CLIVE MATSON (MFA Columbia University) has published poetry since 1964, and says the most interesting thing he’s done lately is help edit the anthology of 9/11 poems AN EYE FOR AN EYE MAKES THE WHOLE WORLD BLIND (Regent Press, Oakland, 2002). Mostly he writes from the itch in his body. He has taught more than…
The Brown Bookshelf is a group of five authors and illustrators, who have joined together to showcase the best and brightest voices in African-American children’s literature. Their special emphasis is on new authors and books that are relatively unknown and not receiving the recognition they deserve. In conjunction with the African-American Read-In Chain, the Black…
“The essential conditions of everything you do must be choice, love, passion.” ~Nadia Boulanger, composer, conductor and musician~ Wickipedia note: Nadia Boulanger (September 16, 1887 – October 22, 1979) was an influential French composer, conductor, and music professor. An outstanding music educator at the highest level, she taught many of the most important composers and…
My father Erwin Thompson continues his story of how dancing and music continue to shape and enrich his life and the lives around him. —JGR Waltzing and The Broom Waltz Square dances were my love, along with the simple waltzes, the Rye Waltz, and most of all the “broom waltz” where at several points in…
On his 92nd birthday, in his own words, my father Erwin A. Thompson, tells the power of dancing and music in his life…There’ll be one coming up tomorrow night for his birthday party if you want to come by.–JGR Great-aunt Mim’s Amati violin My life before I discovered square dancing I was born in Schuyler…
Since my mother’s death on May 1st, 2006, my father Erwin Thompson has taken on clearing brush on our 100-acre place, Evergreen Heights, in a major way…this, in addition to completing several new novels, calling square-dances, and hosting a weekly musical open house. Oh yes, and he’s about to celebrate his 92nd birthday on November…
Since my mother’s death on May 1st, 2006, my father Erwin Thompson has taken on clearing brush on our 100-acre place, Evergreen Heights, in a major way…this, in addition to completing several new novels, calling squaredances, and hosting a weekly musical open house. Oh yes, and he’s about to celebrate his 92nd birthday on November…
The presentations from H.H. Dalai Lama’s recent visit to Emory University to commemorate his installation as Presidential Distinguished Professor are all available online, in video streaming format. Click here. His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Emory University My friend Elaine writes that her son, who was there, particularly recommends the “Summit on Religion, Conflict and…
This poem was written in Lake County, Northern California, and refers to Clear Lake, California’s largest self-enclosed lake. I now cross the Mississippi River at least once a week, rather than gazing out on Clear Lake. But, as we’ve slid deeper into Autumn with the time change, this poem from “Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary” (see…
Damaria Senne and I have been having a good time swapping guest posts. She appeared earlier of Riehlife in a post about finding relatives in unexpected places. If you missed it the first time, you can find it here. Damaria Senne, of Johannesburg, South Africa Damaria has posted an extensive 2-part interview with me on…