As my colleagues and I prepared this issue, I was struck by the gentle Quaker exhortation, “Mind the light,” included within the text—and referenced in the title— of Deborah Kelly Kloepfer’s essay “Minding the Light.” Though I’m not a Quaker, “Mind the light” seems to me excellent counsel—and a potent reminder to look for compassion, empathy, and the many forms of positive creativity in ourselves and harbored within most of our fellow human beings.

To me, positive creativity means not only celebrations of sunshine and sweet breezes, though I welcome salutes to both. Especially in the context of our magazine, I view positive creativity as well-rendered written, visual, and aural art that reflects and examines aspects of our existence, raises challenging questions, pokes fun in thought-provoking ways, and generally stimulates both mind and spirit. The arts have the power to do all these things in ways that resound unpredictably. As Emily Dickinson wrote, “The poet lights the light and fades away. But the light goes on and on.”

This issue of Persimmon Tree is filled with positive creativity—including fiction that deals with some of the darker aspects of life, and nonfiction that reflects the courage and curiosity that are among the better angels of human nature. Publisher Jean Zorn introduces varied and moving Short Takes contributions on “Legacies.” Music Editor Gena Raps reports on joining 96-year-old composer Thea Musgrave for the recent London production of Musgrave’s opera Mary, Queen of Scots. Art Editor Greta Berman introduces us to the multi-faceted creativity of Betti Franceschi. And Poetry Editor Cynthia Hogue presents examples of the sometimes harrowing but always compassionate poetry of Naomi Shihab Nye. You’ll also find in these pages, “The Creative Life,” a new section we plan to publish each spring, in which contributors deal with various aspects of, and challenges associated with, artistic creation.

Finally, in the Forum members of the Persimmon Tree community describe, with eloquence and haunting detail, their experiences surviving climate disasters, each contribution a testament to resilience, determination, and concern for our beleaguered planet. Climate change is only one of the challenges the human community is currently facing, of course. This seems an era of growing intolerance and political and social upheaval, leaving many in despair. So I leave you with the words of poet Gwendolyn Brooks, who wrote in her “Speech to the Young”:

Countermelodies: A Memoir in Sonata Form

by Ernistine Whitman

    Countermelodies, winner of both the NYC Big Book Award and the Indie Reader Discovery Award for memoir, is a coming of age story about the powerful relationship between a protegee and her mentor, and the devastating effects when that mentor betrays her by withdrawing his support just when she needs it most. A young woman who yearns for her father’s approval is constantly overshadowed by a brilliant older sister. Her self-doubt vanishes when, at age thirteen, she discovers a passion for the flute and studies with a charismatic teacher who becomes her surrogate father. Years later, she wins an audition to work beside him in the Atlanta Symphony, where she is the youngest and one of few women in the orchestra. After her exhilarating first year, the mentor turns against her and threatens to destroy her professional and personal life. Her love for the flute and drive to be a musician sustain her through additional encounters with abusive men as she tries to succeed in the competitive field of classical music. “A disturbing and compelling tale of resilience, determination, and musical passion.” — Kirkus Reviews “Whitman explores power dynamics, patriarchal oppression, and music as personal salvation. … a story of persistence and survival in a world at the mercy of toxic misogyny.” — BlueInk Review https://ernestinewhitman.ag-sites.net/index.htm Available from Amazon, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, and your local independent bookstore.

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