Travel – Joanna Horton McPherson

Being at home in a crowd

She was slower than the othersPushing her a little cart in the streams of endless people With their cones of gelato and running shoesI heard the old lady humming as I shouldered by Her sing-song tune barely rising above the hundreds of footfalls at once stepping on the slabs of stone A bridge she has walked hundredsContinue reading “Being at home in a crowd”

Hello Grace

You found your way to me On the island of Mezzorbo on that grassy green Between my daughter, my husband and a pine cone You were the 4-leaf clover Like the ones you sent me pressed into the paper cards and your script black ink words “Joanna” Of anything I may have inheritedContinue reading “Hello Grace”

To the Dying Man in Playa de Coco

While on vacation with my family and my sister’s family in Costa Rica, this experience happened. I said a prayer for this man, and that prayer slept through the night and today woke to me as a poem We picked up a passerby as we left the beachThat was yesterdayI could not see him Thin man asContinue reading “To the Dying Man in Playa de Coco”

Bonne journée

En Français In French, the term for have a good day is bonne journée. “Jour,” of course means day. In English, we say “journey” to mean a trip or voyage. Many shop owners tell us to have a good day, wishing us bonne journée as we leave the store. I appreciate this because of theContinue reading “Bonne journée”

Winds of Provence

While in the south of France, we’re renting a flat in Aix-en-Provence. Much to our dismay, Aix feels like any small city anywhere but French. During our stroll around town we appreciated the quaint and historic mix that seems to be a European speciality: ancient city blocks and metro shops… it rings familiar… I think Italy spoiledContinue reading “Winds of Provence”

Tuscan Dreams

You get a Honeymoon, and you get a Honeymoon, and here’s one for you… Waking up in our flat in Florence for the past few days, I’ve had wild, detailed dreams. We came to Florence after parting with Kim and Michael. I am not sure if my wild dreams are from the noise of partyers onContinue reading “Tuscan Dreams”

Hidden Gifts

Secret Venice In Venice, the alleys and walls, the art and the people have layers upon layers. Like a living museum, the city retains its ancient function amid modern hubbub. For example, the gondola ride used to be a way to get around in 16th century Venice. No longer is this a way to getContinue reading “Hidden Gifts”

Art: Good Thoughts Shine

If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely. – Roald Dahl A friend posted this quote: I keep realizing how true it is… it’s not hard to do in Venice! Art and Life Good thoughts arise constantly surrounded by beauty and in the companyContinue reading “Art: Good Thoughts Shine”

Benvenuto in Venizio

AM: Artist Colony We sat around our friend’s apartment eating pizza bites, olives and sparkling water this afternoon. The window shutters opened into the room inviting the air from the stone alleyway below, and distant din from the streets. Starkly missing was the sound of traffic, as there are no cars in Venice. The room was filledContinue reading “Benvenuto in Venizio”