She rose in the chill hour before dawn. Over the western horizon the moon, now almost full, cast long shadows in the grasses, limning the early morning in silver. Behind the camp, the green glow of the approaching sun capped the cold mountains. Looming malevolently in the moonlight, the snowy heights seemed to taunt and… Continue reading Duty Before Dawn
Tag: Fiction
The Well
She went to the well every morning. She, and every other girl in the village. Every morning to the well to gather the water necessary for washing, cooking, drinking, brewing — all of which she would also do. Every day. Every morning she went to the well in the village common. But not this morning. … Continue reading The Well
Andromeda
23 April is St George's Feast Day. This year the bank holiday is on Monday, 25 April. To honor the day, here is a version of the story of St George and the Dragon, which itself is a version of a much older tale of annual agricultural sacrifice. Andromeda being tied for sacrifice, Apulian red-figure vase, ca.… Continue reading Andromeda
Ça tourne, Old Man
Metis (Image from GreekMythology.com) Wise Metis, Sea-Dark Metis, Metis of Fair Judgement, Metis lived on the mountain far from her mother. Far, yet near a cold stream that flowed to Tethys whereby they could converse. For Tethys was in all the springing waters. Metis lived in solitude on the mount, desiring none. But in time… Continue reading Ça tourne, Old Man
Morning Hush
Here’s me awake in the dark of the morning again. Quiet today. Not even a breath. Always leading into summer, there’s this rush and then a hush, grabbing fistfuls of life and then squatting behind the shed to gobble it up. Maybe don’t want to go back there right now. As it’s hush time. But… Continue reading Morning Hush
Poetry Month
April is Poetry Month. A whole month of rhyme and rhythm, metaphor, allusion. Every word the density of a black hole in your mind. Poetry is love in language. April was much fun in my bookstore. Writing contests for elementary school kids. Poetry slams for tweens and teens. Several readings a week from all manner… Continue reading Poetry Month
Eggs!
The birds are busy in the backyard. They’re awake at dawn, debating the latest household design fashions and hipster watering holes. Possibly a few duels among the cardinals. The doves are sighing in frustration because they prefer to sleep in. The wren is just permanently enraged. But he sounds lovely — as long as you… Continue reading Eggs!
A Bit of Bread
I had to refresh the sourdough culture today. The bulk ferment tub looked like it could be growing more than sourdough critters. The culture was fine, though, so I used up all but a cup yesterday, making a multi-grain nut bread with dried fruit. This meant I also used up all the nut flour that… Continue reading A Bit of Bread
Engineering for Reality
It’s sand in the turbine again. Hell cats with singed tails squalling in the wind. Don’t know what they have to complain about. They come from worse heat than this, or so the story goes. Maybe. On second thought, I don’t really believe there is worse heat than this. The sun might be cooler than… Continue reading Engineering for Reality
The Clootie Tree
there is a sacred spring down the lane yea, truly, though abandoned by utility desecrated by profanity there is a tiny bit of the elysian just down the lane a spring bedight in candles, coins, rags, riches scraps of superstition supplication alms and oblation just down the lane and surreptitiously they come seeking lucidity seeking… Continue reading The Clootie Tree



