Not that we prepared for it, or at first
noticed in the papery rustle
of the cottonwoods our shutters allowed,
or through coffee on the terrace,
in the mist of a garden hose trained on
lavender and roses, and glistening.
Still we are ready-equally in need-
of such quietness to be received.
And virtually to breathe it in the blue
fumaturo rising from the tilth
of vineyards and olive groves, the dreamy
plumes of cypress and whitening grains,
inviting and warranting increases
of thanks-under such circumstances,
to feel a native force, like remembrance,
inquiring for the proper name of praise.
Dear Reader,
Can I be direct with you?
War abroad. Socialists on the rise. AI upending human life. Endless uproar online. The modern attention economy doesn’t want readers — it wants users enslaved to the tyranny of the present.
First Things is the antidote: literary excellence, timeless truths, and a fixed point of reference in a culture that has lost its bearings.
But we can’t do it without readers like you.
Our goal: Raise $150,000 by November 1 to sustain First Things in the year ahead.
Your gift anchors readers in the permanent things.
Make your Fall Campaign gift now using the button below.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Giovanni Del Piero, Director of the Editor’s Circle, at gdelpiero@firstthings.com or 212-627-1985.
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