Let's Begin with a Poem (or Three)

What unites so much of what I do, professionally and personally, is the creation of beautiful things that matter. What that means will be revealed in the stories, examples, and questions I share here periodically.

First up: a poem by Naomi Shihab Nye called “Famous,” which is as much about value and beauty as it is fame—and which directed the choice of image for this web page. An excerpt:

I want to be famous to shuffling men   
who smile while crossing streets,   
sticky children in grocery lines,   
famous as the one who smiled back.

Now go read “Postscript,” but read it out loud. You have to read it out loud. The last 5 lines land perfectly. Every. Time.

One more: “Kindness," inspired by the experience of being robbed (which you can listen to Naomi talk about here: https://soundcloud.com/brainpicker/naomi-shihab-nye-on-the-story-behind-her-poem-kindness.)

Now go read everything else by Naomi Shihab Nye.

In fact, read poetry in general. I like poetry, even if I struggle to understand it. Most of the time I just love how it sounds, or the images it creates. And that’s enough.