Author Archives: Gavin Stevens

About Gavin Stevens

Humptulips County is the wholly fictional on-line residence of Stephen Ellis, a would-be writer, an avid fan of William Faulkner and his Yoknapatawpha County, and a retired lawyer.

Impressions From A Solitary Morning Walk

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Gavin Stevens

I tookĀ the morning’s walk by myself today since Helen was unable to join me.Ā  Without the benefit of our usual conversations about all we see and notice around us, I was left to my own devices – devicesĀ that yielded the … Continue reading →

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Life and Death on the Farm

Posted on May 24, 2014 by Gavin Stevens

Take your place on the great Mandala As it moves through your brief moment of time Win or lose now, you must choose now And if you lose youre only losing your life The Great Mandala, Mary Travers, Peter Yarrow, … Continue reading →

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The Enhanced Colors of Spring

Posted on May 12, 2014 by Gavin Stevens

Last summer we found a cheap thistle feeder at the supermarket and hung it outside our living room windows.Ā  It attracted crowds of goldfinches.Ā  In fact, there was no room at the inn on most days, with birds hanging on … Continue reading →

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A Fine and Misty Spring Morning

Posted on May 7, 2014 by Gavin Stevens

A fine and mistyĀ morning has dawned.Ā  Mist isĀ risingĀ fromĀ each of our fields,Ā lingering evidence ofĀ an earlyĀ trystĀ between earthĀ and sky.Ā  TheĀ very air approachesĀ corporeality,Ā a nearĀ Ā transubstantiationĀ offered as ifĀ in thanksgiving forĀ the bounties of the coming hours and servingĀ as theĀ binderĀ in aĀ translucentĀ stew liberally flavored withĀ the pastelĀ seasonings of Spring. Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2014 Stephen EllisSome … Continue reading →

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Dreams And The Catching Thereof

Posted on April 18, 2014 by Gavin Stevens

Yesterday I entered the last year of myĀ seventh decade.Ā  After a certain time of life, birthdays begin to beĀ sobering affairs asĀ they produce an inevitable rumination over the meaning of life’s events.Ā  I begin to wonder what value I have added, … Continue reading →

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April Hymns

Posted on April 9, 2014 by Gavin Stevens

Morning has broken, like the first morning Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird Praise for the singing, praise for the morning Praise for the springing fresh from the word Eleanor Farjeon, Morning Has Broken It’sĀ pre-dawn,Ā the timeĀ whenĀ advance columns of light … Continue reading →

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The Gospel According To Momus

Posted on March 30, 2014 by Gavin Stevens

About 50 miles northeast ofĀ our Farm lies the debris field from the landslideĀ which has brought Snohomish County to the world’s attention.Ā  It is unclear how many remain buried there, as the numbers provided by authorities makeĀ little sense.Ā  But the loss … Continue reading →

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Singing For Supper

Posted on March 9, 2014 by Gavin Stevens

We are entering that seasonĀ which is neither winter nor spring –Ā the seasonĀ I call ‘Not Spring’.Ā  Temperatures have moderated,Ā hovering in the upper 50s andĀ even reaching 60 degrees on one or two occasions.Ā  There hasn’t beenĀ any snow or frost forĀ the lastĀ couple of … Continue reading →

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The Fog Bank

Posted on March 1, 2014 by Gavin Stevens

The fog comes on little cat feet. It sits looking over harbor and city on silent haunches and then moves on. Carl Sandburg, Fog Yesterday dawned as if it would become a beautiful day –Ā as it eventually did.Ā  When, at … Continue reading →

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A Mug’s Game

Posted on February 22, 2014 by Gavin Stevens

I’ve been writing for some time, andĀ just looked up toĀ find that itĀ has started toĀ snow.Ā  So far, the snowfall is light and none of it is sticking, butĀ the weathermenĀ have beenĀ spreading rumors that weĀ might have up to 5″ of snow before the … Continue reading →

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