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Why I Plant Redbuds

Duane K. Caylor

“If I knew that tomorrow was the end of the world, I would plant an apple tree today.” —attributed, probably incorrectly, to Martin Luther Whether he really owns the...

Stealing Pears

Duane K. Caylor

Iniquity, O Lord, can be delicious:always in season, always tender, sweet,blushing, and aromatic. Not capriciousit always hangs low, begging us to eat.One night, I stripped a neighbor’s tree of...

Francis After Collestrada

Duane K. Caylor

Our army met Perugia’s on the plainbeside the hospital. All day we foughtwith crossbow, sword, and lancet to obtainour freedom, but by dusk it came to naught.So I became...

Ruins

Duane K. Caylor

Pill bottles in assorted sizes liescattered across the smooth Formica plainof the bathroom countertop. They testifylike pediments and pillars that remain, nbroken, askew, and fallen, on the siteof some...

Christmas Caroling in Colonial Williamsburg

Duane K. Caylor

Many of those here only know a verse of any given carol, sometimes less— sometimes an isolated phrase or terse refrain like “Gloria.” Most still confess the apostolic faith,...

The Day the Rain Began

Duane K. Caylor

Genesis 7:12 Today seemed just an ordinary day. The sun rose like an irritated eye; wives cooked rice pancakes; children went to play at tag in dusty fields or...

Political Calendar

Duane K. Caylor

Spring like a popular insurrection rises against a winter government’s assizes; gone mad by June, its liberality gives way to summer’s fruitful anarchy. Order returns in autumn as the...

Drought Breaker

Duane K. Caylor

Two years of drought seem broken by a deluge that would be the wrath of God were it not mercy. No doubt some prophet has spoken to Heaven for...

Journey Into Autumn

Duane K. Caylor

Once again, we are on the road early,driving to see our sonwrestle with cancer for gold.Clouds fall like a heavy eyelidover the eastern sky, crowdingthe tender light against the...