Journal #3

In this story Leslie finds himself married to a woman with no fortune, yet beautiful and accomplished. He prides himself on that fact that he can provide his wife with his fortune, giving her everything she could ever want. But when fortune is reversed Leslie is unable to bring himself to tell his wife of their troubles. "His life was but protracted agony; and what rendered it more insupportable, was the necessity of keeping up a smile in the presence of his wife..." In this story Irving' s characters reflect certain values of woman during this time period. Leslie's friend encourages him to tell his wife of his trouble because "no man knows what a ministering angel she is-- until he has gone with her through the fiery trails of this world." Irving reflects and stresses the emotional importance a woman holds in a mans life and how a man must be able to turn to his wife in a time of need. It is not a sign of weakness nor failure on the mans part but he owes it to himself to share his life with his wife because one could ask, where would she be with out him? It is an interesting concept, the bonding of two people who ultimately share one life together. When the wife hears of the bad news she embraces her husband and loves him truly regardless of the situation and they go on to live happily ever after. This story reflects that importance of woman in a relationship and the ultimate power they posses with their loved ones.

Yellow Dance

Buoyant and yellow,
I watched the moon.

Gentle ripples grasped the coiled rock, as it danced like dust;
floating softly above the rivers churn.

Together they traveled downstream,
entertaining owl eyes and fire flies.

A fortunate passerby,
I witnessed nature's matchless chord.

They spun in adept fashion,
the animated current hand in hand; with his partner high above.

A performance since the beginning of time,
yet an experience embraced by few.

I say this to you,
I am a fortunate visitor;
who watched the moon.

Short Story Ideas

The person behind the surveillance camera in my apartment complex. He watches the daily routines of all the residents and is able to build up his "perception" of who these individuals are based on what he watches through the camera.

The story of a mans wilderness/isolation experience. A story in which the individual has a out of body experience/connection with his surroundings in nature. Possibly a story about a man who isolates himself completely to the back country.

My get rich quick attempts. My friends and I are always formulating ideas to make a quick buck as poor college students.

The story of a group of friends who decide to drop everything and follow there dreams of care free living. A story about friends who want to go out and experience what they always thought to be impossible.

The Gin Rummy Mummy

I once crossed paths with mummy,
Who was obsessed with the game of gin rummy

He sat at a table,
and told me a fable,
about how he was once young and able

full of life he once walked the land,
until he was tricked by an old woman and her sleight of hand

beat me in rummy, she had said
or you will walk for eternity among the dead

Now I stand staring at a mummy,
His brittle fingers and his empty tummy

Care to play, he asked
As he fanned his cards with dead hands from the past

Yes I replied, but there must be regulations,
And practical stipulations,
with life changing implications

The cards were dealt and the game begun,
And soon enough the hand was won

but who was victorious you might ask,
me; or the man with the linen mask

My advice, don’t play gin with a mummy

Or you will be the next one to sit down at the table,
And tell the fable,
Of how your were once young and able

Dusted Vultures


Dusted vultures lurk in tandem,
their dead shadows painted across the individual grains of sand;
Incandescent and lifeless

Dry bones lay innocently; blanketed with flies
and the simmer of the stinging sun gently echoes off the canyon wall

A muted skull gives me its attention
and I no longer feel alone;
A sensation of anxiety

Unease of mind,
Or ecstasy of experience?

To acknowledge the juxtaposition;
the reciprocal bond
of man and earth