FUN

American Life in Poetry

BY KWAME DAWES

Here is an elegant flower of a poem— small, delicate in sentiment, and yet so resonant in meaning. Sam Dodson, in a few short lines, observes the stoic strength of faith, the sadness of loss, and the rituals that we perform to help us cope with the helplessness that comes with grief.

After Her Mother Passed

BY SAM DODSON

Lutheran beautiful Eva broke down for a dear, dear moment before she picked that rake back up and moved maple leaves over grass.

Corner Corner Quote Quote

"Packaged inside of every mistake there lays a great lesson. And while I don’t want to take the mistake into the New Year, I most certainly want to take the lesson that’s packaged inside of it."

– Craig D. Lounsbrough BIG SKY BEATS

Cheers to the New Year

BY TUCKER HARRIS

Author Elizabeth Edwards writes: “Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it’s less good than the one you had before. You can fight it, you can do nothing but scream about what you’ve lost, or you can accept that and try to put together something that’s good.”

2021 has tested our resilience. For many, 2021 challenged and strengthened us. As we head into the new year, EBS brings you a playlist to inspire reflection on this past year and encourage taking important lessons with us and leaving the past behind. Cheers to a fresh start in 2022.

1. “Ringing in the Year” by Turnpike Troubadours 2. “Figure Out” by Boy Named Banjo 3. “Starts with Goodbye” by Carrie Underwood 4. “Bound for Glory” by the Tedeschi Trucks Band 5. “Change” by Moon Taxi 6. “Dog Days are Over” by Florence & The Machine 7. “Brand New” by Ben Rector 8. “Starting Over” Chris Stapleton 9. “Wide Open Spaces” by The Dixie Chicks 10. “Start Over” by Beyoncé