How to Transcend a Happy Marriage

I recently saw How to Transcend a Happy Marriage at the Lincoln Center Theater, a play by Sarah Ruhl, whose other plays I have seen and loved. It was so great to see a play that understood middle-aged marriage so well.Yes, there is nothing new and exciting, so you may dream and fantasize about those younger days, and in the case of the first act of this play, actually do something. In the process, you might forget the "wonderful melodious moments," the violins, as Marissa Tomei's character says-of what you have: the length; the continuity; all that you have created-your family, your friends, your home. And like the bird that is transient and leaves, these stables are with you, for better or worse, but mostly for better, since they have grown and blossomed, and you love them, despite the ups and downs.

Starting a New Book

It is SO exciting to start a new book. There is the sheer joy of writing. Sometimes, in a desire to get published, you forget that there is nothing as good as the joy of invention, of imagining a character, of coming up with a plot, of creating a new character. And the stories we all have in us; there is the sheer wonder of your personal story, and the invention that goes with it. I can not wait for the summer when I can continue to write!

Our Planet

In yesterday's NYT there was a discussion in the Week in Review about the dangers of disregarding our earth.  I started sobbing, since clearly our political leaders are so concerned with taking care of big business and stripping the world of EPA regulations, so that even when Trump is long gone, the disasters of his dismantling will be with us. I have a hard time wrapping my brain around the idea that family people (our politicians have children, grandchildren) are NOT thinking about what adding carbon fuels and pollutants to our environment will do. The things is, the earth is like a precious child which needs to be nurtured; disregard our air, our oceans, or animals, what is evident is there will be no future to look forward to. But these people-mostly men-do not get it; they argue with science, with facts, and call this all a hoax. Ignorance is not bliss; indeed, it is a crime, and all it takes is a trip to Alaska or Iceland to see how dangerous and precarious our climate is. I cry that there is no vision for the future of our very precious planet. America has become so backwards that it feels like a very dangerous place to be.

WORD

So proud to be part of the absolutely beautiful anthology published by TRIBES: WORD. What makes this book so special is that every poem is accompanied by beautiful art, so the book itself becomes a work of art. In addition, there are many well-know poets (Eileen Myles, Ishmael Reed, Bob Holman, Jayne Cortez) and then there are poets with publications (like myself), but no-name brands. The anthology is done on glossy-paper, and it makes it wonderfully professional-which it is. And the language, if you are a lover of language, is simply dynamite!

Afterland by Mai Der Vang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just finished reading the most evocative, powerful poetry collection ever, AFTERLAND by Mai Der Vang. She writes about the Hmong population-the lament of her people and the songs of loss and grief that come with war. Each poem sliced through my skin in its silent, grotesque and powerful imagery as these resilient refugees struggled to escape and survive. Every image is staggering. In the poem "Light from a Burning Citadel she begins:

"now I am a Siamese rosewood on fire.
I am a skin of sagging curtain.
I am a bone of bullet hole.
I am locked in the ash oven of a forest."

So many tears shed for the grief for her people and you, too, will shed those tears. What a powerhouse of language!

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Trump Tax March

Trump Tax March, April 15th. Who could have imagined a world where a president is not required to release his taxes? Frankly, who could have imagined a world with such nepotism, such cronyism, so many illegal acts committed on a daily basis, as the president continues to go (practically every weekend) to Florida and play golf as we, the people, are taxed millions so he and his family can frolic on the golf course and around the world. Aren't hard-working people--Republicans--incensed? Apparently, some are, since some former Trump supporters joined the crowds in NYC (huge, where I was) and in cities around the country demanding for him to release his tax returns. The operative question for the day was: what are you hiding? Since every president before 45 has been more than eager to release these forms, it is evident he is hiding something. Now that the Russian meddling into our elections is in full swing, it is obvious, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark." More to the point, something is rotten in Washington. More than one thing is rotten in Washington, but as the people continue to get more frustrated, more disenfranchised, our president continues to play golf, since that is what he does. Furthermore, why is Kellyanne Conway suddenly so quiet? Just because her husband was asked to come on board to the Trump team, to add on one more person to his list of cronies? This is an appalling travesty of decency and justice and cover-ups. The cry of the day? "Lock him up!" I think so.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Could not put down Angie Thomas' book, THE HATE U GIVE. I have never seen a novel which understands the challenges of being the lone black girl in an all white prep school, and the uneasy balance of negotiating these two worlds. Of course, the major challenge emerges when Starr, the main character, witnesses the fatal shooting of her best friend from childhood, Kahil. And she knows he was innocent, but yet again, he dies at the hands of a police officer. Kahil's death becomes a national headline, and Starr is faced with the burden of what to do with the information she has, while maintaining her place in her fancy prep school. What Starr does not want to compromise, however, is her integrity; plus, she has a burning desire for justice to be served. What does this mean, when the rest of the world turns a blind eye to the truth? Very raw, very painful, very real, I understand why John Green says, "she has written a gut-wrenching novel what will be remembered as a classic of our time!"

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Hate and Extremism in the Age of Trump

Went to a lecture at Temple Emanuel on April 2nd: HATE AND EXTREMISM IN THE AGE OF TRUMP. This is a HUGE temple, and it was totally sold out. I felt so proud to be a NYC Jew, though there were many non-Jews there, too. But, yet again, the rabbi announced their temple as a sanctuary temple in a sanctuary city, and this felt so right--what religious institutions should be doing--protecting human rights. How fitting that this was led by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a center which represents justice, decency, integrity and fights-pro-bono-to help people all over the country fight the human rights which seem to be challenged daily by our current president. Morris Dees, the amazing founder of SPLC, also spoke, and their words energized the crowd. They talked about civil rights and the awful Jeff Sessions, how they will fight the good fight-with law suits-to protect basic human rights. An immigrant teacher, who went to Cornell and became a principal, spoke, and also had his young student read her narrative about coming to America, yet this very much felt like the "old" America, where our doors swung open with love.

This lecture gave me faith, though, since there are organizations like these. Religious organizations, ordinary citizens who are willing to demand justice in the world, who are willing to make America the Democracy it was intended to be. They concluded with Martin Luther King's famous quote, "We will fight until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream."

What I'm Grateful For

What does it mean to be grateful? It means you are so appreciative of what you have. Many people do not think about this; they muddle through their days, their busy lives and do not give pause to think about how lucky they are to have whatever it is they have. Perhaps they are not so fortunate, yet if they stopped and reflected, my guess is they could come up with a job, a family member, a friendship which really makes them blessed.

I grew up poor. I had nothing. Believe me, I bemoaned my fate; I did not like that we had to shop in May's or Alexander's. Lucky for me, I had a Dad who reminded me what I did have: a Dad who loved me, a sharp mind, a sense of humor and some other family members who loved me. He made me realize that really nice pair of Fred Braun's shoes (a popular item when I was ten years old) would stand as a symbol that might make me feel good for a day, a week-even longer-but at the end of the day, it would not sustain me. 

And now, at the end of the day, a day when I have some nice shoes and bags and clothes, when I travel to some nice places and eat at some nice restaurants, I understand these are all good things, but not truly what I am grateful for. I am grateful for the family I have; when I have a great conversation; when I do good deeds in the world. I am grateful to wake up each day where I can feel the wind on my face and the sunshine on my back. I am grateful to have a good family, good friends. So if the "glitter" disappeared tomorrow, I would still feel grateful, because it truly is not what helps you sleep well at night.

So I end each day thinking, what was I grateful for today? It may be that I taught a lesson at a school, and a student gave me a hug. It may be that I made political statement and my voice was heard. It may be that I gave up my seat to an elderly man or woman on the train-or that I conversed on the train with someone who said, "I love your hat!" My hat, by the way, says love trumps hate. Each day I am grateful that I have a lot more than I ever thought I would have. And though I DO have many pairs of shoes, it is not those shoes that make me grateful, but rather, the ability to walk in the shoes of someone who has a lot less than I do.

Teachers are Gifts

Ronit and Jamil has brought me so many gifts. First of all, writing it was a labor of love. It is poetry, and poetry defines me. Secondly, I feel its diction is so lovely and that, too, helps to define me; I am in love with language. But finally, it has afforded me the opportunity to go to many wonderful public schools throughout NYC. And what I have had the opportunity to observe is there are many amazing teachers who daily give 200 percent to their students. So many of these students have received great gifts from their teachers: a love of learning and a belief in oneself. I am thinking, for example, of Debra Newman from P.S. 368 Star Academy in Brooklyn. She teaches at a lock down school, where many of the students are suffering from emotional problems. So what does she do? She purchases books for her students, has me come in and each and every one of her students not only read the book, but had questions to ask. This woman is remarkable. And what makes her more interesting is she was a public prosecutor in Brooklyn for thirty years, and decided to switch careers where she could really help people. Certainly, no one is helping the children more than she is, and there are many Debra Newman's in these schools I have gone to, in mostly under-served communities. The students are blessed, and so I am to be a witness to this.