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Michael Judge @mjudgetfp.bsky.social · 10d

My tribute to Denis Johnson—#writer, #teacher, and #friend—delivered at the Iowa premier of Train Dreams, the new #film based on his #novella.

michaeljudge.substack.com/p/rising-lik...

#denisjohnson #novelist #poet #playwright #shortstories

Rising Like the Drowned

A tribute to Denis Johnson—writer, teacher, and friend

michaeljudge.substack.com

Michael Judge @mjudgetfp.bsky.social · 19d

Don’t miss this TFP essay by philosopher and author Scott Samuelson. We need real help with the quandaries we have about helping others, he writes. Norman Maclean's timeless novella, “A River Runs Through It,” gives us a hand. #philosophy #essay #memoir
michaeljudge.substack.com/p/scott-samu...

Scott Samuelson: How Can I Help?

We need real help with the quandaries we have about helping others. Norman Maclean's timeless novella, A River Runs Through It, gives us a hand.

michaeljudge.substack.com

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Michael Judge @mjudgetfp.bsky.social · Sep 23

michaeljudge.substack.com/p/nearer
#poem

Nearer

A poem for my oldest brother, Steven Thomas Judge (1959-2013), who suffered, lived, and loved with schizophrenia for 34 brave and beautiful years.

michaeljudge.substack.com

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Michael Judge @mjudgetfp.bsky.social · Sep 19

#Artist and writer Red Danielson reflects on his creative journey while painting a portrait of legendary author Kurt Vonnegut.
michaeljudge.substack.com/p/red-daniel...

Red Danielson: Painting Kurt Vonnegut

I look into your shadows, Kurt. I am blessed by everything I see.

michaeljudge.substack.com

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Michael Judge @mjudgetfp.bsky.social · Aug 13

TFP revisits a "Midwestern rite of summer," and the grace and determination of a 13-year-old Iowan, her pony, T.J., and quarter horse, Rosey.
#iowastatefair #iowa #FFA #4H
michaeljudge.substack.com/p/a-magical-...

A Magical Day at the Iowa State Fair

TFP revisits a "Midwestern rite of summer," and the grace and determination of a 13-year-old Iowan, her pony, T.J., and quarter horse, Rosey.

michaeljudge.substack.com

Michael Judge @mjudgetfp.bsky.social · Aug 11

The city of Kokura was the primary target for the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki 80 years ago on Aug. 9 at 11:02 a.m. Kokura was passed over that morning due to cloud cover and poor visibility.
#Nagasaki

michaeljudge.substack.com/p/kokura

Kokura

The city of Kokura was the primary target for the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki 80 years ago on Aug. 9 at 11:02 a.m. Kokura was passed over that morning due to cloud cover and poor visibility.

michaeljudge.substack.com

Michael Judge @mjudgetfp.bsky.social · Aug 6

My piece in The Japan Times today about my visit to #Hiroshima with my beautiful son, Max, and what he and a young Japanese middle-school student taught me about the power of compassion.
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...

Nuclear destruction through the eyes of a 10-year-old

Still, I wasn’t sure how Max would react to the enormity of the human suffering that took place in Hiroshima.

www.japantimes.co.jp

Michael Judge @mjudgetfp.bsky.social · Aug 3

TFP revisits a conversation with Mark Hetfield, president of the refugee agency HIAS, from the shocking first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
#refugees #ukraine #russia

michaeljudge.substack.com/p/weve-seen-...

‘We’ve seen this in Europe, just not in our lifetimes’

TFP revisits a conversation with Mark Hetfield, president of the refugee agency HIAS, from the shocking first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

michaeljudge.substack.com

Michael Judge @mjudgetfp.bsky.social · Jul 19

Long ago, writes Scott Samuelson, my first love, Pammy, entered into that room inside me that the music of Brian Wilson had opened.
#brianwilson #beachboys #essay
michaeljudge.substack.com/p/brian-wils...

Brian Wilson, Love, and My Need for Mercy

Long ago, my first love, Pammy, entered into that room inside me that the music of Brian Wilson had opened.

michaeljudge.substack.com

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Michael Judge @mjudgetfp.bsky.social · Jul 11

On E.B. White's birthday, TFP revisits the great American writer's prophetic essay, "Here Is New York."
michaeljudge.substack.com/p/how-eb-whi...
#essay #ebwhite #newyork #newyorkcitylife #writerscommunity #writersofinstagram #writersoffacebook #writerslife

How E.B. White Saw It All—A City, Its Future

On E.B. White's birthday, TFP revisits the great American writer's prophetic essay, "Here Is New York."

michaeljudge.substack.com

Michael Judge @mjudgetfp.bsky.social · Jul 8

The Drowned — a poem for America and a prayer for the victims of the Texas floods:
michaeljudge.substack.com/p/the-drowned
#poem #poetry #TexasFloods

The Drowned

A poem for America

michaeljudge.substack.com

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Michael Judge @mjudgetfp.bsky.social · Jul 1

In a meeting my son calls "awesome," we talked about his "antiwar" films, the violence inherent in humanity, and why society is "at odds with itself.”
#movies #clinteastwood #interviews #Westerns
michaeljudge.substack.com/p/the-day-i-...

The Day I Met Clint Eastwood

In a meeting my son calls "awesome," we talked about his "antiwar" films, the violence inherent in humanity, and why society is "at odds with itself."

michaeljudge.substack.com

Michael Judge @mjudgetfp.bsky.social · Jun 25

On Orwell’s birthday, TFP revisits his 1946 #essay and its timeless truths.
michaeljudge.substack.com/p/excerpts-f...

Excerpts From George Orwell’s ‘Politics and the English Language’

On Orwell’s birthday, TFP revisits his 1946 essay and its timeless truths.

michaeljudge.substack.com

Michael Judge @mjudgetfp.bsky.social · Jun 18

My latest TFP piece addresses #Trump’s America viewed from afar, and the dismantling of Pax Americana. Read it here: michaeljudge.substack.com/p/america-is...

‘America is scary.’

I pray that’s a sentence my son never hears again.

michaeljudge.substack.com

Michael Judge @mjudgetfp.bsky.social · Jun 13

A #poem for Father’s Day

michaeljudge.substack.com/p/dear-son

Dear Son

A poem for Father’s Day

michaeljudge.substack.com

Michael Judge @mjudgetfp.bsky.social · Jun 6

“Gunga galunga… gunga, gunga-galunga.”

— Carl Spackler,
from “Caddyshack”

michaeljudge.substack.com/p/taste-grie...

Taste Grief, Need Friends

Bad golf, good friends, and shared poetry

michaeljudge.substack.com

Michael Judge @mjudgetfp.bsky.social · May 29

Another light and enlightening piece by #philosopher and author of "The Deepest Human Life," Scott Samuelson. #TENNIS #Philosophy #humanities #FrenchOpen #RolandGarros2025
michaeljudge.substack.com/p/scott-samu...

Scott Samuelson: On Achieving 'Tennisosity'

As in life, the point of tennis isn’t to hit serves above a certain speed or win a major title. The point is for a great game to be played—one that brings out the best in each player.

michaeljudge.substack.com

Michael Judge @mjudgetfp.bsky.social · May 25

A poem for #MemorialDay michaeljudge.substack.com/p/a-soldier-...

A Soldier Told Me

A poem for Memorial Day

michaeljudge.substack.com

Michael Judge @mjudgetfp.bsky.social · May 21

This #MemorialDay weekend, I revisit the life and legacy of my friend Dr. Charles H. Read, a flight surgeon during World War II who went on to make invaluable medical contributions during peacetime. The world needs more men like Dr. Read. RIP, Baby Lion 🙏
michaeljudge.substack.com/p/he-saved-s...

He Saved Sailors’ Lives, Countless Others

This Memorial Day weekend, I revisit the life and legacy of my friend Dr. Charles H. Read, a flight surgeon during World War II who went on to make invaluable medical contributions during peacetime.

michaeljudge.substack.com

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Michael Judge @mjudgetfp.bsky.social · May 16

My latest TFP piece: An award-winning documentary tells the magical story of Frank Brinton and the oldest operating cinema in the world. #film #journalism #documentary #cinema
michaeljudge.substack.com/p/the-birth-...

The Birth of Film in the Heart of Iowa

An award-winning documentary tells the magical story of Frank Brinton and the oldest operating cinema in the world.

michaeljudge.substack.com

Michael Judge @mjudgetfp.bsky.social · May 13

A #poem after Leonardo da Vinci's studies for Leda and the Swan. Read it here and much more at The First Person with Michael Judge.
michaeljudge.substack.com/p/like-ledas...

Like Leda's Hips

A poem after Leonardo da Vinci's studies for Leda and the Swan

michaeljudge.substack.com

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Michael Judge @mjudgetfp.bsky.social · May 10

Happy Mother’s Day! Read this lovely TFP story by mom Molly Wesling. Then call your mom and tell her you love her!
#mothersday #poetry #essay #literature

michaeljudge.substack.com/p/molly-wesl...

Molly Wesling: Czesław Miłosz's Hundred Acre Wood

Upon the birth of her son, writes Molly Wesling, the great poet sent a gift: "The Complete Winnie-the-Pooh." The inscription read, "To Nicholas Wesling Gerber, that you may enjoy it as I did."

michaeljudge.substack.com

Michael Judge @mjudgetfp.bsky.social · May 7

This poem came from a dream my mother had many years ago. She was born in 1936 and when she was 8 her father was away at the war, in his case on the island of Okinawa. Her dream is the poem.
#poetry #poetrycommunity #poems #mothersday

michaeljudge.substack.com/p/away-at-th...

Away at the War

A poem for Mother’s Day

michaeljudge.substack.com

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Michael Judge @mjudgetfp.bsky.social · May 2

Honored to share my TFP conversation with Ukrainian journalist Maria Romanenko @rommari.bsky.social on the torture and killing of her former colleagues and her efforts to help refugees and raise awareness of the war’s brutal toll.
#StandWithUkraine
michaeljudge.substack.com/p/russia-can...

‘Russia can kill our journalists, but it can’t kill the truth.’

Ukrainian journalist Maria Romanenko on the killing of her former colleagues and her efforts to help refugees and raise awareness of the war’s brutal toll.

michaeljudge.substack.com

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Michael Judge @mjudgetfp.bsky.social · Apr 26

Honored to have @mayacpopa.bsky.social publish my poem “Description for Masae" with so many other wonderful #poems and #poets on her Substack. Thank you, Maya, for being such a tireless ambassador for the art of poetry and those of us who can't live without it.
mayacpopa.substack.com/cp/162154695

Poems for Your Weekend

National Poetry Month: Substack Poets Edition

mayacpopa.substack.com