Kinds of Silence

Novelist, poet, playwright, and psychotherapist Paul Goodman (1911–1972) identified nine types of silence in his book, “Speaking and Language: Defence of Poetry”. “Not speaking and speaking are both human ways of being in the world, and there are kinds and grades of each. There is the dumb silence of slumber or apathy; the sober silence… Read More Kinds of Silence

La vita è tornata

Facendo una passeggiata ieri sono passata davanti a una casa da tempo abbandonata e l’ho vista ricoperta di glicine. E’ stata una sorpresa fantastica, una celebrazione della vita Torna la vitae canta là dov’un dìparea perduta I was walking yesterday when I went past a long-abandoned house. I saw it was covered with wisteria and… Read More La vita è tornata

Fantasy & Optimism

James Branch Cabell born on 14 April1879 was an American author of fantasy fiction Since his surname was often mispronounced, he composed this rhyme: “Tell the rabble my name is Cabell” to clear up pronunciation issues.His works were considered escapist: according to him truthfulness was “the one unpardonable sin, not merely against art, but against… Read More Fantasy & Optimism

Hatred & War

Howard Thurman , who died on 10 April 1981, was an influential American author, philosopher, Baptist preacher and theologian. He was the first African American to hold the position dean of chapel at Harvard University and Boston University, a predominately white institution in the United States.He played a leading role in many social justice movements… Read More Hatred & War

Evil

“A belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary; men alone are quite capable of every wickedness.” ~Joseph Conrad “Evil is not something superhuman, it’s something less than human.” ~Agatha Christie but fortunately: “No evil propensity of the human heart is so powerful that it may not be subdued by discipline.”(⇐ “Nulli sunt… Read More Evil

Audre Lorde: “A Litany for Survival”

American writer Audre Lorde served as New York State Poet from November 1991 until her death from breast cancer in November 1992.In designating her as such, then-governor Mario Cuomo praised “her sharp sense of racial injustice and cruelty, of sexual prejudice… “ In her acceptance speech, Lorde replied :“I accept this award in the name… Read More Audre Lorde: “A Litany for Survival”

Audre Lorde

Audre Lorde , born on 18 February 1934, was an internationally-acclaimed American poet, feminist, professor, and civil rights champion. She described herself as a “black-lesbian feminist, mother, warrior, poet ” who “dedicated both her life and her creative talent to confronting and addressing injustices of racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia“. She died in 1992. “It… Read More Audre Lorde