From whiskey river's commonplace book: When you consider something like death, after which (there being no news flash to the contrary) we may well go out like a candle flame, then it probably doesn't matter if we try too hard, are awkward sometimes, care for one another too deeply, are excessively curious about nature, are too open to experience, enjoy a nonstop expense of the senses in an effort to know life intimately and lovingly.

A microfiction inspired by a photo I once took

From whiskey river's commonplace book: There once lived a great warrior. Though quite old, he still was able to defeat any challenger. His reputation extended far and wide throughout the land and many students gathered to study under him. One day an infamous young warrior arrived at the village, determined to be the first man to defeat the great master.

A microfiction inspired by a photograph I took recently

An incomplete list

From whiskey river's commonplace book: ...you are all original and talented and need to let it out of yourselves; that is to say, you have the creative impulse. But the ardor for it is inhibited and dried up by many things; as I said, by criticism, self-doubt, duty, nervous fear which expresses itself in merely external action like running up and downstairs and scratching items off lists and thinking you are being efficient; by anxiety about making a living, by fear of not excelling.

Note to regular visitors: this has been a week of very interesting travel adventures for me... so interesting, in fact, that I'm posting this Friday entry -- this abbreviated Friday entry, at that -- two days late. Heh. ) From elsewhere: Fado A man reaches close and lifts a quarter from inside a girl’s ear, from her hands takes a dove…

A microfiction inspired by a photograph I once took

From whiskey river's commonplace book: On Living(excerpt) Let's say you're seriously ill, need surgery--- which is to say we might not get up from the white table. Even though it's impossible not to feel sad about going a little too soon, we'll still laugh at the jokes being told, we'll look out the window to see it's raining,

A microfiction inspired by a photo I once took

From whiskey river's commonplace book: One day a young Buddhist, on his journey home, came to the banks of a wide river. Staring hopelessly at the great obstacle in front of him, he pondered for hours on just how to cross such a wide barrier. Just as he was about to give up his pursuit to continue his journey he saw a great teacher on the other side of the river.

A microfiction inspired by a photo I once took

From whiskey river's commonplace book: The Seeker's List of Things to Do 1. Fall and rise a thousand times if need be. 2. Become a habitual seeker. 3. Give up, then try again. 4. Realize that you want to help others. 5. Be thankful. 6. Become a decent human animal. 7. Look for the source of thoughts. 8. Look in whatever way keeps your attention.

A microfiction inspired by a photo I once took

From whiskey river's commonplace book (italicized portion): My eleven-year-old son came to me recently and in a tone of patient suffering, asked, “How much longer do I have to go to school?” “About fifteen years,” I said. “Oh! Lord,” he said despondently. “Do I have to?” “I ’m afraid so. It’s terrible and I’m not going to try to tell you it isn’t.

A microfiction inspired by a photograph I once took

...indeed, more like turning away from it (sometimes)

From whiskey river's commonplace book: There is a joy in the actual taste of vanilla ice cream that does not come from knowing the chemical formula of vanilla. There is a joy, an inherent aliveness in the body that you can experience if you pay attention to your body. But if you live up in your head, in your words all the time, you don’t notice it.

A microfiction inspired by a photo I once took

From whiskey river's commonplace book: Sometimes one sees the world in a way one is not aware of at other times. We're never really seeing the world, we're only seeing a moment's take on the world. This is true of images. Images are a way of seeing the world which you didn't notice before, and something you cannot make by an act of will; it's something that is suddenly revealed to you.

A microfiction inspired by a photo I once took

Blurry around the edges, sharp at the core

From whiskey river's commonplace book: Some people fear seeing or feeling anything about which there is no general agreement. For others, it is thrilling to be aware of innuendo, shading, complexity. For those who do not wish to step away from consensus, the creative is useless at best; at worst, it is dangerous. But for those who are intrigued by the multiplicity of reality and the unique possibilities of their own vision, the creative is the path they must pursue.

A microfiction inspired by a photo I once took