A Singing Friend for a Lost Heart

When my heart loses its way and I am without words, I seek the voices of beloved friends of my soul. It may be the prophetic voice of Khalil Gibran, the meditative one of Mark Nepo, the poetic one of Mary Oliver, the praying one of David the Psalmist, the loving one of Jesus in … Continue reading A Singing Friend for a Lost Heart

Ave en la hamaca

Mientras los soterreyes le cantaban su melodía a la mañana, me acosté en la hamaca de La Libélula a reflexionar sobre cómo sanó la pajarita herida que encontró mi Jardinero Fiel hace pocos días frente a mi casa. Primero, cuando estaba postrada y exhausta, se dejó rescatar por una mano cuidadosa. Luego aceptó el nido … Continue reading Ave en la hamaca

Ave herida: Vida maravillosa

Mi Jardinero Fiel entró a la sala de nuestra casa familiar con el pájaro herido en su mano derecha y una expresión de consternación en el rostro. --Estaba caído en frente de la casa --nos dijo, mirándonos con ojos preocupados. --¿Qué hacemos? Se nos acercó y vimos como protegía al ave de plumaje café tornasolado … Continue reading Ave herida: Vida maravillosa

SynTalk in Mumbai

I enjoyed a philosophical conversation, hosted by Synthesis Talk in Mumbai, on the nature of teams, from the realm of communities of bacteria all the way to human societies and team endeavors in sport, research, business, and politics. My interlocutors were Bino Paul and Milind Watve, a social and a natural scientist from India respectively. … Continue reading SynTalk in Mumbai

Listening to a Friend in New York Town

I listened to Niall Connolly's song "Sum of Our Parts" on my headphones as I rode the F train from Prospect Park to the Lower East Side in Manhattan, on my way to his Saturday night gig Rockwood Music Hall. It had been several months since I'd seen Niall, and even longer since I'd been … Continue reading Listening to a Friend in New York Town

Abrir los ojos ante el Taj Mahal

Al contemplar hoy el bellísimo palacio-mausoleo de mármol de la reina Taj, recordé estos versos de Octavio Paz en Ladera Este, el poemario que escribió sobre la India, donde fue Embajador de México por muchos años: "estoy enamorado de este mundo ando a tientas en mí mismo extraviado pido entereza pido desprendimiento abrir los ojos" … Continue reading Abrir los ojos ante el Taj Mahal

Freshness / Frescor

At dawn the sky is clearing after several days of tropical rainfall. The waning moon, surrounded by thin clouds, is still visible on the blue dome. Soft sunlight illumines my garden, which smells of wet soil and blossoming roses. The raindrops feel cool on my fingertips as I gather them from the leaves of the … Continue reading Freshness / Frescor

Care and Joy / Cuidar y gozar

The burning solar disk descended among aquamarine clouds on the horizon beyond the Nicoya Peninsula across the gulf. It painted an orange trail on the Pacific Ocean's light green waters. The mountains on the peninsula became violet under the late sunlight. We paused to enjoy the beauty of the moment. El disco incandescente del sol … Continue reading Care and Joy / Cuidar y gozar