Historical Setting, 629 C.E. Vosges Mts. Mater Doe and Gaia had a lot to talk about and no secret gift-house was revealed. The elder priest seems to hear Gaia’s tender voice with the same finesse that allows her to hear the birds she shares bread with beyond the walls of this church. Brandell andContinue reading “#56.10, Weds., May 22, 2024”
Category Archives: Historical Fiction
#56.9, Tues., May 21, 2024
Historical Setting, 629 C.E. Vosges Mts. Haberd has the fields planted and seed grains are leftover. With so many of the castle fields new this year and other novice farmers wasting seed as Will had done at first, Haberd guesses he might find a market for his own leftover seed. That is a goodContinue reading “#56.9, Tues., May 21, 2024”
#56.8, Thurs., May 16, 2024
Historical Setting, 629 C.E. Vosges Mts. Will talks of nothing but the great wonders of this son we all have yet to meet. But now in this sudden silence, Ana comes out and whispers to me, “it’s a girl.” Then a baby cries. Will pushes his way in and all of us follow. HereContinue reading “#56.8, Thurs., May 16, 2024”
#56.7, Weds., May 15, 2024
Historical Setting, 629 C.E. Vosges Mts. The birth of the baby is eminent. So now, I’m heading back to the castle fields to get Will. It’s his own thoughtfulness now to bring along the baby blanket and the ceramic feeder. Of course, everything is already prepared by the women at the cottage so nothingContinue reading “#56.7, Weds., May 15, 2024”
#56.6, Tues., May 14, 2024
Historical Setting, 629 C.E. Vosges Mts. I’m glad I came. God answered my casual prayer that I may love my enemy, Will, with this obligation to persist in unearthing his kindness. Dear God, may Layla and the baby find his huge hands gentle. I can, in a strange way of empathy, understandContinue reading “#56.6, Tues., May 14, 2024”
#56.5, Thurs., May 9, 2024
Historical Setting, 629 C.E. Vosges Mts. When this donkey and I have helped a neighbor here plow a strip for planting, I ask a deep favor of this neighbor. “We have Will’s wife hidden away with her family because Will can have a cruel hand.” The neighbor has a knowing smirk. IContinue reading “#56.5, Thurs., May 9, 2024”
#56.4, Weds., May 8, 2024
Historical Setting, 629 C.E. Vosges Mts. Our donkey is old and not trained to work the fields, but if I walk him, and Will holds the plow steady we can plow this unturned earth much more easily than one man could do it simply by hand. These new fields are a great consternation toContinue reading “#56.4, Weds., May 8, 2024”
#56.3, Tues., May 7, 2024
Historical Setting, 629 C.E. Vosges Mts. Tenderness, father love, turning all will’s frustrated fervor to lullaby is a task no man can teach another. Dear God, give the patience of parent love to this house. Let the baby teach this father gentleness. We pull the cart into the lean-too house and together weContinue reading “#56.3, Tues., May 7, 2024”
#56.2, Thurs., May 2, 2024
Historical Setting, 629 C.E. Vosges Mts. I plan to take my son-in-law up to the castle to beg a better bag of seed. He’s not gracious so already my lip is bloodied. The water pitcher is empty and he has no rag for washing up my wound. In another version of justice, I wouldContinue reading “#56.2, Thurs., May 2, 2024”
#56.1, Weds., May 1, 2024
Historical Setting, 629 C.E. Vosges Mts. The castle was built where once there was a hunters’ woods and now around its outer walls are little plots of tillable land. Each tiny field has a little hut on the edge which is the place where the poorest of poor farmers are kept safe from dangersContinue reading “#56.1, Weds., May 1, 2024”
Lazarus Ink 