potato planting . . .
the old woman’s song
the rhythm of her hoe
factory shift change . . .
motorcycle wind lengthens
her strawberry hair
lock out . . .
workers burn the editorials
to warm their hands
home from the war
not your prayers
he says just luck
dirt farmer’s wife
at the screen door–
no tractor sound
end of summer —
mountain wildflower
pressed in her diary
“potato planting”, “factory shift change,”
& “dirt farmer’s wife” – School’s Out (Press Here, 1999)
“home from the war” – Modern Haiku (Summer 2005)
“lockout” — World Haiku Review Vintage Haiku from Randy Brooks
by dagosan
law office picnic —
the ump consults
his Blackberry
[Sept. 5, 2005]
Labor Day
the parade ends
at the mall
[Sept. 2, 2004]
potluck
As it is Labor Day, I won’t write any new potluck blurbs, but
will merely remind all my visitors of the dignity that exists in
all jobs done well, and reprise a relevant post from this May:
luck or individual effort?
Matt Miller asks whether “luck” or “individual effort” matters most “in determining
where people end up in life.” He notes that both Democrats and Independents
overwhelming said luck in a survey he commissioned, while Republicans said it’s
effort. (NYT, Taking Luck Seriously, May 21, 2005). Miller states:
“Try too hard to wipe out the inequities spawned by luck, and you
banish luck’s societal benefits and go down the road of communism.
But harness a healthy awe for luck, and you expand the bounds of
empathy in ways that make a living wage for poor workers and great
schools for poor children national imperatives. What we’re led to is the
public agenda missing today, built around passionate commitments –
by both liberals and conservatives – to (1) equal opportunity and (2) a
minimally decent life, achieved in ways that harness market forces for
public purposes.”
If Republicans won’t act on these moral imperatives, Miller thinks Democrats
should take luck seriously — making America more just by forging a victory
based on “values that can win.”
Oh, well, one tiny blurb. Blawg Review #22 links to a lot of interesting posts
from around the blawgiverse. My new-find weblog of the week is Grits for Breakfast,
by Texan Scott Henson, who focuses on the Texas criminal justice system (as oxy-
moronic as that may sound). BR22 points to Scott’s post about new laws that went
into effect on Sept. 1st.
“nappergraySMn”
Interesting post, David about luck vs. effort. I actually don’t think it’s a dichotomy (which is probably why I also have trouble picking one political party or another). I think that many times, when you make an effort – to market or network or follow a passion, you create your own luck or increase the chance that good luck will find you.
Comment by Carolyn Elefant — September 6, 2005 @ 1:02 am
Interesting post, David about luck vs. effort. I actually don’t think it’s a dichotomy (which is probably why I also have trouble picking one political party or another). I think that many times, when you make an effort – to market or network or follow a passion, you create your own luck or increase the chance that good luck will find you.
Comment by Carolyn Elefant — September 6, 2005 @ 1:02 am
Yes, Carolyn, “lucky” results have a lot to do with effort and commitment. On the macro-level, though, the family you are born into and the personality and talents embedded in your DNA seem to play a major role in “where you end up in life.” There are always exceptions, but some deficits are extremely difficult to overcome. Of course, some people would consider themeselves “lucky” to be born without a burning desire to “succeed” by society’s standards.
Comment by David Giacalone — September 6, 2005 @ 11:37 am
Yes, Carolyn, “lucky” results have a lot to do with effort and commitment. On the macro-level, though, the family you are born into and the personality and talents embedded in your DNA seem to play a major role in “where you end up in life.” There are always exceptions, but some deficits are extremely difficult to overcome. Of course, some people would consider themeselves “lucky” to be born without a burning desire to “succeed” by society’s standards.
Comment by David Giacalone — September 6, 2005 @ 11:37 am