Emerald Dragon Archives

The year is 1901, Queen Victoria reigns supreme over the far flung British Empire, and the Lancashire textile industry is at the peak of its industrial might. Products from the mills of Manchester,Bolton, Blackburn and a host of other crowded towns and cities travel the world satisfying an increasing demand from its dominions. In the small town of Rochdale,a place amidst centre of the Oldham-Blackburn-Halifax triangle, a small acorn of a merchanting enterprise was extending its roots into the...

Peppe Mahldolvi walked a half mile each day to a bench located at the crossroads. Three separate roads leading from the Mahldolvi valley met at this point before continuing through the foothills to the port city of Sesimbra. He would leave his home each day around 11 am. Stopping along the way to visit with friends and neighbors, he would arrive at the bench in time for a lengthily rest and lunch. At ninety years of age, Peppe was in no hurry.

Peppe enjoyed this few hours e...

 I've always admired the poetic styles of old.

This I attempted to emulate the 1, 2, 3 +3, 2 style, used by so many poets of the past.

Based on the Waterhouse print of Hylas and the Nymphs.

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Luring the u...

Corridors – in every direction, a corridor. North, south, east and west – dimly lit corridors stretching out as far as the eye could see. Dorothy squinted as she peered into the gloom, trying to make out anything which would tell her where it was that she stood. Stood – there in nightdress, dressing gown and pi...

The poker game’s getting to be the highlight of this hump. Sometimes the waiting for death can be as stressful as loading your buds on the wopper afterwards. After six hours of patrol around Hill 726, our platoon is taking a well-deserved break under the rubber trees, overgrown with orchids and glossy leaf pucker brush, so-called because when you get within a foot of it the leaves fold up like puckered lips. The slow drip, drip, of an earlier rain the only noise on the hillside. PatR...

I sat in the front row and you were way in back.

I showed up late most days just to see your face.

It was the best part of my day; the ten seconds from the door to my seat,

When your eyes met mine and just for a time it was only you and me.

If you didn’t know it then, I’m sure you know it now.

I love you.

Some fifty years later and your eyes sparkle still.

Same as they did on the night of our kiss,

When we bailed on the prom and jump...

Zoe Murdoch had planned on arriving at her parents home in Reedsport, Oregon the following afternoon. That changed when her softball coach called and informed her their game was cancelled because of the continuing heavy rain, and the forecast for game time was to be more of the same.

She decided to arrive this evening to help her mother the next morning with the cooking and preparation for the barbeque; Family and friends were gathering tomorrow afternoon for a welcome...

December

2096

    “Thirty-three, thirty-four, thirty-five ... thirty-five? If I knew you guys would buy everything on the list I would have narrowed it down to one.”

  Wynona pocked at the ribbon on a sparkling silver box. Maybe if she tugged with enough force the paper would tear and-

    “Don’t even think about it!” Danny slammed his hand down on...