O’er parched and sandy earth where sun has killed All but the most resilient weeds, where spear- Like winds hurl dust and wolves loom nigh and jeer, A flock trails near its shepherd wise and skilled And follows him despite hope unfulfilled. Through mountain passes narrow, rocky, sheer, Where enemies from hidden lairs peer, He … Continue reading Onward Pressed
You wake up early and lug your luggage downstairs to wait for your Uber driver. Mild anxiety hangs in the air like the smell of last night's burnt coffee. Will he arrive? Almost to the minute of his scheduled arrival at 6:20, he pulls up in his new white CRV and helps you load your … Continue reading The God of Gate H1
On the one hand, I write stories because a force as strong and as invisible as the wind compels me to. That's not the only reason though. For me, stories are not solid walls we stare at for the sake of admiring the wallpaper. They're windows through which we might glimpse the beauty on the … Continue reading Why I Write
"Sing, sparrows, sing, for God's good varied grace!" We are so well provided for.
Happy New Year's Eve from us to you! On this day of both remembering the past year and looking forward to the one to come, here are the seven most popular posts to The Untamed Places in 2018. Enjoy. Number 7 And Then They Killed Lucy April 25, 2018 She was poisoned. That was as clear as … Continue reading 7 Most Popular Posts of 2018
His eyes burned as he stared at his mother, who met his gaze with a fierceness he rarely saw, but when he did, he knew a storm was about to break if he so much as blinked the wrong way. It hadn't been his fault. His brother had pushed him. The rest had been mere … Continue reading The Ancient Word
Come up, come up, and gaze across the land I’ve conquered for you with my mighty hand. Press to the height of this towering hill And look upon the promise I’ll fulfill Not for you but for them, for I am true And all men liars. Of myriad men, two From the old generation will … Continue reading Moses on the Mountain
I remember the exact date I lost my virginity. It was July 19, 2008. That date is easy to remember because something else happened the very same day that I'll never forget. In fact, that other thing was so important that every year since I've celebrated it on that date. You see, July 19, 2008, … Continue reading Sex: I’ve Got a Better Story
I like to write. I think one of the reasons I like to write is because it helps me think. You'd never know it reading these words right now, but between some of the words I type there exist minutes of empty space. Minutes in which I can simply process what I've just written and … Continue reading What Doesn’t Make It to the Blog
A boat floated just off the pier, severe The sight, did not appear to quite cohere To scenes the pier was most accustomed to. Despite its watertight design, a crew That knew their ropes by day, by night, frostbite, Sun’s scorching light that did not one affright, The boat moved not a mote, did not … Continue reading The Shipwright and His Boat