Support independent booksellers: buy new or used on Biblio<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n“For thirty-nine years Wendell Berry has brought us stories from the fictional town of Port William, Kentucky. […] Jayber Crow, is the story of a man’s love for his community […] Sent to an orphanage at the age of ten, Jayber grows up knowing of loneliness and want, and learns how to be a watchful observer of human goodness and frailty. With the flood of 1937 he returns to his native Port William to become the town’s barber. Slowly, patiently, the observer becomes participant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“This is a book about Heaven”, writes Jayber, “but I must say too that it has been a close call. For I have wondered sometimes if it would not finally turn out to be a book about Hell — where we fail to love one another, where we hate and destroy one another for reasons abundantly provided or for righteousness’ sake or for pleasure, where we destroy the things we need the most, where we see no hope and have no faith…where we must lose everything to know what we have had”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sounding themes of love and loss, despair and deepest joy, Berry’s clear-sighted artistry in depicting the Port William membership will not soon be forgotten.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nA poem by Christian - November 2023<\/pre>\n\n\n\nAmerica the Beautiful
<\/strong>America of beautiful rivers, hills, and plains
America of grand mountains, glaciers, and waterfalls
America of vast deserts, forests, and jungles
America of diverse indigenous, settlers, and immigrants
America of vibrant tastes, smells, and colors
America of staggering architecture, art, and literature
America of democracy, liberty, and justice
I don\u2019t speak of the United States
I\u2019ve learned that the great power in the North doesn\u2019t own the word \u201cAmerica\u201d
Nor does it own the beauty of hills, mountains, deserts, peoples, and cultures
America is beautiful North and South
No, rather than the North, I speak of our experience in the South
I don\u2019t speak of the Mississippi, but of the Amazon River, the cerros of Paraguay, and the Alto Plano
Not the Rockies, but the Andes, the glaciers of Patagonia, and Iguazu
Not the Mohave, but the Atacama, the Valdivian, and the Amazon Rainforest
Not the Cherokee, but the Quechua, the Spanish, and the melting pot of Buenos Aires
Not a grilled hot dog, but choripan, guiso, and Valipraso
Not the Empire State Building, but Machu Picchu, the paintings of Pedro Lira, and the writings of Jos\u00e9 Mar\u00eda Arguedas
Nor do I speak of the costume of elections
Rather I speak of the dream of all people of America, both North and South
The dream that is constantly struggled for but is yet to be fully attained.
The dream that we raise our voices to demand for everyone, everywhere.
Democracy!
Liberty!
Justice!
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