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🐾 About Along the Road in New England and the Series Along the Road in New England marks the beginning of a whimsical children's series following Jack and Oscar, two adventurous Labrador puppies with itchy paws and bold hearts. Tired of the quiet monotony of home, they dream of distant places, thrilling escapades, and the freedom to explore. After months of scheming, they hatch a brilliant plan—steal their parents' jeep and leap into a magical wishing well. On the other side, they tumble into a world of delightful chaos, meeting quirky characters and visiting fantastical landscapes. From one mischievous adventure to the next, Jack and Oscar journey farther and farther from home—until they discover that the place they left behind holds the kind of magic they didn’t know they were chasing. This coming-of-age tale celebrates curiosity, courage, and the power of kindness. As Jack and Oscar explore new environments and cultures, they learn to see the world through compassionate eyes, embracing differences and forming lasting bonds. Their story is one of self-discovery, where home isn’t just a place—it’s a feeling. Follow their journey from New England to California, New York, D.C., Florida, and onward to South America, Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Currently looking for the right publishing house... Jack & Oscar In the flesh In the flesh

A Gardener in New England - An Opera A Gardener in New England - An Opera 12.202 3 tick tock, tick tock One heart tough as bone, two feet on the ground shuffle. One parcel of land relieved, one clump at a time. Two hands fold out a blanket of gold, one heap of decomposed meals cycloned with cracked eggshell and a dozen warm winter worms. tick tock, tick tock Sun spills softly through shades, and green sprouts dance to grow, whilst clapped by wings of bees. Patience is a slow grant for hunger. tick tock, tick tock Two feet on the ground shuffle. They’re wandering at a loss. Mountains of water are falling, and gold is turning to green moss. roar, roar We want greens, we want tomatoes, carrots, chives, and potatoes. We want greens, we want tomatoes, carrots, chives, and potatoes. … crunch, crunch Upon the sun and rain, carnation blisses, crocus bulbs crush in chipmunk hands, sweet lettuce folds between deer kisses, cherry tomatoes burst in rabbit cheeks. roar, roar We want greens, we want tomatoes, carrots, chives, and potatoes. We want greens, we want tomatoes, carrots, chives, and potatoes. crunch, slurp She swallows slowly, her tears tie, whilst pooh bear embraces the hive, one queen, two feet on the ground, liquid gold guarded by no hound. … swoosh, shhhh Wind swirls about and dries the colors out. She mourns the leaves but dries the herbs. Defaced, her garden rests, left for pests. Perennials tucked in underneath a windowsill. crunch, crunch Numbers pressed, plans and seeds sifted. Total cost to grow at home vs total eaten, No, stop, cannot measure labor for love, or lust for reproducing, for playing god in dirt. … crunch, crunch Two feet on the ground pack snow, one heart tough as bone, one parcel of land relieved, two hands hold one warm winter worm. roar, roar We want greens, we want tomatoes, carrots, chives, and potatoes. We want greens, we want tomatoes, carrots, chives, and potatoes. … tick tock, tick tock

This is the jungle This is the jungle Slam version DF 08. 1 0. 2020 This is the jungle There you see an educated savage Under the beard, there’s a flower My sister! He kissed her And there I can feel a strong power An electric forest, a beehive Phew! We can still live and not feel redundant Bees! Thanks for keeping it 100 Down the river, hunted, on a boat The fog reveals a mister He has got a jive, like this, His phone screen shows he is live “Vote!” he says, Huh? For what? I feel my blister For better shoes!? No, a lighter coat. Martha’s brain will not stop talking of this ravage We must finish with a gloat And our cameras must not be damaged So later, I can post And she will comment “You are a GOAT!” Phew… Haiku Resources 1. Wales Haiku Journal 2. Haiku Foundation -> Haiku Dialogue No title 01. 21. 2023 Far away from home, the robin flies alone, low with a broken wing. My best friend, Oscar With you, I don’t walk but I dance across meadows And traverse the forest w ith ease Even today you are here with me I jump from one rock to another to avoid the mud that may be lingering in between the soft looking patches of grass Oh, the rocks, even boulders, that you stepped on and over like lily pads when you were little No obstacle existed, and no pool of water was too small for a belly dip lock and step together, you made me happy No time with you was ever lonely or dull But old age came for you much faster than for me my dear friend Your paws are now resting gently on the floor that you used to wipe clean with your tail And I’m here meandering on my own Following in your footsteps, practicing curiosity and thrill I’m trusting you, like you always did me My tears fall and I walk up the waterfall, looking for that time with you, that togetherness you taught me with grace, I walk and I look, and I made it to the top, higher than ever before. Because of you. Without you.

My best friend, Oscar My best friend, Oscar With you, I don’t walk but I dance across meadows And traverse the forest w ith ease Even today you are here with me I jump from one rock to another to avoid the mud that may be lingering in between the soft looking patches of grass Oh, the rocks, even boulders, that you stepped on and over like lily pads when you were little No obstacle existed, and no pool of water was too small for a belly dip lock and step together, you made me happy No time with you was ever lonely or dull But old age came for you much faster than for me my dear friend Your paws are now resting gently on the floor that you used to wipe clean with your tail And I’m here meandering on my own Following in your footsteps, practicing curiosity and thrill I’m trusting you, like you always did me My tears fall and I walk up the waterfall, looking for that time with you, that togetherness you taught me with grace, I walk and I look, and I made it to the top, higher than ever before. Because of you. Without you.

Description: The subject of the painting is from Ovid's Metamorphoses (Book IV, 563-603). After Cadmus is changed into a serpent by Mars, his wife Harmonia begs for a similar fate, which is granted. Here we see Harmonia in the embrace of her transfigured husband. However, De Morgan deviates from Metamorphoses by depicting Harmonia as a statuesque young maiden and not the elderly woman of the original tale. The work was painted in 1877, shortly after De Morgan had returned from a trip to Italy. When it was exhibited for the first time it was accompanied by the following lines from Ovid’s Metamorphoses: With lambent tongue he kissed her patient face, Crept in her bosom as his dwelling place Entwined her neck, and shared the loved embrace. The figure of Harmonia protectively encompassed by her husband in snake form is reminiscent of the central figure in Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, which Evelyn had copied as a student. Artist: Evelyn De Morgan (1855 – 1919) Date: 1877 Material: Oil on canvas Dimensions: Framed: H1485 x W895 x D104mm Inscriptions: Signature, 1877: EP 1877 About the artist: Evelyn De Morgan supported the suffrage movement, and she appears as a signatory on the Declaration in Favour of Women's Suffrage of 1889. She was also a pacifist and expressed her horror about the First World War and Boer War in over fifteen war paintings including The Red Cross and S.O.S. In 1916, she held a benefit exhibition of these works at her studio in Edith Grove in support of the Red Cross and Italian Croce Rossa. Download THE TALE of CADMUS & HARMONIA Cadmus In Greek mythology, Cadmus was of divine ancestry, the grandson of the sea god Poseidon and Libya on his father's side, and of Nilus (the River Nile) on his mother's side. He was son to king Agenor and queen Telephassa of Tyre. He was a prince of Phoenicia. He was brother to Phoenix, Cilix, and Europa. Cadmus was tasked with traveling to Samothrace (Greek Island in the Aegean Sea) to retrieve Europa and bring her back to Tyre (southern Lebanon in Mediterranean Sea) and although the journey was dangerous, he did it, never found his sister, followed a cow to now Thebes and founded Thebes (with permission from Athena) and in return Zeus offered him a wife, Harmonia. He was considered a member of the fifth generation of beings following the (mythological) creation of the world. With his wife, Harmonia, he was the father of 5 children, 1 son (Polydorus) and 4 daughters (Agave, Autonoë, Ino, and Semele). In rare account, the couple instead had 6 daughters which are called the Cadmiades: Ino, Agaue (spelled with a ‘u’), Semele, not Autonoë but three others Eurynome , Kleantho and Eurydike. According to Greek mythology, Cadmus lived in 2000 BC where he was the legendary Phoenician hero and founder and first king of Thebes (a powerful town in the ancient times, close to Athens), and was the greatest hero and slayer of monsters before the days of Heracles. Cadmus's descendants ruled at Thebes on and off for several generations, including the time of the Trojan War. He introduced the original Phoenician alphabet to the Greeks, who adapted it to form their Greek alphabet. He is also credited with the foundation of several cities in Illyria, like Bouthoe and Lychnidu and therefore is referred to as an ancestor of Illyrians. In Greek Baby Names the meaning of the name Cadmus is: He who excels; from the east. Cadmus was also known by a different name, Hermes. Harmonia Cadmus was sent by his royal parents to seek out and escort his sister Europa back to Tyre (mediterranean coast of southern Lebanon) after she was abducted from Phoenicia by Zeus and taken to Samonthrace (a Greek island in the northern Aegean Sea). He never found his sister. Perhaps because Zeus had turned her into a cow. After being unsuccessful in his quest, he consulted the Delphic oracle, which ordered him to give up his quest, follow a cow, and build a town on the spot where she lay down. The cow guided him to Boeotia (Cow Land), where he founded the city of Thebes after it was bestowed to him by Athena. At that time, Zeus offered him Harmonia. Harmonia is daughter of Venus [Aphrodite] and Mars [Ares]. All the gods honored Harmonia and Cadmus’ wedding with their presence. Cadmus presented the bride with a robe and necklace, which he had received either from Hephaestus or from Europa. Other traditions stated that Harmonia received this necklace (ὅρμος) from some of the gods, either from Aphrodite or Athena. But this necklace, commonly referred to as the necklace of Harmonia, brought misfortune to all who possessed it. Hyginus gives another version. According to him, the thing which brought ill fate to the descendants of Harmonia is not a necklace, but a robe "dipped in crime", given to Harmonia by Hephestus and Hera. Cadmus and Harmonia Cadmus (and Harmonia) ruled as King in the region of Thebes but also he ruled the Enchelei ancient peoples, an Illyrian tribe that lived around the River Drin and the region of Lake Shkodra and Lake Ohrid, in modern-day Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. Enchelei derived from ngjalë (eel). As protector of the area, Cadmus killed a dragon who was the guard of a swatter spring near Thebes (the fountain of Castalia). The story goes that Cadmus went to fetch water for a ritual from a nearby spring, but the spring belonged to a dragon, the offspring of Ares, god of savagery and war, and it refused Cadmus’s request. So, Cadmus killed the dragon and took the water anyway and made the sacrifice. With this, he, of course, offended Mars, Harmonia’s father, to whom the dragon (some call it a serpent) is sacred because it’s his son. And in return, Mars [Ares] curses the house of Cadmus [his daughter’s Harmonia’s house, too]. As a result, all of their children live and die tragically, including one of the grandson’s Pentheus, son of Agave. By most accounts, Cadmus and Harmonia had 5 children, 1 son (Polydorus) and 4 daughters (Agave, Autonoë, Ino, and Semele). In rare account, the couple instead had 6 daughters which are called the Cadmiades: Ino, Agaue (spelled with a ‘u’), Semele, not Autonoë but three others Eurynome , Kleantho and Eurydike. According to some sources, Cadmus and Harmonia pleaded with the gods to be transformed into black serpents after suffering immense misfortunes and were sent by Zeus to the Islands of the Blessed (Elysian Fields) where they spent eternity in a blissful afterlife. In other traditions, Cadmus and Harmonia were transformed into serpents after their deaths, and the serpents watched over their tombs while their souls were sent to the Elysian Fields (an afterlife place where only mortals related to gods and other heroes could be admitted, to live a blessed and happy afterlife, and indulge in whatever enjoyment they had enjoyed in life). Hence, the story that when Cadmus was the first to be turned into a serpent, Harmonia, in her grief stripped herself, then begged Cadmus to come to her. As she was embraced by the serpent Cadmus in a pool of wine, the gods then turned her into a serpent, too, unable to stand watching her in her dazed state. Read more about Europa and other characters in the Iliad and Odyssey.

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Tears of Re An ancient Egyptian papyrus traces the origin of bees to tears: “The god Re [the sun god also known as Ra] wept, and the tears from his eyes fell on the ground and turned into a bee. The bee made his honeycomb and busied himself with the flowers of every plant and so wax was made and also honey out of the tears of Re.” Gene Kritsky quotes this inscription in The Tears of Re (2015), about beekeeping in ancient Egypt. Explore More The Tears of Re DF 12.19. 2019 Pool his tears onto the palm of your hand, Ice is warm but cold water drapes the bay; For a thousand tears make a fine land. Drip, drip, drip drowns the sorrow band, An army of none and all that comes to say, Pool his tears onto the palm of your hand. Tears with honey are often spanned, The art of nature is an ancient play, For a thousand tears make a fine land. Curse not blessing we must demand, When no tears are left to cry today; Pool his tears onto the palm of your hand. His tears to possess at the bee stand, To have and to heal our lungs of gray, For a thousand tears make a fine land. From our minds, our bees we banned, And our evils with tears will pay someday, Pool his tears onto the palm of your hand. For a thousand tears make a fine land.

New York, New York NEW YORK, NEW YORK DF 05. 01. 2020 NEW YORK, NEW YORK CARS WHOOSHING BY AND ACROSS LIKE BLOOD IN A RUNNER’S VEINS WHEELS TURNING AND HORNS BURSTING LIKE A MELODY FROM ROOSTERS WITH CANES POP. AND THERE’S A MAN FINGERING A CHAMPAGNE CORK HE IS A DIRTY HIPSTER AND A BOSS BUT THOSE THREE WOMEN HOLD THE REIGNS LOCK, THEM UP. THEY KNOW OF DORKS AND OF THEIR STAINS. BUT. THEIR OWN GLOSS IS OVER TEETH IN ALL SORTS OF PAINS THEY DO NOT FLOSS EVEN FROM PORK ON A FORK OH! AT THE TOP OF THE ROCK OF NEW YORK, NEW YORK

Entrée Accompaniments T'baftë mirë Roasted Potatoes Yields a side for 4 people 8-9 yellow gold potatoes (medium to large) Ingredients For the boil Salt Paprika powder Garlic powder Salt Pepper For the roasting Dill Garlic powder Lemon pepper Salt EVOO Directions Peel and dice the potatoes in one-inch squares. In a large boiling pot, boil a gallon of water with ‘for the boil’ ingredients. Add diced potatoes in and bring to a boil for about 15 mins. Pre-heat oven on 425 degrees Fahrenheit. With a large strainer ladle, scoop potatoes from the wa ter into a large roasting pan. Drizzle ‘for the roasting’ ingredients. Shake back and forth in the pan to make them fall in place in a more even distribution. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown. Let sit for 10 mins before serving. Polenta Polenta flour Milk EVOO Parmigiano-Reggiano 1 part polenta and 4 parts water is the standard. Try instead 1 part polenta, 2.5 parts water, 1.5 milk. 3 tbsp of butter is the standard. Try 3 tbsp EVOO and ½ cup of ground Parmigiano-Reggiano. Place EVOO, water, and milk in a pot and bring to a boil. Lower heat to lowest setting. Slowly pour in cornmeal while stirring with a whisk. Do so for 3 minutes then remove from stove and let cool for 2 mins. Add the cheese on top and enjoy! Falafel 1 can chickpeas Handful hazelnuts 1 cup of loose curly parsley ½ small onion 2 garlic cloves 1 tsp salt 2 pinches of cayenne pepper, paprika, and cumin. 4-5 cups of vegetable oil In food processor, blend all until smooth then cover and put in the fridge for 3 hours. 1 tsp of baking powder 4 tbsp all-purpose flour Pulse a few times to evenly spread the flour and baking powder. Pour dough into a bowl. Make balls, cover in panko gently, deep fry. Rice inspired by mid-east Ingredients 5 cups of white rice ½ cup of dried currants 1 cup of raw hazelnuts ½ cup of raw cashews 2 handfuls of parsley (chopped) 2 carrots (diced) 2 tbsp of EVOO 2 tbsp of honey Salt and pepper to taste 3 tbsp of vegan butter (Miyoko's Creamery European Style Cultured Vegan Butter with a Hint of Sea Salt) Directions Soak currants, hazelnuts, and cashews in a pot of water for 1 hour before you start the rest of the cooking process Cook white rice: In a medium-sized deep pot, sauté rice over 2 tbsp of EVOO until it starts looking transparent. Mix often to make sure it doesn’t burn on the bottom. Add ¼ tbsp of salt and 10 cups of boiling water. Mix well so it doesn’t stick on the bottom. Leave the heat on high until it comes to a boil. Then turn heat all the way to low. Cover with a lid. Note: My prefer method to a lid is a towel folded at least 4 layers thick. Wait to open for 15 mins. Taste rice to check if it is cooked. If yes, turn off. If not, add ½ cup of water by sprinkling it on the top and cover with lid again for another 5-10 mins. In a large sauce pan (I often use a household paella pan), over medium to high heat, sauté carrots over 3 tbsp of vegan butter. Then add drained currants and nuts. Then lower heat to medium-low, add honey and let it melt into the rest. Then add cooked white rice over it, salt, pepper, and chopped parsley and mix well. Cover with lid or foil until you are ready to serve it. You've got special recipes to share? Please do!

03 03 03 03 02 02 02 02 01 01 01 01 ... ... ... ... B E L O N G I N G HIVE LOOKING FOR VENERA VERA DREAMS OF THE SEA THE HILL WHERE LIONESSES ROAR DISPLACED YOU WON'T BE ALONE ZANA THE FORGIVENESS OF BLOOD NO MAN'S LAND QUO VADIS, AIDA? SWORN VIRGIN THE ALBANIAN VIRGIN IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY BOTA HONEYLAND DARA OF JASENOVAC SLOVENIJA, AVSTRALIJA IN JUTRI VES SVET VAZVISHENIE SECRET INGREDIENT TRAIN DRIVER'S DIARY HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM! Have any special movies to share?

POETRY Poetry Workshops in Fairfield County, CT 1. Eco-Evolution Cafe in Norwalk (monthly) 2. Erica's Shed (invite only) 3. Ralph Nazareth's house 4. Poet's salon in Fairfield 5. CT Poets Society at Wilton Libr ary (Est.2010) (monthly) 6. Gabi Coatsworth's groups (WritersMic and Writers Rendezvous are attendable by Zoom or in person at Westport Librar y. 7. Open Mic at Unity Center, above Ford Dealership in Norwalk, CT 8. Fairfield County Story Lab or Fairfield County Writers' studio 203-374-8343 fcstorylab.com and fcwritersstudio.com 9. Westport Writers' Workshop westportwriters.org Haiku Resources 1. Wales Haiku Journal 2. Haiku Foundation -> Haiku Dialog ue 3. Cold Moon Journal by Roberta Beach Jacobson Poetry is the sister of music. — Sergei Rachmaninoff A poem should not mean but be. — Archibald McLeish These are my allusions... — Janet Krauss Make of your life a poem. — Ray Rauth List of Titles The poetry pages below are a collection of mine. However, the recited section found at the bottom of this page is a combination of mine and others that I found inspiring. A Gardner in New England - An Opera 12.16.2023 Relieved 12.2022 The Tears of Re 12.19.2019 It's the Same Old Song 09.01.2019 Three Generations 01.19.2019 My best friend, Oscar 02.17.2023 New York, New York 05.01.2020 This is the Jungle (slam version) 08.1 0.2020 This is the Jungle 09 .11 .2019 Haikus various Magic Moments 01.21.2023 You and Me 11.15.2025 The Digital Mirror 12.18.2025 Recited verses Better To Light Candles by Merle Shain Better To Light Candles by Merle Shain Better To Light Candles by Merle Shain Better To Light Candles by Merle Shain It is better to light candles than to curse the darkness. It is better to plant seeds than to accuse the earth. The world needs all of our power and love and energy, and each of us has something that we can give. The trick is to find it and use it, to find it and give it away. So there will always be more. We can be lights for each other, and through each other's illumination we will see the way. It is better to light candles than to curse the darkness. It is better to plant seeds than to accuse the earth. The world needs all of our power and love and energy, and each of us has something that we can give. The trick is to find it and use it, to find it and give it away. So there will always be more. We can be lights for each other, and through each other's illumination we will see the way. It is better to light candles than to curse the darkness. It is better to plant seeds than to accuse the earth. The world needs all of our power and love and energy, and each of us has something that we can give. The trick is to find it and use it, to find it and give it away. So there will always be more. We can be lights for each other, and through each other's illumination we will see the way. It is better to light candles than to curse the darkness. It is better to plant seeds than to accuse the earth. The world needs all of our power and love and energy, and each of us has something that we can give. The trick is to find it and use it, to find it and give it away. So there will always be more. We can be lights for each other, and through each other's illumination we will see the way. Each of us is a seed, a silent promise, and it is always spring. Each of us is a seed, a silent promise, and it is always spring. Each of us is a seed, a silent promise, and it is always spring. Each of us is a seed, a silent promise, and it is always spring. Anything come to mind to share?