Stories

"You can never trust a Crawley." Those were Albert Cooley's words to his sons, spoken every chance he got, and August did his best to do what was expected of him after his ma passed. The Crawleys and the Cooleys were ranching families, and they didn't mix, not ever, but more and more, August had a problem with letting his father decide everything for him. Was Fletcher really his enemy? Could he trust the man he'd butted heads with over and over, one he'd known pretty much his whole life? All he knew for certain was he was tired of all the conflict, and needed his life to change before he exploded. That's where his Gran came in.

Some choices are within our control, while some are not. Life is about acceptance and balance... and living with consequences as we look forward and back.

Reflections of the past, realities of the present, and hopes for the future. These aren't prompts, and anything could wind up here, from poetry to monologues. It's all about words, and the forms they lead us to.

Set in The Old West, we come upon Moss and Link, two men at a precipice in their young lives. Monsters, real or imagined, come in all forms. Perhaps the most dangerous kind are the real ones, people who believe they have the right, for whatever reason, to abuse and control through fear. When innocence is viciously taken, it can be a long road back to trusting, both yourself and others.

Some poetic offerings based on the anthology theme of "Diversity". The Haiku included here are a departure from the usual and expected subject of nature, more reflective of inner turmoil.

A poetic exploration of this glorious thing called life.

Haiku are well suited for observations in nature, but their meanings, for me, can be much deeper in their connection to the human spirit. All these poems are observations and outlets for what lays within.

Two new poems about the cycle of change, for us and the world around us.

Many men enjoyed the life and freedom of being a cowboy, but it wasn't an easy one in The Old West. The aches were many, but it was the loneliness that could wear a man down. Jubal was one of those who dreamed as he moved and protected cattle, and the day finally came he had enough money to buy his own piece of land. Fate, though, dealt him a terrible hand once again, taking everything from him and leaving him lost and alone. Was Lucas his savior, or just more trouble for a man who'd learned to trust no one?

What you'll find here are words of warmth, memories that make me smile, and observations worthy of noting. May they amuse, touch, or inspire you.