Under the Banyan Tree

I love receiving packages, especially unexpected ones (which generally means I just forgot about having ordered something). Last week I got a book in the mail. A good, old fashioned book in the good, old fashioned mail. A rectangular cardboard box with my name in Courier type on the addressee label. A surprise on top of the sycamore leaves at my doorstep. I placed the box on the kitchen island and sliced through the tape with the knife I most commonly use for vegetables, not knowing this book would be as healthy for me as grated carrots or steamed broccoli. I hadn't remembered ordering a book and certainly not one that would cause me to think this much. Call it my subconscious understanding what I needed or simply my immediate, and ostensibly insignificant, response to yet another invitation to peruse a possible creative writing textbook, but something knew I would find this book inspiring. The book is a collection of essays by acclaimed writers reflecting on lines from...