I Cast Spells and Look for Tells

Derek Mikel Shepherd, my nephew
born February 24, 1980 - August 14, 2012



I watched as his father became the priest
presiding over his son's ashes
     as they were strewn across the city-light-spattered bay
guiding his life fire
into the night sky's outgoing breath

None of us wished for our
 falling apart
 and coming together

All of us felt inadequate to the task
of speaking his epitaph
to the broken circle
around a heart
crafted with shells on the dark sand
by his family.


~Hope Shepherd
  August 27, 2012

Youth On The Moon

In collaboration with my sister Emilie, I will be writing a children's book this summer. It will be called "Youth on the Moon", and will be a small series of stories that explore the imagination and understanding of five-year-old girl named Abilene. Her stories begin in 1970, a year after man first landed on the moon. Abilene learned that things that seemed impossible could happen. She knew that with so much possibility came great and serious responsibility. I've been struggling with this project, not knowing how to structure the process. I asked my brother Jared (of Bloodsucker fame) for some ideas about how I might get the ball rolling. He suggested that I post blog notices about the work in progress--both to pique people's interest, and because it's a good way to stay accountable. Seems a good suggestion. For now, I'm just opening the topic with a little inspirational video.