Midnight Rain (a poem)

Midnight Rain

Written October 14th, 2011

Sweet velvet rain
Pattering on my roof
Sing me softly to sleep

The gentle whispers
Reach my ears
As you travel in swirling rivulets
Across the shingles
Of this midnight house

A Lucky Burden (a short story)

 A Lucky Burden

Written October 12th, 2011

Farmer Joseph made his rounds in the early morning as he always did, delivering to all his animals their breakfasts. First the cows, then the horses, followed by the sheep, chickens, and ending with the pigs.

            As he poured the slop into the pig trough, he watched one swine in particular trot over. It grunted as it walked and snuffed at the smell of food in the air with his slimy, whiskery nose. This certain pig could be identified by his front right hoof, which was pearly white, unlike the remaining three black hooves. Although Joseph called that pig many names, mostly cuss words, its official moniker was Runt. He had been a runt at one point, but now he was two years old and the fattest pig Joseph owned.

            Runt had been the sixteenth piglet of Old Maizy’s sixteenth litter; her last litter. She had died a few hours after giving birth, her seasoned heart unable to withstand the stress. Joseph had been quite fond of Old Maizy, and although he knew it to be irrational, he blamed Runt for her demise.

The Ice Tyrant (a poem)

The Ice Tyrant

Written October 5th, 2011

The mighty trees burst into flames
Their last stand as forest warriors
Against the sweeping shadows cast by the Ice Queen
Leaves of ember rain upon the ground
And a vibrant wildfire spreads abound
Across the rolling, tumbling hills
Reaching the distant glowing horizon
The warriors crash like a firework meteor
Lighting up the world before descending into brown

Montville Falls (review, rating)

Montville Falls

Moravia, NY

Hiked: September 25th, 2011

Reviewed: October 2nd, 2011

Interaction: 5 stars

Scenery: 4 stars

Diversity: 2 stars

Accessability: 2 stars

Size: small

Overall: 4 stars

This is an exhilarating, interactive hike that is about ninetry percent creek-walking with no defined trail. However, it is ranked as a difficult hike, and rightfully so. The hiker accesses Mill Creek through on of two cemetaries. We reached it via Section 9 of Indian Mound Cemetary, and began our descent near a large tombstone labeled C.A. Parker.

 Indian Mound Cemetary entrance

Seasonal Spirit (a poem)

Seasonal Spirit

Written October 1st, 2011

The cold surrounds a small house

Moving in with surprising, silent speed

Fingers of frost reach across the window pane

A warm orange glow radiates from the other side

A family gathered around a friendly hearth

Holding back the cold and keeping it tame

With mugs of steaming cocoa at their side

And loaves of toasty pumpkin bread

Fresh from the stove; they keep good mirth

The children huddle on the floor of blankets

Proud parents on the couch holding each other

Looking on with a quiet smile

The cat perches on a shoulder

And the large dog squeezes into a lap

As they smile and laugh they seem not to notice

That outside it only gets colder

Waiting on the Shore (a poem)

Waiting on the Shore

Written October 1st, 2011

Icy September water

Sighs softly as it kisses the shore

Pitch black from the touch

Of a tense, starless night

The water swirls, rolling, undulating,

Lapping at my feet

A breeze rushes by

Lifting and tossing my hair

So it can touch my neck;

Soft, exposed, and vulnerable

Leaving a sinister whisper in my ears

A secret I can’t quite decipher

Little Brother (a poem, a dedication)

Little Brother

Written September 18th, 2011

Little brother

Chase me around the house

Jump and tackle

Trying to take me down

Push my homework

Out of your way

Scatter papers across the floor

Unplug my game

Right when I was about to win

Then stand there and look at me

With that lopsided grin