A simple cup of black coffee may be the ultimate symbol of mundanity. Plain and pedestrian — black coffee serves as that quick hit of caffeine before a long day of work or a long night of studying. But in the reflection of the darkness of a simple cup of black coffee, Patti Smith sees a way of life — the life of an artist.

There is a disturbing trend between the rise of terrorism and the decline of COVID-19.

The number of times my friends had to tell me he was bad for me was unparalleled — far beyond anything they’d said before. Between all the late night talks we had, his was the name that came up the...