Paul A. Merkley
Bio
Mental traveller. Idealist. Try to be low-key but sometimes hothead. Curious George. "Ardent desire is the squire of the heart." Love Tolkien, Cinephile. Awards ASCAP, Royal Society. Music as Brain Fitness: www.musicandmemoryjunction.com
Achievements (1)
Stories (106)
Filter by community
Courtesy
Kalens of March. Milady, Sovreign, and Sovreign of my heart, I am returning. I beg you tell me how it is to be. Scarce five twelvemonths past I fled as the great waves washed over my kingdom. Last to escape, I rode like the wind, pausing not until my brave mount bore me to this island. I knelt and gave thanks, then asked to be given a venture for which I would be worthy. The high repute of your court being generally noised about, I made my way there, and, offering my sword, made liege homage to the great king. Your ladyship will understand that this not a simple homage, but a liege homage. My Lord looped a silk string around my wrists, and I swore to obey no other lords and to serve him loyally until my death.
By Paul A. Merkleyabout a year ago in History
"For want of a nail..."
My name is Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan. I was born in British India, fought in World War II in the British Indian army, and eventually became a general, and President of Pakistan. If you are reading these, my personal, handwritten papers, I have been dead for some time. Of all the actions I participated in, and some of which I led, the most salient was the opening of China to the west, in 1972 when President Nixon visited that country, at that time the largest in the world. How did it happen? What was my part? The broad outlines are known, but how specifically? Read on, I pray.
By Paul A. Merkleyabout a year ago in The Swamp
Sound Judgement?
I teach music appreciation to seniors, review classical concerts, play the piano, and generally listen to a lot of music, so this is just a selection. Early in the new year my friend K (whose voice sounds as close to Maria Callas as you can get) and I performed for a friend's 90th birthday. And "My Way" just doesn't get old. It started out as a French love song, "Comme d'habitude," Paul Anka bought the rights, translated it into English, and gave it to Frank--the rest is history.
By Paul A. Merkleyabout a year ago in Beat
The Shape of Things to Come (Back)
15 February 2050, Moosonee, Ontario, U.S.A. Very dear Felicity, much loved great-granddaughter Your latest letter pleases me in so many ways I hardly know where to begin. First of all your penmanship is very impressive. I am so glad I ordered a hundred of those pen nibs I so admired years ago. The difference between the thin and thick strokes is just right, and the large ink reservoir makes the writing process more fluent, with fewer interruptions to dip the pen. When I copied my compositions in music school and later, they were the very best. I’m also glad your grandfather had the foresight to buy this property as a summer place. At the time, I thought he was crazy. Imagine paying for property on the Moose River, just twelve miles away from James Bay. Now that the passage across the Arctic Ocean is clear, of course, it’s a commercially viable route, and Moosonee is Ontario’s only saltwater port. Frank bought extra property at the time—he said it was a bargain, and I lease that out to companies that ship containers. He also made sure we were on a high enough elevation and that turned out to be very important after the rise in sea levels wiped out most of the coastal cities.
By Paul A. Merkleyabout a year ago in Futurism
