Jeannie Prinsen
@jeannieprinsen.bsky.social
Writer, copy editor, wife, mom of two autistic young adults, "Beloved Child of the House" (S. Clarke, Piranesi).
Born in PEI, live in Ontario.
https://jeannieprinsen.substack.com/
Born in PEI, live in Ontario.
https://jeannieprinsen.substack.com/
Pinned
"The role of
poetry in our time of crisis is the
same as always: to preserve our
minds and language, so we may be
strong for whatever is to come."
– Matthew Zapruder, Why Poetry?
poetry in our time of crisis is the
same as always: to preserve our
minds and language, so we may be
strong for whatever is to come."
– Matthew Zapruder, Why Poetry?
My latest post: "So. Tired. Or, stumbling into Advent like an exhausted zombie."
jeannieprinsen.substack.com/p/so-tired
jeannieprinsen.substack.com/p/so-tired
So. Tired.
Or, stumbling into Advent like an exhausted zombie.
jeannieprinsen.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:12 PM
My latest post: "So. Tired. Or, stumbling into Advent like an exhausted zombie."
jeannieprinsen.substack.com/p/so-tired
jeannieprinsen.substack.com/p/so-tired
If you've never read this one, do -- it's so worth your time! The way the drama plays out is hilarious.
🍚🧵
🍚🧵
4 yrs ago today, a family member managed a truly spectacular own goal, splintered his domestic bliss, & in the process, united the world for a day.
On popular request, I shall now recreate the livetweet thread from that day
So gather around children, for this is the tale of The Rice Truck Saga
On popular request, I shall now recreate the livetweet thread from that day
So gather around children, for this is the tale of The Rice Truck Saga
November 23, 2025 at 12:50 PM
If you've never read this one, do -- it's so worth your time! The way the drama plays out is hilarious.
🍚🧵
🍚🧵
Watching season 3 of a show last night–and bear with me, because I am annoyed!
In a s1 episode, the main character asks another character how her husband is, but (on purpose?) gets the name wrong: "How's Desmond?" "You mean Derek."
Then later in s1 the second character tells the first, "Derek & I
In a s1 episode, the main character asks another character how her husband is, but (on purpose?) gets the name wrong: "How's Desmond?" "You mean Derek."
Then later in s1 the second character tells the first, "Derek & I
November 21, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Watching season 3 of a show last night–and bear with me, because I am annoyed!
In a s1 episode, the main character asks another character how her husband is, but (on purpose?) gets the name wrong: "How's Desmond?" "You mean Derek."
Then later in s1 the second character tells the first, "Derek & I
In a s1 episode, the main character asks another character how her husband is, but (on purpose?) gets the name wrong: "How's Desmond?" "You mean Derek."
Then later in s1 the second character tells the first, "Derek & I
Reposted by Jeannie Prinsen
When they say Trump calling a reporter "piggy" is "just being honest," they are revealing a key feature of the reactionary mind: it believes, at a deep brainstem level, that *everyone* is awful & selfish & ugly on the inside. Everyone just suppresses it out of fear of social disapproval. Not Trump!
November 20, 2025 at 9:04 PM
When they say Trump calling a reporter "piggy" is "just being honest," they are revealing a key feature of the reactionary mind: it believes, at a deep brainstem level, that *everyone* is awful & selfish & ugly on the inside. Everyone just suppresses it out of fear of social disapproval. Not Trump!
Reposted by Jeannie Prinsen
Various group-philosophical pessimisms will have you believing that universalism is impossible, not worth striving for. That if you don't oppress, you will inevitably be a victim. I refuse. We are best protected by democracy, by the rule of law, by human and civil rights.
November 18, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Various group-philosophical pessimisms will have you believing that universalism is impossible, not worth striving for. That if you don't oppress, you will inevitably be a victim. I refuse. We are best protected by democracy, by the rule of law, by human and civil rights.
And did he even say "Thank you"?
November 19, 2025 at 12:58 PM
And did he even say "Thank you"?
Rejoice with me, for I have slept from 10pm until after 5am with only 1 wakeup by his nibs. (And he is still asleep! ❤️)
I feel like an actual human being this morning rather than a dazed zombie. May it continue – for him and us. 🙏
To those struggling with poor sleep: I see you. It's brutal.
I feel like an actual human being this morning rather than a dazed zombie. May it continue – for him and us. 🙏
To those struggling with poor sleep: I see you. It's brutal.
Our son's sleep has been disrupted the last few nights (probably due to a new medication – we're trying to adjust dosage times to see if that helps). I feel like I've been thrust back to the newborn baby days – that stunned, blurry feeling. I've probably slept 7 hours total in the past 2 nights. 😫
November 18, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Rejoice with me, for I have slept from 10pm until after 5am with only 1 wakeup by his nibs. (And he is still asleep! ❤️)
I feel like an actual human being this morning rather than a dazed zombie. May it continue – for him and us. 🙏
To those struggling with poor sleep: I see you. It's brutal.
I feel like an actual human being this morning rather than a dazed zombie. May it continue – for him and us. 🙏
To those struggling with poor sleep: I see you. It's brutal.
This Is Just To Say
I have desired
the plums
I have desired
desiring the plums
I have desired
desire
This amounted
to a test
of my self-
mastery
Forgive me
I understood this
just as I came
to understand how
the sweet cold plums
fit within what
I thought I understood
of my soul
I have desired
the plums
I have desired
desiring the plums
I have desired
desire
This amounted
to a test
of my self-
mastery
Forgive me
I understood this
just as I came
to understand how
the sweet cold plums
fit within what
I thought I understood
of my soul
November 17, 2025 at 7:47 PM
This Is Just To Say
I have desired
the plums
I have desired
desiring the plums
I have desired
desire
This amounted
to a test
of my self-
mastery
Forgive me
I understood this
just as I came
to understand how
the sweet cold plums
fit within what
I thought I understood
of my soul
I have desired
the plums
I have desired
desiring the plums
I have desired
desire
This amounted
to a test
of my self-
mastery
Forgive me
I understood this
just as I came
to understand how
the sweet cold plums
fit within what
I thought I understood
of my soul
Our son's sleep has been disrupted the last few nights (probably due to a new medication – we're trying to adjust dosage times to see if that helps). I feel like I've been thrust back to the newborn baby days – that stunned, blurry feeling. I've probably slept 7 hours total in the past 2 nights. 😫
November 17, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Our son's sleep has been disrupted the last few nights (probably due to a new medication – we're trying to adjust dosage times to see if that helps). I feel like I've been thrust back to the newborn baby days – that stunned, blurry feeling. I've probably slept 7 hours total in the past 2 nights. 😫
Reposted by Jeannie Prinsen
The emergency brake on this train says "FINE FOR MISUSE" so I guess it's okay if you want to mess with it
November 16, 2025 at 5:38 PM
The emergency brake on this train says "FINE FOR MISUSE" so I guess it's okay if you want to mess with it
Reposted by Jeannie Prinsen
A reminder that the crises routinely treated as separate—housing, food, climate, healthcare, electricity—are anything but.
This moment in America makes it glaringly clear: each feeds the other, driven by the same rapacious, profit-maximizing forces.
This moment in America makes it glaringly clear: each feeds the other, driven by the same rapacious, profit-maximizing forces.
November 12, 2025 at 9:29 PM
A reminder that the crises routinely treated as separate—housing, food, climate, healthcare, electricity—are anything but.
This moment in America makes it glaringly clear: each feeds the other, driven by the same rapacious, profit-maximizing forces.
This moment in America makes it glaringly clear: each feeds the other, driven by the same rapacious, profit-maximizing forces.
Repost with an iconic fictional band.
November 11, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Repost with an iconic fictional band.
Just finished Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy – I could not go to bed last night until I'd read the final few pages. What a beautiful, gripping novel.
November 11, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Just finished Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy – I could not go to bed last night until I'd read the final few pages. What a beautiful, gripping novel.
Thread 🧵 | My Experience with Bullying
#AntiBullyingWeek 1/8 Everyone says school
days are “the best days of your life.” I wish
that were true. Here’s what I went through.
#AntiBullyingWeek 1/8 Everyone says school
days are “the best days of your life.” I wish
that were true. Here’s what I went through.
November 10, 2025 at 4:59 PM
I have a new post up this week: "The world offers itself to your imagination." * It's about a walk in the forest, an encounter at a coffee shop, and the realization that grace can reach us wherever we are.
*words from Mary Oliver's "Wild Geese"
jeannieprinsen.substack.com/p/the-world-...
*words from Mary Oliver's "Wild Geese"
jeannieprinsen.substack.com/p/the-world-...
"The world offers itself to your imagination"
Maybe nothing is untouched by evil, but nothing is untouched by grace either.
jeannieprinsen.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:32 PM
I have a new post up this week: "The world offers itself to your imagination." * It's about a walk in the forest, an encounter at a coffee shop, and the realization that grace can reach us wherever we are.
*words from Mary Oliver's "Wild Geese"
jeannieprinsen.substack.com/p/the-world-...
*words from Mary Oliver's "Wild Geese"
jeannieprinsen.substack.com/p/the-world-...
I started the day by having the end of my housecoat sash fall into the (unflushed) toilet, so I think I'm winning!
November 6, 2025 at 4:24 PM
I started the day by having the end of my housecoat sash fall into the (unflushed) toilet, so I think I'm winning!
Reposted by Jeannie Prinsen
"Speaker Johnson, it looks as though the president is currently stabbing you with a knife. Do you have any comment?"
"Well, look, this is the first I'm hearing about it. As you know, I've been really busy not doing my job, so I just don't know enough about this alleged stabbing to make a comment."
"Well, look, this is the first I'm hearing about it. As you know, I've been really busy not doing my job, so I just don't know enough about this alleged stabbing to make a comment."
November 4, 2025 at 12:01 AM
"Speaker Johnson, it looks as though the president is currently stabbing you with a knife. Do you have any comment?"
"Well, look, this is the first I'm hearing about it. As you know, I've been really busy not doing my job, so I just don't know enough about this alleged stabbing to make a comment."
"Well, look, this is the first I'm hearing about it. As you know, I've been really busy not doing my job, so I just don't know enough about this alleged stabbing to make a comment."
This morning I heard a young staff member at my son's program say "Now THAT wasn't on my bingo list" 😊
November 3, 2025 at 4:41 PM
This morning I heard a young staff member at my son's program say "Now THAT wasn't on my bingo list" 😊
Reposted by Jeannie Prinsen
For me the centralizing question of the faith in this moment is ...
"When did we see you?"
hungry (SNAP)
thirsty (our environment is suffering)
a stranger (we have abandoned our neighbors)
naked (we have exploited the resources to the wealthy)
sick (no healthcare)
in prison
AND ... not help you?
"When did we see you?"
hungry (SNAP)
thirsty (our environment is suffering)
a stranger (we have abandoned our neighbors)
naked (we have exploited the resources to the wealthy)
sick (no healthcare)
in prison
AND ... not help you?
November 3, 2025 at 3:03 PM
For me the centralizing question of the faith in this moment is ...
"When did we see you?"
hungry (SNAP)
thirsty (our environment is suffering)
a stranger (we have abandoned our neighbors)
naked (we have exploited the resources to the wealthy)
sick (no healthcare)
in prison
AND ... not help you?
"When did we see you?"
hungry (SNAP)
thirsty (our environment is suffering)
a stranger (we have abandoned our neighbors)
naked (we have exploited the resources to the wealthy)
sick (no healthcare)
in prison
AND ... not help you?
Reposted by Jeannie Prinsen
Never take seriously those who ridicule low income people for having a smartphone or laptop.
“If they’re so poor how did they buy an iPhone???”
Because they’re trying to escape poverty, not the 1700s, genius. If you think basic tech access is luxury, survive a month without it.
“If they’re so poor how did they buy an iPhone???”
Because they’re trying to escape poverty, not the 1700s, genius. If you think basic tech access is luxury, survive a month without it.
November 2, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Never take seriously those who ridicule low income people for having a smartphone or laptop.
“If they’re so poor how did they buy an iPhone???”
Because they’re trying to escape poverty, not the 1700s, genius. If you think basic tech access is luxury, survive a month without it.
“If they’re so poor how did they buy an iPhone???”
Because they’re trying to escape poverty, not the 1700s, genius. If you think basic tech access is luxury, survive a month without it.
Reposted by Jeannie Prinsen
Blue Jays
Cody Houle ~ Anishinaabe
2025
Cody Houle ~ Anishinaabe
2025
October 31, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Blue Jays
Cody Houle ~ Anishinaabe
2025
Cody Houle ~ Anishinaabe
2025
2nd set of trick-or-treaters I made a successful Rumi ID. The quick cramming session paid off.
#KPopDemonHunters
#KPopDemonHunters
BRB gotta go familiarize myself with the precise appearance of the KPop Demon Hunters so I don't make any embarrassing mistakes tonight
October 31, 2025 at 10:22 PM
2nd set of trick-or-treaters I made a successful Rumi ID. The quick cramming session paid off.
#KPopDemonHunters
#KPopDemonHunters
BRB gotta go familiarize myself with the precise appearance of the KPop Demon Hunters so I don't make any embarrassing mistakes tonight
October 31, 2025 at 7:29 PM
BRB gotta go familiarize myself with the precise appearance of the KPop Demon Hunters so I don't make any embarrassing mistakes tonight
Reposted by Jeannie Prinsen
#Breaking: King Charles III will evict Prince Andrew from his royal residence and strip his titles, palace says
King Charles III will evict Prince Andrew from his royal residence and strip his titles, palace says
Andrew will be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and not as a prince, says Buckingham Palace.
www.thestar.com
October 30, 2025 at 7:28 PM
#Breaking: King Charles III will evict Prince Andrew from his royal residence and strip his titles, palace says
Reposted by Jeannie Prinsen
Now Ozymandias was from the Himalayas, where a cold wind howls and blows.
Why he left his home in the peaks to roam 'round the sands, God only knows.
His statue fell down, the desert's boundless and completely bare;
Though it's still scrawled on his pedestal that "ye Mighty should despair!"
Why he left his home in the peaks to roam 'round the sands, God only knows.
His statue fell down, the desert's boundless and completely bare;
Though it's still scrawled on his pedestal that "ye Mighty should despair!"
The sun did not shine.
It was too wet to play.
And the lone, level sands
Stretched far, far away.
It was too wet to play.
And the lone, level sands
Stretched far, far away.
Ozy, Ozy, King of Kings,
On the lone and level sand;
Who amidst these lifeless things,
Recalls your works made in this land?
On the lone and level sand;
Who amidst these lifeless things,
Recalls your works made in this land?
October 30, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Now Ozymandias was from the Himalayas, where a cold wind howls and blows.
Why he left his home in the peaks to roam 'round the sands, God only knows.
His statue fell down, the desert's boundless and completely bare;
Though it's still scrawled on his pedestal that "ye Mighty should despair!"
Why he left his home in the peaks to roam 'round the sands, God only knows.
His statue fell down, the desert's boundless and completely bare;
Though it's still scrawled on his pedestal that "ye Mighty should despair!"