Tag

Choose books for each of the following categories and explain why they are must-reads in 30 words or less. (Or, as in my case, 30 words exactly for maximum fun.)

Fiction: Shogun by James Clavell
The story line is almost unimportant compared to James Clavell’s storytelling. His ability to develop characters and to describe places is what makes this novel such a quick read.

Autobiography: Seven Pillars of Wisdom: A Triumph by T. E. Lawrence
A compilation of history, an ode to the desert, an honest account by a victim, an apology, a litany of regret, and astounding moments of clarity amongst the swirling sands.

Non-fiction: Outwitting History by Aaron Lansky
Any literary geek or history buff or sentimental fool can’t help but love a tale such as this: saving Yiddish literature from woes of time. It’s a cultural survival story.

Any book of your choosing: The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

Historical fiction tends to be romances in costume, but this novel is the hard, thoroughly researched, facts of the Battle of Gettysburg humanized and accessible through the precepts of fiction.

Sea Change

sea change: a marked change, transformation

this: that which is existent, now, complete, here
is: the am, the are, the great gloriousness of be
my: that which is own, defined by its relation and its comparison to self
country: place defined, precisely and particularly, as symbolic representation of a quality of being, belonging, begetting of a culture, home, heart, ambition, and other words imbued with a meaning much greater than themselves because sometimes it (that which is which wells which gathers and splays) cannot be defined with just words

Halloween

the dour-doored long haul of bureaucracy
blinking fluorescently in its complicity
to seep away all of last comma em
period first (please print clearly)
dusty little lively-hooded you
sliced into file folders with precision
naming of thee conventionalities
splaying you digitally, rigidly,
alone and cold in the dark oh my
winding and whining your way
through the twisties and roundabouts
of cemented impetuosity and
paved hesitancies clutching
and resisting among the poisonous
residue of possibilities worn
(pot-holed even)
and tiring, oh the weariness,
not nearly debating before the jangling
heraldry of the next ensnarement
of no just really this is just an innocent
piece of meat hanging, swaying,
its not really a problem
or a mortuary with a good sound system
nope no traps here and that scent
is not the imposing intimidation
of imminent intimacies with
iconoclastic ideologues a go go
(ay caramba)
it's just a holiday and you’re just
doing your best with what you’ve
been given skulls and bones and all
the eyeballs melting away
no, no, just kidding,
it’s fine

my sweet subconscious

this and then
black patent promises
sweetly made by my subconscious
quietly humming
that it’s just a careful study in patience
a shyly made line drawing
of which flooring material
I would choose, so carefully,
should you opt to floor me
this day or then
as I step carefully
in black patent promises
my subconscious assures me
are all the rage

Raven Country

Raven In the Pink
James Schoppert
Museum of the North
University of Alaska at Fairbanks

I was a little curious what it would feel like for me, as a raven storyteller, to go to the heart of raven country and the home of some of the most wonderful raven mythos. Would my little story seem inadequate? Off the mark? Silly? (Well, I was kind of going for silly in places…)

My reaction: comfortable. Two big black ravens sitting on the stones of a cold running creek, a pink lump of fish at one’s feet, the other spreading his wings. Yeah. Okay.

Call her Talks to Buzzards, catch you just past the next world.

Meesa back!

I’m back from Alaska! We had an amazing time and I highly recommend you visit that part of the world if you haven’t already. I have Alaskan-related posts planned in my head but, alas, am really tired from traveling (yeah) and going back to work (boo). Until I get to such posts, however, I thought I’d have this interim “Hey I’m Back but Tired Post.”

So, my friends, I give you the song that has been stuck in my head all day.

Travels

I’m off to adventures far and wide, my friends. Today I leave for a two-week cruise to Alaska with my Mom. There will be much taking of pictures.

In case you should miss your regular dose of somewhat obtuse raven mythos whilst I’m away, I give you “Kutkh and the Mice.” I found him in my raven researches and once more found a story that put my little notions to shame. Kutkh is a shape-shifting fellow who created the mountains and valleys when these mice…well, watch and enjoy for yourself.

Back soon!