As a seed, I was shot out the back end of a blue jay when, heedless, she flew over the meadow. Spiraling downward as I should, I landed in the tall grass, among sun-loving wildflowers. I was not welcomed there. The unrelenting sun beat upon my shell until the evening forced it west. Ravenous nightContinue reading “Cypress Tale”
Tag Archives: prose
An Invitation
I gaze at my reflection in the park pond. Tiny ripples distort my face. A backdrop of pink cherry blossoms creates a serene scene, though my internal reflection is anything but. I had hoped that a morning walk in the park would lift my mood. The first warm day after a long and brutal winter.Continue reading “An Invitation”
Buried Heads
Heads neatly tucked inside ourselves. Denial is our enemy; distractions are our downfall. We are soldiers neatly lined in formation, blindly following those whose heads are buried even deeper than our own. Where can we find light in this never-ending shade? It starts with a simple question. I steal furtive glances among my associates andContinue reading “Buried Heads”
Boughed Heads
An aimless wanderer who knows not her destination. The trees sense her pain, bowing their heads in unison. They offer the young woman shelter; protect and guide her. They show her that she may find light in the darkness. When she is ready, they lift their branches skyward and point to the stars. They rustleContinue reading “Boughed Heads”
Naughty Maps
Uncle Charlie was a navigator, but the maps locked in his office weren’t just charts to his next destination. The Caribbean was his backyard. He knew every island by name and coordinate. When my uncle died, my cousins and I entered the secret world of his office. My cousins sorted through trinkets and treasures whileContinue reading “Naughty Maps”
Moss-Covered Secrets
I have secrets! You don’t believe me? Of course not. I am a model citizen after all. I check each of the boxes: A successful career, a lovely family, wonderful friends… Nobody suspects the darkness within, nor sees the weight of the burdens I carry. I don’t believe that speaking of such things is beneficialContinue reading “Moss-Covered Secrets”
One Sweltering Day
It is a sweltering day. I had expected to be inundated with calls requesting taxi service, but my phone remains silent. Why walk in such scorching heat? While I generally believe that every day unfurls as it must, the need to put food on the table requires action. Perhaps I will drive through theContinue reading “One Sweltering Day”
One Misty Morning
I decided to do some bird watching along the shore of a local lake. It was the perfect time of year to photograph migrating birds. I meandered along the lake trail. It was an eerily quiet morning. The absence of birdsong was evident. I approached the lake and watched the steam rise from its calmContinue reading “One Misty Morning”
Star Gazing
Erin gazes at the vast night sky contemplating her insignificance. The realization that we are but mere specs adhered to a rotating sphere of matter in a virtually unexplored universe. There are billions of stars in our galaxy and billions of galaxies beyond. She thinks what does it matter? That the stars we see areContinue reading “Star Gazing”
Lost City
He stands in the courtyard of the lost city, holding an old scroll of ancient parchment. The archaic language written thereupon is similar to the primitive languages he had studied most of his scholarly life. It speaks of treasures hidden beneath the old city, though some of the text he could not decipher. He knewContinue reading “Lost City”