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Poetry

The Title of This Poem Has Been Censored

This past Monday, I participated in a public protest against efforts by a local group to ban more than 200 “inappropriate” books from the libraries in our school district. (Think Native Son by Richard Wright. Beloved by Toni Morrison. To…
Phyllis Cole-Dai
September 20, 2023
Insights

Practically a Tradition

This past Monday, our family loaded the trappings of college dorm life into our two cars. It was time to move Nathan back to campus for his junior year. As we prepared to leave home,…
Phyllis Cole-Dai
September 12, 2023
Poetry

The ABCs of My Creative Life

What follows isn’t a poem. It’s a playful inventory of basic intentions that guide my creative work—indeed, my daily living. It sets forth how I aspire to conduct myself as a “maker” and as a…
Phyllis Cole-Dai
September 3, 2023
Insights

Blessed Are the Weird

This graphic is on one of my favorite t-shirts. A friend gave me the shirt years ago. I’m gonna wear it till it turns into a holey rag. That’s how much I love its message.…
Phyllis Cole-Dai
August 23, 2023
Poetry

Legs

In 1982, for a college trimester, I studied and did “service work” in the newly independent nation of Belize. Looking back, I don’t think the Belizeans much desired or needed my “service,” but the experience…
Phyllis Cole-Dai
August 9, 2023
Insights

Prayer

This is a very brief poem that I wrote in anticipation of “Poems, Prayers, & Promises,” our upcoming month-long Deep Dive. (You can still sign up!) What image might you use to describe your own experience…
Phyllis Cole-Dai
August 1, 2023
Poetry

Fishing for Words

FISHING FOR WORDS                  for creatives who write You stand on the edge of a shallow lake, casting your line, waiting for bites— some days, not a nibble.…
Phyllis Cole-Dai
July 17, 2023
Poetry

The Secret of Birds

THE SECRET OF BIRDS Phyllis Cole-Dai  Outside the window, an hour before dawn, when night weighs heaviest on the neck of the world, one bird with pluck begins to sing I’m here   I’m here   I’m…
Phyllis Cole-Dai
July 10, 2023
Poetry

Names Will Carry

NAMES WILL CARRY Phyllis Cole-Dai                         for Wanda and Tom I carry your names into the mountains you loved, though mountains have no need of names— they know each pilgrim that passes through by scent…
Phyllis Cole-Dai
June 27, 2023
Insights

Not Bad for a Friday

A light pops up on the dashboard of my Ford Fusion. My stomach sinks to the floor. “Check Oil.” This isn’t an emergency, exactly—just a bit of a pickle. In our family, Jihong’s the oil…
Phyllis Cole-Dai
June 19, 2023
Music

The Power of a Talking Piano

During past visits to your mother’s elder care community, you’ve passed by this big dining room dozens of times. On occasion, you’ve eaten here, too. But never before today have you glimpsed the piano, stowed…
Phyllis Cole-Dai
June 12, 2023

My family of newsletters is here to sustain you.
My gift when you join The Raft!

Hop aboard!