Wheels of Kindness

April 22, 2022.Reading time 2 minutes.

Today is the day to leave, the 2:30 am text read; I’m letting my son sleep in, last day in our home. The message came from Kyiv. I had connected with the mom the day before. Bombing around them had finally convinced her to flee. Stay safe and keep in touch when you can. I’m […]

A Soldier’s Farewell

November 11, 2021.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Written and performed by my brother, Laurie Moody. Today is Remembrance Day

Remembrance

November 8, 2018.Reading time 1 minute.

My granddaughter paints a row of red flowers with crosses in between. “Flanders Field” she tells me. She’s six. “Your great-great grandfather, my grandfather, was shot in Flanders Field.” She raises her eyes to meet mine. “Did he die?” “No, but he was injured.” He was crawling across the field when the bullet entered and […]

An Escape Plan

An incorrigible hagengages my loneliness –like an assassin sniffing outany scent of vulnerability I am lowering standardsthis history of imprisonmentenabling inappropriate openings I cry for new perspectiveponder after boundariesintending to defend Like an unwanted bullseyeI am pursued on repeatmalice considering mea problem to be solved Who is this old womanwhose thoughts are daggerswho calls upon […]

Making of a Woman

I know that abyss –swallowed up as I waspunch-drunk on darkness Bled as I emerged,each reach a scrape –there was release too Revived now, I honourthat passage, recognizethe making of a woman. (Making of a Woman first appeared here, December 2021. Image: self portrait in ink)