Oh, Jess, you have touched something deep in me with your latest post. As a young girl during the 60s, I was tasked with giving a speech at school. I memorized that same poem and read it to a young audience of my peers as an allegory to the situation at that time, where families and “neighbors” were creating walls between them. I, too, became an English teacher and later, a writer. Still, some people insist on building those walls. Thank you for reminding me that we have been here before and there is hope for us.
Jess, This is a wonderful reminder today. Many people pay a lot of money to have their housing behind guarded gates. Like you, I found most poetry unappealing and not really relatable. But you are so spot on about Frost & his poetry. It communicates well. I remember someone speaking about why humans want so many boundaries and walls. This was years ago. He said, think about fences in your neighborhood, and then pretend you have a massive zoom camera in outer space. Zoom out further and you will see city boundaries, then state/province, then zoom out further to see the boundaries of countries. Finally, with the last zoom, you only see a blue earth and you wonder why boundaries are everywhere. It was a good way to think about this. You are correct about trump. Not only is he obsessed with walls, his own mind is behind walls, living delusions that have nothing to do with reality.
Funny thing as I started looking for your post in my inbox, because it had been awhile and I thought did Jess end up in my spam mail? And then this just popped up and I was happy to read this thought provoking post. I realized you weren’t missing, you were tearing down a wall. Lovey, just lovely. Thanks.
You’ll have to forgive me, friend. I have been traveling the state for two weeks straight. Election season has me in a million places and I fell behind. Thank you for looking for me in your inbox. That means a lot.
No need for apologies as I know what an active schedule you keep. I was just missing your thoughts and god knows there is a lot going on. Have a great weekend.
I look too, Jess. <3 And I honor what you are doing. I know it takes a lot out of a person and must be exhausting. I know _I_ would be exhausted. You are amazing. We will wait for you to show up as you can, particularly at this crazy time. Much strength to you. Many of us are behind you, in support.
Thank you. This is lovely. Reminds me of a 6th grade project I did many years ago. To find a poem and illustrate it for the fall season. As I am a graphic artist, the illustration was the best part for me.
Thanks again for doing the hard work for our democracy.
I am just hoping you'll find a moment to read "La Belle Same Sans Merci" not because of its message but because of its spectacular rhythm. Frost's poem echoes it. Enjoy!
I'm sorry Jess. If the job description requires knowing how to coach football to teach history, that is just the way it is. I mean, if becoming the candidate for the Repugnants means having a skill set of being a low-life, rapist, grifter, lying sociopath with psychopath tendencies, that is just the way it is. Man up.
Too perfect, Jess. Thanks. What does a wall tell us of both division and protection? The emotional barriers we grow to protect ourselves from hurt and disappointment… perhaps. You’ve certainly illuminated literal and figurative separations between us. How we reach across to re-engage, and restart the hard work of democracy, that is the question?
There are places in Kansas with stones stacked into fences marking the edges of property. It was a useful way to clear fields of rocks and put them to a use. There are walls built for a good purpose, but also those erected out of prejudice and fear.
Jess, this is a beautiful post. Since I’m not a writer, I look at it as a mural painted in full color to help illustrate your view of our world. Even so, Frost’s words represent this moment in time so well. I look so forward to your posts, maybe because I’m also a Missourian, or just because you’re so brilliant. Thank you.
Oh, Jess, you have touched something deep in me with your latest post. As a young girl during the 60s, I was tasked with giving a speech at school. I memorized that same poem and read it to a young audience of my peers as an allegory to the situation at that time, where families and “neighbors” were creating walls between them. I, too, became an English teacher and later, a writer. Still, some people insist on building those walls. Thank you for reminding me that we have been here before and there is hope for us.
Jess, This is a wonderful reminder today. Many people pay a lot of money to have their housing behind guarded gates. Like you, I found most poetry unappealing and not really relatable. But you are so spot on about Frost & his poetry. It communicates well. I remember someone speaking about why humans want so many boundaries and walls. This was years ago. He said, think about fences in your neighborhood, and then pretend you have a massive zoom camera in outer space. Zoom out further and you will see city boundaries, then state/province, then zoom out further to see the boundaries of countries. Finally, with the last zoom, you only see a blue earth and you wonder why boundaries are everywhere. It was a good way to think about this. You are correct about trump. Not only is he obsessed with walls, his own mind is behind walls, living delusions that have nothing to do with reality.
This post--and others like it--are why I follow you. Thank you.
Funny thing as I started looking for your post in my inbox, because it had been awhile and I thought did Jess end up in my spam mail? And then this just popped up and I was happy to read this thought provoking post. I realized you weren’t missing, you were tearing down a wall. Lovey, just lovely. Thanks.
You’ll have to forgive me, friend. I have been traveling the state for two weeks straight. Election season has me in a million places and I fell behind. Thank you for looking for me in your inbox. That means a lot.
No need for apologies as I know what an active schedule you keep. I was just missing your thoughts and god knows there is a lot going on. Have a great weekend.
I look too, Jess. <3 And I honor what you are doing. I know it takes a lot out of a person and must be exhausting. I know _I_ would be exhausted. You are amazing. We will wait for you to show up as you can, particularly at this crazy time. Much strength to you. Many of us are behind you, in support.
Thank you. This is lovely. Reminds me of a 6th grade project I did many years ago. To find a poem and illustrate it for the fall season. As I am a graphic artist, the illustration was the best part for me.
Thanks again for doing the hard work for our democracy.
Here is the poem-
October
Robert Frost
O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, slow!
For the grapes’ sake, if they were all,
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit must else be lost—
For the grapes’ sake along the wall.
I am just hoping you'll find a moment to read "La Belle Same Sans Merci" not because of its message but because of its spectacular rhythm. Frost's poem echoes it. Enjoy!
I'm sorry Jess. If the job description requires knowing how to coach football to teach history, that is just the way it is. I mean, if becoming the candidate for the Repugnants means having a skill set of being a low-life, rapist, grifter, lying sociopath with psychopath tendencies, that is just the way it is. Man up.
I feel nausea just for even kidding about this.
The funny thing is, I worked with football coaches who were fantastic history teachers. I’ve also worked with a couple who weren’t. 🤣🫠
Thought provoking post...thank you!!
Beautiful and timely Jess.
45 days until we decide the fate of 45.
Let’s not elect this fraud.
“All tyrannies rule through fraud and force, but once the fraud is exposed they must rely exclusively on force.”
– George Orwell
OK, speaking plainly, that was just beautiful.
Just the lesson I needed. Lovely. Thank you.
Too perfect, Jess. Thanks. What does a wall tell us of both division and protection? The emotional barriers we grow to protect ourselves from hurt and disappointment… perhaps. You’ve certainly illuminated literal and figurative separations between us. How we reach across to re-engage, and restart the hard work of democracy, that is the question?
Thank you, Jess. I'm glad you studied English. Simple is best.
There are places in Kansas with stones stacked into fences marking the edges of property. It was a useful way to clear fields of rocks and put them to a use. There are walls built for a good purpose, but also those erected out of prejudice and fear.
The Kansas stone walls are amazing as we drive across open fields.
Jess, this is a beautiful post. Since I’m not a writer, I look at it as a mural painted in full color to help illustrate your view of our world. Even so, Frost’s words represent this moment in time so well. I look so forward to your posts, maybe because I’m also a Missourian, or just because you’re so brilliant. Thank you.
Made the day better. You are amazing.
This is lovely in so many ways. Thank you.