Michael Simms: Dogsbody to the Muse
Sometimes it’s painful to watch a group of poets trying to work a room as if they were politicians. The AWP conference, as the wag put it, is comprised of 15,000 introverts pretending to be extroverts.
Naomi Shihab Nye: To Netanyahu
My Palestinian father named his donkey after you…
Now I think he insulted the donkey.
Christine Skarbek: Oh, Poland!
My buddy Yolanta invited me over to Park Café to listen to this wizard on the piano, a 17-yr old skinny fellow. I cannot tell you how thin this character was or, for that matter, how long and tapered his fingers and what a master he was at the ivories.
Danusha Laméris: Small Kindnesses
For the waitress
to call us honey when she sets down the bowl of clam chowder,
and for the driver in the red pick-up truck to let us pass.
We have so little of each other, now.
Naomi Shihab Nye: Trees Gossip with the Birds
When the orange sun sinks over the AZIZI sign I feel
the darkening world soaking up all the extra noise
Video: We are built to be kind
Human nature is often portrayed as selfish and power hungry, but research by Dacher Keltner finds that we are hard-wired to be kind.
James J. Zogby: Most Democratic Candidates Still Afraid To Criticize Israel’s Violations Of Palestinian Rights
Benjamin Netanyahu and his policies are viewed negatively by most Democrats. This shift in opinion has placed many Democratic presidential candidates in a bind.
Danusha Laméris: Insha’Allah
How lightly we learn to hold hope,
as if it were an animal that could turn around
and bite your hand.
Murtaza Hussain: U.S. News Headlines on Israel-Palestine Show Systemic Bias
A new study calls to attention the need to more critically evaluate the scope of coverage of the Israeli occupation and recognize that readers are getting, at best, a heavily … Continue reading
Judith A. Brice: Berries, Bittersweet
Before you know what kindness really is you must lose things… “Kindness” — Naomi Shihab Nye . After they’d split my brain, mended the artery that burst asunder and left … Continue reading
Video: A life lesson from a volunteer firefighter
. Volunteer firefighter Mark Bezos tells a story of an act of heroism that didn’t go quite as expected — but that taught him a big lesson: Don’t wait to … Continue reading
Naomi Shihab Nye: United
When sleepless, it’s helpful to meditate on mottoes of the states. South Carolina, “While I breathe I hope.” Perhaps this could be the new flag on the empty flagpole. Or … Continue reading
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Vox Populi now has 10,000 email subscribers. Every day we publish a carefully curated selection of poetry, essays, videos, music and art. Our regular contributors include Naomi Shihab Nye, Stephen … Continue reading
Jonathan Cook: Israel Repurposes Nakba Myths to Justify Today’s Massacre in Gaza
The only legitimate struggle for Palestinians, it seems, is keeping quiet, allowing their lands to be plundered and their children to be starved. Palestinians rush to the border fence with … Continue reading
