Dark Softly Tales

This week is a lovely poem called Rise Up by Rumi. His wise words bear to witness that there is always a light within the dark. A reminder that Dark Softly Tales is creating shorter, unscripted, episodes for a few weeks. We'll be back to regular schedule at the end of April. ;-)

Music by Chillmore

This week we ponder the wonderful words of Kahlil Gibran in his poem "Do Not Love Half Lovers." The next few weeks will be slightly shorter episodes as I'm helping my son with his move to Montana. Towards the end of April we will back with our regular program!

Music: Soft Ambient by Alex MakeMusic

Tonight’s poem called Violet Visions, is inspired by a passage I wrote in one of my books called Wanted Single Rose, and also by world events. It’s kind of a mashup of things.

Find the illustrated storybook creation of the poem on

YouTube here: https://youtu.be/vrhCabz9SJ8

www.darksoftlytalespodcast.com

www.darksoftlytales.com

Death makes quite the entrance at Lady Neville's ball. To everyone's surprise, Death is young, beautiful and charming. So charming in fact, that Lady Neville and her guests request Death remain with them, which Death accepts... on one condition. This week's story is part two of Come Lady Death by Peter S Beagle.

Music: Waiting for the Sun by Luca Fraula

Lady Neville has thrown the most wonderful parities that even the king himself has attended. Now in her old age, she wants to throw the grandest party of all…but she can’t think of who could be grander than all the nobles she has already invited in the past, and finally it comes to her…she will invite Death himself…er…herself. This week's story is part one of Come Lady Death by Peter S Beagle.

Music: Waiting for the Sun by Luca Fraula

A woodland fairy decides to enter the body of a young woman to discover what it feels like to be in love. Through the ups & downs of this experience, she considers giving up her magic to become human. This story is none other than Ray Bradbury's The April Witch.

First published in 1952 by The Saturday Evening Post

Music: Facile by Kevin MacLeod

In light of current events, I decided to pause the regular programing this week and make an impromptu episode discussing courage and freedom. I recorded this on Friday, Feb 25th.

The two clips of speech is Winston Churchhill's address to Harrow School in 1941

Music: 528 Hz Morning Meditation

A blind woman meets a mysterious man in the forest who is very coy about who he is. She bargains a potion from an old gypsy so she can finally see her lover. She does see her lover, but pays the ultimate price...

This story has appeared in a few publications including Howl: Tales of the Feral and Infernal, Best of Lame Goat Press Anthology, Cast Macabre where it was originally narrated by the wonderful Barry Northern and, finally, in my short but sweet Tales to Chill Your Bones anthology, Shapeshifters, Volume 3.

Music: Dark Romance Piano by Crypt of Insomnia

The soul and the Fisherman lead us to a surprising conclusion and give us yet another piece of the human spirit to ponder on. This isn't the Valentine's episode I was planning on, but perhaps it's the one we need... Part Four of The Fisherman and His Soul by Oscar Wilde.

Music: Music: Deep Woods by Lilo Sound

The Fisherman's soul continues its journey to a wealthy city's wondrous bazaar and meets the rich young emperor. The soul makes demands that is too great and the young emperor meets an uncertain fate. Join Dark Softly Tales as we continue this week with part three of The Fisherman and HIs Soul by Oscar Wilde.

Music: Deep Woods by Lilo Sound