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Along the Mississippi, in Grafton
The sun, mostly hidden by bands of overcast grey, sinks toward the river surface in increments so small that the summer breeze cools slowly, making the heat rising from her more than just pleasant. Lazy summer music from the bar plays, and barges sail slowly against the current, making the late afternoon pass languidly against the backdrop of the ( Read more... ) -
In the comfort of her embrace
One of her arms, strong enough to bear the weight of children, of struggles, and of a lifetime of sorrows, lay across my chest, protective in repose. Her other hand, calm and steady as the surface of tranquil waters, holds my own loosely, cool but engaged, present but languid.
A leg, careful in its carelessness, lies across my body, the most ( Read more... ) -
On a rocky ledge in Klondike Park
In the now I feel tranquility, thoughts stopped as winds play through the trees and kiss the cooling sweat upon our brows. Contentment fills the center of my being, grounded in the smell of each joy-infused breath of air awash with the scents of pine and earthy, decaying leaves. My gratitude swells as I luxuriate in the presence of her beside me ( Read more... ) -
What should have been, and what was.
The echoes of her laugh rang faint like tolls across a valley deep, a clarion call that had not been warm for time out of mind ( Read more... ) -
Killing the Junk
On the bad days Momma doesn't sleep well. She thrashes, tossing off the blankets that I keep pulling up to her chin. Not tonight, though. Tonight I put one of the pills that Daddy Marco used to sell into her milk when I made dinner. He's been gone a long time, but I still have over half the bottle that I had taken from his backpack. Tonight she' ( Read more... ) -
What it should be, what it is
Her laugh is like a clarion call. It rings across my soul as if it were ( Read more... ) -
Soldiery
I saw the blood and banner fly.
I saw him fall and heard the cry,
"If such a mighty man can die,
what promised life and joy have I?"
An answer sung out strong and true
"No promised joy in life have you.
For hope is faith to see us through,
that joy shall find we lucky few."
"To live for love and service bold,
our courage fast and strength to hold.
Our deeds ( Read more... ) -
Heartbreak
"Winter may not be a realistic goal." I had known before she said the words. I had forced her to say the words. I needed to hear her say the words, as I paced the cheap carpet of the office building lobby. Winter was only a few months away, and there was no way, short of a lottery win, that she could do what she needed to do and still be able ( Read more... ) -
The Wyrdling Pact
It had been two full passings of the moon across the plane of night since Tyllach had set out for the far coast. I remember, as I always remember on the mornings when I wake to feel the phantom embrace of his arms about me. The wind had been high and cold on the beach, though the sun had been bright enough. "I'll be back before the tide reaches ( Read more... ) -
Another short
I didn’t want to notice that the woman sitting to my left was sobbing into her napkin. I tried refolding my newspaper, sipping loudly at my coffee, and scraping my fork against the bottom of my plate. The sobbing died down a little, but only to be replaced by loud sniffles, the kind that might as well be sobs, for all of the emotion that they ( Read more... )