Writers
This carefully maintained dock holds a growing collection of the written word. Here, you’ll find thought provoking articles, unique stories, private letters, personal notes, deep musings, and occasionally, even poetry. Much of the content here has never been shared publicly. For whatever reason, some pieces were tucked away by the writer for years. Now, it’s all available for you.
Thanks
Thank you for holding the door for an old woman at Cracker Barrel. You must’ve been fourteen, you were with friends. You were laughing and carrying on when you saw the old woman, pushing a walker. You jogged ahead. You beat her to the door. You held it open. She thanked you. You yes-ma’amed her. And you made my day, kid. My whole day.
Hold the Phone
A crowded restaurant. The place is full of teenagers. Everyone is on their phones. Nobody is talking. I am here with my cousin’s 13-year-old son. He is playing on his phone when he asks, “What was it like before smartphones?” “It was different,” I answer. “Very different.”
Privacy
Robert W. Service’s poem uses a goldfish to underscore the challenges of constant scrutiny. The fish’s decline symbolizes the harms of perpetual observation. Service emphasizes the essentiality of privacy and the perils of exposure. The poem urges respect for boundaries and the value of solitude. It’s a call for compassion in an often intrusive world.
The Quitter
Robert W. Service’s poem champions human resilience against adversity. It underscores the challenge of persevering in tough times and the ease of succumbing to despair. The poem encourages readers to stay persistent and value mental strength, asserting that true character shines in the face of challenges.
The Woman And The Angel
In Robert W. Service’s poem, an angel descends to Earth, captivating many with his divine beauty. While many are enchanted, he resists earthly desires until a tempting woman questions his morals. As she challenges traditional values, God retrieves the angel to safeguard him, with Satan echoing the dismissal of age-old principles.
The Lost Scenes of Oz
Step into the magical world of Oz with this captivating glimpse into the untold segments of the beloved classic. Although absent from the final film, the three scenes provide a deeper insight into the iconic characters. Featuring Dorothy and the Scarecrow in “On The Road Through the Forest,” “The Tin Woodman,” and “The Cowardly Lion,” these scenes enrich the tapestry of the timeless tale, adding layers to the narrative and offering a more comprehensive understanding of the world of Oz.
Scrabble
About a year ago. I met her in a hospital room. I arrived early, with my Scrabble game in tow.
Fast Horses
As of this writing, there are twenty-one horses running in the Kentucky Derby this afternoon. From Forte, currently 3 to 1, all the way to Reincarnate at 50 to 1, the odds are as widely spaced–if names are any indication–as the gap in their owner’s imaginations. Some of the names are great, some are not so great, and a couple are downright horrible.
Music Appreciation
My husband and I shared a sideways glance and silently mouthed a name that was loaded with low-class geekiness. We were listening to a live opera performance in the home of Vivaldi and Rossini, no less, and the name we whispered was “Bugs Bunny.” You can force the kids to grow up and let them roam around the world, but our American musical heritage will stay with us forever. Even if it was delivered by Saturday morning cartoons.
Super Bloom
After several drought years, California has been deluged with rain adding up to one of the wettest winters on record. The rainfall has filled the empty reservoirs and swollen the creeks and rivers. The parched hillsides and canyons that sweltered last summer and sent fire warnings throughout the state are now dazzling eyes with vibrant green.
Poetry Conversations: If—
Watch and listen as Gloria Gaither (a former high school English teacher) and Andy Andrews (a former high school poetry hater) discuss Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If—.” This incredible piece touches on humility, patience, arrogance, triumph, disasters, and begs the question, are you as comfortable and real everywhere in your life—from one place to another?
Easter
A few years ago I attended my first Catholic mass in a busy church outside Birmingham. It was Easter Sunday. I sat in the nosebleed section.