Author Archives: Stephen Ellis
Meeting A Mentor For The First Time
In the second quarter of his freshman year, he took an introductory economics honors course taught by Samuel Bradford, a professor beloved by students but a constant irritant to the University’s administration. Bradford was small of stature with an enormous … Continue reading
Their First Visit to the University of Michigan Law School
They visited the law school for the first time on a hot, late-August day. It was mid-morning, and the temperature was already in the high 80s. A typical Midwest summer day, it lay in wait under its high harsh sun … Continue reading
A Conversation With Angie
In early spring of his freshman year, he made his first real acquaintance of someone of color. Sahaptin was lily white in almost all of its aspects, but the University was lightly integrated. Angie Mason had a deep ebony complexion … Continue reading
The Marriage Proposal
In late November of their junior year, Mary and Derek went for diner at a combination bar/burger joint within easy walking distance from the campus and slightly beyond the one mile no-alcohol radius imposed upon the University by the Legislature. … Continue reading
Mise-en-Scene
There’s a wall in Washington and it’s made of cold black granite They say 60,000 names are etched there in it in that wall in Washington There’s a Wall in Washington, Iris Dement If there was one thing in … Continue reading
Once There Was A War
“Once upon a time there was a war, but so long ago and so shouldered out of the way by other wars and other kinds of wars that even people who were there are apt to forget. This war that … Continue reading
Chapter One
TIME AND THE VALLEYEarly Summer 2013 I’m goin’ down to the dreaming fieldsBut what will be my harvest nowWhere every tear that falls on a memoryFeels like rain on the rusted plowRain on the rusted plow The Dreaming Fields, Matraca … Continue reading
Why I’m Here
A little over three year ago, I retired and began thinking about what came next. I enjoyed a busy, successful career, but there was more I wanted to try. Aside from resting up after 43 years practicing law, I wanted to see if … Continue reading