In Becoming Gandhi, author Perry Garfinkel seeks to emulate the famous Indian leader who for most of his life adopted a stark personal simplicity.

A few years ago, the Vineyard Conservation Society (VCS) tasked itself with adding to its traditional mission statement (roughly, “What does VCS do?”) a new vision statement (“Why do we do it?”).

For nearly two years, my commute to work consisted of a short walk down Edgartown’s streets to the Vineyard Gazette office.

A great tree fell / the other day / opening up a / new patch of sky / in town.

Spring of 2024 / Dressed up for Easter / With nature’s rebirth / A calm before the storm / In an election year / Like none other.

It’s warm, not cold. / I’m not still old! / A childish rhyme / wakes me in time / to greet the sun: / sweet dreams have won!