Category: Pop and Thistle

“Morningside Heights, July” by William Matthews

Morningside Heights, July Haze. Three student violists boardinga bus. A clatter of jackhammers.Granular light. A film of sweat for primerand the heat for a coat of paint.A man and a woman on a bench:she tells him he must be psychic,for how else could he sense, even before she knew,that she’d need to call it off? …

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International Day of the Tropics

Our planet’s lush tropics cover 40% of the land, and account for approximately 80% of Earth’s biodiversity, yet it is under constant threat from human activity and climate change. Today is International Day of the Tropics, which was created as a reminder to appreciate and respect our rich, tropical lands. Here is a poem by …

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Mango Carrot Ginger Smoothie Recipe

Author: Sharon Palmer A gorgeous Mexican mango was the inspiration for a flavorful, antioxidant-rich smoothie in my kitchen this week. In celebration of that particularly sunny shade of pink-orange-yellow found in mangos, carrots, and citrus fruits, I whipped up a sweet, fruity, plant-based mango, with a bite of spicy ginger. This smoothie is packed with …

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“Daisy Time” by Marjorie Pickthall

Daisy Time See, the grass is full of stars,Fallen in their brightness;Hearts they have of shining gold,Rays of shining whiteness. Buttercups have honeyed hearts,Bees they love the clover,But I love the daisies’ danceAll the meadow over. Blow, O blow, you happy winds,Singing summer’s praises,Up the field and down the fieldA-dancing with the daisies.

June 24th Birthday Love: Colin Blunstone

Singer and songwriter Colin Blunstone was born on June 24, 1945, in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England. In the 1960’s, Blunstone rose to fame as the lead singer for The Zombies, and has also had a successful solo career, making music for over 50 years now. The band formed in 1962 in St. Albans, England, with Colin …

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Astrid Cabral’s Love of Her Home, The Amazon

This World Rainforest Day I am celebrating novelist, poet, environmentalist, diplomat, and mother of five, Astrid Cabral, who sings the songs of her Amazon home in her exemplary poetry. Some of Cabral’s most well-known books include Through Water (2003), Anteroom (2007), and Cage (2008). In Cage, Cabral explores the real and symbolic animals of the Amazon. She …

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First Day of Summer

Today marks the longest day of the year, the summer solstice, also known as midsummer and the first day of summer. The sun reaches its highest point in the sky for the year on this day. To celebrate the start of the season, here is a poem by Carl Sandburg, “Back Yard” from The Chicago …

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“I, Too” by Langston Hughes

I, Too I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother.They send me to eat in the kitchenWhen company comes,But I laugh,And eat well,And grow strong. Tomorrow,I’ll be at the tableWhen company comes.Nobody’ll dareSay to me,“Eat in the kitchen,”Then. Besides,They’ll see how beautiful I amAnd be ashamed— I, too, am America. -Langston Hughes

Pet Profile: The Quiet Cocker Spaniel

The Cocker Spaniel is such a pretty, graceful dog in the show ring that it is hard to imagine that this breed was developed to be a working dog. However, before Cocker Spaniels were bred for their long, flowing coats, these bouncy little dogs were developed to be able to work tirelessly alongside hunters and …

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June 10th Birthday Love: Saul Bellow

“You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write.” -Saul Bellow