CLATTER by Victoria Nations The whine of wind pushing the The clatter of palm fronds and The clacking of bluejay beaks on The scritch of roach legs against The rustle of leaves caught in the Damp Dark Boot jacks Reach your hand in there I dare you
Ghost Stories Lurking in Doorways
Sometimes stories lurk behind things. I went to a festival the other night, and we cut through a side street of old storefronts with dusty windows. There was raw red brick and arched doorways with iron gates. There were lights from the parade just a block over, but the side street was almost too dark to photograph. The street was inviting, stopping me … Continue reading Ghost Stories Lurking in Doorways
There Are Ghosts In The Groves (I)
THERE ARE GHOSTS IN THE GROVES (I) Victoria Nations There are ghosts in the groves, and some call me to come, and others warn me away, and they whisper when they think I notice them, and most of the time I ignore them, but sometimes their voices spark memories that are too clouded to call … Continue reading There Are Ghosts In The Groves (I)
Love Bites and Chocolate
How could you not love a tiny fly called a punkie? Especially if it's the reason cacao trees produce fruit, which becomes the mouthwatering chocolate so many of us are indulging in today? And punkies are adorable, if you find hunched over little vampires adorable like I do. Ceratopogonid midges have a large, humped thorax and their … Continue reading Love Bites and Chocolate
I Go To The Bookshelf
I go to the bookshelf and take off no clothing and take down a book and strip myself bare I go to the bookshelf and surrender on my knees, raise arms in supplication and roll my eyes up I go to the bookshelf and lean bodily against it and rub my face on it, purring … Continue reading I Go To The Bookshelf
Tools
My pencil holder has a lot more than pencils in it. Pencils are for math and field notebooks with waterproof paper. I use pens and markers for coloring in figures and drawing arrows and clouds around diagrams. I have other tools. The handle of the magnifying glass is wood. Most of the paint was worn away … Continue reading Tools
Gloomy Morning
Why does a gloomy day feel like the perfect time to curl up and read? Don't you love a good story at any time? Bright days sitting in the sun, nearly dozing off? Stuffed into trains and planes, reading with a bunch of travelers around? A half-hour on a lunch break, sitting in a car outside the … Continue reading Gloomy Morning
Story Editing on a Sunday Afternoon
We have a small farmer's market in our area, and a large one in the next town over. The large one is amazing, with a huge variety of fresh produce, boutique cheeses and breads, kettle corn, plants, and this place that makes these bagel sandwiches that are delicious. I love the large farmer's market, but … Continue reading Story Editing on a Sunday Afternoon
Paths Into The Woods
When you walk on a path and it curves in front of you, bending out of sight, do you feel a little thrill or are you worried what's to come? There could be anything on the path, just out of sight. A bear? A maniac? The path may just fall away into nothing. What if … Continue reading Paths Into The Woods
Pushing
I'm editing a story I wrote last year, with the plan to submit it to a short story contest that's looking for fantasy/paranormal/speculative fiction. I'm happy with it, but I know it needs more in places...and also less. The main character has been talking to me today, and it feels like we are catching up … Continue reading Pushing
Victoria Nations 