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Carve Magazine: Samurai Blue Grass
by Craig Terlson

This is a story about loss, told by Jim, an artist whose wife has recently died in an accident. We meet Jim at a point where he seems have accepted his wife’s death, but is still carrying enough demons to prevent him from living a full life. He decides to spend more time with his nephew, Zack, and this relationship allows Jim to take the first steps on his road to recovery.

This is a well crafted, subtle exploration of a complicated subject. There are many levels of grief, and even more expressions of the same. Here we meet a man who has suffered a terrible loss, but is not overly emotional, who doesn’t seem to be struggling, and not quite numb. We feel Jim’s grief, not in his dialog as much as in the atmosphere that the story creates for us.

Jim is an artist who can’t seem to paint anymore, not his canvas, his relationships, or his life. When he decides to become closer to his 5 year old nephew Zack, we get the feeling this is because it is less complicated than relating to an adult. We soon come to find out that Zack’s fresh and innocent impressions of the world around him remind Jim of his wife, and awaken something in him. It is to the author’s credit, that Jim knows he probably treats Zack as if he were older than 5 years of age.

There is a lot of Chinese and Japanese imagery here, and it is well described. The Kurosawa film “Yojimbo” appears to be important to Jim. A key plot element of this short story portrays a Samurai reuniting a mother with her family. This Samurai is also a Ronin; he has lost his master, and like many Ronin, his way.

Jim and Zack spend a portion of the story in Chinatown, and the author does a good job of describing the sights, smells, and sounds of the place. Chinatown is vivid, busy, and unique; the perfect place to observe a wide eyed 5 year old’s reactions.

It is in Chinatown, in the final act of the story where Jim is able to really feel something again. And although this is an important step, we get the feeling that Jim’s grief is certainly not resolved, and he still has a long road to travel.

Check it out and share your comments.

About the Reviewer
I’m Ed. I’m a smoker, a social drinker, and I can knock out a New York Times crossword Monday through Friday. I’m ambidextrous when it comes to brushing my teeth, and I can parallel park in a way that makes some people weep at the very beauty of it. I can tap a keg, catch a fly ball, change the oil, and cut a straight line every time. I can make you laugh when you’re feeling down, and I can tell when you’re lying. I’m old enough to care, and young enough to do something about it. I’ve seen the Burning Man burn. I’m urban, I’m old school, and I’m Midwestern. And I know when it’s time to shut up.

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