Three Short Guest Essays

Three Short Guest Essays

Rarely do we publish essays written by anyone other than Cloudeight. For Memorial Day weekend, we’re making an exception by publishing three short essays by our friend who writes using the name of G. Petee. We hope you enjoy these essays.  If you do, please let us know.

The Great Equalizer

By G. Petee

Death, the great equalizer, is the final frontier that all must face. It is a subject that has plagued the minds of men since the dawn of consciousness. The fear of death and the unknown drives us to seek answers, to try and understand the mysteries of the universe and our place within it. But death remains a formidable foe, one that we cannot hope to defeat or understand completely.

Shakespeare, the master wordsmith, addressed the subject of death time and time again in his works. In Hamlet, the titular character wrestles with the concept of death and what it means to be alive. Hamlet’s musings on the subject are perhaps some of the most famous in literature, and they capture the essence of the human struggle with mortality.

To die, to sleep, to be no more – it is a thought that fills us with dread. For in death, we enter the unknown, a realm where we can no longer experience the joys and sorrows of life. It is a sleep from which we may never awaken, and the thought of it fills us with a sense of despair.

But death is not the end. It is a passage, a transition from this life to the next. And though we may fear it, we must accept it as a natural part of the cycle of life. For death is not an enemy, but a friend. It releases us from the pain and suffering of this world and allows us to rest in peace.

And yet, death is not without its own brand of suffering. It brings with it grief and sadness, as we are forced to say goodbye to those we love. It is a reminder of our own mortality and the impermanence of life. But even in the face of death, we find solace.

A Winter Muse

By G. Petee

Winter has always been a season of contradictions. On one hand, it is a time of death, as the cold descends upon the land and freezes the life out of all but the hardiest of plants. The trees stand naked and bare, their leaves having fallen to the ground in a final act of surrender to the icy grip of winter. The earth itself seems to pause, as if holding its breath until the spring thaw brings new life once again.

Yet despite all this, winter is also a time of renewal. The snow that falls from the sky is a blank canvas, ready to be painted with the footsteps and tire tracks of those brave enough to venture out into the cold. It is a time for bundling up in warm layers, for building snowmen and having snowball fights, for hot cocoa by the fire, and for huddling together for warmth.

Winter is a time for reflection, as the long nights and quiet days invite us to look inward and contemplate the events of the past year. It is a time to rest and recharge, to curl up with a good book or watch a movie by the fire. It is a time to reconnect with friends and family, to exchange gifts and share meals.

But perhaps most of all, winter is a time of magic. The way the snow sparkles in the moonlight, the way the icicles hang like diamonds from the roofs of houses, the way the world is transformed into a winter wonderland – it all feels like something out of a fairy tale. It is a time when the impossible seems possible, when the world is full of mystery and wonder.

Of course, winter is not all fun and games. It can be a harsh and unforgiving season, especially for those who are unprepared for it. The cold can be deadly, and it is important to take precautions to stay warm and safe. But even the dangers of winter have their own unique beauty, as the snow and ice create a world that is both treacherous and stunning.

In the end, winter is what we make of it. It can be a time of hardship and struggle, or it can be a time of joy and celebration. It all depends on our attitude and how we choose to experience it. So let us embrace the winter, with all its contradictions and complexities, and find the magic and beauty in it.

The Beauty of Snow

By G. Petee