Author Archives: Don Yorty

In my words, July 22 – 28

… Today is refreshing and cool; no matter what else happens that is good. I wanted to go to a poetry reading on Governor’s Island this afternoon. In fact, last night I took a nice hot bath and shaved before … Continue reading →

The Beacons (Les Phares) by Charles Baudelaire

25 Jul ’13

… Les Phares Rubens, fleuve d’oubli, jardin de la paresse, Oreiller de chair fraîche où l’on ne peut aimer, Mais où la vie afflue et s’agite sans cesse, Comme l’air dans le ciel et la mer dans la mer; Léonard … Continue reading →

In my words, July 15 – 21

21 Jul ’13

… I recently came across a poem by Baudelaire I’d translated in my thirties; it had been lying on a shelf in the dark between closed pages all but forgotten, then there it was, and seemed to fit the weather, … Continue reading →

In my words, July 8 – 14

14 Jul ’13

……… It has just begun to rain, freshening the remains of the day. Cachito was glad to see me when I came home. I threw his toy mouse and he ran batting it down the hall, grabbing it in his … Continue reading →

In my words, July 1 – 7

7 Jul ’13

… While I was staying with Dad at the end of June, on June 26th to be exact, the day before his birthday, a doe was hit on the road across from his house during the night although I didn’t … Continue reading →

In my words, June 24 – 30

1 Jul ’13

… I’m staying in the South Mountain with Dad. His cat, Cachito and I play in the yard. Sometimes I hide behind a cedar and he hides behind a cedar. We peek at each other until I run and he … Continue reading →

In my words, June 17 – 23

24 Jun ’13

… Sunday morning, 9:09 AM. I’m tired, but here I am on the Amtrak train at Penn Station; it just began to move jerking me forward then pushing me back into the comfortable seat setting me and all the other … Continue reading →

A Solar Eclipse with Dad

19 Jun ’13

… December 25, 2000 Late in the morning I walked through the mountain to forget my problems and take a refreshing breath on the road up to the old fire tower, no longer in use, fenced off with barbed wire. … Continue reading →

In my words, June 10 – 16

16 Jun ’13

… … Above you see my father, his glasses reflecting the camera’s flash, stacking his wood, Father Time. My father in the clipping below is younger than his grandsons now. When I think of my father, I often think of … Continue reading →

In my words, June 3 – 9

9 Jun ’13

… … I’ve been going through papers and found a piece I wrote on June 11, 2001 called The Last Day of School. I was teaching at a public school then in a federally funded program helping inner city parents … Continue reading →

In my words, May 27 – June 2

2 Jun ’13

… I am sorry, but it’s been a sad week pretty much from beginning to end. Days went from chilly to hot. The allergies I’ve been avoiding all spring kicked in and I developed a sore throat where every swallow’s … Continue reading →

In my words, May 20 – 26

26 May ’13

… I tell my students I’m not religious freeing myself from taking sides in any discussions that might come up although they never do: English is what’s important, similarity not difference. My students are mostly Christians from South America, Muslims … Continue reading →