To the Critics

Written By Bill Pearl

Conundrum unraveled

on a rock in the wilderness—

cholla thorns denied entry

by hide thickened to the task.

Yet I sit exposed

to fears that crouch and wait,

to the menacing scrabble of phantom rats

circling where I sleep,

to the dark portrait

a stranger's hand rendered.

At sunrise, I see

what I have hewn.

I step from the long shadow,

struck through with light.

Another day of building:

my words the bricks

mortared into a life—

as the eagle weaves her aerie,

as the coyote excavates his earth.

In the cool of morning,

with a weathered smile,

I take up my tools and build

Bill Pearl

Bill Pearl’s experiences as a student in Paris inspired his first novel, Hearts on Fire, Paris 1968. His experiences in a family business and longstanding interest in Vietnam inspired the sequel, Mission in Paris 1990, which he researched with visits to Vietnam, Paris, and Auvergne, France. Bill holds a master's degree in International Relations with a specialty in diplomatic history.

https://www.billpearl.net
Next

Incantation