Stories That Speak

Stories That Speak

I love symbolism and allegory in literature. I remember once explaining the symbolism in Poe’s short story “The Masque of the Red Death” when a student asked, “How do you know Poe really intended to use symbolism here? How do…
The Power of Poetry

The Power of Poetry

April is National Poetry Month. Historians also tell us that William Shakespeare, a man well-known for his fourteen-line sonnets, was born during this poetic month. Hence, this blog is my tribute to poetry and The Bard. Were you required to…

Sharing the Greatest Story

Easter Sunday arrives at the end of this month. What are your childhood memories about this holiday? As young children, my sister and I always sported matching Easter dresses, lovingly hand-made by our mother. We also wore white gloves, black…

Light, Lent, and Love

As I type these words, snow and ice cover my yard and driveway. Frigid temps have lingered in Tennessee for the last week. However, beams of sunlight now sparkle across my frozen yard. Those sunbeams warm my soul. If you…
Help Wanted: Hope and Wisdom

Help Wanted: Hope and Wisdom

This time of year I think of my favorite writer’s reflection upon the future: “Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering “it will be happier.’”—Alfred, Lord Tennyson The year 2023 was not an unhappy one for…