Her life is a jeweled lavaliere of loses, each loss an onyx milestone: two later-term stillbirths, a dead brother from a hunting accident, there had been failed marriages, a son’s suicide by cop. Saffron was all about sailing. If only she could’ve collected a bounty of crystal ships that drifted the high seas. Admittedly, that […]
Flight Sam ran, skidded, and tumbled back to the mouth of the combe. He’d just cleared the fence when, in the distance, he saw a dozen tiny flickers slowly snaking toward him. Soon he could see that the flickers were candles, that each candle was held by a person wearing a hooded cloak like Ms. […]
I invade dumpsters. Eyes widen, surveying Keystone Light cartons, corn stalks, and empty steak packages. I conjure barbeques, gesturing arms, and laughter. Have another beer, some steak. I taste smiles. Voices offering beds. Welcome. Caught. Cold eyes dissect stench—beard. Bum, wanderer. I hold dreams. Try […]
Ashes to Ashes Sam wandered for a good while until he saw the V-shaped poplar again. This time, he realized it was actually two trees—one white, the other black—but growing so close together they appeared to stem from a common trunk split at the roots. There was no longer any body in the dense brush behind […]