Search Our Writing:
Take Off Your Shoes
Oct 21, 2020 | By Jadan Anderson MC ‘22
God makes strange first impressions. When God introduced himself to Moses, He decided to do so as a bush that was on fire. What’s more, the first thing God said to Moses wasn’t “hello” or “I am God,” but “take off your sandals.”
When I hear the term “holy ground” I think about the Catholic churches of my childhood. I was taught that people should greet God with their very best, especially in His own space. For that reason, I showered before every Mass, donned my finest clothes, and put on my designated, closed-toed church shoes. It seemed that everyone at Mass did the same. Though I enjoyed dressing up on Sundays, the older I grew the more I perceived an element of hiddenness under all the garb. By the time I was a teenager, I thought those fancy clothes were something of a separation between us and our holy God, or at least symbolized a need to be more or be better in order to approach God. But I kept dressing up because, if I ever arrived at church barefoot, my grandparents would rain fire upon my mom and dad.
Seeing Each Other
Oct 11, 2020 | By Sharla Moody BK '22
There are few things harder to grapple with in this world than the realization that our loved ones are just as imperfect as everyone else. This perhaps marks the change from child to adult, when we learn that our parents are not gods, but rather complex and flawed people just like ourselves. When we meet a new romantic partner, at first it seems that they can do no wrong. Yet the U.S.’s depressingly high divorce rate suggests otherwise. We sometimes view love—not just romantic love, but also familial—through rose-colored lenses. But the people we love dearly can also cut us deeply precisely because we love them.
Gumiho
Oct 4, 2020 | By Jason Lee TD ‘22.5
The only book I’ve ever stolen is a book of Korean myths. At the time, I’d only ever heard the versions my mother told me when I was younger. She’s a wonderful storyteller and invested much time and attention into ensuring I dreamt about the same characters she did. Dokkae-bis, dragon kings, tigers, a miserable fool of a frog— I loved folklore, and though they had to share space with Pokemon and Iron Giant, these characters became a consuming fixation.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: An Icon for Our Times?
Sept 27, 2020 | By Raquel Sequeira TD ‘21.5
“Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.” “When there are nine.” “I grew up not knowing there was a glass ceiling because of you.” “Thank you for inspiring this lady lawyer.” “I dissent.”
I paced the pavement in front of the Supreme Court, squinting to read the hundreds of chalk messages obscured by my lengthening shadow. Golden hour on Capitol Hill is one of my favorite places to be. Now, I was sharing the sunset with a crowd—not one of the angry crowds that often storm the white marble steps before abortion cases, but a crowd subdued to silent awe. People kept their distance from each other and even from the police barrier-turned-memorial, endowing the chalked-up sidewalk with a sense of sacredness.
Not in a Hurry
Sept 20, 2020 | By Serena Puang DC ‘22 + 1
I came across “Not in a Hurry” at an Augustine Collective Conference in January, which now feels a world away. I was struck then by the lyrics because not being “in a hurry” is antithetical to my life at Yale. I am in a hurry! In fact, I rarely even listen to music because I’m in such a hurry that I don’t have time. After quarantine started, my extracurriculars and places to go were gone. I did the math, and between commuting and extracurriculars that no longer existed, I was allegedly saving 23 hours per week, but I was still rushing around.
What is Wonder
Sept 15, 2020 | By Kayla Bartsch GH ‘20
What is wonder but an apology?
Evidence of spirit flowing from soil,
a constant effulgence of that first
Utterance which produced a radiance
that is yet to be told.
Upcoming Events:
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Writing Voice Workshop
THURSDAY, JAN 22ND, 6:15-7:50 PM,
Elm Institute
This week, we will hone our writing voice in different styles.
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Editing for Writing with Voice Workshop
THURSDAY, JAN 29TH, 6:15-7:15 PM, Location TBD
Based on the previous week’s workshop, we will edit our pieces to hone our writing voice.
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Veritas Weekend
FEB 6-8TH, Boston
Save the date for Veritas Weekend in Boston! More information below!
Signup Date Passed
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Theme Introduction Meeting
THURSDAY, FEB 12ND, 6:15-7:15 PM,
Location TBD
Our theme this semester is… mirrors! We will be exploring the literary tradition and potential topics for mirrors.
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Theme Introduction at Elm
THURSDAY, FEB 19ND, 6:15-7:50 PM,
Elm Institute
We will be continuing our exploration of the theme of mirrors at the Elm Institute, with a session led by Peter Wicks.
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Writing Retreat
SATURDAY, MARCH 28TH
We will be adjourning to the countryside to spend a day dedicated to making progress on our drafts.