CJ Woods III’s Story Archive

The Effect of the Poem

January 5, 2017 | by CJ Woods III

The pharmacist was focused on her duties, scanning documents and touching her hand to screens and keypads. The skin on her face appeared to be stretched tightly across her skull, and her mouth was set in a grim line, the edges of which curved slightly downward. The duties that had … Read More

My Way, Our Way

December 22, 2016 | by CJ Woods III

“And now, the end is near…” — My Way The crushed gravel of our disappointed days crackles beneath our footsteps as we tread the lane leading to the end of the year, trailing behind us the brightly colored banners of our victories. The year 2016 was, indeed, the best of … Read More

I Love You Too, Man

December 15, 2016 | by CJ Woods III

A recent conversation with my brother set free a long-moored memory of a conversation with another of my brothers. I may have written of this before, and may be repeating some thoughts, previously shared, but then — some things may be worth repeating. My mother had five children: four boys … Read More

Racing the Streetcar

December 8, 2016 | by CJ Woods III

As dusk settles over a Pittsburgh neighborhood, three young boys twitch and dance on a street corner. On Oakmont Street, the three can hear the clanging of the bell as a streetcar grumbles down its rails, rocking towards them. They tense as the 82 Lincoln approaches the corner and grinds … Read More

Peace, Be Still

December 1, 2016 | by CJ Woods III

A molten thought bubbled up from the man’s angry brain and blistered his lips as it exited. He was in his car, and once again, he was the embodiment of “rage in a cage.” He was the perfect driver and all around him were people whose skills were deficient, and … Read More