Torsade Literary Space Haunt of Thieves: War-Making (poem)
War-Making The blue soldier’s tunic Dangles a last brass button as though the gamble Of trade advances nothing where an unhoused man can look able to shift a pallet of brick, he commands the only currency And pallid sick, blue in the face with sunken chest Breeds invitation to a potshot […]
Catastrophe (part thirty-eight)
Jean Hess La Catastrophe de la Martinique (part thirty-eight) XXIV Interview with M. Peyrouton The Treasury. The Bank. Our former colleague, Peyrouton, who was director of l’Estafette, is treasurer of Saint-Pierre. Returning from leave, on the […]
The Mirrors (part twenty-five)
The Mirrors (part twenty-five) “Sometimes I think it was Polly warning me,” Carolee said. “It began when I was fifteen or so, when God started…I ought to say Godfrey…started frightening me. We always made allowances for God because he was the one who’d found her. He had waded down into the […]
My Blog Week: November 13 to November 19
All the Latest from Torsade! On Monday, The Mirrors, a gathering in the house on Saint-Hubert, and a mystery upstairs. Wednesday, Catastrophe, and racism in Martinique dividing the population. Friday, a new poem, “Francesca”, a story-within-a-story. […]
Francesca (poem)
Francesca he came, with tablet and stylus, sketching her he took a seat… too near, at the fountain’s base and said, “do you care?” she drew her memobook and started a romance “don’t bend,” he said “your hair is covering your face” She wrote, Francesca met him on a Thursday Her giant […]
Catastrophe (part thirty-seven)
Jean Hess La Catastrophe de la Martinique (part thirty-seven) I have counted. Forty whites at least, of all classes and ranks, creoles, officials, soldiers and officers, have affirmed to me with indignation, that in his writings (read between the lines), the editor of l’Opinion […]
The Mirrors (part twenty-four)
The Mirrors (part twenty-four) xi. In the front hall was marble tile, hexagons of black and white; matching buffets either side of a massive mirror losing its silvering… Charmante watched William. If in wartime he’d done laundry and kitchen work, he must have entered this house. Below. Of […]
My Blog Week: November 6 to November 12
All the Latest from Torsade! Great relief for America, after this week’s election results. Voters seem to know how to think, after all, and how to sacrifice selfish goals for the common good. Maybe, then, voters should […]
The Resident (part twelve)
Chapter Two An Anniversary Party (part twelve) A door swung open to the passage, the sliver of wet-looking concrete between garage and house. A man stepped out, flung into a stride, noticed himself watched, skidded on a paver, wobbled upright. “Oh, hello… Claudie!” “John, that’s Debra, […]
Marjorie Bowen: The Sword Decides! (part fifty-nine)
Marjorie Bowen The Sword Decides! (part fifty-nine) “Tomorrow,” he addressed them, “the twelfth month begins. A fair month for our Queen’s escape. We pray for calm waters.” Prayers from the table did not fill his pause. But it was Giovanna’s sputter Cabane waited for: Escape! […]