CJ Woods III’s Story Archive

April 1968

April 8, 2021 | by CJ Woods III

This column originally appeared in March 2016. “I stand here ironing, and what you asked me moves tormented back and forth with the iron.” — Tillie Olsen; “I Stand Here Ironing.” I was standing at an ironing board, pressing the white smock I wore as an attendant at a psychiatric … Read More

April Is National Poetry Month

April 1, 2021 | by CJ Woods III

Some people graced me with a gift recently and my thanks to them was a poem. I’m unsure that they understood the preciousness of the gift — to me, for them — but I believe that a poem is always appropriate to commemorate an occasion. National Poetry Month was launched … Read More

Grandpuppy Love

March 25, 2021 | by CJ Woods III

My cell phone sang with the unique sound of an incoming FaceTime call, and I quickly identified it as coming from my 12-year-old granddaughter, Imani. I lunged for my phone and slid the bar to “accept” and her face appeared on the screen. “There’s a bright red Cardinal in the … Read More

Cancel Culture

March 18, 2021 | by CJ Woods III

A poster on a social media site (yes, again with the “social media” mining) wanted to know why, with today’s “cancel culture,” a song from a famous band had not received untoward attention. The poster had previously shared a meme about the Dr. Seuss Foundation choosing to cease publishing six … Read More

Major Accomplishments

March 11, 2021 | by CJ Woods III

On February 19th, the Arts Council of Indianapolis hosted a Zoom online meeting for viewers to see the artists’ concepts for a proposed mural honoring Marshall “Major” Taylor. The event was posted on a social media site, and immediately interested me: my first mother-in-law’s good friend was Major Taylor’s daughter. … Read More