During the life of this Persimmon Tree issue, the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. This seminal document, which has moved and inspired so many people around the globe, was released to the larger world by the Second Continental Congress because, as the first paragraph of the Declaration states:
Decency and respect are two qualities that seem to be, once again, under fire on this little blue ball in the suburbs of the universe. Tolerance has yielded ground to intolerance. Differences are too often regarded with suspicion, largely based on ignorance, fear, and/or ingrained prejudice.
In the quivering uncertainties of this changing world—ravaged by climate change, brutal political/religious conflicts, and growing gaps and resentments between haves and have-nots—the arts are of vital importance. They allow us to peer into the lives of others, to ponder and absorb what we learn—and, as a result, to grow.
A magazine of the arts, Persimmon Tree publishes prose, poetry, and visual art from women of many backgrounds, life experiences, and opinions—as long as these submissions are well-rendered, thought-provoking, and comport to our standards of respect and decency. The Persimmon Tree Forum is the only section of our magazine centered on social and political questions—from our readers’ differing perspectives. A forum is, after all, an arena for debate and discussion.
In the past year, we have received one angry “unsubscribe” letter from a woman convinced that we support one side of a rending political/ethnic conflict, and another from a subscriber convinced we support the other side of that same conflict. Persimmon Tree supports freedom of expression.
I hope that, during the three months this issue is featured on our website, you will return again and again to explore the rich trove of prose, poetry, art, and music it contains.
I leave you with a quote from poet, essayist, and feminist and fervent peace activist Barbara Deming (1917-1984):
Peggy Wagner
Editor-in-Chief
Growing up in Greenwich Village in the 1940s, the shy only child of a glamorous, eccentric divorcée learns early that life will never be ordinary. From walking in on her mother posing nude for an artist to navigating the unpredictable world of single parenthood long before it was common, her childhood was equal parts bewildering and unforgettable.
In this poignant and witty memoir, Ellen Tovatt Leary reveals how her mother’s flamboyant spirit became both her greatest challenge and her greatest gift—the unlikely force that propelled her toward the theatre. With sharp humor, theatrical anecdotes, and unflinching honesty, she captures the struggles of a diffident child, the drama of a mother who could command applause even in a nursing home, and the triumph of finding her own voice.
A story of resilience, identity, and the complicated bond between mothers and daughters.
The audible version is read by the author. Available from Amazon.
Merry Song of Eugene, OR, is discovering that the older she gets, the more fascinated she is with Mother Nature in all her forms. Looking closely at what is right in front of her comes easily to her now. At the same time, she carries on with her joy of leading spiritual writing workshops for those willing to come out of hiding.