Friday

Apr. 12, 1996

A Prayer in Spring

by Robert Frost

FRIDAY 4/12

Today's Reading: "A Prayer in Spring" by Robert Frost from THE POETRY OF ROBERT FROST, published by Henry Holt and Company

It's the birthday of author Johanna Spyri (Heidi), born in Hirzel, Switzerland, 1827.

It was on this day in 1861 that the Civil War began when Confederate General Beauregard ordered his men to open fire on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor.

American photographer Imogen Cunningham was born in Portland, Oregon, 1883.

It's the birthday of coloratura soprano, Lily Pons, born near Cannes, France, 1904.

Bandleader Lionel Hampton was born on this day in Louisville, Kentucky, 1908.

George Bernard Shaw's play PYGMALION opened in London in 1914.

Opera soprano Maria Callas was born in New York on this day in 1923.

It's the birthday of playwright Jack Gelber, born in Chicago in 1932.

Musician Herbie Hancock was born in Chicago in 1940.

Author, attorney Scott Turow (Presumed Innocent), was born in Chicago in 1949.

The discovery of the Salk Vaccine, invented by Dr. Jonas E. Salk, was announced today in 1955.

Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.®

 

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  • “Writers end up writing stories—or rather, stories' shadows—and they're grateful if they can, but it is not enough. Nothing the writer can do is ever enough” —Joy Williams
  • “I want to live other lives. I've never quite believed that one chance is all I get. Writing is my way of making other chances.” —Anne Tyler
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  • “All good writing is swimming under water and holding your breath.” —F. Scott Fitzgerald
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  • “In certain ways writing is a form of prayer.” —Denise Levertov
  • “Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.” —E.L. Doctorow
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  • “I think writing is, by definition, an optimistic act.” —Michael Cunningham
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