Dry Mouth Musings
My muses were once models of perfection I could never hope to attain. But, of course, they were only as I wished to perceive them and not truly as they were. They weren’t so much objects of my own romantic desire, but rather various aspects of the object of desire I longed to be. Now, […]
I Never Thought Myself a Poet, But I Certainly Am Now!
There wasn’t one particular moment when I decided to become a poet. About the time I was leaving junior high, I decided to try writing some lyrics. But, as they’ve never been put to music, outside of the occasional ditty in my head, they became mere poetry. Some people say that I do well at […]
Words and Ideas
Sometime ago, I began work on what would become a series of articles entitled “The Beauty of Ideas.” While that series itself never came to fruition, there were parts of these brainstorms that yielded some highly intellectual fruits. One major breakthrough I had was just how words and ideas are interwoven, however imperfect their union […]
When I Got a Moment to Breathe
At most points in my life, I haven’t written nearly as much as I would like. There are always other things to accomplish in life getting in the way. So, whenever I get a moment to breathe, I think a lot about where I am as a writer. That train of thought necessarily leads me […]
Do I Love Adverbs Irrationally?
Also, Why Do I Get So Wordy? While undertaking a massive project rewriting my old academic papers, I discovered my love of adverbs has not faltered through the years. Without a doubt, I’m a far better writer a decade on after writing many of these pieces I’ve been working on. To assist my rewriting work, […]
Thank You, Darkness, My Old Friend
For many years, the darkness truly was my best friend. In the light, I was often judged unfairly. But, in the late hours obscured by darkness, I felt much more free. With many sleepless nights powered on little more than junk food, I made the most of my insomnia. I used this time to figure […]
Wasted Words and Wistful Memories
Starting in May 2021, my birthday month, I wanted to be sure that I posted something fresh and meaningful. I’ve grown weary of remixing retreads from my vast writing archives. When I first began my website, The Phoenix Desertsong, I did intend for it to reflect upon many years of my work over many different […]
The Mindless Things
Too many nights I lay awake thinking of mindless pursuits. I’ve many times lamented about the trivial pursuits which have captivated my undivided attention for far too long and often. Sure, who among us isn’t guilty of having diversions that bring us a bit too far from where we’d like to be intellectually at this […]
Honesty in Writing
“If the writing is honest it cannot be separated from the man who wrote it.” – Tennessee Williams What makes honest writing? Even when I try to be as honest as possible with my writing, I find myself asking, when is it wrong or even dangerous to be too honest? There’s letting things off your […]
Where Am I Going With This?
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked myself, “Where Am I Going With This?” My mind tends to wander more than most I’ve been told. Sometimes, this is a good thing, as I then discover trains of thought that haven’t left the station yet. Other times, I get quite derailed. I’m also not […]