NOVEMBER!
Mark Time. That is what the proposed gift calendars (already arriving in the mail) do in creative presentations of near-universally accepted and measured spaces. That is what this column does with a record to chronical what each month offers readers. That is what the authors do with their writing and dating of their work.
Perhaps so much of this issue's work was about 'endings' because it is fact that the century is drawing to a close, the year is drawing to a close, the month is also, and in the wee hours of this morning the stages of time marked in many geographic areas as Daylight Savings Time ended its reign for a few months. The poem "Born to Fly" by M.Jay Mansfield (known as FireEagle in chat sites) speaks volumes about time marked by endings. As mentioned by Greg Hargrave (who hosts our Interactive Story "The Tale of Darkwing") the verses combine sadness and triumph. Jay's poetry often elevates thought and yanks one out of self-pity, alleviating minor worries. Thank you again, FireEagle.
Beginnings and endings are often symbolized by sun or moon rise and their settings. The story "Sunsets" by our new author Lance Kevin Lawhon leaves one with a different perspective on the in between time.
The Sun and Moon play a big part in chronicals, and our November authors employ these two great lights in intriguing roles, while others refer to the greatest Light of all. From the simply defined "Boss" to the delicately wrought "Majesty" by Rev. James R. Donk, the Source of light is saluted. The former is one of four ("In Times of Sorrow," "R & R," "Elite Guard," "Boss") by our new writer, a retired teacher, Peggy Tate Smith-Hale; the latter, one of two (see "Hope" also) this month from the reverend.
The moon is the light in some of November's poetry. Though often portrayed romantically, as in LSeeker's poems ("The Moon's Calling," "Magical Trip," "Time's Long Lost Rhyme," one or two that also mention the sun), a chillier aspect is offered in the tale "Train to Nowhere" by a new author Anu Kumar, and in the poem "By Light of Winter Moon." Each begins with moonrise and chills continue until dawn. Mona Wanlass, author of the poem, joins us with three poems, including the one about the mulit-linguisic Sun. Her poetry also appears at ivillage.com and web de sol. One of her poems we present,"Works of Art," is a gentle tribute.
Time with family shines in the story "The Window," by Mary Taylor and in the poems "Grandmother" by Jennafer Shaffer, and "Kin" by JoBi Wilson . Terrie also suggests some ways to lighten our time alone, in her two poems, "Cement Budha," and "Standing On My Head," and LSeeker's "Don't Throw a Tissy Fit" has a different pastime. One's time spent but unresolved is protested in "Broken" by new author, Pedro A. Cortes, and "Frost" by your editor, while ideas for spending time with family is suggested in the article by Lucille Herrington in "Reunion Plans?"
Cassandra details family doings in her "Cassandra's World;" Amanda Speed helps families locate info for starting out time with the newest family members -- babies -- in "Great Reviews;"
Astrid suggests while "Astridlogically Speaking we spend at least part of our time on Election Day voting; pbobby has suggestions for improving our time with everyone in his "Provocations;" and Leo C Helmer has a recipe to add flavor to fun times during the holidays in "Cookin' with Leo" and Cheri Kennedy discusses what we might NOT want to watch on our evenings at home in "Cheri and Mary Experience the Movies." Time donated to us by our fellow man is related by Connie Anast in "On The Other Hand." Our High School student columnist, Jonathan L. Bowen, describes time well spent in building one's future via today's education. His column "Ramblings" also explains how time given to an avocation can bring success now while working toward that future.
The way we spend our time, with friends and family, or in case of national emergency with our fellows also involved, is regaled, mourned, or simply related by many of our authors. The poem "My Soul Has Learned" (by LSeeker) reminds us that it is through these experiences Time brings us, that we grow in strength and humility -- another facet of Time for the evolved theme of this issue.
It always amazes your editor to see an unplanned theme emerge as the verses and tales and facts spin forth from the emails. Veterans Day -- the intended theme -- is still a focus for the issue, a date officially designated originally as Armistice Day, to commemorate the veterans of WWI, which our grandfathers considered the War to end wars. After additional conflicts and to crystalize the recognition of all veterans, the name was changed to Veterans Day, but the annual date, November 11, was kept the same. In "Consider This", by LC Van Savage, our newest columnist, initiates a fresh question on an era that produced many of the veterans still living -- WWII. Although new to our ezine, this author is not new to writing columns, and we look forward to those to come. Mike Craner adds his thoughts on Veterans Day in "Mike's Place" while the poem "War" by Joshua Adair Wadford and the article "Ex-Soldier's Memories (1994)" by the late A. G. Adair speak for themselves. "Tribute to Military Brats" by your editor mentions that all veterans of war are not ex-soldiers.
Thus, individual expressions of notations made, and to be made, do mark time in the author's life or lives of others. Though the work comes from many different people, the themes used in designating time are necessary to set the scene for the reader (and the writer, for whom the work becomes a record.) The editor's poem "Recording" attempts to explain why we all write, but the bonus is when what we write and share illuminates some portion of the reader's path at one point in time or another.
See you in December!
