Milk Like a Melted Ghost

I have a new story up in Abjective today called "Milk Like a Melted Ghost." Darby Larson rocks, and I thank him immensely for accepting this. It's an excerpt from a longer story of the same title, some lines of which include:

It’s impossible for an organism considering its own consciousness, its own existence, to remain objective.

And:

She wondered if she could ignore this. Having something to ignore made her feel less lonely.

And:

Nothing seemed familiar because it wasn’t. Nothing was ever the same. Change was supposed to be one of those beautiful things in life. Everyone said that, everyone said that same thing the same way and no one ever dared alter that story. What tightened Clarabelle’s screws was, she figured by now she’d be used to adjusting.

And:

Clarabelle bent down, looking at the eyelashes floating in the melted ghost of milk, thought they said something, like words do.

17 comments:

Crispin Best said...

nice

good

very

like

Eric Beeny said...

Crispin, my good man, I thank you...

Ethel Rohan said...

I love the looping of language and images. The morphing together, and ultimately the disintegration here: milk, ghost, snowman, albino ant, and finally the scatter of yellow birds.

Congratulations on this fine piece and on ABJECTIVE, it's tough to crack.

Eric Beeny said...

Thanks, Ethel. I'm happy you liked it. Abjective is tough to crack, like a snowball with a yellow bird inside...

christopher higgs said...

Hi, Eric. I just read your piece in Abjective and wanted to contact you and tell you that I really liked it, especially the way you play with time/actions. Very cool!

Eric Beeny said...

Hi, Chris. Thanks for hitting me up, and for the kind words...

Unknown said...

finally read this and love it. i love the words, the images. melted ghost...wonderful.

Eric Beeny said...

Thanks, Charles. You made my day...

Ben Spivey said...

I just finished your piece in Abjective, the language is smooth, and playful. Very good. I like it a lot.

audri sousa said...

love this. the style of it is unique also. a kind of weaving or collage, very subtle quiet language, vibrant imagery. my favourite part is the 'coal-teeth smile' and 'scarf crushed into a mountain range around the melted ghost of milk's lake'. i think jeff mangum would love this too.

word verification: basmat. bastardous materials?

Eric Beeny said...

Thanks, Ben. I'm big playful, I hope.
Thanks, Audri. Bastardous Material is highly probable. Basquiat's Mattress, maybe. Cardboard box. Jeffrey Wright. Bowie's Andy Warhol. Neutral Milk, yeah. I'm happy you liked it.

Lauren Becker said...

"Having something to ignore made her feel less lonely."

absolute perfection, eric. my only complaint is that i didn't write it.

very, very nice work!

Eric Beeny said...

Thank you, Lauren. That really means a lot...

Mel Bosworth said...

"She hurled it into the snowman's thorax."

Laughter at this line. Great piece, Eric.

Eric Beeny said...

Thanks, Mel...

Pet & Gone said...

good job. i hope you feel very good about this story. you know, that wonderful, "I rock," feeling. have that.

Eric Beeny said...

Thanks, Brandi. I do. I'm thinking of turning it into a novel, maybe...