Author Archives: fleeburd

From Deep Creek: Finding Hope in the High Country by Pam Houston

“Last semester, when I asked my class, as I do each quarter, how many of them had ever spent a night sleeping in the wilderness the answer was zero, and I realized for the first time in my teaching life I might be standing in front of a room full of students for whom theContinue reading “From Deep Creek: Finding Hope in the High Country by Pam Houston”

When the Morning is Mine Alone

And alone is a blessing When sleep drops from my eyes and visions upon waking seem more real than the floor I walk on When the blanket is warm and pulls me stronger than the sun As she sneaks at my windowsill from miles away I see stars holding to the black skies Clouds areContinue reading “When the Morning is Mine Alone”

A hermit. No, really

I’m just realizing that I’ve been more antisocial for the past few weeks. Which isn’t a bad thing. It feels deep inside like I need to preserve the peace I have and not reach out to those I love. It infuriates me, but that’s how it is in my brain. I’ve had my son withContinue reading “A hermit. No, really”

That lovely greenbelt

Almost a month has gone by and I’m still getting to know the neighborhood and parks nearby. Walking has become somewhat routine and finally I’ve a good route mapped out on the twisting streets that takes me an hour and doesn’t force me to look at my clock constantly to see if I’ll get backContinue reading “That lovely greenbelt”

Is it heartless

In the morning I wipe the sleep from my eyes, thanking my brain for not dreaming of her. And it feels good and right that I have habits that are mine and only mine and don’t come from our time together. Even so she’s still there, when I look at my hair growing in fromContinue reading “Is it heartless”

Heal yourself

“Heal yourself with the light of the sun and the rays of the moon. With the sound of the river and the waterfall. With the swaying of the sea and the fluttering of birds. Heal yourself with mint, neem, and eucalyptus. Sweeten with lavender, rosemary, and chamomile. Hug yourself with the cocoa bean and aContinue reading “Heal yourself”

From Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon

“‘I like the woods,” she said. ‘In them, the possibilities seem endless. They are where wild things are, and I like to think the wild always wins. In the woods, it doesn’t matter that there is no patch of earth that has not known bone, known blood, known rot. It feeds from that. It growsContinue reading “From Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon”

Routine

Predictability is tiresome to me. I know that most creatures, humans as well, thrive on routines, but to me they’re maddening. I’m a morning person and love getting up with the sun, but as soon as the stretching is done I have to slip back into the usual every morning and it makes me wantContinue reading “Routine”

Drawing a circle

It’s so odd looking back now. Every relationship I’ve been in, how I thought I was a whole, interesting, solid person. Then years past I look back and see nothing but the scared girl I was. I grew up thinking I’d had an idyllic childhood. Who else’s parents bring her up on her grandparent’s airport?Continue reading “Drawing a circle”