March | 2015 | Fawn Rising

The Contest

Thirteen-year-old River holds his little sister, Fawn Rising, up high in the air. They are in the gathering room of their recently constructed one-room log home. It has a real glass window! The year is 1876. The place is North Central Florida on a Cherokee First Nation reservation. River is on his back, legs extended vertically […]

A Many-Splintered Heart

It is with great care I tread Lightly upon your clean and emboldened heart. It is approached by many For comfort surprise and challenge To allow us your friends a moment To test presuppositions worn and needy Just what will I do with this one precious yet wild life? (Thank you, Mary Oliver!) What will you […]

Amazing Little Moo-Man

My name is Little Moo-Man. I am a cat. When you look at me from one side, I look like a very small little cow. From the other side, I look like a white cat. I live with humans in a cobbled-together lake place of two cottages, a detached office, and two out-buildings, old and […]

Soldier Boy

Soldier Boy Birth: August 8, 1947 Death: January 27, 2015 A casualty of war ~ fifty years after serving in the United States Army. Standing six feet five inches An athlete a saint a poet a songwriter a musician my big strong courageous brother. A sometimes seemingly (to some humans) too-compassionate business person a stand-up comic […]

Abhorrence and Glory

And Brother home from Vietnam his wild eyes dart his brain silently screams and seeks to escape Aunt Gail weeps silently While Papa holds a steady gaze looking from person to person Hoping to hold on Just hold on. As in waiting for the light to change Or, as a corps of dancers wait for the curtain […]

Streaming Moonlight

Once I see a light so silver and warm and baffling I ache to capture it Gaining access to my soul I dance with the moon Mingling, masquerading, making memories with Stars. Midst cries of billowing rocketing birds I fall in love with The sea. The sea. It is my heart, this sea. It is […]

Handsome Jazz

He is found in South Carolina. Beside a highway. The upper half of his face lies peeled back exposing his skull. He’s been left for dead after spending time as a bait-dog in a dog-fighting ring. Emaciated at forty percent of his normal weight teeth filed off unconscious barely breathing full of heartworms Handsome Jazz’ […]

Free As A Bird!

Kitty-Kitty the Wonder Bird, who meows like a kitty ~ a story of Surrender and Acceptance. When I am born, I do not tweet like a bird. No-no-no! I meow like a little kitten and my family members, thinking this is cute, name me “Kitty-Kitty the Wonder Bird!” “Meow….meow!” I cry ~ and my […]

A Statement of Position

~ I am thinking about sending this to family members who may misunderstand/misinterpret/misquote one’s motives. Statement by Rising Fawn with gratefulness to Manuel Smith (1975), Robert Alberti & Michael Emmons (1982), and Marzanoresearch.com/classroomstrategies (2009). Note: The word “peer” is used in this context to signify a professional acquaintance, friend, neighbor, or family member. You […]

In My Dream Do-Over World

Most days I have no regrets. Okay. Some days I have no regrets. IF I could do a ‘dream makeover’ version of my life I might: Avoid people who suck their teeth and spit; Allow all children to engage in their growth years without violence of any kind; Keep far away from humans who leave one […]

A Time of Reflection

* I waken to a world of gray cold drizzle. It is my favorite weather. I especially love it if I can be at my lake cottage (the Fort). It is reminiscent of a treehouse. * Located in north-central Florida, it is a very old cobbled-together patch of two cottages and three outbuildings. It is […]