Garrulus Grommeler

Well, I'm writing again. Started with a scene that popped into mind and am just making things up as I go along. No idea whatsoever what this tale is about, or where it's going, or if I'll even bother to finish it, or if it'll even capture my imagination in such a way as to hurl me along in its current. So far, however, I'm interested. In any event, I wanted to write something, to lube and prime the old imagination and beat the rust off my storytelling gears. At the very least, I rather like the suspicious mood and disquietude of the opening. It provides for a good hook, I think, which is needed in the opening paragraphs of any tale. For no reason whatsoever, I decided to go with Portuguese names for my characters. It'll be interesting to see what sort of trouble Ezequiel, Ovídio, Teófilo, and Zita find themselves in as the tale progresses.

I've had fun translating this particular passage into both French and Portuguese: Dhammapada We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world. Speak or act with an impure mind And trouble will follow you As the wheel follows the ox that draws the cart. We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world Speak or act with a pure mind And happiness will follow you As your shadow, unshakable. How can a troubled mind Understand the way? Your worst enemy cannot harm you As much as your own thoughts, unguarded. But once mastered, No one can help you as much, Not even your father or your mother. — from the DHAMMAPADA, translated by Thomas Byrom Dhammapada (en français) Nous sommes ce que nous pensons. Tout ce que nous sommes se pose avec nos pensées. Avec nos pensées, nous faisons le monde. Parle ou agit avec un esprit impur Et le trouble vous suivra Comme la roue suit le boeuf qui tire la ...