Author Archives: janishaag

We, too, are made of wonders, of greatand ordinary loves…— Ada Limón, from “In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europa” We catalog the great loves,tucking them into the heartspace,hoping they never disappear,even when those we love have. We sigh … Continue reading →

Taking the hands of someone you love…—Robert Bly I had a much older friend years ago,who, when she got excited,when she wanted to make a point, she’d grab my hands—not just my fingers, but graspmy whole hands firmly in hers— … Continue reading →

Alone on my evening walk,images start to stack uplike pebbles, words fall into the pile, too,prompting a wish forpen and paper, because the old hard drive in my headis full and can’t snag what’srunning through it, so I pull out … Continue reading →

Life is just a chair of bowlies.—Mary Engelbreit June ripe, the chair of bowlies,gleaming their shiny faces at you, some still paired at the topsof their slender stems— suddenly, they’re everywhere,sweet cherries on sale, great price, ones you longed for … Continue reading →

for RDS Now that I’ve turned informs to enroll in Medicareand received the little redand blue card with myofficial number, and I’m 54 days from my65th birthday, happily retiredfrom the day job for two years, and I worked out today … Continue reading →

Not a compliment, certainly notwhen delivered by sneering boyswalking past me, tucked intoa shaded playground corner,absorbed in that moment’s book,the two of us safely away fromflung balls and kids’ hubbub— a word they wouldn’t have knownif a teacher hadn’t used … Continue reading →

for Lucy Bunch, with gratitude They sayit is good to go backto the beginning, when we didn’t knowwhat we didn’t know,to wear the snug shoes of one just startingto walk the path.And so, even at this late date, we tacklethe … Continue reading →

As so often happensthe day after I return homefrom vacation, I am doggedeverywhere by cats, who have,despite excellent care, missed me. After a quick trip to the urbanfarm to pick up produce, Ireturn to two tails and eight pawscircling me … Continue reading →

Sweet start to summer,though it’s not necessarily pink,this bright disc in the portalof night easing itself alongthe southern horizon,warm, misty, welcoming. Open the blinds: Let it spillits milk on the floor, pooland soak in, pearly andgleaming. Step into that light—outside, … Continue reading →

for Klaus and Gundi Heinemann Let us see what the seahas delivered this daywith a quick walk downthe meadow path tothe beach, perhaps taking the sandytrail through the dunes,past the lemony lupinetossing fragrance atus as we pass, enticingus to stop … Continue reading →