A beautiful simplicity that carries all for each of us. The pendulum between ‘yes’ and ‘no’ a daily event.
HOPE, TRUTH, FEAR, AND MY SPIRITUAL QUEST. YES!
By Stephanie Wellen Levine
Yes, I’m on a quest for truth, but only IF.
IF there’s a story behind the stories I see, I want to know.
A line of meaning running behind them.
A beam of concern.
Something.
The man in the grimy wheelchair begging for money by the Harvard Square subway
Pushing himself right up to people with his one leg, as if to ask:
Could YOU hold a job if you had a sawed-off leg
And eyes that watered from the slightest hint of sun?
The woman staring at her cappuccino at Crema Café
Laughing at the creamy heart added by the barista.
She touches the heart with her pinky
So lightly, making sure she doesn’t ruin it
And then takes out a book called On Losing a Child.
Even the little girl in the T-shirt covered with…
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PHI lippa. Letters of Love 
Thanks so much for the share, Philippa. I’m so glad you enjoyed this work, that it has lead you to read more of Stephanie’s writing, and that it has started this conversation! Viva la poesia!
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Dear Philippa,
Stephanie is a wonderful writer and a delightful person, with an incredibly sharp mind as well as a childlike sense of wonder and curiosity. She mostly regards herself as a prose writer. Her book on young Hassidic women is terrific. She has doubts about her poetry, which I think is very strong. I’ve been encouraging her to write more of it. At the last salon, I lent her a copy of Neruda’s Extravagaria, a book that shares with her work a certain directness of address to the reader and a preoccupation with death. I just bought another copy of the book so I can allow her to keep that one. I wish that you were here to take part in our salons! You may want to friend Stephanie on Facebook. She often posts little personal vignettes in the form of existential or spiritual questions and then invites people to respond. When I spent more time on Facebook, I used to take part in these discussions. She has a literate circle of friends, and the responses are often witty and thought-provoking.
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Before you submitted this comment I had already ordered her book on the strength of its Introduction. Thanks for commenting here.
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Hope you enjoy the book! Looks like my comments are working now: yay. I think it was a WordPress login problem.
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I think I had to approve before they appeared, so have now done so with pleasure! Thank you
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Oh wow: Hi Brian! Didn’t realize you two knew each other. Thanks so much for the compliments. I’ve been enjoying the Neruda book and was planning to bring it to the next salon. I so appreciate your making it a gift: now I can keep looking at the poems and thinking of your awesome parties! Philippa and I just became FB friends: should be fun to connect that way. See you at the next salon if not before!
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Wow: Hi Brian! I just tried to leave a comment that didn’t seem to post. Will try again. Anyhow, thanks so much for the compliments: can always use some of those. I’ve been enjoying the Neruda book and was planning to return it at the next salon. I so appreciate your making it a gift: now I can look at the poems and think of your awesome parties.
How interesting that you and Philippa know each other. We just became FB friends: will be fun to connect that way. As always, looking forward to the next salon!
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Wow: Hi Brian! Great to see you here. I tried a few earlier times to comment with no success, but I THINK the problem is solved now. Anyhow, thanks for the compliments: can always use some of those. I’ve been enjoying the Neruda book and was planning to return it at the next salon. How amazing that you decided to make it a gift: now I can look at the poems and think of your awesome parties.
Philippa and I just became FB friends: will be fun to connect there.
As always, looking forward to the next salon!
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