The Road No Longer Taken: A Photo Essay

 Greetings and well met, fine friends one and all!

It has been many months since my last publication, though it's not been for want of a lack of material or motivation. So, first, a bit of news ...

From late November of last year through March of this, I took part in a video project that led to my writing 16 short stories; the stories were all based on myths, folktales and legends from around the world  --some well-known, some not. In some cases, I constructed stories that were largely original, built around parables that were often brief and without much context. In any case, I hope to share more about this particular project at some point.

Apart from that, I've continued with a number of works in the hopes of submitting one thing or a dozen to the various online magazines, publications and anthologies that can be found around the world. One is a post-apocalyptic, survival story based in Taiwan that, at its heart, is about the need for connection even when communication is difficult. Another is a philosophical dilemma revolving around the concepts of neurology, execution and redemption. (I've really come a long way on this one!). Finally, I've recently finished the first of a series that I'm calling 'Stupidioms' about obnoxious phrases that society takes for granted as wise aphorisms but may in fact be at the very least problematic if not plainly ridiculous.

For now however, I've put together a brief photo essay of one of my regular jaunts in the country I've come to call home. Robert Frost may have taken the road less traveled by, but some roads are simply forgotten to time ... 

- DH

(A little music for the journey)

The link before the essay is to a piece of music from the Watership Down film soundtrack (1978), titled "Violet's Gone". The music was composed by Angela Morley, who was initially known for composing incidental music for The Goon Show, a 1950s BBC radio program (where Peter Sellers began his career) that would go on to influence Monty Python. She would go on to write music for hit shows such as Dallas, Dynasty, and Wonder Woman, while also being twice nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. She also had a working relationship with John Williams, helping to arrange his music for films from Star Wars to Schindler's List but in an uncredited capacity. She had also worked with Shirley Bassey, Scott Walker, and Yo-yo Ma over the years to name a few. Born Walter Stott, Morley was the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an Academy Award in 1974 after transitioning a few years earlier.

A couple of visual elements in the essay are borrowed from 'Beekeepers' a print c. 1568 by Pieter Breugel the Elder. In a vague connection to Morley, Breugel's work 'The Triumph of Death' is featured in one of Monty Python's most famous sketches, The Spanish Inquisition.

All other photos and images are mine. -DH