I am happy to say I've had some interesting responses to, and interpretations of, this week's challenge. I loved the way that poets came up with new ideas of translation, from translating well-known poems into a local dialect of English, to sign-language recordings of poems and songs synced to poetry readings and song lyrics. Thank... Continue Reading →
The Friendly Face of Death: Flash Fiction
I was walking across town the other day when I saw him standing in a field on the outskirts: an old man, skin turned swarthy by decades-long exposure to the sun, sharpening his scythe. He turned and grinned a friendly, welcoming grin: he was waving to his neighbour across the road. Had it not been... Continue Reading →
Postcards from Slovenia #16 Hrastovlje Church
The town of Hrastovlje is nestled within the karst landscape of southern Slovenia, amidst hillsides clothed with lush mediterranean vegetation. And on the outskirts of the town stands a fortified church dating from the 13th Century A.D. Though from the outside it appears rugged and weather-worn, the interior is a treasure-house of early Renaissance ecclesiastical... Continue Reading →
Lessons learned in one year sober
Today I'm celebrating one year without drinking alcohol. One whole year's sobriety. People who knew me before might never have believed that. I might never have believed that. But the truth is, since having kids, I'd always wanted to get sober, and previously I'd even managed it for months at a time. But this time... Continue Reading →
10 things I miss about Spain (And 10 things I don’t)
Today, I'm starting a new series; 'Reflections.' I miss this side of 'The Quarantine Diaries' now that they are over: the reflections on life, lessons learned, personal growth and development, etc. I find this kind of writing very therapeutic, and I hope there is something beneficial to you in these reflections. Please let me know... Continue Reading →
EIF Poetry Challenge #2: Translation
Welcome, poets and poetry lovers alike: today I'm excited to announce a new EIF Poetry Challenge! After the success of the previous challenge: The Sonnet, I'm really looking forward to this. I did say I probably wouldn't be making the challenge any easier, and this is perhaps harder than the last one, (it certainly was... Continue Reading →
Cædmon’s Hymn, the earliest recorded poem in English
I was looking for a short Old English poem to translate in preparation for the next EIF Poetry Challenge (coming later today), so I searched through my poetry archives to find 'Cædmon's Hymn,' which I had studied at university many moons ago. Old English is very different from Modern English. If you're unfamiliar with Old... Continue Reading →
Guest Post: Aurora Borealis by Zach Murphy
Today I am very excited to bring you a guest post from Zach Murphy, who is a Hawaii-born writer with a background in cinema. His stories appear in Adelaide Literary Magazine, Mystery Tribune, Ghost City Review, Emerge Literary Journal, Spelk Fiction, Door Is A Jar, Levitate, Yellow Medicine Review, The Bitchin’ Kitsch, Crêpe & Penn,... Continue Reading →
Postcards from Slovenia #15: The Russian Chapel at Vršič
The Vršič pass is reached from Kranjska Gora in the Julian Alps via the Russian Road, so called because it was built by Russian Prisoners of War under Austro-Hungarian command during the First World War. About halfway up the pass, there is a chapel, built in wood. It is set back a little way from... Continue Reading →
Postcards from Slovenia #14: Predjama Castle
Predjama Castle, or Predjamski Grad, means literally 'the castle in front of the cave.' But it is in fact built into the mouth of a cave, as you will see from the featured image. Today we are visiting a remarkable medieval castle which is sure to appeal to children with wild imaginations dreaming of knights... Continue Reading →