He Pao
A pao is a ditty, a short impromptu song or poem to inspire and entertain (it can also mean to stare vacantly). Every Wednesday, inspiration from my creative practice to support yours.
An editor lives in my head
Years ago, Lois used to argue with John in actual cafes. They would meet and he would have a long black and her and oat milk flattie. Sometimes they ate (him lasagne with side salad, her a scone which she'd barely touch).
What would happen if you were truly free?
"To get to a place where you could love anything you chose — not to need permission for desire — well now, that was freedom." - Toni Morrison
The work of the witness: Reflections on a brilliant essay by Sarah Aziza
I think we all instinctively know that the ethics of witnessing on social media is barbed, but I suspect a lot of us don't talk about it because there isn't an easy language for it.
Returning to Omelas
The ones who walk away in Le Guin’s 1973 dystopian short story are those who refuse to accept that the price of their own freedom is the denial and violent suppression of someone else’s. But walk away to do what? To go where?
Conversations at the dinner party (W.W.L.)
For the first couple of hours, the conversation flowed easily. It wasn’t the awkward Pākehā BBQ Lois had been expecting.
My kid got married and I gave a speech.
In preparation for my son's wedding two weeks ago, I canvassed a bunch of friends for advice on the hallmarks of a good wedding speech. Here's what they said.