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Author Archives: John Swinburn
Leaning into the Wind
Poem #5 of the 30/30 challenge for Poetry Month. (April 5) Leaning into the Wind I sat in the café at the marina, watching him make his way to the place they keep fishing boats. Bent forward like a man … Continue reading
Posted in Poetry
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Heathen Saint
Poem #4 of the 30/30 challenge, National Poetry Month Heathen Saint What of a heathen saint, a woman whose actions lack covert motives, a guardian of goodness, a paladin of such purity even snow cringes at the comparison? She was … Continue reading
Posted in Poetry
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Spectrum of Sky
Poem #3 of the 30/30 challenge, National Poetry Month. (April 3) Spectrum of Sky Early in the morning, long before dawn, the sky begins its trek across the spectrum. First, a jet black palette crawls beneath stars, flushing into charcoal … Continue reading
Posted in Poetry
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Lost Years
I posted my first National Poetry Month 30/30 poem on April 1, but I’ve posted the the other eight to date only on Facebook. That is an abomination, so I’m posting days 2 through 8 here. I’ll add others as I … Continue reading
Posted in Poetry
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Wells and Old Motels
A story I saw in the news this morning, about a child rescued after falling down a deep well in China, triggered a memory about a similar event that took place in the 1980s in Texas. The memory led me … Continue reading
Posted in Memories
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Curses
Walgreens’ version of DayQuil and NightQuil may or may not be working; it’s hard to tell. If being unable to breathe through the nose, feeling as if my ears are filled with wax, dull headache, and regular fits of coughing … Continue reading
Time to Feed the Cold
I spent the day yesterday battling what I thought must be allergies as we went to the races at Oaklawn with our very nice neighbors. This morning, I awoke to discover that I was fighting the wrong battle; I should … Continue reading
Posted in Health
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Translucence
The man was translucent, as if he were a veil, a fabric shadow cast by a bright light revealing every curve, every imperfection, every hideous flaw behind his diaphanous mask. He was an odd old man, a caricature of himself. … Continue reading
Posted in Poetry, Writing
2 Comments
J(ava)(sk)unk
I thought I’d written about the relationship between the odor of coffee and the scent of skunk spray before, but a search of this blog turns up nothing. Perhaps I wrote about the link on another blog. Regardless, I’m writing … Continue reading
Posted in Just Thinking
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Unutterable
It has come to my attention that the French language is far more difficult for me to understand than I had earlier imagined. My mouth is not properly configured to speak, nor are my ears constructed to hear, the sounds … Continue reading
Posted in Absurdist Fantasy, Language
2 Comments
Pitiful
I was reminded this evening that the measure of a person can be taken from his or her response to the opportunity to pull rank, as it were. The older I get, the better I understand that the most talented actors … Continue reading
Posted in Just Thinking
1 Comment
Dimness
I don’t know what put the fantasy in my head. I suppose its origin doesn’t matter. What matters is the idea attached itself to my brain like a leech, greedily consuming my attention. I have no choice but to devote myself … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Writing
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Stalking, Mies van der Rohe, and Roadrunners
Just a few minutes ago as I sat at my desk, I heard a familiar cooing sound. Until last year, I would have said it was like the call of a mourning dove; now I know better. This morning, I said … Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, Memories, Nature
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A Recurring Theme
The most recent ember, I think, was the Crystal Bridges museum exhibition, The Open Road: Photography and the American Road Trip. The exhibit features more than 100 photos taken by 19 photographers as they traveled across the USA from the 1950s through … Continue reading
Posted in Philosophy, Travel, Wisdom
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Translucent
He was, in a way, translucent. You could see through him as if he were a veil, a shadow of fabric through which a bright light revealed every curve, every ugly imperfection, every hideous flaw. I think he knew his personality … Continue reading
Road Tripping in Northwestern Arkansas
I am sitting at the desk in our hotel, the room pitch dark except for the ghostly white glow of the notebook computer’s screen. Unwelcome thoughts and the frequent sound of the air conditioner fan switching on and off interrupted my sleep, … Continue reading
Posted in Just Thinking
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Untold Stories
Two years ago, I learned tonight, I was in a strange mood. Facebook told me. Facebook also revealed that I watched snow fall in Dallas six years ago today. Why does that matter? Well, it matters because Facebook has a … Continue reading
Posted in Just Thinking
2 Comments
Ice Chest
When Marlin Glenn lifted the lid, the intense odor of smoked meat escaped from the empty red ice chest. “You didn’t air this out, Nancy,” he barked. “Everything we put in it’s gonna reek.” Nancy’s mouth opened, then closed. She tightly balled her right fist, then slowly unclenched … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Writing
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Surprise
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not becoming a Christian. Nor an apologist for Christian religions. Nor am I changing my mind about the likelihood that there’s a deity (I’d lay odds of 20 billion to one against that possibility). But … Continue reading
Posted in Secular morality
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Becoming Canadian
I could be persuaded to move into this house. Really, I could. Click on the image and you’ll be taken to a website that describes the place and the small town where it’s located, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. I’ve never … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy
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Crack in the Sky
For a moment, I didn’t know what caused the noise, but when I looked up, I saw the crack in the clear blue sky above me. The sound was far louder and sharper than a peal of thunder. There was no roar, no prelude, … Continue reading
A Day for Thinking About Immigrants
Another writer who belongs to the same writers’ collective of which I am a member asked me whether I’d be interested in working with him to document the story of a woman whose family immigrated to the U.S. from what … Continue reading
Posted in Courage, Immigrants
3 Comments
Transforming Hardship
This Playing for Change piece is wonderful. Watch and listen; I think you’ll agree. Though all of the musicians are incredible, I especially love Aymee Noviola. Her eyes (about minute 5:14) struck me; she embodies happiness and pure joy, as … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion, Music
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Dribs and Drabs of Dallas
The drive to Dallas was wet, especially early on as we left Hot Springs Village. Rain swept over the car in torrents, giving the windshield wipers a challenge they barely met. Once we merged onto I-30, about thirty-five miles from … Continue reading
Posted in Food, Friendship, Just Thinking, Travel
2 Comments
Coincidental Judaism and Humanism
Last night, we attended a program in which Theodora Klayman, a Holocaust survivor from Zagreb, Yugoslavia (now Croatia) spoke of her experiences. She and her family were members of a very small minority of Yugoslavs/Croations who were Jewish. Hers was an … Continue reading
Posted in Essay, Philosophy, Secular morality
4 Comments