A new series, The Saga of the Aeneas, begins at Noble Cobra Magazine: It was the greatest engineering project ever attempted by man. Seven kilometers long, and two across at its widest point, the Aeneas dwarfed any other man-made object by a considerable margin. The internal surface area alone, not counting the upper decks, came … Continue reading The Lot of the Eldest
Friday Flotsam: Christmas
1. When God comes among men, He comes not as a figure of awe and terror, but as an infant sleeping in His mother's arms. 2. I'm home in Michigan for Christmas; going back to Arizona for New Years'. It's nice to see rain again, though I wish it were snow (meanwhile, my sister in … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Christmas
Merry Christmas!
Noble Cobra Magazine Lives: ‘The Discarded Image’
My long-neglected Substack has at last been coaxed back into life with the first of a commentary series on C.S. Lewis's The Discarded Image: Lewis starts off with a lengthy illustration of a key and oft-neglected fact of the Medieval mind: Medieval man shared many ignorances with the savage, and some of his beliefs may … Continue reading Noble Cobra Magazine Lives: ‘The Discarded Image’
Poem – “Christmas” (Repost)
The bells of waiting Advent ring,The Tortoise stove is lit againAnd lamp-oil light across the nightHas caught the streaks of winter rainIn many a stained-glass window sheenFrom Crimson Lake to Hookers Green. The holly in the windy hedgeAnd round the Manor House the yewWill soon be stripped to deck the ledge,The altar, font and arch … Continue reading Poem – “Christmas” (Repost)
Friday Flotsam: Kraven and Superman, Among Other Things
1. And my first full-time semester of teaching is officially over! Overall went pretty well, so far as I can tell. Very instructive, and I had a pretty good batch of guinea pigs students to work with. I have quite a few ideas for improvements next semester. 2. This has been a hard year on … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Kraven and Superman, Among Other Things
Poem – “The Stream is Shrunk”
The stream is shrunk—the pool is dry,And we be comrades, thou and I;With fevered jowl and dusty flankEach jostling each along the bank;And, by one drouthy fear made still,Forgoing thought of quest or kill.Now 'neath his dam the fawn may seeThe lean Pack-wolf as cowed as he,And the tall buck, unflinching, noteThe fangs that tore … Continue reading Poem – “The Stream is Shrunk”
Sunday Flotsam: A Very Late Hodgepodge
1. I'm extra late this week. I wish I could say it was for a good reason, but no, it is mostly a matter of not wanting to do any work yesterday, I'm afraid. Been a while since I've gone all the way to Sunday. 2. It's been an extremely busy week of prepping the … Continue reading Sunday Flotsam: A Very Late Hodgepodge
Poetry – “Hymn” (Repost)
At morn- at noon- at twilight dim- Maria! thou hast heard my hymn! In joy and woe- in good and ill- Mother of God, be with me still! When the hours flew brightly by, And not a cloud obscured the sky, My soul, lest it should truant be, Thy grace did guide to thine and … Continue reading Poetry – “Hymn” (Repost)
Saturday Flotsam: Fairy Tales, ‘Heavy Rain’, Diplomacy
1. My first semester of full-time teaching is rapidly approaching its end. I'll be making exams this weekend. It's been an extremely educational experience for me, whether or not my students can say the same. 2. Is there anyone left in the world who doesn't know that the Brother's Grimm's fairy tales are generally more … Continue reading Saturday Flotsam: Fairy Tales, ‘Heavy Rain’, Diplomacy
Serpent's Den 