Aleppo Boy

His little legs are too small for the chair that they put him in. He is a good boy and he lays his hands in his lap. His world of playing probably was never like mine, like yours. He is young enough to know only the sounds of war and fear. Today they came to … More Aleppo Boy

The Island

The geese are daring to stay on the beach for a little longer. They seem to stop here on this island for one more party before they fly away home. Don’t cringe, the winter will wait just a little longer. The bay is a shore of sand bordering the wildland. There are three giant, gull … More The Island

Ahulani

It’s six thirty in the morning. The birds have just started calling. They’re different in the tropics than anywhere else. They are obnoxious, like a fat woman in the store complaining about the price of chicken. But they fit, for some reason, and he finds their noise comforting. The sun isn’t up yet and it’s … More Ahulani

Fall

A homage to Lieutenant Henry and Miss Barkley, but mostly to you.   It’s fall. She said that to me while the leaves fell onto our cars. The maple ones were beautiful red, orange and yellow. Everything else just was. “It’s cold here.” “It’s always cold here.” She didn’t say much and I held her hand … More Fall

La Marseillaise

This is a short blurb I wrote a few days after the infamous Paris Attacks in November of 2015. Anna and I were in Ireland when it happened. It was a terrible day. We visited Paris about a week after the attacks. It is a lovely city. German bombs from both wars couldn’t destroy Paris, … More La Marseillaise

A Scar Called Peace

There’s a scar in Ireland. It’s short, tiny, but very deep, and barely healing. The people use it to segregate themselves. British supporting “Unionists” on one side, Ireland Republic supporting “Nationalists” on the other. In all honesty, there are hundreds of these scars; they cut in and out of neighborhoods. Some have nothing but tall … More A Scar Called Peace

Importance

This story contains some adult content. It is winter. It is raining hard against the glass. The rain drops that explode onto the window cannot be seen; the blinds are drawn closed. The room is dark. It is where normal people would sit and visit. A living room which by now is rarely lived in. … More Importance