I thought that love had passed me by, My present was as empty as my past. Suddenly, a rewellagans was thrust at me, And a second chance of love occurred, at last. I thought he offered only friendship, But then he took me in his loving arms. A tremor of joy touched my heart and... Continue Reading →
A Note for My Students
From the Rodin Museum in Paris, May 2023 I'm hoping to grab your attention When you even deign to come to class. I don't wish to see that you are downloading Photos of shoes or underwear, as by you I pass. I am trying to teach you how to think, And I don't wish to... Continue Reading →
The Last Time We Meet: What Do You See?
Photo Credit: Simon Berger @ Unsplash As Ella walked to number 115, her heart hurt, knowing it was the last time she and James would meet. She would miss how he always spoke the right words to uplift her spirits. When they first met, he seemed as strange as a Martian on planet Earth. His... Continue Reading →
Don’t Tell Uncle Bill
Street art In Porto, Portugal near the port. Sarah had been dreading her 47th birthday. She tried to convince her family to forgo this occasion to meet and party, and she knew her parents knew why she was hesitating. She explained to her mother that she had the wherewithal to throw a grand and festive... Continue Reading →
Don’t Underestimate the Power of Chocolate
The Chocolate Story Museum in Gaia, outside of Porto, Portugal, in the World of Wine complex I will not quibble with you over my fervent belief That my beloved chocolate in all its forms is a true panacea. I swear that when my days have deteriorated to insanity, Chocolate kisses are a talisman bringing sanity... Continue Reading →
I Won’t Compromise My Intellect: Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge
He wiped the dust from the stairs before we sat down. His disdain for me masqueraded as a concern. So when he uttered those four dreaded words, I knew I wouldn't like what I was about to learn. No matter the slant he tried to put on the words, I knew that my heart was... Continue Reading →
You Have to Trust Somebody: What Do You See?
Image Credit: Noah Buscher@ Unsplash Alone on the precipice, looking down in fear at the ripple marks on the rocks, I wanted to reach for the rescue represented by the outstretched hand. But trusting others is a challenge for me and has been so since childhood, When I suffered so horribly from ugly conquests that... Continue Reading →
Returning to the Real Me
Fort in St. Augustine Florida February 2021 Shaking, she read the document, a testimony to her impregnable faith in herself: Dissolution of Marriage. The nightmare was over! John had shown no regard for her wanting to return to being a nurse practitioner, an honorable profession that bolstered her self-esteem. He'd controlled her with muscle and... Continue Reading →
An Abrupt Ending to the Wedding
How Sue and Charles ever made it to the altar was a surprise! Each time I had dined with them, Charles had seemed to create a new vernacular, having a preoccupation with appearing smarter than everyone else. It made for tense moments, when Sue would ask him to repeat the word or if he meant... Continue Reading →
Giving Animals Respect in Their Habitat
Photo Credit to Pobble 365 His black shadow that was against the sky Caused me to stop right there in my tracks. He looked frail, yet I knew I should fear him, So I turned aound and found my way back. Sequestered in a house in the forest, I knew that this was his home,... Continue Reading →
Help from Heaven 