BIRTH of the NOVEL

Ever since time began

We’ve been telling tales

Entertaining others

With stories of people and perfidy

Friendship, revenge

Cowardice and bravery…

Imagination soars –

We can see those we create,

Hear their voices,

Eavesdrop their chatting.

We know them so well,

How they dress,

Where they live,

Who they love

Or hate….

What it is that they feel

And why…

When it was that the conflicts

They’re embroiled in began –

For a story must have conflict,

Conflict and resolution.

Ever since we could speak

We’ve been telling tales.

Yarning round campfires;

Huddled in caves

As storms howl;

Rain drowns our world

So we seek comfort,

Seek to pass time,

Seek to get into the mind

Of our mates,

We build shared memories

And forge a community.

Time passed.

Scratchings on stone became letters –

A letter for each sound that we spoke.

Those letters made words

So now we recorded our doings and thoughts,

Our buying and selling, Our songs and our stories…

The novel was born!

(c) Mary McDee 2024

Feature Photo: Around the Campfire (c) L.M. Kling 2010