John Schultz built a thing. A weird, wobbly, unwieldy thing that sometimes confused and frightened even those who knew it best, but a thing that worked. It was not an easy thing to describe, somewhere between a religious cult, an improv class, and a trust exercise, but again, a thing that worked. It was a … Continue reading The thing that John Schultz built
After Abbie
Collect the little red food bowls whose slightest clatter used to bring her running. Tuck them away somewhere safe and inconspicuous where you won’t forget about them but won’t have to remember them either. Empty out the half-filled cans of wet food and tuna that accumulated in the refrigerator as you tried to adapt to … Continue reading After Abbie
Five notes for Diana
1. You got our jokes. And we got your jokes. That might not sound like much, but for people like us, people who go through life compelled to tell the kinds of jokes that will be gotten by maybe one or two people in the room, it’s everything. It was even more for you. You … Continue reading Five notes for Diana
Poetry helps older writers surprise themselves
Originally published on the Knight Foundation blog, October 5, 2016. Photos and images by Naomi Cohn. We’ve all heard artists explain that the struggle of doing what they do is worth it for the sheer joy of creation. For some artists, though, even making it to a creative space is a struggle unto itself. Naomi … Continue reading Poetry helps older writers surprise themselves
Early Summer, 1990
We can’t sleep. We roll limp and languid beneath sweaty sheets, waiting for a breeze to waft through the screen, something cooling, calming, something that will allow our brains to give themselves over to the merciful haze. But the night is still and so we sweat. Our bodies sweat. Our brains sweat. A sickening slathering … Continue reading Early Summer, 1990
Nothin’ but time
Cat Power recorded a song with Iggy Pop. It’s a great song, sort of a slant cover of Bowie’s “Heroes.” The arrangement and themes are very similar but it also stands on its own. It’s got that same sort of slow, steady, driving propulsion and Chan sings about how it’s up to you to be … Continue reading Nothin’ but time
Minnesota, Year Zero
Hello. We’re Minnesota. Prince lives here. Or rather, he did. As you all know, Prince departed last Thursday. It has been a long week here. A long, mournful, celebratory, confusing, contradictory week. Minnesota has turned out in force to pay tribute to our favorite son, flocking to Paisley Park, to First Avenue, to jukeboxes and … Continue reading Minnesota, Year Zero
