September Again

Celebrating black-eyed Susans and a new story

Author

Claire Taylor
September 09, 2024

A little recent publishing news…

It may be September 9th, but it’s never too early to celebrate New Year’s Eve, or too late to relive Y2K.

Thanks to Fictive Dream for sharing my story, “Precipice.” Here’s a snippet to get you started, but you can read the full story on Fictive Dream’s site if you’re interested.

‘Do you think planes will really just fall out of the sky?’ I ask.

‘I wouldn’t want to be on one, that’s for sure.’ Faith is slightly drunk on rum and Big Red soda, a concoction of her own invention that she has named a Redheaded Vagina. Sometime after midnight, when the world doesn’t end but keeps moving in the same predictable pattern as always, I will have to scrub regurgitated Vagina out of the couch cushions and the shag carpet.

‘It’s too bad we don’t have anyone to kiss.’

‘Who cares?’ Faith shrugs.

‘If everything goes to shit, it would be nice to have kissed someone before that happens.’

‘Kiss one of them.’ She gestures to the front lawn where the yelling grows louder. Megan is crying hysterically, plopped down on the frosted grass with her knees tucked into her chest and mascara raccooning her eyes. I wonder for a second if we should go out there and help, but quickly change my mind. I am only here because Faith invited me.

‘Kiss me,’ she says. She closes her eyes and cartoonishly puckers her lips, which are tinged vibrantly red from her drink, as bright as a stop sign.

And in other news…

We have entered my favorite season for my garden.

The long, oppressive heat has waned, so my flowers are perky and lush. The dahlias are in bloom and plentiful. The black-eyed Susans have spread without taking over, spotting the garden with their yellow cheer. There are so many flowers now that I could spend every day cutting new bouquets and barely make a dent. It’s glorious. Couple that with the false fall weather we’ve enjoyed recently (cool mornings! chilly nights! I had to put on cozy socks this morning after leaving the windows open all night!!!), and I’ve got everything I need.

courtesy of my garden

In honor of my garden’s black-eyed Susans bounty, I’ve got two older poems for you that are inspired by these flowers. One is a sad poem about our beloved dog who died on a very hot September day five years ago, and whose absence feels fresher in light of the recent death of our cat.

here they are together being the cutest thing you’ve ever seen

The other is part of a trio of pieces from my book, Mother Nature, where I wrote about my garden as both a real, physical entity, but also as a metaphor for my shifting philosophy of motherhood as my son grew.

I hope September brings plenty of beauty your way.

As always, thanks for reading and for all your support!

You can find more of my writing & contact information at clairemtaylor.com. If you’d like to further support my work, please consider purchasing one of my books, or a copy of Little Thoughts Press. I also have a ko-fi page.

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