Bursting forth,
saying in color and delicate shape
that striving for the sun is worth the heartache,
the petals of the plants,
demure and bombastic,
try for nothing more than survival.
But in this effort
their nonchalant beauty,
which impresses thirsty birds and dust-covered bees
as much or more than human admirers,
reminds all who would look that
Life goes on.
And amid the brutal math of dominance,
beauty reigns.
An Open Letter to Councilmember Hugo Soto-MartinezDear Councilmember Soto-Martinez,
The man you replaced, Mitch O’Farrell, was perceived by many as a cynical politician who placed the desires of wealthy real-estate developers over the concerns of the people he was supposed to represent. Sensitive to any perception of impropriety, you’ve made it a point to not accept…
The “letter” in question was written as a heartfelt Christmas greeting nearly 600 years ago by the early-Renaissance painter Fra Angelico. Inspired by this ancient missive, the French drummer Raphael Pannier has composed a suite of thoroughly modern music exploring the themes of universal brotherhood and divinity. He’s joined on the recording by, among others,...
