Author Archives: janishaag

May we surrender all cynicism and doubtabout the state of the world to her,she of the serene face and gentle countenance, her leafy crownblooming the deepest red of—what else?—her great heart embracing for all growing things, which certainlyincludes plants and … Continue reading →

It’s my fault. I left it outside,and she must’ve decided it was a good place to hunkerdown and start lacing a net with her delicate long legs,hinged needles that look so vulnerable, easily broken.But that’s why, instead of bringing it … Continue reading →

(for Lisa Morgan and the Oakmont High School class of 1976) As if we needed proof in mimeographedform, on printed programs with onlya small stain testifying to the decades, the summation of our high school liveslies on your mother’s kitchen … Continue reading →

Even when you think it’s just a gray day,it’s a day, after all. And you awoke, if a bit creakily, moved the sore bits,but you awoke. You moved. You rose, with or without assistance (there’s alwaysassistance from those seen and … Continue reading →

We are rooted in fertile ground,and our roots go deep and our love abounds. —from the song “Fertile Ground” by Amanda Udis-Kessler ••• This spring in my gardenevery day is a flower communionas I walk among the blooming that surprise … Continue reading →

Inventor of the mammogram, whomade it possible—nay, required— for anyone who owns them to gettheir breasts mauled by unforgiving steel. Men, of course,invented this torture, going back to Albert Solomon,1913, first x-raying breasts, and Raul LeBorgne, whomwe have to thank … Continue reading →

Doorbell rings while I’m still in robeand slippers, working throughthe in-box’s overnight accumulations. Sighing, I rise and pad to the front doorto find a chipper, orange-vestedyoung man from the utility company,the descendant of guys who annuallyappear, once upon a time … Continue reading →

Open-hearted, we say.Big-hearted, we think,of those who are kind, who seem to have naturallywarm hearts, kind hearts,and yes, soft hearts, which is, when wethink about it,all of us, really, calling up our mostcompassionate selves,our charitable selves. Even those who appearthe … Continue reading →

My photographer’s text said,accompanying his photo ofsheep-fluffy clouds rendered in black and white, as Anseloften did, finessing the swellsof whites and grays and blacks, deftly rendering the sky in anintermediate shade so thata viewer doesn’t miss the color. Isn’t that … Continue reading →

The wicked smart, clever nieceborn on my 29th birthday married a mechanically brilliant man, andthey gave us Henry and Rosie. And the sister who is their grandma,and the brother-in-law who is their grandpa spend weekdays with these two little ones,inviting … Continue reading →