“A sacrilege,” the Brother Sexton cries out. “Come quickly!” he calls to the priest. Something appalling is taking place at the altar in the monastery chapel in Sorrento, right in front of the statue of Mary and Jesus. What do you suppose it could be that would send the Sexton running? Was the chapel being…
The dream of my life Is to lie down by a slow river And stare at the light of the trees – To learn something by being nothing A little while but the rich Lens of attention.” from Twelve Moons, by Mary Oliver Recently, a friend paid me a compliment. He thanked me…
I just finished Annie Dillard’s Pilgrim at Tinker Creek and, frankly, I’m exhausted. I wasn’t prepared for the abundance of insect larvae illustrations. Neither was I prepared for the density of the book; the depth of reflection about, quite literally, every aspect of the landscape of Tinker Creek. It was overwhelming. I couldn’t accumulate that…
“What is wrong with you?” he asked. And the question was innocent. He did not understand. I can’t think why his words have come back to me now. My best guess is that Lorelei has rattled them free from a dusty corner of my memory. My daughter is a little stocky, thick in the ribs…
Editor’s Note: Most of our SW Shorts are geared (very) roughly toward ages 7-12. Today’s tale is more in the YA demo. Yay. Awesome. -Sam —– —– —– “Burn” by Helena Sorensen “Hush, Sim! Wait.” Abner hissed. He stopped, and the three stood silent, their eyes searching for some break in…
Editor’s Note: I just want to point out that Helena’s novel is available now in a new print edition. It’s also available for Kindle. Why don’t you join the growing number of people discovering her engaging fantasy world. Shiloh is a world, and a book, you will want to dive into and explore. –Sam …
Let me begin by saying that I am thankful for Sarah Clarkson. Her book recommendations (see Read for the Heart) have given me opportunities to present truth and beauty to my children in a thousand delightful ways. One of my favorite “Sarah” recommendations is a book called My Mama Had a Dancing Heart (written by Libba…
Eagle Flies woke to the sight of his grandfather’s face, dark and lined with age, hovering over him. “This is the day,” he said, his voice as cracked as the skin around his eyes. “Go before the sun touches the mountains, Eagle Flies. Find the Golden Arrow, and you return to your people a man…
It begins with a lonely little girl…and with invitations rejected. Just outside her scope of vision is a boy with a purple crayon, a creative soul, a kindred spirit. But the girl knows only her loneliness. She invites her mother to play. She approaches her father, her sister. But they are busy, distracted, entranced by…
Editor’s Note: Helena Sorensen is no stranger to regular readers of Story Warren. She has written several lovely guest posts that we’ve been pleased to share. I’m so delighted to welcome her now as a full-time, regular contributor. This mainly means that you’ll be assured of hearing from Helena in this space on a very regular…
Mo Willems doesn’t pull any punches. He just comes right out and says that Goldilocks shouldn’t be breaking and entering, that pigeons should, under no circumstances, be allowed to drive buses, and that it is very unwise to lose track of knuffle bunnies. This may be his most endearing quality. He refuses to pander or…
The road behind me is littered with things lost and forgotten, things devalued and discarded. At times, I look over my shoulder with a sense of relief, with a lightness that comes only from the laying aside of weights that were never mine to carry. At other times, though, I stumble on the road, for…
