Author Archives: janishaag

Words aren’t coming—no big dealif you write or not, doesn’t matteron this blustery, rainy day. And then something nudges youto stuff your stubborn feet into purplerubber boots, don the rain jacket and hat, consider, then discard,the idea of umbrella as … Continue reading →

We sometimes think that stunningend-of-day skies happen onlyat the edges of the Earth, ideally standing on a spit of landor sand by the ocean, wheresome unseen hands watercolor the heavens. But then we stepoutside wherever we happen to be,take in … Continue reading →

We must admit there will be music despite everything.—poet Jack Gilbert from “A Brief for the Defense” In my case, the sharp sounds of mallets hitting metal,practicing the bells solo to “Stars and Stripes Forever,” which I haven’t performed in … Continue reading →

Now that I’m officially one of the young-old,as one of my old-old friends has dubbed me, I have been made aware that I have a fondnessfor certain citizens of gardens that are, apparently to many, old lady plants. They seemto … Continue reading →

(for Sue Reynolds, my mentor in mint) Now the new babies are sleeping,tucked into their compost-linedcribs in the front yard, though with time they will creep, as babiesdo, before they leap into energeticgrowth. But for now, the geum and poppies, … Continue reading →

(For the Artemis II astronauts who looped around the moon onApril 6, 2026, the first humans to do so in more than a half century.) It must be, I imagine, likecatching a glimpse of someoneyou have a crush on, or … Continue reading →

Be kind… It feels good The license plate ahead of mesuggests on Easter morning,having just come from a labyrinth walk at churchwhere, as I circled the perimeter,holding space for the walkers, I could not keep from smiling,watching the faces of … Continue reading →

And in the pouring, somehow a blessing.And in the pounding of my heart, somehow a blessing.And in the gaps, somehow a blessing that gathers itselfeven now, that has been gathering itself for ages,that will never stop. —Jan Richardson ••• And … Continue reading →

I am going to listen for the water at the edge of things.—Anne Lamott (quoting a child at her church) Listen.I know that walking my neighborhood,marveling at the show-offy flowers,spring springing, is a distraction. I know how much awful we … Continue reading →

I came home to finda purple-hatted wizard and ared-lipped fish with a dragon-y tail on my doorstep, two creationsdropped off by my clay-artist friendafter I had admired them. I grinned and perhaps let outa squeal when I saw two of … Continue reading →