First there is the father, the first man, once powerful and enormous in significance. Though he may have diminished in size, both literally and metaphorically, his mind seems larger and more dazzling to me than ever, as though in the fullness of time it might explode. He is now a creature, fascinating, flawed, at times disagreeable, at times precious and delightful; fragile,... Continue Reading →
Rosemary for Remembrance
If I could float above them in absolute darkness, I imagine they would look like constellations, these countless roadside shrines, their vigil lights flickering softly, the roads whose twists and turns they mark invisible. Perhaps, as I watched from above, one or two more would appear, lit by unseen hands; I would hear a latch... Continue Reading →
The Ephemeral Beauty of Mushrooms
Of the thousands of plant species that grow in the park where I walk, mushrooms are the least conspicuous. Late autumn and early winter in Greece feel like a season in itself, with mild damp weather stretching into December, sometimes even January. As different species of mushroom grow in their own time within this extended... Continue Reading →
The Woman in the Bookshop
Many years ago I worked in a bookshop. It was one of the largest bookshops in the city and countless customers came and went every day, each with their own requests, questions, demands. I was one of the employees in charge of customer orders and often had to cater to unusual requests. I was going... Continue Reading →
So this is me, then.
Fragment 1. I gather the wood from many different places. I find it in forests, on hills and beaches. There are no prerequisites for what makes a piece of wood suitable; it might be its texture, shape, or the contours of its extremities. Some, for example, curve out and away, like a curl of hair, or... Continue Reading →
Little Drummer
Tympanum. Petrous bone, Ear wing, Sound catcher Inside the ear cave. Little drummer, thump. Little drummer, thump. Little drummer, thump. I want to lay my face on my heart, listen to my heartbeat.
This Year So Far
This spring I was sure I would be really healthy and productive - eat well, exercise, stick to a good sleep routine, write lots. Last spring was so tough, lockdowns and Covid regulations were the least of it. The worst, at least for me, was that overwhelming sense of fear and sadness. Fear for what... Continue Reading →
Twig, Bone, Feather 