon April … Continue reading →

The little patch of earth I stewardtoday opened its mouth to gratefullyreceive what might well be the lastprecipitation of the season, living, as I do, in the land of little rain,which makes me thankful, too,for what humans do to collect … Continue reading →

Every step is part of the journey.—Brother David Steindl-Rast ••• Begin, the good brother advises,with a pause and a deep breath.Then ask the question: What am I carrying into this moment? Every step becomes a pilgrimage,a journey to a sacred … Continue reading →

You know that thing that happenswhen you think you’ve gotthe thing down— you’ve been practicing the thingad nauseum bit by bithere and there for weeks— and you go to do the thing,confident that you can dothe thing—because you had it, … Continue reading →