The Citrus Witch

 

Long ago and far away in the rolling hills of Sicily, an old woman with long, black hair resided in a vast orchard that spanned miles. The towns surrounding the orchard knew what was supposed to grow on the trees, but they never saw it with their own eyes. The trees should have been blooming with buds of citrus fruits. The vivid hues of oranges and lemons should have lit up the orchard like stars in the indigo night sky. The townspeople should have been living abundantly off the profits from the fruit that grew in the orchard, but there was one problem. The Citrus Witch, as she was called, controlled the weather of the land upon which she lived with her emotions. She lived alone in a small cottage deep inside the orchard, where no soul dared to wander. When the Citrus Witch was angry, the sun over the orchard disappeared. When she yelled, thunder clapped over the land. And when she smiled, once in a blue moon, a sliver of sun shone upon the trees.

The seasons in Sicily were barely noticeable this long ago, long before the suffocating hand of global warming even threatened the earth. At this time, all of Sicily only knew one season: summer. The townspeople were accustomed to the sweltering heat of the summer sun. Their skin had never been exposed to so much as a chill since the town was settled. The heat was so oppressive that it induced strokes, sparked wildfires, and dehydrated the elders of the town. It was an eternal inferno, not far off from the depths of the underworld that they feared so fiercely. Luckily, the heat brought sheets of rain along with it, and this combination was all the citrus trees needed in order to thrive. Everything changed once the Citrus Witch was banished from the town and forced to live a life of solitude among the tombs of the barren trees.

Lexie

Feb 2024

Shadow

 

If I hadn’t been so distracted, I would not have rented a remote cabin deep in the Catskills Mountains on the edge of thick trees that whisper ancient stories to one another. I needed to concentrate on my writing.

It was a long drive, over two hundred and fifty miles. Alone and feeling unsettled I arrived at the rustically charming cabin. From the outside it looked cozy, safe, warm. My eye caught a flick of a curtain. I dismissed it because I was tired from the drive.

I opened the door. The creaky floorboards and mournful howl of air from the fireplace gave me goose bumps. I shrugged it off and locked the door behind me just in case goblins or elves were about.

It was chilly and noticed there were plenty of supplies of wood and kindling and matches to start a fire. The sun was setting and the night air was in so a fire would warm up the cabin in no time.

I settled in and began writing with pen as paper, writing the old-fashioned way. I concentrate better this way. Trying to focus I felt a creepy, strange, prickling awareness like electricity flash up my back. Glancing up from my paper I could feel someone watching me yet I could see nothing. I froze.

Shadows cast from the raging fire burst onto the walls. One shadow did not move. It was like ink and pulsated and seemed to squirm and twitch. This shadow had no beginning or end. Didn’t bend, it was just there watching me.

Suddenly the shadow dislodged and took the shape of a long, lanky silhouette of a man with morphed edges that were thin and undefined.

I was terrified; it had no eyes, only black holes.

Instantly the air was bitter cold and very dark in spite of the blazing fire. Silence except for the crackles of burning wood. I heard a voice.

“Who are you? Why are you in my home?” it barked.

I grabbed my phone and put the flashlight on and aimed at the figure.

It shrieked as if the light burned it. The figure twisted in agony then disappeared into nothing.

I didn’t sleep, hours passed and dawn rose with a pink glow. I didn’t stay any longer. Whatever that thing was I was not going to hang around to find out.

Driving away I could see a dark figure lingering in the window. Lightly flicking the curtain.

That thing, that dark shadow stained me, would forever be in my memories. A secret, chilling true testament and mystery of the trees that tell ancient stories to one another about dead men with no names and dark shadows of long ago.

Georgia

Claudio, The Curious Cloud

 

Claudio was a young cloud, newly formed and full of excitement and wonder. Claudio enjoyed his life floating over the land and the sea with his mother and father Claudine and Carson Cloud. Much in the same way that humans join the Navy to see the world, Claudio enjoyed traveling around the globe and seeing the world.

 

At nighttime when the sun went to bed and the blue Dome disappeared Claudio could see the heavens which were filled with brightly lit wonders. Comets, planets, asteroids and stars of every size and color were sprinkled across the velvety blackness of the night sky.

In the morning when the sun woke up and the blue Dome returned; the heavens disappeared until nightfall. Claudio floated to Europe and Asia, Russia and the Pacific islands and sometimes he even went with his parents to the North and South pole taking in all the sights. Claudio was never crammed into an airplane seat in the coach section and never had to wait at baggage claim for his suitcase as he had no possessions!

 One day while Claudio was watching a flock of birds flying far below him an orange object caught his eye tethered to a string that went all the way down to earth. Claudio strained to see what the object was. His mother Claudine Cloud explained that it was a kite. It was a device that the human children flew to amuse themselves. Claudio was fascinated and began to wonder what else went on all the way down there on earth. He resolved himself to take a trip down to earth to get a better look. Claudio was a very curious cloud!

 One day when his parents were involved in an atmospheric discussion, Claudio snuck away and began his descent to earth to see the goings on there. As he dropped down, the earth became larger and more expansive and the land which he had previously seen through a mist was now resolved and clear. He could see mountains and lakes, rivers and streams and boats on the ocean and towns full of houses. It was all very fascinating! When Claudio got very close, he could even see the people moving about. Finally, he came right down to the ground and after a few minutes of loitering around he heard cars blowing their horns and people yelling at one another!

“You're on the wrong side of the road!” yelled one driver.

 “Who taught you how to drive?” exclaimed an angry lady.

 Claudio saw two cars hit each other. And he heard a fire engine’s siren heading to a fire on the other side of town. Ambulance sirens had started to wail and were crisscrossing the town. As Claudio rolled through the streets people were pointing at him and calling him fog with angry looks on their faces. The people were angry at Claudio.

“I'm not a fog, I'm a cloud, my name is Claudio!”

 Now the policeman blew his whistle and pointed up at Claudio waving his nightstick.

 “Now listen here Claudio, you can call yourself whatever you like but when you come down here and disturb the peace, you are a fog in no uncertain terms! Why, if you had arms, I would arrest you and handcuff you on a #413, Causing an Atmospheric Disturbance!”

 Claudio was confused and insulted. “I just wanted to see what was going on down here, but I see that I am not welcome.”

Now the meteorologist in his three-piece tweed suit and coke bottle glasses chimed in.     "You, my good man, are an atmospheric anomaly caused when cold and hot fronts meet causing moisture to condense into a fog! You must ascend back to the sky!”

 Not to be forgotten, the farmer chimed in now to help Claudio understand.

"Look here friend, you are causing problems; cars are hitting each other because the drivers can't see one another. People are going to get hurt... or worse if you stay here. We understand that you were just curious, but you must leave now before more damage is done,” said the farmer, accenting his point by slamming the handle of his pitchfork into the ground. Claudio was sad but he understood the problems that he was causing.

"I am sorry for the trouble that I have caused," Claudio apologized as he ascended back into the sky.

 The townspeople including the policeman, the meteorologist, and the farmer all waved to him as he disappeared into the clouds. A few drops of water fell from Claudio. They were not rain, they were tears.

 

Jim 2/2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

Dela

 

Once upon a time, in a land where leaves glittered like Burmese Jade jewels and giggling echoed like wind bells lived a troublesome fairy named Dela. Spring was her favorite season, a time when her blue hair danced with the just born yellow butterflies and her chuckle blended with the chirping of birds. But alas, winter had arrived and coated the land with a blanket of snow and hushed the lighthearted sounds of the forest. The once vibrant fairy felt confined within the cold power, her bold spirit swallowed by the cold air.

Dela, felt listless. Unable to do her usual mischief, she felt muted with the ugly white snow and gray sky. Her blue hair lost its luster and she was too cold for pulling pranks on the squirrels and frogs. Winter is not forgiving and she must hibernate just like the pretty brown bear sleeping with his Mama in a deep dark hidden cave. Dela curled up in fairyland alongside the others just like her. Hidden safely inside an oak tree. Dela fell asleep and dreamt for the warmth and joy of spring.

Georgia

Chinese New Year

 

Every year I go to my favorite Buddhist Temple in Chinatown New York to celebrate Chinese New Year. 2024 is the Year of the Wood Dragon. Paper pineapples and gold dragons hang from the ceiling. Freshly bloomed cherry blossoms, bouquets of roses, daisies, orchids, long green ferns in clear vases.   

 

The ceremonial mandarin orange tree stands in the middle of the ceremony floor. The Monk is there reciting blessings in Chinese to all the young and old present. This year there were many more celebrants than last year.

There are three altars. The main altar has Amitoufo Buddha of Light and Life with his companions Wisdom and Compassion Bodhisattvas.  The next altar has De Zang Bodhisattva who helps the dead and interacts with them to help. The next altar has three Buddha’s and I have no idea who they are.

Each altar is filled with oranges, apples, Asian pears, cookies, coffees, tea, and homemade goodies.

After the ceremony we all sit and eat together and leave with gifts of a steam bun, mandarin orange and a red envelope with one dollar for good luck.

Let me leave you with this:

                                         Kung Hei Fat Choi

                 Which means, congratulations and best wishes for a prosperous New Year.

Georgia

Breathless Love

 

When I first saw your face
You took my breath away 

I didn’t know what to say 

Now you are with me every day 

We laugh and we play 

I will always stay 

You took my breath away 

Laura McManus

Kite Flying

 

Years ago, on our frequent visits to the beach we would fly kites. This was long before kite flying was banned by the parks department as hazardous.

One time I had a red kite with a long yellow tail. It wasn’t very big, maybe about two feet by two feet. Anything bigger would be too much to carry along with our beach gear.

It was windy. So windy that it was hard to launch and hold on to the thin rope of my kite. With the sun blaring on my back and the wind slapping me in the face and my kite zipping and zagging I fell over a seashell. Ouch. I let go of my kite rope and felt the pain in my knee.

I watched my poor kite being taken out to sea blowing heartily along.

I was sad and imagined that sea creatures would lug it back to me. No such luck. The kite sank and was never seen again.

There was nothing I could do but to save my pennies and buy a new kite at the Woolworths.

I lay on the blue blanket under the violet umbrella and took a nap. I felt better when I woke up, dipped my toes in the wavy ocean and enjoyed the rest of the day.

I will have a new kite next time we come here and start all over again.

Georgia