Still Waters

excerpt

crossed her legs and contemplated the toe of a fuzzy slipper. “Well,
yes, I am. I’ve been dating Cam Tournquist for the last month.”
Millie’s eyes flew wide open. “Really? Oh well, that doesn’t surprise
me too much. Does your dad know?”
“Not from my telling. I haven’t breathed a word. Maybe Cam’s dad
has, but I wouldn’t know.”
“Well, your father won’t hear it from me, either, you can rest assured.”
Tyne got to her feet. “I’ll put the kettle on. You must be ready for
tea after your trip.” At the door she stopped and turned towards her
aunt. “Do you ever see Morley, Auntie?”
“As a matter of fact, I saw him two nights ago at a hospital society
meeting.” Millie looked up and searched her niece’s face. “He asked
about you.”
Tyne could not have anticipated the rapid acceleration of her
pulse. She felt as if her heart would leap out of her body. Making an
effort to keep her voice normal, she said lightly, “And what did you
tell him?”
Millie shifted her weight on the sofa. “I told him you are well, and
enjoying your work, and that you haven’t been home to Emblem in
months.”
It was easy to detect the note of accusation in Millie’s voice. But
Tyne didn’t want to get into a discussion of why she had not been
home. All she wanted at this moment was to hear how Morley had
reacted to Millie’s news.
She turned again and went into the kitchen. As she prepared the
tea and set a tray with cups and cookies that Millie had brought, the
questions buzzed in her head – questions she wanted to ask her aunt
but for which she lacked the courage.
Do you think he misses me? Did he ask any more questions about
me? How does he look? And, oh please don’t tell me, but is there anyone
else in his life?
As Tyne served tea in the living room, Millie said, “You’ll be happy
to know the hospital society is making progress. We’ve convinced the
council to put a by-law to the people.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful news. Do you think it will pass this time?”
“If we can get out and canvas the district and do a good promotion
job, we stand a pretty fair chance of it passing in spite of …

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1926763068

Ken Kirkby, Warrior Painter

excerpt

Initially surprised, Ken agreed that environmental law was a good fit
with Karen’s interests and abilities. The timing was opportune as Isumataq
had been successfully launched and the establishment of the Inuit territory,
Nunavut, had been achieved. It was now Karen’s turn to shine. Fortuitously,
Ken’s son, Michael, was also making plans to attend university in British
Columbia. So, despite the demands of promoting the gigantic painting,
currently on display in Ontario Place and drawing the attendant circus of
citizens, students, media and others attracted to the unusual, Ken arranged
to move the family to the west coast.
Settling back into Vancouver was not without its challenges. Ken threw
himself into his perceived role as house-husband, but his dedication to the
woman he saw as his soulmate bore unexpectedly sour fruit.
In his mind, he was reciprocating Karen’s faith in him during their
chaotic years in Toronto. However, without the aura of fantastical public
relations stunts and media frenzy that had shaped their life in the spotlight,
his golden lustre seemed to fade in Karen’s eyes. She became argumentative,
disdainful and secretive. It is said that 80% of our lives are actually lived
at the subconscious level, and it seemed that he was being relegated to the
minor part of her consciousness.
Hindsight is perceptive, and when Ken thought back to their long drive
from Toronto to Vancouver, restricted to close quarters in the truck hauling
their belongings, he’d occasionally questioned just how well he knew this
woman he loved so deeply. There was an element of Alice in Wonderland
about her—she had reinvented herself more than once in the past, leaving
relationships, friends and colleagues behind. No question, she was a woman
of strong will, and in part Ken had successfully navigated those exhausting
years at the end of the Isumataq project because of the security he’d found
in their partnership. But, in retrospect, he began to wonder if she had
metamorphosed again in her anticipation of a new career on the West Coast.
Karen was very clever but continually at war with the way she believed
she was perceived. The problem was that she didn’t know when to stop
fighting, even if you were entirely on her side.
Ken had always dreamed of belonging to someone and that need lingered.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CB8W4CG

Kariotakis-Polydouri, The Tragic Love Story

Lives
And lives go on until they wither
I talk of lives that gave themselves
to light, serene love, lives which
go down like babbling brooks
hiding in them this light
the sky reflects into the rivers
and the sun flows in it.
I speak of lives that gave themselves to light
about the little lives that hang
like rubies from the lips of women
like offerings that hang from
church icons, silver hearts
exquisitely humble, yet in love
with the lips of a woman.
I speak of little lives that hang.
The unsuspicious lives
that silently follow
darkened, foreign, saddened steps
image of a delicate woman
who hasn’t sensed them following
and who will lean onto the earth
and vanish silently: the unsuspicious lives
that vaguely and doubtfully pass
like stars of the morning twilight
in the thought of a morning soul
that hasn’t seen its life
withering slowly just as it ran
joyously and unfettered passing.
Lives that doubtfully and vaguely have passed.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1926763459

https://draft2digital.com/book/3562951

Red in Black

Review
Today I meet
the lone wild rose
rusted by salinity of time
on the side of my path
dehydrated crab shells
malodorous, that
not long ago thrived with life
hungry seagulls
that foresee the invincible end
condors of the seashore
encircle the heart’s open wound
rot on earth
and in the air
condor sniffs my old body
that chokes
only the symbols retain their shine.
Symbols always retain their shine
and lead my tired steps
straight to the cemetery
where the fame overlooks
where the myth reigns
where one day my life will be explained
where my arthritic joins
hardly endure the passing
of the last moments
there where years later
with a full wallet I return
to order my golden gravestone
that the simple-minded will say
he too exiled himself
he too was ours
bitter truth
that they blaspheme an old man
for the mistake he made
in his unfledged youth

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1771713208

https://draft2digital.com/book/3562962

The Circle

excerpt

“Yes, I’m staying for the weekend; perhaps we could meet tomorrow for a
while. What do you think?”
“Yes, of course, tomorrow sounds fine; I’ll call you. You’re staying at—”
“Yes, the Sheraton. Call me there when you are ready.”
“Okay, Admiral, I’ll call you in the morning.”
The Admiral nods and a smile covers his face as if a lonely sunray has fallen
on it from behind a cloud and his wrinkles disappear and in their place sits the
joy of a spring morning. They walk back to the others, and since the service is
over, most people are on the way to the house for food and drinks.
Emily and Jennifer accept everyone’s condolences, they hug some, shake
hands with some, they exchange words with others. Peter and Rose are there as
well, with Peter trying to stick close to Hakim, as if waiting to hear news
regarding their little pact for Advanced Applications, Inc.
Cathy and Emily chat when Helena joins them, hugs Emily and says, “You
had to put all this together, I suppose?”
“But, of course, my dear,” Cathy answers for Emily.
“You know, it’s amazing all the things you have to decide; they put so many
options in front of you and never give enough time,” Emily says. “It’s so confusing.”
“You mean all the stuff for the service?” Helena asks.
“Not just that. You have to choose the flowers, the food, the kind of wood the
casket is made of, so many details, it’s endless. And everything is so expensive; it
has become a big affair to bury someone these days.”
Jennifer joins them and Helena asks about the new apartment. Jennifer
describes the penthouse as huge, with stunning views of the water and beautiful
views of the city to the south. It has two bedrooms, a big den, and a gourmet
kitchen. She says they are going back to look at it again sometime this week and
she’ll let her know when if she would like to come and look at it.
“You can come with us. My mom hasn’t seen it yet either, so you’re coming
also, okay, Mom?” she asks Emily.
“Yes, sweetheart, I’ll come with you. I’m also curious to see it.”
Bevan walks over to Emily and hugs her.
“My condolences, Emily.May I talk to you privately for a minute?”
“But of course, Bevan.” Emily and Bevan walk away from the crowd.
“I’d like you to have this,” he gives her a copy of the memo he made at the office.
Emily takes it, reads it and turns to Bevan, surprised. He says, “It is better this
way. The police report is the same. I don’t see the need for details since it serves
no purpose. I’m certain there are not going to be any questions about whether
Matthew’s family is entitled to his pension and his severance pay. After all, he
spent so many years serving the agency.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0978186524

https://draft2digital.com/book/3562817