Essays

Alexander Chee

I am reading Alexander Chee’s “how to write an autobiographical novel”. I was drawn to it because much of what I write is autobiographical and I also tend to write short pieces – his are called essays while I often

Captain Arthur

Captain Arthur Jones is among the best of gentleman and a fixture of the Kent Narrows, Maryland landscape. While the seafood industry has produced

Cylburn Arboretum

Yesterday we went for an autumn walk through Cylburn Arboretum. We take such walks regularly when the weather is sweet, and yesterday was such a day -- the sun shining, the breeze moving through the richly colored leaves, the pines

Notebooks

I have read a number of books about the craft of writing and frequently see that authors recommend that aspiring writers carry a notebook in order to jot down the ideas, thoughts and sentences that sometimes sprout full blown without

Odilon Redon

At school we studied the work of many artists, among them the Frenchman Odilon Redon (1840-1916). I remember that I was not drawn to his work but now realize what a limited view we were given at school. The pieces

The War of 1812

The War of 1812 and the decisive battle of Baltimore gave Americans both a new sense of unity and a stirring national anthem. But envision for a moment what it must have been like for simple men — bricklayers, ship

Turning Point

I’ve waited all my life for a particular cusp, a turning point where I would recognize myself as complete - grownup and assured - with a clearly marked path into the future.

Washington Monument

After walking about a mile I came to the summit of a hill that overlooked the city, and there I stopped a moment to take breath.…The ground had begun to smoke with the warmth of the rising sun, and the