Hi. This is my newsletter, “all the plain today.”

That’s a phrase from a poem by Emily Dickinson — the full quotation is “My chancel — all the plain Today.” 

I love to write, I love to seek out and make beauty, and I love to share in creative community with others. I want this to be a place where I do that, with you.

I expect these posts will be a bit sporadic, and their topics and themes simple, and I find that exciting. I hope you’ll join me as I write to seek out goodness and learn to see better, to make “My chancel — all the plain Today.” 

In Him,

Alea

The poem, in full:

All these my banners be.
I sow my pageantry
In May—
It rises train by train—
Then sleeps in state again—
My chancel—all the plain
     Today.

To lose—if one can find again—
To miss—if one shall meet—
The Burglar cannot rob—then—
The Broker cannot cheat.
So build the hillocks gaily
Thou little spade of mine
Leaving nooks for Daisy
And for Columbine—
You and I the secret
Of the Crocus know—
Let us chant it softly—
“There is no more snow!”

To him who keeps an Orchis’ heart—
The swamps are pink with June.