The meaning of our life
Is that we die.
The measure of our life
Is the way we use language.

So said Toni Morrison

I never read her books
But I'm often lonely like Roy Orbison.

Ms. Morrison from Lorain, Ohio
Like bookman Michael Dirda

I read his charming memoir
(Yes, I too am a nerda)

He quoted Cardinal Newman
Careful there, now Michael

He's wiser than Harry Truman
And if you do recycle

Real theological wisdom
You're bound to get my attention

Even if you don't believe
In actual divine intervention

Cardinal Newman quite correct
Like Herman Melville the mystic sailor

"It is a law of God's Providence that we succeed by failure".