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Saturday, December 11, 2021

That, you tell me, is true poetry

 Published in Sledgehammer Lit 




The Edge of the Bed

 

 

 

At first, we are waiting on a large terrace. A clatter of plates.

Distant footsteps. All the languages are foreign. Everyone has a dog.

 

Twice as many people as expected are here. 

We are on a list but not the most important one.

 

We are asked to leave. By whose authority, I loudly demand.

People turn to stare. Some mutter. Perhaps this is all a mistake.

 

You point out inconsistencies in the man’s vocabulary.                                                     

It appears that he is reading from a script on his cell phone.

 

We are sitting on the edge of a king-sized bed.

Our foreheads are touching, or possibly our hands.

 

We review what has happened. We seek explanations.

None of our theories are an exact fit for the circumstances.

 

I ask if other people always finish your sentences.

That, you tell me, is true poetry.

 

 

 


 

 

Sunday, October 24, 2021

Two stories of the Mohawk Valley published this week: World War I at home and UFOs in the 1960s


"Battle at Indian Cave" was published on October 24 by Sundial Magazine. This is a story set in 1918 when anti-foreign feelings were running very high in the midst of the pro-war frenzy encouraged by the Wilson White House. The gang of boys, and one girl, at the heart of this story are all from various slavic nations within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and quite alienated from the red-whte-and-blue spirit animating much of the Mohawk Valley in that fateful year.  They decide to hide a disabled older boy from the draft, with tragic consequences.

Sundial Magazine recently included my earlier story "The Colonel Takes Command" in their first-ever print anthology of American historical fiction, Dim and Flaring Lamps, available at Amazon in electronic and paper formats.




"The Golden Stairway to Heaven" appeared on October 23  in Litbreak, a site devoted to publishing new writers. I wrote the first version of this story many years ago, inspired by rumors of a UFO sighting that I first heard at the long-closed Half Way House, a tavern midway between Little Falls and Dolgeville. That tale was probably just drunken fantasizing but somehow the idea of a flying saucer landing up near Salisbury Center stuck in my mind. This story is the result.


Friday, August 20, 2021

Stories and poetry published in the Summer of 2021

 


The short story “Under the Lake” appears in the UK-based Cerasus Magazine and can be purchased  as a summer special paperback at Amazon. The story is loosely inspired by legends surrounding Beardslee Lake , five miles east of Little Falls in central New York State.

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The poem “Dream of a Spanish Town” is a very different kind of work, inspired by reading the Peruvian poet Cesar Vallejo many years ago. It appears in Maya's Micros, a segment of the Closed Eye Open site. The founders of the site pay tribute to such thinkers as Carl, Jung, Alan Watts, Simone Weil, Huston Smith...

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"The Painted Sidewalk" can be read in last month's Farside Review. 



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Hammer and Sickle, a story of the McCarthy Era in upstate New York,  appears in another UK-based review, Bandit Fiction. Like the rest of my historical fiction, it is inspired by legends and history of the. Mohawk Valley, in this case the story of a solitary farmer who painted pro-communist slogans on his barn in the midst McCarthy period. 


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Second Chance Lit is a unique publishing site in its commitment to work previously rejected or forgotten. The editors David and Katie Wasserman only accept work that has been turned down by other magazines, and I felt honored when they published my poem "Doctor Wicked" in their second issue in April. Another experiment run by Second Chance lit is the Phoenix Project, dedicated solely to works of literature originally published in now defunct magazines. My poem "No River Where They Parted" appeared in the Phoenix section of the site and was inspired, somewhat like the Vallejo-inspired poem in Maya's Micros, by reading the Italian poetry of Eugenio Montale many years ago. It originally was published in the long defunct little Brooklyn Magazine, the Brownstone Review.

Monday, July 12, 2021

Recent publications

 

Wilderness House Literary Review # 16/2

The flash fiction, "A Perfect Babysitter," was published in June, 2021 by Wilderness House Review and was originally written in an online workshop of the New York Writers Coalition




The poem "Dr. Wicked" appears in Issue 2 of Second Chance Lit, April 2, 2021







The prose poem "What You Said in German Was Not About Kissing" is in the  5/21/2021 issue of Big Windows Review.



Monday, June 14, 2021

Hill Cumorah, the Sacred Grove, the Smith and Whitmer Farms: Historical Fact and Historical Fiction in Palmyra NY


 Seven years ago I wrote an historical novel in which I imagine the sister of Joseph Smith telling the story of the Mormon prophet. Almost nothing is known of Sophronia Smith, but enough evidence exists to prove that she was present at every important stage of her brother's life.

Although the novel, entitled The True History of Joseph Smith, has sold fairly well at Amazon, I am in the process of revising and re-marketing it. Past readers may note that the new edition now on Amazon reads more fluently and that some unnecessary detail has been pared away. Much thanks goes both to LDS readers and to skeptics who have reviewed the book. I believe that the novel, closely based on the historical record, can appeal to both sides of the divide that has existed ever since 14 year old Joseph claimed that God the Father and Son had appeared to him in the woods behind the family farm in Palmyra NY.

In the process of revising the novel, I recently visited Palmyra, New York where Joseph told his family and then others about his visions and his finding of the gold plates. My first stop was at Hill Cumorah where Joseph and his wife Emma  are said to have uncovered the gold plates that became the origin of the Book of Mormon.



I climbed to the top of the hill in the company of a very helpful guide, and thought of the scene in my novel in which Joseph and Emma return to the Smith farm with the plates completely covered:

"Determined to know where my brother and his bride had gone, I sought the counsel of my ever-reliable youngest brother. I found Carlos feeding the chickens. He knew nothing of what concerned me. Going to the fence that ran along the Canandaigua Road, I looked north and south. Then I saw the wagon in question slowly heading in our direction. As it drew nearer, I recognized Joseph as its driver.  Beside him sat Emma and on her lap was a large parcel wrapped in a white cloth."

The entire family, except possibly their brother Alvin, immediately accepted the reality of the gold plates but the young prophet did not allow anyone to actually see them. An excerpt from the novel:

"That night Mother and Father were permitted to lift up the Gold Bible but Joseph warned them that it must stay covered by the large table cloth which he had wrapped around it. Hyrum also was allowed to heft its weight, which he estimated to be about forty pounds. After Joseph recited chapters five through seven from Matthew, he said that our family needed to guard the treasure lest evil-minded men seek to steal or destroy it. He then directed each of us to retire to our beds while he found a place of concealment for the Record which only he would know."

My next stop was the Smith family farm, only two miles from the Hill. Here, two young women missionaries gave us a tour of the farm's buildings and fields. They were both very devout and well prepared. Interestingly, the family with whom I took this tour were descended from Joseph's brother, Hyrum, martyred with him in Carthage Missouri in 1844.





The original Smith log cabin has been replaced by a replica, authentic in every detail. Although it was not the actual house, it was a great pleasure to see the tiny room where I could imagine Sophronia and her sister Katherine chatting about their remarkable brother.




The larger house on the property is partly the original Smith home, built largely by Alvin before his death a mere two months after the plates were found. It was easy to picture the highly emotional conversations that took place in this house, as well as the attack on the house launched by local treasure seekers who believed in the reality of the so-called Gold Bible.





The farm is beautifully maintained and it is easy to picture Joseph and his family working and talking in the fields and barn. 




Directly adjacent to the farm is a forest known to believers as the Sacred Grove. I found it a very moving place to visit in the early morning and was able to imagine Sophronia and her small brother Don Carlos Smith coming upon Joseph just after he experienced his great dream or vision:


"Entering the woods, we trod noisily in the dry leaves of the previous year and danced merrily about, to the little one's amusement. Nearly at Hathaway Creek, I spied Joseph stretched out at the foot of a lofty oak.

“Look at your lazy brother, sleeping the day away! What do you say to sneaking up on him?”

“Can I wake him up?” asked little Carlos.

“Surely,” said I as we advanced on tip-toe toward his sleeping form. For a second, a dark thought seized me and I feared I was looking upon his corpse. Then Don Carlos had jumped full onto his brother with a great shriek of joy.

Smiling hugely, Joseph seized his little brother in his arms and rolled about, making the most ferocious growling. Carlos squealed with delight as Joseph lifted him high over his head.

“Oh Joseph,” I said. “I am glad you are yourself again. I was so anxious to see you looking downcast.”

“Oh, that's no matter,” he grinned, reaching out to include both of us in his embrace. “The Methodists don't count for a fig now!”

We sat down together as Don Carlos searched for pebbles to throw into the brook. Joseph put his arm around my shoulders and pulled my head onto his chest. I could hear his heart beating.

“I had the most splendid dream, Sophronia. A glorious dream!”

“Do tell me of it!”

“I came here to pray, dear sister for I was sore distressed by the Methodists. I thought they were true Christians but they betrayed my trust.”

“The wretches!”

“Yes, but I forgive them. They know not what they do.” He paused for several minutes and his eyes seemed to gaze into far distances. I prompted him to continue.

“I prayed to the Lord in the name of Jesus. I called out loudly for help. Show me the way, I said to the Lord. Show me the true way. After many hours, I had received no answer and fell into despair. I thought to myself that the Devil rules this world.”

“Oh do not say such a thing, Joseph!”

“It was only a passing fancy, dearest sister. After I was assailed by the demonic fear, I grew weary and lay down under this tree to rest for a moment before again calling out to God.”

Joseph paused again and his eyes grew bright. “A truly glorious dream came unto me.”

“Yes?”

“Or perhaps I awakened and saw with my very eyes? Perhaps this was no dream at all but a true vision like that of Paul on the road to Damascus!”

“Tell me,” I pleaded.

“I saw a pillar of light....there!” He pointed to the empty air above us. “It was beyond the brightness of the sun and slowly the light descended from the heavens until it was all around me. I was in the midst of the brightest light! And in the cloud of light I saw them!”

“Who, dear brother? Who did you see?”  

“I saw two holy personages whose brightness and glory were beyond description!”

“Did they speak, Joseph? Did you hear their voices?”  I was completely caught up in his dream and breathing fast. 

“The older one with the white beard called me by name. He said to me, Joseph my son. And I answered, yes Lord, what will you have of me?”

“Yes? Yes? Did God answer you?”

“Yes, dear Sophronia. You have guessed it. That personage was God himself, the great father of us all and he pointed to the personage at his side, who had long flowing hair and beard of a beautiful auburn shade.”




In the novel, Sophronia nearly always supports Joseph but she never actually sees or hears the supernatural events he describes. In the above scene, she is obviously very encouraging. Later, as he becomes surrounded by his followers, she finds it harder and harder to break through the ring of sycophants and to share her anxieties and warnings with him. The novel concludes with her attempt, along with two of his wives, to rescue Joseph from the murderous crowd in Carthage.

Before leaving western New York, I stopped at the Whitmer farm in Fayette, about 30 miles away, to see the place where Joseph organized his followers into a new church and finished the Book of Mormon. An older missionary and two young women missionaries provided a very thorough tour of the farm, which I took in the company of a devout family from Utah. The children were very knowledgeable about the Book of Mormon, which I confess to finding tedious in the extreme. Mark Twain described it as "chloroform in print" yet sincere people do find value in it.

This is also where three of those followers were convinced that they too saw the gold plates which Joseph had been translating with the aid of scribes and various mysterious instruments such as seer stones.




I can imagine Joseph going into these woods near the Whitmer farm with David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris. Although those three are listed in every Book of Mormon as witnesses, all of them were excommunicated by Joseph. His personal magnetism was so great, however, that all three continued to believe in his revelations and never retracted their testimony as to the reality of the gold plates. 

Such was the power of an uneducated farm boy's imagination that 200 years after he began to tell his wondrous tales, he is still believed by many millions. I returned from Palmyra more impressed than ever by this remarkable American story.


BUY THE BOOK:


Those interested in reading more of Sophronia's version of Joseph Smith's life can purchase the paperback or kindle copies at Amazon. Although the dialogue and some scenes are imagined, there is no significant detail in the book that contradicts the historical record. 

Readers comments are welcome: wildernesshill@gmail.com





Thursday, April 8, 2021

Flash Fiction: "Good Odds" and "Have You Eaten?"


In our era of rapid clicks and short attention spans, flash fiction seems like the way to go. This was published last week in 101 words:  


GOOD ODDS

I have some questions.

Yes?

About my treatment.

I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Is it worth it for me to go through this?

That’s a question only you can answer.

Okay, let me put it this way: what are my chances if I go ahead with this treatment?

As I said…

Just tell me how many people are alive five years later.

You want a percentage?

Yes.

22.7 %.

How about ten years out?

Now we’re really getting into another area where statistics…

Pick a percentage.

9.2%. Approximately.

That seems like good odds to me.

By Michael Cooney


Friday Flash Fiction 4/23/22

Have You Eaten?






Tuesday, February 23, 2021

"The Colonel Takes Command" published in Sundial Magazine

 



My story, inspired by the Mike Masco murder case in Little Falls a century ago, is now on line in Sundial Magazine, a new site for short historical fiction. The details of the homicide  and the method of concealing his wife's body are taken directly from the files of the Little Falls Historical Society. The manhunt is also based on fact, and Masco did flee to the area known as the Burnt Rocks east of town before he was apprehended. Chief Molloy and his son are based on local  figures whose identity would be obvious to the more ancient local inhabitants. Camp Jolly, the Home Guard, and the shooting of the cows are all taken directly from history.


Looking back at the story, my one regret is giving the Colonel the name of Guy Beardslee and I hope I have not troubled his spirit with my portrayal of the foolish old fellow bearing his name. The Colonel descended from the family who pioneered electricity development the county and built Beardslee's Mills, long since under the lake created by the dam at East Creek. The family's gothic mansion is now the well known Beardslee Castle restaurant on Route 5. (Photo below)

Sundial is a great new magazine and I urge your support. I particularly like A Part of Charlotte by Amy Goyan, a flash fiction which centers on an infamous device used to restrain patients at the State Asylum for Lunatics in Utica, New York.

I would also like to acknowledge the story illustration by Yaleeza Patchett.


For other Upstate Earth  posts related to the background of this fiction, see:

The Ghosts of Beardslees Mills

Tales From the Rock City

The Utica Insane Asylum


And this summary of a recent museum exhibit gives a good picture of Camp Jolly:

Little Falls Historical Society exhibit on Camp Jolly



                                                   


Sunday, January 24, 2021

"The Witch Girl and The Wobbly" published by Running Wild Press




 My novella set among the isolated people of the Taconic Hills a century ago has been published in Kindle and paperback editions: 

Running Wild Novella Anthology, Volume 4 Book 1: Wright, Peter: 9781947041820: Amazon.com: Books

The story is narrated by Tom Ryan, a young man radicalized by the 1912 textile strike in Little Falls who comes to New York City in flight from World War I conscription. Falling in with the anarchist firebrand Carlo Tresca and the future Communist Party leader Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, he is recruited to organize workers in upstate Stottville. Fleeing a bogus murder charge only days after he arrives,  Tom finds refuge in the long isolated community known to local historians as the Taghanic Basketmakers or Pondshiners.

The story takes a turn when Tom meets a daughter of that community, only recently ravaged by the misnamed Spanish Flu pandemic of 1917-19. An excerpt from that encounter follows:


I hardly remember stumbling into a lake and then climbing up a hillside full of trees and after that I must have passed out. I saw a girl with a bow and arrow, and thought I was dreaming.

I have no clear recollection until the next day. I was under a rough blanket and could hear the sound of birds. Opening my eyes, I saw that I was in a room with walls that looked to be made of mud and sticks. The iron pots hanging from the walls looked about a hundred years old. Then I noticed a little girl, no more than seven or eight, in a raggedy dress. She jumped up in a fright when she saw I was awake and ran out through the canvas flap that served as a door. A minute the later the older girl, who might have been sixteen, the one I had seen in the forest, poked her head into the room and said something in a blurry sort of voice. “I'm sorry,” I said. “What did you say?”

She came a few feet farther into the hut. I could see that the smaller girl held her hand and was trying to pull her  back out of sight. “Are you still feelin' peaked?” she repeated.

“No, I'm all right, thank you.” 

The two girls so closely resembled each other that I was sure they were sisters, although the older was dark as a Sicilian and the younger light as a Dutch girl. With her long, straight black hair, the older one reminded me of a picture of  Pocahontas I'd seen in a schoolbook.

    When she didn't reply, I added, “Thank you for taking care of me. I guess I was pretty sick when you found me.”

    The older girl nodded. “You hungry now?”

   “Sure,” I told her, and she vanished. A few minutes later she came back and handed me a wooden bowl. I tried a mouthful of a kind of stew, which was about the gamiest stuff I'd ever tasted, but I was so hungry I took another spoonful. “Pretty good,” I lied. “What's in it?”

    “That there's some fine squirrel meat and healing roots I gathered special.” She relaxed enough to sit down on a wooden stool. “That'll bring ye back to yourself.”

   “Well, I thank you for it,” I said, forcing myself to keep eating. “You've been very kind.”

    She blushed at that, and put her face down. Wanting to keep her talking, I asked her, “Did I really see you with a bow and arrow or was I dreaming?”

    That brought a shy smile to her face, but she quickly looked away. “I'm the best hand at a bow of any woman on the hill,” she said in a very serious voice. “I took down that squirrel you're eatin' this very morn.”

   “Of any woman? Are there other women who use a bow and arrow?” 

I was wondering if I had stumbled into Sherwood Forest and she was Maid Marian.

    “Them's our ways up here, not that I 'spect you to know that. We gals are the only ones 'lowed to touch a bow and it's on us to catch squirrels for the pot. Or bunnies if we see one. A'course, it's only the men 'lowed to take down deers 'cause they have their guns but there's never any deers, not for years, anyways.”

    As I was trying to figure this all out, she asked me “How come you's meandering on the hill, anyways? You from the hotel?”

     “Hotel?”

    “From the hotel down on Lake Charlotte. Lots of city folk been comin' there of late and it'd not be strange if you'd got yourself lost in the woods.” 

     “No, I don't know about any hotel. I was just...”

     “Then there's no place you got to be goin' in a hurry?”

    “No, for a fact, there isn't.”

    “Good, that's good.” She stood up. “Ye needs to rest now. If ye need a thing, call out and my lil sis'll get it for ye. Her name's Mary.”


To read the entire story and those of my fellow novella writers, order the book by clicking on the link at the top of this page.