Against Despair

“What I fear most is despair for the world and us: forever lessof beauty, silence, open air,gratitude, unbidden happiness, affection, unegotistical desire.” — Wendell Berry, from This Day: Collected and New Sabbath Poems, page 192 — You’ve probably heard by now that Wendell Berry has died at 92. And if there’s anyone who gives us a reason to write poetry, to read poetry, it has been Berry. His poems live in us, his readers. They change us. The example of his long life in poetry has changed us. He has taught us why we must rail against despair. — If you’ve not read him, A copy of his Collected, and a copy of the Sabbath poems are yours to delve into and delight in. If you think you’re not a reader of poetry, you become one reading these. I’ve mentioned Berry over the years, but not enough. Not proportionate to the hours I’ve read him. Though I also quoted from him on my last now defunct blog, Calm Things (named after my book). — Devin Kelly has written a lovely tribute. — Another from…