When helping those dear friends,
And regardless of their sins.
Real or imagined affronts,
Causing sleepless nights and grunts.
I give what I have to thee.
And no. You don’t owe me!
A farthing nor one red cent,
For all my wisdom is lent,
You don’t owe me anything,
For my blessings He will bring.
The empty well will refill,
As I reflect and be still!
Lynn M.
July 25, 2020
I first read Cane by Jean Toomer in college many years ago and I chose to revisit it after its title came up in a conversation. Maya Angelou wrote: “A breakthrough in prose and poetical writing …. This book should be on all readers‘ and writers’ desks and in their minds.” Those are her profound words about this collection of prose, poems, and brief vignettes
I am still enjoying Toomer’s book but I paused to write these words about Cane. “This work is very lyrical. It should be sung or at least read aloud as the spoken word to fully capture the rhythm and rapture of these moving stories and tales.”
He tells stories of people that he has either observed or met. He truly sees them and hears their hearts whether their stories end happily or unhappily. There is an underlying beat like the hooves of feet on pavement as his characters flow through their lives.
This is such a re-gift for me during this summer’s readings because it has even greater meaning. The words are like vintage wine that have increased in value over time. I have matured and I can better see the depth of this writer’s craft. He was able to truly replicate life on a printed canvas.
I strongly agree with Dr. Maya and I think every writer should have a copy of Cane on the desk and in the personal library. Jean Toomer, a writer from the Harlem Renaissance Era, has successfully put stories in multiple forms as he pours his words in a bottle to be kept as an eternal capsule in time!
Lynn M.
July 18, 2020
The other day, I was surprised to see that Candide by Voltaire was trending in 2020 on Twitter. It was written in 1759 and I read it many years ago, but I chose to revisit it to see why it is currently quite the rave. I finished it in a couple of days and took copious notes to make sure that I did not miss a beat.
Candide is a young man who is put out of his dwelling after he is caught exchanging kisses behind a screen with Cunégonde, the master’s daughter. He is turned out and his mentor-philosopher Pangloss travels with him as they embark upon many adventures. Though he cannot understand why these things are happening to him, Pangloss constantly assures him that, “All is for best.”
They travel far and wide and Pangloss also tells him that “All effects have a cause.” He sees so many horrors along the way and hears that Cunégonde and her family have been slaughtered. As he carries on, he discovers that she did indeed survive, and his entire goal is to be reunited with his beloved.
Everywhere Candide goes, he witnesses the cruelty that men inflict upon each another. He is baffled when he sees that some of them pray regularly while still being mean and insensitive to his fellow man. He talks to those who have been tortured, lost body parts, enslaved and brought low by life’s circumstances.
He continually looks for the silver lining as he listens to others’ stories. He even meets former kings, princes and sultans who have lost their positions and fortunes. He is shocked by one prominent man who has everything but finds no pleasure in anything nor anyone.
Candide travels from France through Europe and even makes it to South America where he finally finds Cunégonde alive and still beautiful; but before they can reunite, he has to run from the authorities for a murder he had committed along the way. They are separated again and he vows to make it back to her though she is being hotly pursued by a wealthy Argentinian.
Finally, things begin to come full circle and Candide is reunited with other loved ones that he thought had perished. Miracles continue to happen and he again finds his beloved Cunégonde, who is no longer beautiful. Woe!
Yet, life has altered him and his viewpoints and he has learned that, “All is for best.” He has seen through his winding journey that the greatest evils are, “Weariness, vice and want.” He knows that he should not sit idly by, but stay busy. He moves on as he and his new wife cultivate their own garden together!
Lynn M.
July 11, 2020
Have you ever felt depleted or as if you just could not go on? Did your cup fill empty with no reserve fuel in the tank? Well, breathe and know that whatever appears to be exhausted can be refilled and refueled, so to speak.
It is like getting a free soft drink refill at a fast food place. You too can simply announce to “fill ‘er up!” Push the RE button and watch the words spew out and float all around in the air. You can be replenished, renewed, reinvigorated, and mostly reawakened to the real you.
If you had the substance to achieve it once, you can do it again. Whatever stuff you had inside to get the other job, home, transportation, family, friends, spouse or whatever you feel you have lost, you can attract it all again. This time it will come in better and higher forms because this is the improved you that is rebuilding those dreams!
Thomas Edison reminds us, “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” So, while reinvesting in your hopes and dreams, remain inspired and know that you can do it!
As you reinvent yourself and reconfigure your outlook and ultimately your life, there will be no more moping. Simply start coping with things as they are and before you know it, your cup will once again runneth’ over and be filled to the brim!
Lynn M. July 4, 2020
Lynn M's Reflections 
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