H.A. Callum's Blog, page 3
October 17, 2017
Censoring To Kill A Mockingbird in the Classroom: Taking Comfort in Ignorance
“Mockingbirds … don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (To Kill A Mockingbird, page 119) At times I wonder if I should suspend my disbelief when browsing the headlines. Last evening was a sentient moment when I realized that, no, these are […]
October 6, 2017
The Writer’s Life
The writer: even in these modern times it is a designation that evokes romantic notions, harkening us back to the role of the storyteller, sage, and historian; all roles which have mended the path of human history. It is no surprise that, to this day, the perception of the writer gives rise to fanciful visions […]
August 5, 2017
Summer Snow
The cottonwood blossoms and casts its blooms floating the Missouri one sunny afternoon. A summer snow, the blooms they squall, finding their way, the wind, abetting withdraw. They know no course, chance the only companion on this journey. Much as it was when I settled down, casting my lot to this bottom ground. Not aware […]
June 30, 2017
Full Spectrum
I choose not to be color blind, although I hear, it’s the copacetic thing to do, but why on this kaleidoscoping earth should I choose a limit, to what I see and how I experience everything, swimming in and through the fluid of this optic sea. It’s a handicap, self-imposed righteousness— The sphere is more […]
June 18, 2017
Finding Fact in Fiction: Fathering Fears and Tending Truth
Again. It was happening again. The boy cringed and pulled the covers over his head, a narrow slit the only opening in his thin armor. The streetlight sickled the night and latched onto the faux crystal door knob, its prism shattering the beams to a million glints of light peppering the room. The door fell […]
April 12, 2017
Helianthus
In the dialed face of the sunflower did rest a reflection of the sun light giving the plant brilliance to digest. Shimmer along yellow petals gilding the rays feathered out in fine detail for the wandering eye to celebrate. The flower is a palette contrasting the glance— light and dark balancing act— […]
January 17, 2017
Don’t Knock the Vernacular
I read (again) “The Red Wheelbarrow” by William Carlos Williams. I was reminded how Williams assembled a small group of simple words. They were just words, but imported great meaning in a brief space. Williams, a pediatrician, became inspired to write the poem while making a house-call for a patient. Did the chickens represent payment […]
November 22, 2016
Imagine : 2016
Ballots break the Age of Aquarius while its perfunctory measures greet its waiting antithesis knelling the departure of its heroes; Struck out was Joe DiMaggio before a nation’s lonely eyes raptured through political vertigo a myth of promises lost their disguise; Tendering chaos on axes X and Y a generation lost to cyberspace booming eyes […]
November 18, 2016
choteau
The hills and their sweet grasses stood sentry guarding time witness to the changing seasons and demolition by mankind too stoic to flinch too passive to resist their soils torn riding the wind barren plains now sown with cheat(ing) grasses purple majesty running red no more does thunder roll unless by the heavens called
November 17, 2016
Whispers in the Alders to be published by Blue Deco Publishing
It’s official: Debut Novel, Whispers in the Alders, to be published by Blue Deco Publishing, coming in 2017! I owe a great deal of thanks to all those who have shown their support throughout the process of writing, querying, and now, publishing. Soon, Whispers in the Alders will be in the hands of readers not […]
