An old book possesses many scents. The arid moldering pages, the longing bite of spent oils and mysterious stains, the caressing warmth, near woodiness, of released redolence. A neglected and forgotten wisdom, a dust-collected inwardness tattered about creased edges. Each bears its own scent and character. Its own sorrows and simple joys. In short, its … More I Found Myself in “East of Eden.” You May Too.
Damnable I who forgetToo that all are adjoinedIn the fullest brillianceOf sundered stars andMarrow of common struggles The maw of whispered covenantsConsuming allThe keptwomen, concubines, and hustlersThe self-righteous, chaste, and piousDripping wet the tears, vitreousDown the ever-long, plain visages The poor and meek give credenceBut sidle no swayFor the intrepid capitalistWho both kiss the convulsionsAnd … More Between its arms
Be that of a votive candle Dancing in the air For a light has been lit within you By those no longer there Carry on the tender flame For your day too shall come When your flame can light another That recalls its forgotten hum
Let’s try a thought experiment. It’s December 1994. The Cold War has just ended and has resulted in the collapse of the Union of North American Social Republics (UNASR). Following its dissolution, the United States had the third largest stockpile of nuclear warheads, only shadowed by the two major nuclear states: Canada and Australia. However, … More Invaded America: A Thought Experiment
E Pluribus Unum. Out of many, one. A Latin phrase emblazoned on corroded pennies lying damp on street corners, etched meticulously in the limestone facades of government buildings, and draped across the outstretched hands of angels in the The Apotheosis of Washington in the Capitol rotunda. But most importantly, a creed that lies in the … More Pluralism: A Case
It’s Wednesday, November 6, 2024. Donald Trump is president-elect. The sun rose in the east and a light rain trickled on my windshield as I drove to the gym. I received an email from work saying that it is “Stress Awareness Day”. That brings a smile to my face. I listen to the radio to … More Somewhere in This Dust Heap There’s a Richness
At times, it can seem almost trite to say something is in the cultural zeitgeist, or to use the contemporary parlance, is “having a moment”. What qualifies as such? It smacks of marketing sensationalism and influencer-era hyperbole. But it would be difficult to argue that the focus of the 2024 presidential election hasn’t aimed its … More Policy Won’t Win Over Young Men
If twenty years separate us And cast away upon the winds Twenty years would I sail the seas Bearing home tor’ my heart’s mend You, my Penelope, I, Odysseus A love kindled in time and space Asunder may the waves bear us But together always in our treasured place But I will fight against the … More Penelope
To Tom “Papa” Lambert – We miss you.
THE WAYFARER 