Author Archives: janishaag

This guy would’ve been 68 years old today, and I can’t quite wrap my head around that… nor the fact that he died 19 years ago. I’m still grateful to you, Clifford Ernest Polland, “my photographer,” for following me around … Continue reading →

It was my next door neighbor Christine Cross’s idea. She called to me a few days ago from as she was hand watering the proliferation of foliage that is her front yard, “Jan! The Man will host graduation on Friday.” … Continue reading →

This week a surprise gift arrived from myself. This may be one of the great things about forgetfulness—sometimes I order things online and when they show up, I’m pleasantly surprised. Oh, look, vitamins! What’s in that soft bag? Oh, a … Continue reading →

Wearing the new, cute mask a local writing friend made—deep violet pansies on a black background—my glasses were already steaming up before I hit the produce aisle. I was almost able to walk right in to my favorite grocery store, … Continue reading →

Our four slender legs walk this place now that the two-leggeds have disappeared. Where have they gone? Their long faces peer through clear squares in their dens. What is keeping them in? Occasionally one of them ventures outside, looking furtively … Continue reading →

After what has felt like nonstop work since my college and so many others stopped seeing students, shut down and converted to online teaching, I finally got outside on a lovely spring day. I took a lovely 2-mile walk around … Continue reading →

  (for Joe Thompson and the Crisp Catering crew) The man who delivers my dinner docks at my house at 11:30 a.m., steps out of his land vessel with two aluminum-foiled containers, wearing a tired smile and his chef’s trousers … Continue reading →

Jan Haag (after W.S. Merwin) You caregivers hand-holders hospice people, people who comfort You cooks chefs servers sandwich makers pizza tossers, who feed us You delivery people truck loaders postal workers sorters drivers, people who bring us things You doctors … Continue reading →

I have cut this man’s hair for years… decades, actually… and just because I’ve got the sniffles (allergies? cold? something we don’t want to think about?) doesn’t mean I can’t take up scissors and comb in my backyard for the … Continue reading →

First day of spring I step onto the front porch to greet the stranger who has come to retrieve my old sofa. Free, I’d said on social media, resisting the urge to add, to a good home. When I ask … Continue reading →