family – Mike Bergman

The Peak

Hand in hand, we climb Hearts racing with each step Eyes gazing to peaks above To valleys beneath A moment of frozen time We hold our breath Dreaming of days ahead Reminiscing memories A stillness sublime The climax of life

Balance

A balance of hearts Give and take, the dance Lives intertwining Losing selves in dreams’ expanse Hopes, fears, whispered thoughts Laughing, crying, meld to one Hand in hand, the world spins Until the self becomes undone A new life birthed; two become one

Cultivate Future Readers

Want to cultivate future readers, writers, and other creatives? Read, read, and read to you children. It’s a near daily thing in our house. We read about five or six books at the start of the day. Usually, as he grabs them, runs up, and shouts, “Bookie!” as he holds it high. Yes, my wifeContinue reading “Cultivate Future Readers”

The Necklace (a Christmas short story)

The seventh and final in my Christmas short story / flash fiction series. Enjoy! I hesitated as I rounded the corner and hunkered into my down jacket. Half a block ahead, a grizzled and unkempt man sat with his back against the brick wall. He wore a stocking hat and overcoat, both of which hadContinue reading “The Necklace (a Christmas short story)”

The inspiration behind “A Grandfather’s Yarn” (Of Stars and Space)

With the publication of my collection of stories, Of Stars and Space, this is part 9 in a series of posts about the inspiration behind each of the twelve stories. A Grandfather’s Yarn is, perhaps, the shortest story in this collection. I wrote it as a submission to a science fiction contest a few yearsContinue reading “The inspiration behind “A Grandfather’s Yarn” (Of Stars and Space)”

The inspiration behind “Space Dinosaurs” (Of Stars and Space)

With the publication of my collection of stories, Of Stars and Space, this is part 8 in a series of posts about the inspiration behind each of the twelve stories. In my one-year-old son’s room there hangs on the wall behind his closet door a banner to measure height and growth. My wife and IContinue reading “The inspiration behind “Space Dinosaurs” (Of Stars and Space)”

The inspiration behind “The Perfect Man” (Of Stars and Space)

With the publication of my collection of stories, Of Stars and Space, this is part 7 in a series of posts about the inspiration behind each of the twelve stories. “The Perfect Man” is the first story in the science fiction section of my book. It is a story about love, with a twist. It’sContinue reading “The inspiration behind “The Perfect Man” (Of Stars and Space)”

The inspiration behind “Trail Blazing” (Of Stars and Space)

With the publication of my collection of stories, Of Stars and Space, this is part 6 in a series of posts about the inspiration behind each of the twelve stories. “Trail Blazing” is the final story in the life, love, and loss section of my book. It is a story about growing up and leavingContinue reading “The inspiration behind “Trail Blazing” (Of Stars and Space)”

The inspiration behind “Strange Walls” (Of Stars and Space)

With the publication of my collection of stories, Of Stars and Space, this is part 5 in a series of posts about the inspiration behind each of the twelve stories. One of the things you learn as a foster parent is to never say a negative thing about a child’s biological parents. It doesn’t matterContinue reading “The inspiration behind “Strange Walls” (Of Stars and Space)”

The inspiration behind “Flowers for Every Day” (Of Stars and Space)

With the publication of my collection of stories, Of Stars and Space, this is part 4 in a series of posts about the inspiration behind each of the twelve stories. Sometimes it doesn’t take much to inspire a story. This is true of “Flowers for Every Day.” It is, indeed, a short story, one ofContinue reading “The inspiration behind “Flowers for Every Day” (Of Stars and Space)”