Author Archives: janishaag

You might cross that bridgewhen you come to it,or you might not. You, overburdenedpilgrim, a tiny bit broken,might hesitate, stop even, wondering what the nextright step might be. You,ferrying your own fragile heart—you, witness,caretaker of so manyothers’ stories. Take a … Continue reading →

adj: [yoo-də-MAH-nik] Conducive to happiness ••• A cloudy day,dry in our city whilesnow bombardsthe Sierra, and warmish,enough so that someof us remove ourscarves, our gloves, but we happily wearour smiles as we followShelley througha morning’s exercise, sitting sometimes,standing at others,as … Continue reading →

There is no ruler for love,no way to precisely measurethe depth and breadth and heighta soul can reach, just as you reach into the cupboardfor the glass with its fine red linesstair-stepping up its squatty selfthat measures only ounces,not devotion, … Continue reading →

Mine is four-footed and feline ancient,hopping up on the towel-covered boxnext to my desk, eager to join me— or the banana nut muffin I havethoughtlessly moved out of her reach.Poki is old and limpy, but if I get a muffin … Continue reading →

Three chrysalises nestle on a leaf,a trio of Taylor’s checkerspots, once thought extinct. But, pupa by hard-shelled pupa, the former caterpillars wound into their spotted sheathsbusily go about the earnest business of growing wings, of becomingfliers, thanks to thoughtful humans … Continue reading →

heading into the post office to mail a book,and there, next to my car, it lies face up, hearting at me. I blink, begin walking, butafter three steps, I turn and return to bend and peer more closely—a lone cookie … Continue reading →

populating Trader Joe’s,reminded of the beauty ofthe slightly crooked nose, the extra chins under dark-pupil’d eyes, the crinkles ofcountenance that show our infinite varieties of human,the spice of life in everyone’s DNAright there on Aisle 4 where I reach for … Continue reading →

We see it gathering over the mountain,roiling and gray, a cumulus tumbleweedheading our way. And no matter how much we thinkwe’re prepared, always part of uswonders, are we? No matter how much warning,how much we’ve anticipated,it always lands differently than … Continue reading →

The last time we leapt like thismany of us could not imagineleaping again, much less for joy, stuck as we were at home,forbidden to see, let alonetouch, others outside our bubbles. Four years downthe road, we find ourselves freeto roam … Continue reading →

(Granite Bay State Park, Folsom Lake, California) Walking on half-sand, half-rocksusually underwater, I do not expect to find—peering at rock bits ofcrimson-ribboned crystals and mica-flecked granite—a small elephant on its side, pressed into fine grit, itstrunk curling high. A mini … Continue reading →