The Poet, Poem 006-2023-0112

The boy who lost his mother gnarled like a bear— tough bear he. Away from the bestial, he had softness in his eyes that laughed even when he and his words were sharp and sometimes ambiguous. He showed the plumpness of his belly to his closest friends and grunted like a pig and poet laughing … Continue reading The Poet, Poem 006-2023-0112

When I, a Boy, Poem 005-2022-1113

I awoke to frost and snow outside my home and became nostalgic for those winter days in the country when I was young and winter brought excitement and joy of walking the woods and watching the play of nature. Enjoy a poem I wrote about that nostalgia when I was courting a local girl and … Continue reading When I, a Boy, Poem 005-2022-1113

Poem 002-2022-1022

I wrote a lot of poetry during my teen years in a free-verse style that became coined “Naked Poetry”—a type of poetry where words and cadence are more important than rhyme. I believe the term came from the anthology books Naked Poetry: Recent American Poetry in Open Forms (1969) and The New Naked Poetry (1976). … Continue reading Poem 002-2022-1022

Fantasy Short Story 003-2022-1004

Halloween grows closer and I’m in a ghost story mood. This short story about young Vree Erickson and a ghost appeared earlier this year in my post of June 6. Vree Erickson’s pleasant expression changed to surprise, then to shock mixed with fright. The air in the dugout became thin and dry, as though an … Continue reading Fantasy Short Story 003-2022-1004

Beginnings, Chapter 4

The first story I wrote that featured Vree as the main character was a 1972 short called “Ghost Love.” It was based on an earlier story about two 12-year-olds named Haley and Owen. SPOILER ALERT: Owen died in the story and came back as a ghost. Vree’s version became a little darker than the original. … Continue reading Beginnings, Chapter 4