Balance At the Barre Between Two Couplets, 1975-1988 The core of balance, strong and deep Secrets that the barre would keep. I learned the lesson there in youth A steady, undeniable truth. The metal rail felt cool beneath my fingers, a cold, firm contract with gravity. It wasn't just the height of the leg in the battement, or the perfect angle of the arabesque. It was the mental discipline of the tendu, pushing the foot out a thousand times until it was effortless; the unwave

Nativity, at Night, A Christmas Poem Inspired by the Art of the Same Title of Geertgen tot Sint Jans, 1490 Beneath a Northern star, his life cut short, Geertgen tot Sint Jans, of Netherlandish sort. An oak wood sheet, his genius would proclaim, He built his Christmas mystery not for fame. Inspired by faith, the artist sought to spread The holy words that Saint Bridget had said. She saw a light no earthly sun could claim, A radiant glory round the Manger flame. "The sun in hea

Dundee Mills was more than just a textile factory in Griffin, Georgia. For decades, it stood as a symbol of economic strength, community pride, and local identity. Its story reflects the growth of Griffin itself, the challenges faced by the American textile industry, and the impact of corporate decisions on small-town life. This post explores how Dundee Mills helped shape Griffin, the changes it brought, and the void left when it closed in the 1990s after being acquired by Sp

The Moons of 2025: A Poetic Cycle The frosty glass of January's land, The Wolf Moon rises, spanned by the cold wind. February's air, where deepest snow it keeps, The Snow Moon drifts where all the landscape sleeps. The earth awakens, soft beneath the heel, The Worm Moon breaks the long winter seal. Phlox bloom early, a faint, lovely hue, The Pink Moon glows, beneath the diamond dew. All of the world in brilliant color clad, The Flower Moon arrives, joyful and glad. The shorte