Literature and Poetry
Advice to Little Girls by Mark Twain —You ought never to "sass" old people unless they "sass" you first
Mark Twain writes in 1865: "You ought never to take your little brother's 'chewing-gum' away from him by main force; it is better to rope him in with the promise of the first two dollars and a half you find floating down the river on a grindstone. In the artless simplicity natural to this time of life, he will regard it as a perfectly fair transaction. In all ages of the world this eminently plausible fiction has lured the obtuse infant to financial ruin and disaster." more »
Crossroads ... Or Not?
Joan L. Cannon writes: I see woods all around, with an unpaved road that forks in a Y. For no reason, it’s always twilight. A traveler can choose to return, or to take one branch of the Y: three choices. No metaphor presents itself — except for the Robert Frost poem, "The Road Not Taken", once again filled with possibilities for our imaginations and especially recollections. My psyche immediately rejects the choice of turning back. more »
Serendipity in the Woods: Author Carol Gracie Explores the History and Life of Wildflowers
Kristin Nord writes: Outfitted in parkas and mittens and hats the hearty women scaling the hillsides were soon rewarded. There were meadows of trillium and foamflower, wild ginger, ginseng, and Solomon’s seal. There were Jack-in-the-pulpits, Mayapple, blue cohosh, and five varieties of violets, some 55 natives in all. The naturalist Carol Gracie was at the helm, urging the group to slow down, and look closely at the natural feast spread out like a picnic before them. more »
Tell It Like It Is
Rose Madeline Mula writes: You’re happy to hear a flight attendant say that your seat cushion can be used as a “personal flotation device.” That sounds like so much more fun than “life saver” — more like it’s possible that you will be visiting a Disney water park soon instead of splashing down in mid-Atlantic. And isn’t it great that people no longer “lie”! We simply “misspeak,” “fabricate,” “bend the truth” or dispense disinformation.” Talk about a positive spin. more »