existentialcowboy

[existentialcowboy]

I keep my darkness in a box beneath my bed with other monsters

Stephen Brooke ©2025

[existentialcowboy]

I tried to be me but, like Dickinson, found I’m nobody

Stephen Brooke ©2025

[existentialcowboy]

Moon and Sun

Born of Sun, Born of Moon, prophesied by ancient rune; gold and silver, day and night, journey now into the light — Moon and Sun and day begun.

Child of Sun, Child of Moon, grown tall in the light of noon, will you choose to name your name, rising up to make your claim? Moon and Sun and races won.

Blood of Sun, Blood of Moon, each tomorrow fades too soon; promise made and promise broken, shadowed truths remain unspoken — Moon and Sun and life be done.

Stephen Brooke ©2025

written with an eye to plugging it into a fantasy novel, though it needn't be

[existentialcowboy]

The weather outside is broiling It's much too hot for toiling And though there is grass to mow Let it grow! Let it grow! Let it grow!

[existentialcowboy]

Surf

The solid world fades before the fluid reality each wave holds in its heart; Escape with us, they whisper. Leave your truths upon the sand, to wash away as all such castles will. Yet I shall build anew. Build until I once again grow weary.

Stephen Brooke ©2025

[existentialcowboy]

It has been ten years since the publication of Stephen Brooke's first Cully Beach surf-and-crime novel. SHAPER. Available from Arachis Press (arachispress.com) in print or as free ebooks.

[existentialcowboy]

Programmatic

It’s certainly uncertain and probably problematic; undoubtedly quite doubtful, statistically meaningless static.

Possibly just impossible, but the doggedly dogmatic must insist insistently progress be programmatic.

Stephen Brooke ©2025

[existentialcowboy]

I've never needed to use the word bouillabaisse in my fiction before. I guess there's a first time for everything — and for figuring out how to spell it.

[existentialcowboy]

Audience

We laughed at each others jokes, the ones no one else seemed to get.

Were we the perfect couple or just the perfect audience?

The show has come to its close; we have both gone home.

Stephen Brooke ©2025 somewhat in the shape of a sijo

[existentialcowboy]

very much of an oldie

[existentialcowboy]

Free the Books!

A while back I decided to go the Cory Doctorow route with all my books, i.e. make them available as free ebook downloads. These are all at the Arachis Press site (arachispress.com) alongside the print editions — which, of course, I hope some of you will purchase.

But I lose nothing by giving away the ebooks, most of which are offered in both EPUB and PDF format (or at least one of the two). It may be noted I do not, unlike Doctorow, make these available under a Creative Commons license. They remain thoroughly under copyright.

It matters more to me that they are read than that I make some modest revenue from them. Nor do I particularly wish to pass on part of any profit to Amazon or some other corporation. All my completed short stories, whether or not previously published, may also be read for free at my story archive, https://storiesofstephenbrooke.blogspot.com/

[existentialcowboy]

Rambling

This old rambling house rambles on at odd hours, conversing with the rain and wind and ghosts of those who lived here before me.

It whispers nonsense, I know, murmured memories I can not share; yet I listen, try to pick out a word, a meaning.

And one of these days I too shall ramble on, being none the wiser, understanding nothing, my house fading to silence.

Stephen Brooke ©2025

[existentialcowboy]

gray chases gray ~ young mockingbirds explore summer’s orchard

Stephen Brooke ©2025

[existentialcowboy]

A Mouse is in the House! A rhyming picture book (and song) from Stephen Brooke, with his original illustrations. Available in print or as free ebook from Arachis Press (arachispress.com)

[existentialcowboy]

Writing a story is like building a model railroad. First you lay the tracks so you know where everything is going. Then you add the scenery and the moving parts, be they trains or characters. With any luck, there will be no derailments.

[existentialcowboy]

midnight rain ~ I awake and roll over seeking lost sleep

Stephen Brooke ©2025

[existentialcowboy]

all hearts must break ~ pieces of mine have fallen along my pathway

Stephen Brooke ©2025