MARK GRANIER reads from Ghostlight: New & Selected Poems

Throughout October, Trasna will focus on the Celtic festival of Samhain, known better to Americans as Halloween. The holiday originated in Ireland and celebrates that time of year when the veil between this world and the next grows thin, and life seems more mysterious. This week we feature award-winning poet, photographer, and filmmaker, Mark…

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Archives: My Day with President Bush

From the Archives: Dec 6, 2018 To wrap up our German Week, here’s a story I posted about a day I spent providing security for then Vice President George H. W. Bush during his 1983 visit to West Germany.   George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States,…

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Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is a 200-year old traditional festival held for 17 days from mid-September until early October in Munich, Germany. Its main feature is beer – about 7 million liters of it each year – along with traditional food (wurst, chicken, pretzels, salted radishes), folk costumes, music and amusement park rides.…

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German ‘Easy Rider’

On a Rhine River trip with his wife Rosemary in 2019, Paul Marion was transported back to 1969 by a dubbed-into-German classic American film. Here’s a poem he wrote about the experience. Also, coincidentally, this Friday, Oct. 9, would have been the 80th birthday of John Lennon, who is mentioned…

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Siggy and Tina

Siggy and Tina By Steve O’Connor More from Germany. Here’s a Steve O’Connor essay from Lowell Sunrise, 2008 Tina is from Bavaria. A few years ago, she was sent from Germany to work as an intern at the Puma branch in Westford where my wife worked. Puma is a German…

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Trump debate behavior an embarrassment to the country by Marjorie Arons-Barron

The entry below is being cross posted from Marjorie Arons-Barron’s own blog. Last night’s despicable mud-wrestling, schoolyard bullying, name-calling event was neither Presidential nor a debate. Thank you, Donald.  The President who  violates all norms of behavior,  tramples science and facts, lies about virtually everything, foments divisiveness,  incites violence,  savages…

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