Dorraine K. Darden's Blog
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Mar.07.2011
A pear tree drapes herself in white lace, Blushing behind clouds as she slips on her garter, Preparing to renew vows to Spring.
A hard mint winter is finished She trembling in breeze, gown billowing, Cloud curtain parting, morning sizzling.
Colored birds fire up their instruments,...
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Nov.04.2010
A good fire is stunning. I’ve been known to burn leaves just to see flames lick the sky. In my opinion, there's nothing finer than sitting around a campfire on a crisp evening, hearing conversations and laughter of family and friends. Or inside, when windows are iced, fireplace...
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Oct.25.2010
Rose and Blackbird
When winter laughs at her icy secrets,and blows her ragged skirt,Rose, once adorned in red velvet,whispers, “I was a queen.”
Winter howls and her branches droop.But blackbird arrives, festive as ever,his shiny black cloak,smoldering up her cold limbs.
He sings of spring; spicy...
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Oct.15.2010
I’ve never met a garden I didn’t like, although some I’ve taken to more than others. Growing up, we always had a huge vegetable patch, which we had to toil in, so on hot, sweaty days I didn’t favor that kind.
There is another variety, though, I’ve never minded working; the flowery,...
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Sep.29.2010
Ruts in the writing life happen. We grasp our way through a story, do the research, and realize it’s not the one we’re supposed to tell. At least not yet. We bump along in that rut for awhile until a new path appears, scattered with red and orange leaves, shining glass-like in the...
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Aug.27.2010
Stars like jewels seed the skyBlooming flowers drenching the black bed of night, Shining above creeks and rivers and dreamersResurrected until the sun turns them transparent.
But you can drink them while they’re freshOn a blanket tossed on the ground,They pour into your mouth and eyes...
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Aug.16.2010
“Are you telling me those albums I sold for practically nothing at a garage sale several years back are now worth something? Dang, I knew I should have hung onto those.” This was a recent conversation I had with a dear friend.
Now I’m remembering everything I let go. Let’s see, I had the...
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Jul.29.2010
The metal swing set stood in our North Carolina backyard, me on a shiny red swing, glossy, almost glassy red, the swing making swoops toward a plate of sky full of marshmallow clouds. I was five and in my mind they were marshmallows. Our French Poodle, Peppi, black as a wet...
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Jul.19.2010
Many people collect things, from paintings, to baseball cards, right down to magnets.
I collect memories. Maybe you do too.
We don’t have to shell out much money for those, although some have cost more than others, depending on where they were made. The limit is the moon. I’ve been chasing...
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Jun.23.2010
Trains have always fascinated many. Runaway cabooses, passenger cars filled with drowsy diners, or boxcars brimming with wild hobos, transporting all far off to fragrant destinations. Yes, there’s something mysterious about a good train ride.
A few years ago, we took the famous...
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Jun.08.2010
Before I begin, let me say I’ve missed you guys! Wait, I’ve missed y’all. That sounds right.
Now that summer is here, I hope you’re able to kick back,splash in a river, listen to some music, or just read a good book.
Speaking of books, I did manage to finish that second novel, The...
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Apr.12.2010
The Buds, yeah,I know um. You do, too. We live with them, those sweet and sour trips on the tongue. Masterpiece’s in the mouth. They are sometimes ever so sour, sour. Salty, ooh, yes that, too, and spicy. But they can be bitter. I hate it when they get like that; drives me nuts. We...
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Mar.22.2010
Testing, testing, can you guys hear me? I couldn’t think of a snappier way to present sound than a recent trip to southern Louisiana.
In New Orleans the decibel levels flew off charts, right along with history, dog ugly and gorgeous as any I’ve ever heard. Even so, I relished the whole Who Dat and...
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Mar.08.2010
When my middle child-a mama’s girl- started kindergarten, she clung to my waist like lichen on stone. The separation for us was painful, me leaving her, crocodile tears in her eyes, a little waif dressed in tiny jeans and a yellow shirt sprinkled with daisies. I’d done my best to prepare her. She’d...
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Mar.01.2010
Last night the full moon appeared like a flamboyant floodlight. It seemed to echo, “Is anyone alive down there…down there…down there? It is I, floodlight moon.” It appeared close but was actually 238,857 miles away! Our eyes do play tricks on us.
Even so, they are rich visual collectors. Two blue...
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About Dorraine
A Southern Missouri native, Dorraine Darden was raised on land which bordered the Mark Twain National Forest. She has worked in forestry and taught ballroom dancing. She lives in Texas with her husband and three children.
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Dorraine’s Favorite Books
The October Country Look Homeward Angel Boone A Sudden Country A Map Of The World The Poison Wood Bible East of Eden
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