Ben stood at the head of the trail. He stood there facing all the troubles and sorrows that might accompany a man on his long journey through life. Ben stood there a good while pondering his future, filled with grand adventures and heroic battles, and of course, normal affairs of life like meals and lodging…
Some people are called to do great things, like compose Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, or be the mother of the man who wrote Moby Dick, or invent the electric tea kettle. My calling is less beneficial to the human race, but we don’t get to choose. In the nature of the case, a calling seeks us out…
A few years ago, I was looking for a creative challenge that would appeal to all my kids, ranging at the time from age six to fourteen. I wanted something that was age appropriate for all, required no prep, and could be done on a regular basis. The humble Squiggle – a simple idea I…
Dear Reader, A friend sent me this (linked) fairy name chart. It occurred to me that what the world really needs right now is a similar chart to figure out our troll names. And here it is, thanks to the indisputably Odius qualities of myself and Carrie L– er, Slackthew…
Cragged boughs reach skyward, arms stretched,Straining for the light,for that blistering blue,For the mirror-bright facet of a jewel. Fingers splay wide but the wind buffets joints,Bending them to the breaking point.Trunks break like brittle bones.Arms crack and splinter under the strain. Twigs shed like so many feathers,Littering avenue and forest floor with pine-thick fronds,The discarded…
O God of new beginnings, whose hand brings both the dripping rain and the warming afternoon sun, by which You call forth new life: bluebirds nesting, peonies sprouting, daffodils blooming; we thank you for the hopeful promise of spring. With the awakening of our blood after winter lethargy, it seems that suddenly every moment is…
Sometimes when the clouds go on vacation and the sun glows for squinting, the sky becomes a big, bulging dome of ice cream. Not like the sunrise kind, which promises spicy chunks of peachy charcoal and mangonada; nor yet the sticky sunset of sweet turmeric and studded strawberry. No, this sky is an energetic, milky,…
Once upon a time, there was a dog named “Young Man”. I do not know why his name was ‘Young Man’, so please do not ask. Some things simply cannot be explained. Young Man belonged to a young… er, to a boy named Bill. Bill belonged to his parents. You do not need to know…
The river is silver tonight So the moon came down for a dip Where the frogs croak deep in the rushes And the stars swim shining like fish. I came for a drink with my dipper But the Dipper was already there So I filled my eyes with the glory And my lungs with the…
The pandemic was hard. In California, we were in a lockdown. We were essentially constrained to home and short trips to necessary stores. The pandemic was hard on schools; as a headmaster, I was in the role of leading a school, teaching classes, and coordinating my own children’s Zooms and related distance learning. The pandemic…
Here’s a new song from the decks of spaceship JUNIPER!
Editor’s Note: If you like this fairy re-telling, you can also pre-order Isabel’s picture book, West of Moonlight, East of Dawn.
