“Now therefore, while the youthful hue Sits on thy skin like morning dew, And while thy willing soul transpires At every pore with instant fires, Now let us sport us while we may, And now, like amorous birds of prey, Rather at once our time devour Than languish in his slow-chapped power.” –Andrew Marvell, “To … More Bird’s the Word: It’s New Short Story Day!
“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” –Albert Camus Tomorrow is the equinox, the first day of fall. Far and away, it’s my favorite season. It contains such monumental moments as football season, Halloween, and–most importantly–my birthday. Of course, one of those is already in full swing, and the others are … More “Thinking Only Autumn Thoughts”: Good-Bye, Summer
Time for more shameless self promotion. In advance of the September 25th release of my newest short story, “Amorous Birds of Prey,” I’m making its predecessor, “Baptized in Dirty Water,” available on Amazon Kindle for free. It’s a Southern Gothic piece that follows five boys across a small bayou town as their make their way … More Dunking Youths: “Baptized in Dirty Water” Free Promotion
“And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” –Genesis 3:10 Stripped Fears We Southerners are often guilty of corrupting the word “naked” into “nekkid.” It’s what prompted the late humorist Lewis Grizzard to quip “‘Nekkid’ is when you don’t have any … More “Peeks” and Valleys, Part I: The Naked Truth
“Labour is blossoming or dancing where The body is not bruised to pleasure soul, Nor beauty born out of its own despair, Nor blear-eyed wisdom out of midnight oil.” –William Butler Yeats “Among School Children” We Yanks are celebrating Labor Day. I would laud it over my international friends, but most of them have a … More “Body Set to Music”: Musings on Labor Day
Stephen G. Melvin 