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Bashō
In my view a good poem is one in which the form of the verse, and the joining of its two parts, seem light as a shallow river flowing over its sandy bed. – Matsuo Bashō When my book Morning Rounds was coming into shape, I was introduced to the form of poetry known as…
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Nocturnal Songs
So [hope] makes a homeIn the deep shadowsWhere it waits to be foundBy those who need it most – David Gate # Lately I’ve taken note of the melancholy songs who, in Wendell Berry’s words, “don’t disturb the stillness from where they came.” Maybe they’re nocturnal songs, who hide out in the shadows. Spencer LaJoye‘s…
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Looking out the window
Churches and trainsThey all look the same to me nowThey shoot you some placeWhile we ache to come home somehow – Gregory Alan Isakov, Amsterdam Linford of Over the Rhine said, “Letters are good for discussing the weather. Almost anything that can be glimpsed out a window fits well into a letter.” I think this…
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Digging Holes
Gotta dig a lot of holes to get into something deep – Nathaniel Rateliff I read Gabe’s 2000th blog post (thanks to Seth for sharing) and was again inspired to show up at this blog and write more often. Because big things often happen not all at once but drip by drip. It’s always possible…
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Mennonite Marathon: The Peace Trail
Not everything automatically becomes a tradition. You can do a thing once, have a good time (or not), then never do it ever again. There’s no such thing as a “first annual”, you need a second to make it an annual affair. Back in 2020, when we were all going stir-crazy and making up our…
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Junk Shed
Be careful who you pick as your hero. Beau Miles has inspired my creative and just-a-tad-odd side ever since I heard about his 26-hour marathon. After watching the video, I watched the rest of his wacky adventure stories, including his Run the Line video, and the one about his kayak commute to work. And don’t…
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Poetry Reading Saturday at The Public
Friends, we’re having ourselves a POETRY READING on Saturday, Apr 30. And you should come! Location: The Public Brewhouse and Gallery (301 Main St. Steinbach)Date: Saturday, Apr 30, 2pm (till about 3:30 or so)What’s happening: Readings of poetry from my new book, as well as readings from special guests. And local beer on tap. And…
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Active Art
I’ve been inspired the past few years by folks who combine activity and art, sport and expression. Sport in itself is an expression (Chariots of Fire, “when I run, I feel God’s pleasure,” anyone?), but when an artist combines a physical activity with another medium, I find the results interesting. Here are a few artists…
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Zine: Where the Wolves Hooowl
Here’s an 8-page zine I made about our Wolf Howl Hike back when the snow was deep and the nights were cold (ok, they’re still a little cold). It’s interesting how we share the stories happening in our lives, isn’t it? These days we can snap a photo of something we did, and share it…
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There’s a Lot Walking
Last night we went to the Trails in Motion Film Tour, hosted by Manitoba Association of Trail Running (an amazing night, thank you!). The night’s films showcased all the beauty and craziness that is the sport of trail running. Elite runners trying to claim “fastest known times” (FKTs) on 100+ mile routes (and failing), and…