Today must be "James Baldwin" day. The email I read right before yours was from Poem-a-Day, and it referenced this Baldwin quote:
"People who cannot suffer can never grow up, can never discover who they are." About this, the poet wrote: "Of my suffering I choose learning, healing, and growth every time."
And, BTW, did you know that Richard Olney (whom I wrote about recently) and James Baldwin were close friends (and possibly more)?
Baldwin seems to be popping up a lot lately. I need to connect the dots!
Also, I love all of this. One of the numerous quotes that stopped me:
"I consider each post a eulogy for feeling. Just reporting what happened and stating facts is like knowing the names of plants, the easiest thing there ever was, a slow-motion march toward being replaced by AI."
I love the way you meld "what matters" (e.g., environmental degradation) with feeling. If it was all facts, it would be boring. If it were all feeling, it would be solipsistic. I like both.
A physicist who was also a psychiatrist once told me that it is the nature of the mind to make meaning of its pain. If I can name and explain my pain I have a sense of control. Is there an alternative to control? I like what John Prine says in his song Boundless Love.
i like this alot / thanks for following me i follow you / made me laugh and feel the 'truth' of your calling / want to know more about you - where you live what you do who you are what you publish do you ride a bike or drive a car or walk / here is my summation as told by a voice in my head in response to a barista's husband who wanted me to write my personal history / something i generally resist ala don juan (never reveal your personal history lest they steal your power) cheers and https://rohn.substack.com/p/rohn-the-early-years?utm_source=publication-search
thanks for the kind words, my previous post has a short video which shares a bit about my a book I wrote a few years ago. although as with art, it seldom seems necessary to know the background of the artist to like the work created
Today must be "James Baldwin" day. The email I read right before yours was from Poem-a-Day, and it referenced this Baldwin quote:
"People who cannot suffer can never grow up, can never discover who they are." About this, the poet wrote: "Of my suffering I choose learning, healing, and growth every time."
And, BTW, did you know that Richard Olney (whom I wrote about recently) and James Baldwin were close friends (and possibly more)?
Baldwin seems to be popping up a lot lately. I need to connect the dots!
Also, I love all of this. One of the numerous quotes that stopped me:
"I consider each post a eulogy for feeling. Just reporting what happened and stating facts is like knowing the names of plants, the easiest thing there ever was, a slow-motion march toward being replaced by AI."
I love the way you meld "what matters" (e.g., environmental degradation) with feeling. If it was all facts, it would be boring. If it were all feeling, it would be solipsistic. I like both.
Thanks for this!!!
Gezz your comment is better than my post. Thank you 🙏
STOP! But, well, one of the things you do is inspire writers, right?
I love this post. I think I need to read it a few more times to study all of the parts in more depth. It is definitely one to be savored.
well, that's nice of you to say, it's confusing at the very least, haha
A physicist who was also a psychiatrist once told me that it is the nature of the mind to make meaning of its pain. If I can name and explain my pain I have a sense of control. Is there an alternative to control? I like what John Prine says in his song Boundless Love.
I like this idea of naming … Prine is a gem
i like this alot / thanks for following me i follow you / made me laugh and feel the 'truth' of your calling / want to know more about you - where you live what you do who you are what you publish do you ride a bike or drive a car or walk / here is my summation as told by a voice in my head in response to a barista's husband who wanted me to write my personal history / something i generally resist ala don juan (never reveal your personal history lest they steal your power) cheers and https://rohn.substack.com/p/rohn-the-early-years?utm_source=publication-search
thanks for the kind words, my previous post has a short video which shares a bit about my a book I wrote a few years ago. although as with art, it seldom seems necessary to know the background of the artist to like the work created
This reads like poetry. I could see you on a stage, sharing this. You truly have a way with words (in the best way). Well-done, Steve.
Thank you. Very generous of you to say this.
Using as few words possible: Boom.
That actually is my goal. This went from 4k+ words to a little over 1k
Thanks for your honesty. Well done!
Thanks.