Ahh, as late as I am to this piece Nathan, I am so glad to find you, and this beautiful curiosity in my notifications again!
I notice Kimberly already looked up the name Yul, so no need to mention just how brilliant that was, it was though, very, conscious or otherwise; youth, beyond the horizon, not to mention the origins and my favourite line "It is all so foreign, Yul. Not the foreign as once we spoke, the foreign that comes of places we could reach if we walked far and long, for two moons or more, not stopping until our feet became raw" all of that in one huge contented sigh... breathtaking!
I still write letters whenever I find an excuse and time being kind... I love that it is still a possibility, that I can still queue for hours and buy a stamp!
Sorry for the delay, Susie. I've been away from my computer for the last few days, and yesterday I spent most of my time doom-scrolling and fretting over the many bushfires in Victoria as the state endured a horrendous and catastrophic heatwave. I'm grateful we're in the safety of the inner suburbs, but my heart goes out to all those who have lost (or will lose) properties, livestock, things irreplaceable due to the fires.
Anyway, thank you so much for your lovely comment.
Did you read Denmark has now abandoned the letter and you can no longer post such? That's a sad sign of the impacts of the digital age.
I hadn't heard or read that Nathan, how terribly sad, the end of an era... I wonder at the consequences...?
Stay safe my friend, I know the fear of wild fires, we have outbreaks here too once in a while, but I cannot imagine losing my home that way... a lifetime of love strewn in ashes, it would break me entirely. I don't blame you for doom scrolling it almost feels like an obligation doesn't it!
Here we have just had a week of the opposite, temps have dipped to -12c in our little valley, many old and frail have suffered, as have animals unaccustomed to such constant bitterly cold temps. Misery everywhere it seems....
Very intriguing, Nathan. And beautifully written, as is anything that leaves your pen. Like this, for instance: "All I hear is this pen and the sound of the waves that lap without tiring. I have taken board by the shore, within a house of wanderers, their faces as different as their names, their skin as marble or onyx or glass, each with a tongue that holds the mystery of their homes." I'm happy to be back reading pieces here, and starting with yours. It's going to be slow for me going forward, but hey, better than nothing. I hope you're well and wish you the best for the new year, my friend (from somewhere far away). :)
Thanks for dropping in and taking the time for a read. Lovely to have you back here (as well as for me wanting to be back here and feeling the pull of writing).
I was completely taken in by this mysterious little story, Nathan. A gorgeous prose-poem and completely open for interpretation -- the two things I love best in literature.
"...such thoughts plague me like wraiths..."
"...Will you ever believe me, Yul? Will you ever trust me again?"
So much regret and longing in these words, as if she made an irreversible decision in haste and now repents. Why, oh, why, my tender heart asks -- why did Yul not talk her out of going - or go with her? Thank you for the expertise and sensitivity you have to let me create the back story and the resolution here. Genius writing.
Very enigmatic, and reminds me, obliquely, of Calvino's Invisible Cities. "Conflux": great synonym for confluence, simply because it isn't used as much as the latter. I, too, love epistolary lit, and that is one of the topics included in a writing course I start teaching in 10 days' time: great minds! Like others, I am pleased you're back with us! The book you mentioned, the writerly one, sounds interesting.
Oh I’ve missed your words Nathan. Always a mystery, never explicit in its delivery. Of course in this piece I immediately thought of Yule, that you were writing to your past year and announcing arrival into now. But I looked up Yul and I then learned this: A given name with various potential origins, meaning "youthful" (Latin) or "beyond the horizon" (Mongolian).
Youth AND Beyond the horizon? Past and future in one word? How exquisite! And you writing a letter to and from both?
I obviously had ZERO idea! I just wrote and that was the name that automatically came out, so I will absolutely take the subconscious explanation and the one you provide here.
January, 2026. The fountain pen has once again been dipped in ink ,the scroll sits on the desk, ready to be unrolled. Stories hidden in recesses of the mind, ready to be born.
You know, as ever, I hadn't considered the meaning of some of the things that fell out onto the page, and now I read your comment I realise the deeper meaning here to what was within this piece! The first letter, indeed.
Good to read your words, my friend. I love the paragraph that starts with: "I wish I could hear you speak." Mysterious but also visceral in the imagery.
What a lovely start to my day. The sun is trying to shine (we've had a lot of rain), coffee without cats threatening to knock over my cup (they're out in the sun already) and this gorgeous piece of writing from you!
Fabulous, Nathan! This draws me in from start because I so love a story told in letters. Maybe that's because it was all we had back in the day when my then boyfriend (now my husband) and I could not afford the long distance telephone charges more than once a week, so we wrote to each other nearly every day for a year. I still have all those letters :-) And, as far as first lines go, Krohn's book (I had to go sample it) mentions "flowers that bloom underground" in the first line . . . like Ghost Flowers?! Yes! I'm in. She seems to have a writing style that's lush--but clean. Very nice inspiration . . . I can't wait to see what you make next!
Loved this, Nathan. It feels like you're growing as a writer but also going back to the beginning, there's something of the initial pieces you shared here but also of your later work. Magic.
It's good to have you back, Nathan. Looking forward to more of you in 2026!
Thanks, Ben! Here's to 2026! 🥳
Ahh, as late as I am to this piece Nathan, I am so glad to find you, and this beautiful curiosity in my notifications again!
I notice Kimberly already looked up the name Yul, so no need to mention just how brilliant that was, it was though, very, conscious or otherwise; youth, beyond the horizon, not to mention the origins and my favourite line "It is all so foreign, Yul. Not the foreign as once we spoke, the foreign that comes of places we could reach if we walked far and long, for two moons or more, not stopping until our feet became raw" all of that in one huge contented sigh... breathtaking!
I still write letters whenever I find an excuse and time being kind... I love that it is still a possibility, that I can still queue for hours and buy a stamp!
Sorry for the delay, Susie. I've been away from my computer for the last few days, and yesterday I spent most of my time doom-scrolling and fretting over the many bushfires in Victoria as the state endured a horrendous and catastrophic heatwave. I'm grateful we're in the safety of the inner suburbs, but my heart goes out to all those who have lost (or will lose) properties, livestock, things irreplaceable due to the fires.
Anyway, thank you so much for your lovely comment.
Did you read Denmark has now abandoned the letter and you can no longer post such? That's a sad sign of the impacts of the digital age.
I hadn't heard or read that Nathan, how terribly sad, the end of an era... I wonder at the consequences...?
Stay safe my friend, I know the fear of wild fires, we have outbreaks here too once in a while, but I cannot imagine losing my home that way... a lifetime of love strewn in ashes, it would break me entirely. I don't blame you for doom scrolling it almost feels like an obligation doesn't it!
Here we have just had a week of the opposite, temps have dipped to -12c in our little valley, many old and frail have suffered, as have animals unaccustomed to such constant bitterly cold temps. Misery everywhere it seems....
The polar opposites of extremes! We hit 43°C in the city on Friday, and now Sydney and the rest of New South Wales are copping similar heat.
I hope for some warmth your way and cooler conditions here! (Thankfully it is indeed cooler in Melbourne today.)
Very intriguing, Nathan. And beautifully written, as is anything that leaves your pen. Like this, for instance: "All I hear is this pen and the sound of the waves that lap without tiring. I have taken board by the shore, within a house of wanderers, their faces as different as their names, their skin as marble or onyx or glass, each with a tongue that holds the mystery of their homes." I'm happy to be back reading pieces here, and starting with yours. It's going to be slow for me going forward, but hey, better than nothing. I hope you're well and wish you the best for the new year, my friend (from somewhere far away). :)
Thanks for dropping in and taking the time for a read. Lovely to have you back here (as well as for me wanting to be back here and feeling the pull of writing).
Wishing you all the best for the new year, too.
Great start to 2026, my friend! Here’s to many more stories to come! Alien insects? I haven’t read that book but instead District 9 springs to mind.
The prawns!
Long time since I've seen that film.
Thanks Alexander. Wishing you all the best for 2026!
I was completely taken in by this mysterious little story, Nathan. A gorgeous prose-poem and completely open for interpretation -- the two things I love best in literature.
"...such thoughts plague me like wraiths..."
"...Will you ever believe me, Yul? Will you ever trust me again?"
So much regret and longing in these words, as if she made an irreversible decision in haste and now repents. Why, oh, why, my tender heart asks -- why did Yul not talk her out of going - or go with her? Thank you for the expertise and sensitivity you have to let me create the back story and the resolution here. Genius writing.
Thank you, Sharron! That's ever so kind of you and I love the things you're pondering here.
I love a good open-to-interpretation story. :)
So looking forward to more writing from you this year!
Thanks Stephanie! Hope all is great with you. Happy 2026!
Happy New Year glad to have you back
Thanks so much. Happy new year to you, too. :)
Thank you ^^
Very enigmatic, and reminds me, obliquely, of Calvino's Invisible Cities. "Conflux": great synonym for confluence, simply because it isn't used as much as the latter. I, too, love epistolary lit, and that is one of the topics included in a writing course I start teaching in 10 days' time: great minds! Like others, I am pleased you're back with us! The book you mentioned, the writerly one, sounds interesting.
Thanks Terry, appreciate it. I've only read his "If on a winter's night..." so I really should delve into more Calvino.
Conflux is a lovely word, indeed. I debated what to use there, but once conflux came up then it felt correct.
Hope the course goes great!
Thanks, old bean.
Oh I’ve missed your words Nathan. Always a mystery, never explicit in its delivery. Of course in this piece I immediately thought of Yule, that you were writing to your past year and announcing arrival into now. But I looked up Yul and I then learned this: A given name with various potential origins, meaning "youthful" (Latin) or "beyond the horizon" (Mongolian).
Youth AND Beyond the horizon? Past and future in one word? How exquisite! And you writing a letter to and from both?
Wow.
Wow!
I obviously had ZERO idea! I just wrote and that was the name that automatically came out, so I will absolutely take the subconscious explanation and the one you provide here.
January, 2026. The fountain pen has once again been dipped in ink ,the scroll sits on the desk, ready to be unrolled. Stories hidden in recesses of the mind, ready to be born.
“This first letter, for this is day one”
Welcome back, Nathan !
Welcome home.
You know, as ever, I hadn't considered the meaning of some of the things that fell out onto the page, and now I read your comment I realise the deeper meaning here to what was within this piece! The first letter, indeed.
Hope you're well, Lor. Happy new year! 🤗
Good to read your words, my friend. I love the paragraph that starts with: "I wish I could hear you speak." Mysterious but also visceral in the imagery.
Thanks so much, Kate. Here's to a very fruitful, calm and wondrous 2026!
What a lovely start to my day. The sun is trying to shine (we've had a lot of rain), coffee without cats threatening to knock over my cup (they're out in the sun already) and this gorgeous piece of writing from you!
Aw, thank you Remanon, that's so lovely.
We have cat singular, but I know that feeling of being able to relax when you know they're relaxing and not racing around or being mischievous!
Fabulous, Nathan! This draws me in from start because I so love a story told in letters. Maybe that's because it was all we had back in the day when my then boyfriend (now my husband) and I could not afford the long distance telephone charges more than once a week, so we wrote to each other nearly every day for a year. I still have all those letters :-) And, as far as first lines go, Krohn's book (I had to go sample it) mentions "flowers that bloom underground" in the first line . . . like Ghost Flowers?! Yes! I'm in. She seems to have a writing style that's lush--but clean. Very nice inspiration . . . I can't wait to see what you make next!
Thanks, Ann! Epistolary literature is something I really enjoy, too.
Beautiful re: writing letters to each other for so long and the fact that you still have those letters!
I need to go sample the book. "Flowers that bloom underground" -- how perfectly in tune with what we both gravitate towards.
Yes indeed, the talking insects certainly snagged my attention!!
BTW, happy unpacking — how exciting!!
Thanks Rose! It's been great to enjoy the process of unpacking and getting things where we want them. :)
Loved this, Nathan. It feels like you're growing as a writer but also going back to the beginning, there's something of the initial pieces you shared here but also of your later work. Magic.
Thanks Claudia, that's very lovely to hear. Hope you're well. Happy new year!
A happy new year to you as well, Nathan.