I really enjoyed the juxtaposition of the heron and Hank, one being fully herself and the other at odds with himself until he internalized a little bit of the heron. I wonder what else Hank might learn from the heron to get out from under his father's hold.
Love the heron’s poetic, nounful perspective as counterpoint to Hank’s! I think that’s my favorite part. I’m sorry for Hank’s lifelong pain and hope he turns up again in the series so he can rise above so many hard hits.
Thanks Tara. He’s already shown up in “Thirst.” Sneaky, I know. That one came together easier than this. I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the heron’s voice. It’s a departure for me, felt important to try it.
I love the rhythm of this language, Julie. It feels very experimental and yet grounded in everyday experiences. So much about the mind-body connection. Those random memories are such a joyful flood.
Thanks, Kathleen, for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts. I'm fascinated by the way certain images and themes emerge in the writing. Mind-body is one of them here that came out in the editing and reworking.
Julie, your descriptions of the heron are entrancing and gorgeous. You have such a gift for writing poetic prose. Also, I think you’re reading the piece is great barring the technical issues which I can totally help with with. This was a powerful, meaningful story.
(Oh dear. I’m squirming to think you listened to that nails-on-a-chalkboard audio! 🫢) With that out of the way, thank you for your encouragement! And for reading and commenting. It’s a gift to see what resonates.
I’m behind on my saved essays and am just getting to this now. It is SO beautiful and powerful. Your writing is poetic and has a gentle ebb and flow rhythm. Thank you for sharing your gift here on Substack!
What a beautiful story Julie. I love your nounverb humanheron interchanges, perfect pauses in the text that stitched the two together in my mind. And then going back in time to Hank’s last memory of his mother, surfacing finally so he could find his wings in the present. So so so stunning!
“Burying that day had buried it all. He thought the sacrifice was worth his peace of mind, but his mind has never been peaceful. Everything good went into that hole—their shared love of the ocean, her infectious joy and daring, the answering flame of his heart when her smile shone on him alone.”❤️
Thank you, Kimberly! I’m so grateful to hear what touched you in this story. The heron’s voice and the memory of his mother both came late in the process, and I love how you experienced them. 💚
Julie this is sad and enchanting and so beautiful, I am in awe of the way you've written, in gorgeous and perceptive, prose, the balancing of human and animal behaviour, I would have questioned even the possibility, here I am silenced! This is masterful!
Oh my! This makes my day!! Or year! This one has been a long time in the works. The heron wasn’t content to be just an object in Hank’s view of his world. She may even be hinting (insisting?) at more airtime. 💚
Julie I loved reading this story. Thank you for the journey.
I was carried along by the Heron’s poetic intervals, they offered moments to pause, and think. Perhaps it was also the white space around the words here that worked so well.
- on another note I have started listening The Rain Heron by Robbie Arnot, herons are wonderous birds!
Mesmerizing story, the format both foreshadowed and linked him to Hank in the story. When the heron entered, I already knew him as a character. I want to refer to Hank as Henry. If he called himself Henry, it might help free him. The wonderful details about sculling and preparing for possible capsize kept constant tension. It is the first of your stories I have read and I look forward to more. Thank you.
Thanks for reading, Leslie! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. On the Stories tab of the Homecoming site, you’ll find more stories. Including another one with Hank. 😊
I really enjoyed the juxtaposition of the heron and Hank, one being fully herself and the other at odds with himself until he internalized a little bit of the heron. I wonder what else Hank might learn from the heron to get out from under his father's hold.
Julie's writing often give one pause to multiwonder, n'est-ce pas ?
“Multiwonder” — now there’s a word! ☺️
Yeah ! Us Shapeshifters - we got bucketsfull o' dem sort words
Thank you, Sarah, for sharing your impressions. It’s heartening to see it thorough your eyes. 💚
Love the heron’s poetic, nounful perspective as counterpoint to Hank’s! I think that’s my favorite part. I’m sorry for Hank’s lifelong pain and hope he turns up again in the series so he can rise above so many hard hits.
Thanks Tara. He’s already shown up in “Thirst.” Sneaky, I know. That one came together easier than this. I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the heron’s voice. It’s a departure for me, felt important to try it.
Sneaky! I went back to see Thirst, part 1. There he is. Now I've got to read the stories together. :-)
At this point, I can't tell you which one comes first. I *think* it's Shapeshifting?
Julie does have the knack of turning us into happy yoyos.....
😂🤪
I love the rhythm of this language, Julie. It feels very experimental and yet grounded in everyday experiences. So much about the mind-body connection. Those random memories are such a joyful flood.
Thanks, Kathleen, for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts. I'm fascinated by the way certain images and themes emerge in the writing. Mind-body is one of them here that came out in the editing and reworking.
“Six-foot wings deploy like the time-lapse of a blooming lily, tight bud to extravagance in an instant.” Full of lines as wonderful as this. 👏🏻👏🏻
I love hearing what resonates! That's one of my faves too.
Julie, your descriptions of the heron are entrancing and gorgeous. You have such a gift for writing poetic prose. Also, I think you’re reading the piece is great barring the technical issues which I can totally help with with. This was a powerful, meaningful story.
(Oh dear. I’m squirming to think you listened to that nails-on-a-chalkboard audio! 🫢) With that out of the way, thank you for your encouragement! And for reading and commenting. It’s a gift to see what resonates.
The heron♥️
I’m behind on my saved essays and am just getting to this now. It is SO beautiful and powerful. Your writing is poetic and has a gentle ebb and flow rhythm. Thank you for sharing your gift here on Substack!
Dear Sally — you’ve made my day! So glad you enjoyed it. It was a pleasure to write.
What a beautiful story Julie. I love your nounverb humanheron interchanges, perfect pauses in the text that stitched the two together in my mind. And then going back in time to Hank’s last memory of his mother, surfacing finally so he could find his wings in the present. So so so stunning!
“Burying that day had buried it all. He thought the sacrifice was worth his peace of mind, but his mind has never been peaceful. Everything good went into that hole—their shared love of the ocean, her infectious joy and daring, the answering flame of his heart when her smile shone on him alone.”❤️
Thank you, Kimberly! I’m so grateful to hear what touched you in this story. The heron’s voice and the memory of his mother both came late in the process, and I love how you experienced them. 💚
Julie! This is so, so good. I could see the water, the boat, the fear, the remembering. And I could especially see the heron. Just gorgeous!!
Love knowing one was there as you were working this story. ♥️
Ah, Holly! Many thanks for reading and sharing your impressions. It’s gratifying to see what moves you. I could watch herons all day. 💚
Me too!!
Julie this is sad and enchanting and so beautiful, I am in awe of the way you've written, in gorgeous and perceptive, prose, the balancing of human and animal behaviour, I would have questioned even the possibility, here I am silenced! This is masterful!
Oh my! This makes my day!! Or year! This one has been a long time in the works. The heron wasn’t content to be just an object in Hank’s view of his world. She may even be hinting (insisting?) at more airtime. 💚
Living in hope here Julie… you cannot imagine the inspiration you’ve planted!
🥰
great 😊😊😊
Thanks for reading!
I wanted to add — at the end of the story it was Hank’s mother whom I wanted to know more about, or her story
I appreciate this note. She strode in at the eleventh hour, so I want to know too!
I look forward to hearing her story next perhaps...
Me too! Thanks for the nudge
Julie I loved reading this story. Thank you for the journey.
I was carried along by the Heron’s poetic intervals, they offered moments to pause, and think. Perhaps it was also the white space around the words here that worked so well.
- on another note I have started listening The Rain Heron by Robbie Arnot, herons are wonderous birds!
Aren’t they?! We have a resident heron in our cove and I could watch her all day. A latter-day dinosaur just living her best life.
Thanks for reading, Kate. Experimenting with the heron’s voice was fascinating and also felt transgressive (“who am I to ~ ?”).
Mesmerizing story, the format both foreshadowed and linked him to Hank in the story. When the heron entered, I already knew him as a character. I want to refer to Hank as Henry. If he called himself Henry, it might help free him. The wonderful details about sculling and preparing for possible capsize kept constant tension. It is the first of your stories I have read and I look forward to more. Thank you.
Thanks for reading, Leslie! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. On the Stories tab of the Homecoming site, you’ll find more stories. Including another one with Hank. 😊
I resonate with your love of nature!
Thanks for reading, Robin. Kindred spirits!
You're welcome. Yes, True!
Hi Julie, I love the experimental formatting - in that you fear not to use it.... But then, you are a Shapeshifter yourself
Ah, many thanks, Maurice. To set the record straight, I was terrified. But also having fun with it. Kind of like Hank?
Terrified Julie ! You ? Sorry I can only accept "Apprehensive". I mean, - you pressed Send !!
You’re right. I was exaggerating. One thing I’m getting used to here is that it’s fine to experiment. Even encouraged.
Encouragement is a survival system
Truly. And it’s alive and well here on Substack.
Restacking You Julie with a comment I am sure you will enjoy…..