I sing your praisesOn a flattened tongueWithout grace or tactOr grandeur. Not with the greatestLines from the sweetest lipsCould your beauty findA tune to fit. And mineAre rough, raucous, reachingLike eyes in a starless night.Every lyric is longing, Every stanza strainingIn light of your fair face. My wordsAre weak and wastedOn a woman,With whom no … More I Sing Your Praises
I dreamt of seasThat sparkled in sunWith a salted breeze softOn my cheek. The wavesWhispered in foreign tongues,And beckoned me onAnd on. But in day,The ocean trembledAs a tempest tossed the surf.My boat bent, and my sailsSnapped while the currentEnforced its will.Adrift, alone, I dreamt of springIn a valley glazedWith green. Sparrows sangIn the shade … More I Dreamt
People watch with wonder
As they fall
In tumbling droves… … More Leaves will Fall
And so the Motherland calls me back. It’s been 5 years since I traveled to Russia as a study abroad student. The temperature was -20°F on that brisk winter night I arrived in St. Petersburg. Not even the locals braved the city streets. And yet, as I stared out of the frost-encrusted windows, St. Petersburg stunned me with its colorful, European architecture and numerous, icy canals. It was inevitable. I would fall in love with the city, the country, and the people. And I did. … More A Return to Russia
In regards to the Yakutia Incident, much doubt has been placed on my official statements and testimony. The cynical among you have cited the slightest of contradictions in my accounts and even noted supposed tics in my body language as evidence of deceit. And so it follows that accusations have been made of criminal activity and cover-up. I have done my best to ignore these accusations since they are baseless and thus could not ever manifest into official charges. Yet, it has become clear to me in recent days that these conspiracy theories have generated undue curiosity in the incident, curiosity which could prove quite dangerous. As this was my chief concern when fabricating my statements, let me address the Yakutia Incident with utmost transparency. The truth, I hope, will deter further inquisition. … More The Yakutia Incident
Half-sung praises
Sound in silence
Where an echo finds room to grow. … More Silence
Mt. Spire shone brilliant and white above the bristly pines. In the noontime sun, one could see the snow weep and the summer trails reveal themselves. It was a wonderful sight for any climber. However, Anna would consider it even more wonderful if she did not have to hike ten miles to actually get there. … More In the Shadow of Mt. Spire
As the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi is the country’s main draw. But in my opinion, any tourist in Georgia needs to step outside the city for a day or two. What really makes Georgia a beautiful country is its nature, and you can find two great examples of this in Kazbegi and the Kakheti region. … More Day Trips in Georgia
As Covid-19 slowly releases its grip on the world, travel is making a comeback. I for one have been waiting eagerly to put the pandemic behind me and venture back out into the world. So, having received my vaccine and saved a bit of money, I finally booked my first trip. This time I headed to Tbilisi in the beautiful country of Georgia. … More My Time in Tbilisi
Beyond the backwoods,
Where the trees grow tall,
Lies a church inked in shadow… … More Beyond the Backwoods
He Who Wanders 