August 2006 Submissions
Monthly Challenges
Genta Hughes
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Lord, You make my life a song
And fill my soul with music
You bring me peace in
The midst of chaos
Lord you truly bring such light to my life
And make darkness bright
To think of my love for you
I run out of words
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The icy winds whipped Gil's face as he took her in his arms. His numbed hands could not feel her warmth as he slid her off his slick black bike.
The biting cold couldn't stop him from running, as the men had said it would. The big, ugly men with the scars and cigars told him that if he ran away, they would find him. They would kill him. When he heard these words, with his hands tied behind his back and his mouth taped shut, he was a bit scared, but he did not show it.
In the bottom of his leather boot was a knife, and he knew that soon the ugly men would sleep, because they had been drinking very heavily. He would wait until they passed out. He was used to this kind of thing, for he was a member of the BkTigers Bikers, and he knew how the men would act. The time had come when he had enough. They planned on robbing the 1st National Bank. Oh, he had sat in on the planning, right up to the last minute details, so he knew exactly what they were up to. But when he had joined the BKTigers Bikers it was because he had loved riding motorcycles. But things were going wrong, obviously, and he had to get out. But he knew too much, too much to escape now, and he had made the mistake of letting the men know that he wanted out.
"You think you can get out of this club now? You're a part of it, and you will always be. WE may have to kill you know, because you are a squealer."
It was the tall dark gruff one with scars and tattoos and a cigar that he waved across the room as he talked. "We don't work that way," he said as he tied the knots tighter. "But since I like you, and always thought of you as my son, I'm going to let you think it over. Give you another chance." He poured more whiskey into his glass, "Morning, maybe you'll come to your senses and tell me you'll stay with us. If not.....I have to kill you."
His sentences were already slurred, and his eyes were dropping. Only a few more minutes, and he will be out, he thought as he felt the knife with his toes at the bottom of his boots.
The snow fell in big fat flakes as he sped away into the country. He had escaped, cut the ropes while the men slept in their drunkenness.
His hands were numb from gripping the handle bars of his bike. He had held onto them like his life depended on it, his knuckles locked in a death grip as he sped away with his woman holding onto him. He spoke to the thin, blonde woman behind him.
"There is shelter over there."
He pointed to an old house behind a clump of trees, just beyond a barbed wire fence. "Iwill make a fire when we get there, it will be warm. His voice was gruff and the long hair on his back was wet with the melted snow. Clarissa had rested her chin on his back as they sped away in the cold. Her warmth melted the snow.
"We'll find shelter before they find us." He told her,
but worry was in his voice. It was in his belly, it was in the air.
So they left for the abandoned house, Gil's arm around Clarissa, the other hand guiding his black motorcycle. The moonlight cast eerie shadows on the road as the walked. Their leather boots crunched in the snow.
Clarissa shivered, her perfect white teeth chattering as she tried to huddle closer to Gil. She had dreamt of this moment. She alone with this wild, beautiful man. At last, she too was free, and she licked her red lips as the excitement thrilled her.
Than suddenly, Gil's head snapped around quickly. His lips tightened, his eyes widened.
"Quick! DOWN!" he ordered the young woman. With a fierce plunge, he pushed her to the ground. He crouched as she groaned, his hand on his weapon.
"SHH!!" He ordered, "Don't make a sound." In the distance, he could hear the roar of motorcycles in the cold night. They were closing in on them. They were coming.
There was a popping, and then another, and another.
"WE know you are there! You can't hide!" Their voices were harsh and cold.
"Roll!" Gil commanded. Clarissa felt her heart go out of her throat. But she swallowed her fear. Then she saw Gil's gun. He pulled it out from beneath his coat. It was shiny and black, and cold.
ROLL.....yea......I gotta roll.......yea
Bam Bam! Two more shots rang out. Clarissa scudded to the nearby brushes. The cold, frozen snow cut into her face as she fell, making it bleed.
Gil follwered her. She felt his heavy body on top of hers, sinking her deeply into the snow. He was trying to hide her. His arms were in front of him, gripping the gun. He held his breath as the men roared by on their bikes, not seeing them.
She slowly slid her hand down to feel the gun. She winced as she deftly stoked the long barrel. Then, for a second, her hands brushed Gil's. For a second, it was flesh touching flesh. Then Gil withdrew his hand.
"Lesson number one.....Use this, for your life will depend on it!"
and he gave her the gun as he hoped on his bike.
"What have I gotten into?" She thought as she felt the cold hard steel in her hands. But the excitement of it was thrilling.
"It's your protection." He pulled her up on his bike, and they sped off for the
abandoned cottage in the thicket ahead.
Gil knew that they would be safe there. But tomorrow, they would have to leave.
Headlights in the Rain
It had been months; too many months if you asked him. Sadly, no one had bothered. He missed her and the waiting was killing him. “Just a few more weeks,” he whispered to himself. “Just a few more weeks. Then you can see her again. C’mon. It won’t kill ya.” He sighed. “The hell it won’t,” he mumbled loudly. Their prearranged date, set for Valentine’s Day, was much too far in the future for his taste.
He’d last seen her in Nashville in October. It was now New Year’s Eve. A dark, rainy New Year’s Eve to boot. “What a way to start a new year,” he thought sourly. “Just what I didn’t need tonight.” The clouds were thick, grey and showed no signs of letting up anytime soon.
(August 29, 2006)
Blake let the curtains fall back into place and paced the hotel room. He and his band should’ve been on their way back to Nashville, back home, by now but the nasty weather was keeping them in Vegas for one more night. “There are worse places to be stuck, I suppose,” he grumbled, unconvinced. At least his band mates were enjoying themselves. Someone had to.
Music floated up from his hip suddenly. Snatching his phone up, he glanced at the display. Seeing her name appear, he grinned. “It’s about time, babe. I’ve been waiting weeks to hear from you!”
“Sorry, Cowboy. Been out of the country. Kinda hard to make calls from Peru, ya know.”
“I suppose,” he teased, not wanting to let her off the hook quite yet, “but it’s still no excuse.”
“Jerk,” she teased back. “So, what’s new with you?”
“Nothin’. Just stuck here in Vegas for the night.”
“Can you get ‘stuck’ in Vegas?” she asked. “Most people I know would kill for a reason to stay over.”
“Well, if it weren’t for this freak rainstorm, I could be on my way home tonight. I need to go home. I want to go home. This trip has worn me out.”
“Gettin' old there, Cowboy.”
“HEY! That’s not nice!”
Ali laughed at his outrage. “Easy boy.”
“It’s hard to be calm when I’m here in the rain and you’re… um, where are you?”
“Home.”
“Home? Not at your headquarters?”
“Nope. I’m home for the first time in ages. Well, actually more like eighteen months.”
“Hmm. So, where’s home for you?”
“Henderson.”
“Henderson? Tennessee? Why didn’t you…”
She cut him off before he could get too excited. “No dork. Nevada.”
“Huh?”
“I think you need some sleep. Henderson, Nevada. I’m probably about fifteen miles from you, at most, depending on where you’re staying.”
“Oh.” Then, “OH! You’re HERE! So, why aren’t you here then?” Meaning with him. Preferably naked.
“Because,” she said, as if explaining the facts of life to a two-year-old, “I didn’t know where you even were until you answered the phone, remember?”
“Oh, yeah. There is that.”
“Are you always this thick?”
“Not always.”
“Just usually?”
“Right. So, how long until you get here?”
“Gonna tell me where you are first?”
“Nope. Ya gotta guess.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After checking his website for the venue he’d been performing at, Ali got into her Jeep and headed down to the infamous Las Vegas Strip. Traffic was atrocious and took her almost forty-five minutes to make a routine, twenty-minute trip. Eventually, she pulled into valet and left her keys with the attendant. He took the keys from her and moaned, “So much for the fireworks, huh?”
She nodded in sympathy. One of the nice things about living in Las Vegas was the fireworks. You got them on the 4th of July, of course, but also on New Years Eve, at every casino opening, and anytime the gambling moguls thought it would work to their advantage. “No fear, they’ll shoot ‘em off tomorrow if they can’t tonight.” And it was true. Anything to bring the people back out.
Stepping off to the side, avoiding all the foot traffic, she pulled out her cell phone and dialed.
“Yeah?”
“Hey Cowboy, I’m down at valet. Where are you?”
“Standing right behind you.”
Grinning, she flipped her phone shut and stuffed it into her pocket. “How’d ya know?”
“You’re too smart for your own good.” He pulled her into a tight hug and held her close. “I knew it wouldn’t take you long to find me.”
“So? Dinner or what?”
“Dinner definitely,” he said, reluctantly letting her go. “I’m starved. They’ve got a good steak place here. C’mon.” He reached for her hand and led her into the casino.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Glad to see your appetite hasn’t changed any.”
“Stuff it, Blake. I like to eat.”
“And apparently, you aren’t shy about it either.” She threatened him with a forkful of baked potato. “I’m not complaining, I swear!” he laughed, hands in the air, waving in mock surrender.
Ali lowered her forkful of potato and smiled at him. “I’ve missed you.”
“Me too. I mean, you.” Blake sighed and shook his head. “One more time – I’ve missed you too.”
“Amazing. You write beautiful love songs that woo millions of women but can’t tell me whatcha mean for diddly.”
“Putting words on paper is so much easier. Ya don’t have to have a conversation. Ya just talk to the paper and it stays quiet.”
“Mmm. Imagine that, something that doesn’t talk back.”
He glared at her and thought better than to say what he was thinking. Instead, he grabbed the dessert menu out of her hands. Ignoring her protests, he perused the night’s selections and settled on some cheesecake.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Resisting the urge to lick the whipped cream from the edges of her mouth, she lifted the napkin to her lips and dabbed at it, hoping she got it all. Blake watched her intently, smiling self-consciously the entire time.
“What?”
“Ya shoulda let me get that for you.”
“Do you ever think about things before you say them?”
“Yeah.”
“Bet that was one of those things that sounded better inside huh?”
Ignoring her, he smiled. “Take me home with you.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. I’d take you back upstairs but the entire world would know by daybreak. And this is not something I want to share with the whole world.”
“Just my neighbors?”
“Sure. As long as they’re not too nosy.” He leaned in closer to her. “Please?”
She gave in to the smile building behind her lips. “Can’t resist a man who says ‘please.’ Pay for dinner and we’ll go. Although,” she paused, looking at him, “you’re not gonna be impressed.”
“With you? Too late.”
“No, my house. It’s kinda small.”
“I grew up in a small house. I like ‘em.”
“And that’s why you live on 200 acres?”
Blake blushed. “Well…”
“Come on, Cowboy. I’m just teasing.”
Swatting playfully at the back of her head, he followed happily.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ali chatted aimlessly on the drive back to her modest place on the outskirts of Las Vegas. Between singing along with the radio and talking about her latest trip, she stole glances at her sometimes-between times-boyfriend. Wishing she could get him more permanently, she sighed.
“What’s the matter, Cookie?”
“Just thinkin’.”
“’Bout what?”
“You and me and a dog named Boo.”
“Funny.” He let the silence fill the car temporarily. He knew what she was thinking because he had the same idea. Not that it’d ever work, but he was more than willing to try. Instead of speaking his mind, he stared out at the stretch of freeway before them. The darkness of the night overpowered the streetlights overhead. Visibility was almost nothing but Ali was an accomplished driver. She’d driven in much worse.
Contemplating what was to come, and ultimately how it’d end, he stared at the play of the headlights in the rain. The halogens were broken up into shards of light by the storm. Solid for a moment, then shattered by the wind and rain. The gusts of wind and downpour of rain echoed Blake’s scattered thoughts and torrent of emotions. He looked at Ali as she concentrated on the road.
“Next exit, almost home.” She glanced quickly at him and frowned. “Don’t think so much. It’s not good for you.”
“Sorry. Just wondering how I’m gonna leave you later.”
“Easy. Don’t.” She grinned mischievously. “Well, not until you have to, anyway.”
Blake grinned despite himself. “Works for me.”
“Good, because we’re home.”
Ali turned into the drive and paused, waiting for the garage to open. “All ashore,” she teased, pulling in and closing the door behind her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
He sat on the edge of the bed and watched her getting dressed in the moonlight. It was time to go. The call had come half an hour ago, probably when they discovered he wasn’t in his room. Taking her hand as she passed, he pulled her close to him.
“As much as I’d like to, I doubt your band is going to want to wait another hour or two.”
“You don’t have to drive me back. I can call a cab. Stay here and stay warm.”
“Uh-uh. The storm’s died down and besides, I don’t know when I’m gonna see you again. I can’t just let you walk out my door.” She looked away from his pleading blue eyes. “Anyway, at least this way it feels like I have some kind of control.” She let out a long breath. “Here, put your shirt on. We’ve gotta get moving.”
“This sucks.”
“You said it, babe!”
The words had only barely left her mouth before she found herself flat on her back, with Blake smiling down at her. He was still shirtless, looking good in nothing but his jeans. He had his cell phone in his hand and a grin on his face.
“What are you doing?”
Stealing a quick, chaste kiss, he quieted her. “Shhh…” He dialed and listened intently. “Hey. Yeah. It’s me. Look, head on home without me. I’m gonna stick around here for a bit.” Silence. “No, I’ll catch a plane in a few days.” More silence. Blake laughed. “Noooo, nothing like that. What makes you think I’d be shacking up with someone?” He gave Ali a look that spoke volumes. “Nope, I won’t forget. Ha, ha, very funny. Yeah. Have a safe trip. See ya in a few. ‘Kay. Bye.”
Smiling, he closed his phone and tossed it onto the nightstand. Placing a small kiss on her forehead, he whispered, “Happy New Year, babe.” He snuggled down close to her. “Now I don’t have to leave until you throw me out.”
Ali laughed and closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation of his dark curls against her face as he buried his nose in her neck. “As if that’s going to happen!”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “As if.”
To be continued? Wait and see!
Mika Stevens - August 29, 2006
Glow
by
Margaret C. Rigsby
Anxious anticipation
happiness
love a glow;
emotions barred
hopefully concealed from him.
Clothes
chronologically carded carelessly
onto bed;
continuous changing
in search of approval.
O.C.D.
operating in high gear
wrestling rituals
got to be on time!
Towering
handsome man
steps out of truck
eyes meet;
distance, differences disperse
our destination becomes our beginning.
8/29/06
For
Chris.
My failure
I tried to do this
Tried to offer you my hand
Gave you the chance to by my Man
You didn't get, didn't understand
Didn't see the path, didn't follow the plan
No more will i do this.
No more to understand Its time now for me to take a stand
No longer will I do this, no more tears will I cry
I don't feel guilty, I really did try
This time was no different
No third chance will there be
This is baseball. I wont play your game.
I'm taking the time now setting myself free.
Taking the notes, the lessons to heart,
hoping next time wont be the same.
Mocha Angel
Runaway
Love
By FlaIsleGirl@aol.com
Copywrite 2006/2007
Silvery clouds floated across the sky, like billowing sails atop a large, grand
ship. The wind blew breathlessly and vigorously into them and across the
blue, naked sea. It caused the clouds of shift into different positions,
sometimes softening their edges, sometimes causing them to become jagged.
The waves crashed ashore, causing tiny rivulets of water to scamper across the
rocks, than quickly dash back to sea.
It was a perfect day for quiet thoughts and simple pleasures. Simple things like
suntanned skin and golden, sun warmed smiles. Simple pleasures like floral
scented days and soft, breezy clouds, a splash of sunscreen and a dash of sea
spray. And bikinis pink and polka dot, barely to cover the body.
Forever should the days go on like this, she thought, as the sound of the sea
gulls woke her. Days where the sunrise remained pink and yawing in the lavender
/ purple skies.
And nights where lazily drifting stars winked as they got lost in the warm
morning sun. The moon above smiling knowingly when the night is over, for she
had done her job. Love and romance had found a home here.
But deep between the deep fertile cliffs of Kauai, where the blue sea rolls on
for miles and miles,
a ship has washed ashore to lie silently on the rocks.
A young maiden walked over the sand and around the sand dunes. There as she
looks out to sea.
Her long blond hair cascades down her back in ringlets that catch the glimmer of
the sun. Her bikinied body is barely covering her. She is enjoying this
island. There are many good and nutritious foods for her to eat here....bananas,
coconuts, papaya, pineapple. And plenty of fish.
But she searches everyday for someone...
She looks for her runaway love.
She tosses a bottle out to sea...and the ocean, like the arms of a lover,
accepts it willingly. She watches as her love letter drifts away to the
spot where the ocean meets the sky.
"He will find it, he will read it, he will come back to me."
She feels a tear in her eye, and wipes it away. She could not let him see
her cry....never would. It's the ocean's spray on her clear white face
that tastes salty, not her tears. She would tell him that.
The wood that broke up from their ship was used to keep the fires going.
It was a bonfire that she would never extinguish until she saw him again.
She loved his handsome, smiling face, his deep warm eyes which sparkled when he
looked at her.
His arms were strong and his waist was trim. He had long hair which came
down to his shoulders, a sandy brown color. And his hands, oh, how she
loved his hands. They were large, but gentle. She loved to slip hers into his,
when the evening came on.
But he had got lost in the wreck at sea. She would wait forever for him,
she thought, sending out her love messages in bottles, hoping that
someday, this beautiful, gentle sea would bring him back to her.
As she turned her back to the sea to go back to shore,
she did not notice that far in the horizon, a tiny speck was visible.
The tiny speck picked up the bottle and read the love message.
"Angelina," he said, "I have come for you, my love."
His words got lost in the crashing sea.
Than she turned around... and tears really did flow as she saw the faint speck
on the horizon.
"Darling, Darling," She cried, her heart beating frantically, "I
have waited forever for you!!"
As the tiny speck became more visible, she could make out a lone man on a tiny
raft.
She knew it was him....
How she wanted him to see her as naked as the sea, her beautiful body like that
of a mermaid,
she wanted him to love her.
She hoped she would not wake up to find this a dream.
So she let the tears fall, they were real...
she had cried oceans of tears for him...
and now, she wanted him to see just this one, vast ocean of love
that waited him.
I will let him see me cry this time...
and she splashed frantically out to where he seemed be.
The salty spray burned her eyes, but she kept going...
"My love, my love,"
He called to her, his white shirt loose and open to his waist exposing his
naked chest. "I knew I would find you. I never gave up!"
Dictionary Challenge
Anna
murderize
- (v) - to threaten your children with fictional and silly threats to within an
inch of their lives; used when angry with children and with
knowledge that the user would never do true harm to said children.
"My kids are driving me nuts, I think I'll muderize them."
"Don't make me murderize you".
gimungous - (adj) (jy-mun-gus) - huge; gargantuan; enormous; giant.
Possibly a combination of giant and humongus. "The Eiffel Tower is
gimungous!"
ginormous - (adj) (jy-nor-mus) - see gimungous. Thought to be a
combination of giant and enormous.
nerddorkgeek - (n) - (nurd-dork-geek) - in some cultures, a term of affection
and honor. One who is outside the norms of society and considered too
brainy, smart or dweeby.
kung fu thinking - (n) - used by some as a form of meditation. "Don't
interrupt me, Mom, I'm kung-fu thinking."
Chasing Butterflies
Scandalous Whispers
Did you just hear that?
Do you know what they said?
I can't take this anymore,
this needs to stop now.
The lies and the whispers get worse by the day.
Why can't they just say it to my face?
I understand that this is all wrong,
but I just don't know how to end it.
Please don't walk away,
I need your love.
I don't care what they say.
Karen Morris
Hope Floats?
So tired of my life.
Sometimes I feel like I want to die.
Something keeps me hanging on.
The question, for how long?
So tired of the same old crap.
Something has got to give.
I hold on to pleasant memories,
Because I know the future is going to suck.
Still, I hate living in the past.
I want to live for today.
Today sucks too.
Tired of feeling inadequate.
Tired of feeling like I have been tossed away.
I could end it all with a slit of the wrist,
A bottle of sleeping pills, or anything else.
Still I don’t.
Am I a coward? I don’t think so.
Some say hope floats.
I used to live by that.
But my hope is about to drown.
Drown in a sea of misery and despair.
I will awake in the morning.
Hoping that my hope will resurface.
SLM2006
MISSING HIM
There’s a space in my heart
That nothing can fill,
I miss him today
And I always will.
I remember the laugh
And the silly ways,
And the joy that he brought
To many days.
He was stubborn
And kind and true,
He was honest and vocal –
I am too.
I miss the debating,
Discussion and talks,
I remember the shopping,
The beach and the walks.
He was my Father,
My Mentor and Guide,
He loved me and often would
Speak of me with pride.
I recall the last thing he said to me
As I got into my car,
“Take care Girlie and be safe,
You have travelled far.”
A phone call told me he had gone
Leaving me to cry my tears,
But holding on so tightly,
To the memories of the years.
© Linda J. Vaughan
August 27th. 2006
Three years today
His
Rain
©2006 FlaIsleGirl@aol.com
all rights reserved
Some
say....
the rain is blue,
and falls on earth
to sadden you
I say...
they fall as diamonds
from God's own hands
to green up our gardens
to make richer our lands
Savor this
treasure!
enjoy it, you must
for raindrops are falling
like diamonds on us
Enjoy the
beauty...
He sends us this prize
this cool, wet treasure
it's His love in disquise
Marie
Lost in a room
Lost in the crowd
Maybe too quiet
When she wants to scream out loud
Feeling alone
In the midst of a crowd
Wondering if she’s made of glass
Or just invisible
She’s been told that she’s lovely
Been told that she’s keen
Feels like chopped liver
When she gets passed over
Maybe it’s just her
She just doesn’t know
She just knows she can’t stand the tears
And the fears of being alone
She knows she can’t always be in the spotlight
But she wonders why
She is always on the sidelines
Just wanting to hide
As she heads toward the corner
With a tear in her eye
So tired of always being passed by
a poem for Antoinette
Marie
You came, a answer to a prayer
a dream come true
little did I know
the dream would be a nightmare
I moved with a new beauty
my face enlightened
knowing you were within in
and safe from harm
the months passed
everything beautiful
but a fear grabbed me
questions I asked
laying in a dark room
my love at my side
being told you wouldn't live
my heart thrown aside
Tears shown down
like falling rain
no not this
just too much pain
Your body I held close to me
my tears falling down again
my dream I now held in my hands
Six months you were with us
until you had to go
your short life had done
more than you could know
Sweet Antoinette Marie
You shall always be my first
my beautiful girl
and dream come true
Some people dream of angels
I held one in my arms
and it was you
For Antoinette Marie-10/23/95-stillborn at 6 months in-vitro
She lay on her bed
Tears in her eyes
Her heart in pieces, broken
Her pillow wet with tears
Sobs softening as she drifts off
Her eyes opened
Her bed now covered in rose petals
She looked around, muttering to herself, where am I
Stepping lightly, she looked around
The drab floor of her apt had been changed to crystal
The petals floating down
Melting before they reached the floor
Walking away from her bed
Feeling as if someone was there
A touch on her shoulder
She turned around and there He was
The man of her dreams
She felt a tear come to her eyes
A pain filled her heart
He took her in his arms
Wiping her tears away
“Do not cry, my lovely one
he is not worth your tears
rest in my arms
be with me here
let me take your cares away”
She ran into his arms
Feeling so safe and warm
Then heard some awful music
Blaring and annoying
She opened up
The sun was shining
She looked around
At her drab floor
Then looked at her hand
A thin gold band appeared
And a voice from somewhere
Spoke those words she longed to hear
“I love you, my lovely one”
Marie
April 30, 2003Alone, you're not here
Your kisses, I'm longing, missed
So sweet, they are too
Yet, you're still gone, I'm alone
Your coffin closes, I cry.
Brenda Vidrine
Aug.25,2006
Vibrant hue
Glorious color
Majestic too
Above all others
Coloring mountains
The hue of dawn
And day break too
Color of a favorite ring
Glistening in the light
Your shade makes roses
Beautiful beyond delight
All around
It’s all I see
Marie
Inner Beauty
How is it that
you have remained
beautiful
all these years
Through sadness
and ugliness
you are still the
beautiful you
You could have
become ugly
embittered
by the world
Life tries to change us
but you are still you
honest, sincere
and loyal like before
Your glow dims at times
but it is still there
I see it when you forget
the life around you
It pleases me that
you are still you
And it allows me
to be me, still me.
~Corina Carrasco
You could be my lover
You could be my friend
We could live together
This would never end
But there are ties that bound you
Your origins, your race
their moving you away again?
To yet another place...
Maybe I am just selfish
That much clearly is true
But my with selfishness comes great care
And my caring is for you
When you're moved to London
Please, watch out for my name
Watch out for the things I do
And love me all the same
Jennifer Annie
An
Evening Song
Cool evening breeze
brings delightful music.
It comes in waves;
low then louder.
Not as before.
Maybe they are reduced in number.
Multiplying is difficult due to
environmental problems.
I don't know...
One thing for sure,
their song will live
forever in my heart.
The vanishing
July fly.
Joter
Closure
by Margaret C. Rigsby
At any particular moment
this metallic taste in my mouth
will cease.
In solitude, I pretend
I smell the salty ocean; f
eel the white sand between my toes
as I gaze upon a majestic horizon.
Just inner thoughts
while a life ends
with dignity, finality;
closure.
8/20/06
Rescue will come
by Margaret C. Rigsby
Pretend the metallic doors
inside the freezer are not locked.
Rescue will come.
Contemplation of flight
in solitude moment
seem fruitless.
Rescue will come.
With particular effort
shoved inside meat locker
thoughts horizon upon escaping
from this inner lining
before sleep overtakes.
Rescue will come.
Comfort comes
no longer feeling cold
sleep overtakes peacefully.
Rescue will come.
8/20/06
*The following contains adult themes*
Immune to it
by Margaret C. Rigsby
Crazy stupid bitch,
dumb fat-ass
whore.
Just words.
Clenched fist
crushing into face;
Fear: hands around neck
gasping for breath.
Gravel imprints,
bruising, contusions
staggering upwards
life inside kicks.
Words, bones -
temporal body,
thank God I am immune to it.
8/19/06
Karen Morris
The following contains adult situations*
sit here and wonder
What would life be
Without the people
That truly care for me
You have brought me in your heart
And taken my soul
Covered me with your wings
Keeping me from being cold
You wish to train me
Guide me
Make me something
Everyone wants me to be
You know my path
Before I do
You know where I am supposed to go
And the places I need to go through
I owe you more than you actually believe
I will give you what you deserve
At the cost of my own needs and wants
As long as you are happy that is all that matters to me
Brian
Samantha
Dear Diary
It has been one wild day! I was waiting in line at the Beautiful Horizons Gift Shop to purchase a pretty flower and a card for a friend of mine who had been feeling down. There were three people ahead of me. When it was my turn, I began chatting with the clerk as she rang up my purchases. She was a strikingly beautiful young girl of maybe about twenty years old. As she was ringing up my purchases, we chatted about the pleasant autumn weather .
Then suddenly I heard a loud bang at the door and I heard the glass shatter. Two guys carrying guns ran in. Both were wearing gray bandanas to cover part of their faces. They shouted out “Nobody move!“ The tallest guy had a medium build and he carried a large sawed off shotgun. He appeared to be the leader of the duo. He ordered everybody on the ground except for the clerk. He ordered her to empty out the cash register into a bag. Then he forced her to the back and ordered her to open the safe. I heard her pleading ‘Please! Please! I don’t know how to open the safe. I am not a manager. Only managers can do that!” The gunman’s voice kept getting louder as if he was getting agitated. Meanwhile his partner stayed in the front to keep guard on those of us remaining in the front. He wasn’t as tall as his partner but carried a little more weight. I could tell that he was nervous because I could see the sweat trickle down his forehead. He didn’t say much except that no one would get hurt if we all cooperated.
The only thing that I could do was pray that everyone would make it out alive. A sun-catcher that sat on a window near the register caught my eye. I stared at the array of iridescent colors that seemed to dance in the sun and I let my mind drift off in order to momentarily take me away from that horrendous situation.
My train of thought was broken when I heard the tall robber tell his cohort “Come on man, let’s go!” They left as quickly as they came, knocking over a vase made of alabaster as they made their exit.
When I looked up, the clerk was already on the phone with the police and before I knew it I heard sirens in front of the store. It took every grain of energy for me not to just lose my composure. But I finally regained composure when it was my turn to make a statement to the police.
When I finally walked out of that store I was glad that no one was hurt and I was blessed to live to see the light of another day. I began to ponder that things very well could have been worse, but God looked out for me and now I am…
Signed,
Lucky to be alive….
By Yolanda Brown 8/06
Tonka’s in the sand pile
underneath shade trees
deserted by children
like yellow suns hanging on blue sky
colored in books.
Bicycles with training wheels
parked carelessly on graveled drive
puppy pursuing heels of child
joyful innocence; puppy and child.
Tonka’s, bicycles, puppies
vanished
from sight like cherished children;
thirstily pursuing life’s delights.
Tonka’s in the sand pile; a beautiful sight.
by Margaret C. Rigsby
08/16/06
As a child I drew my stories.
I tried to express myself
with amateurish and badly drawn images
of big houses that had two stories
unlike our green-tin-roofed-two bedroom house.
My imaginary house sported a green lawn
splattered with trees, a swing that came from a store
and not hung from a tree.
Riding the yellow school bus daily
I was not impervious to the new brick houses
springing up like crabgrass after a rain.
At the time I knew nothing about this-Rocket City
that would put my hometown on the map forever.
The other children made fun of the
shingled-house
that I came and went from daily.
Soon I started catching the bus in the new subdivision
amid the brick houses with chimneys that burned wood;
not like the cole-heated pot-bellied stove used
for both heating our house, cooking
and warming water for galvanized tub-baths.
One day it was raining. Not a
downpour
but a steady Alabama rain so I rode the school-bus all the way home.
I didn’t hear the heckling
or any of the kid’s voices as the bus stopped
in front of our little green house.
All I could see was smoke rising
from the black stovepipe,
steam-covered windows where Mama had pinto beans and cornbread waiting.
I think that was the first time I realized I possessed something more
precious
than fancy clothes, piano lessons and a white four-poster bed;
I came home to a house full of love with two parents, two sisters and
two
brothers.
I stopped drawing and started writing.
As a child I drew my stories but now I write.
© Margaret C. Rigsby
8/11/06
“Those Eyes”
As I gaze in the mirror
I see immense chocolate painted eyes
Gazing back at me through the looking glass
There’s a story to be told in those eyes.
Those eyes are filled with so much pain and hurt
It tells the tale of esteem brought low.
A story of how a girl wants to hide from herself
Except she has no where to go
These are eyes that have seen so many disappointments
They have witnessed so many tragedies
They haven’t seen enough triumphs
But more than their share of catastrophes
Could it possibly be
That one day when I look in this mirror
That I will see a sparkle in those eyes.
Because life for me has gotten so much better?
by Yolanda Brown 8/06
Grandma's
Kitchen
written by Lisa C. Wright
Grandma Gibler cranked up her stove to cook yet another delicious meal. She
washed dishes by hand using her Joy dish detergent in the yellow bottle which
wore a little rick-rack trimmed "bottle apron" that Grandma had made
herself.
For meals she cooked countless variations of meat and potatoes, and people knew
they would always be welcomed into her drafty old house.
The linoleum was worn through where the welcome mat should have been--silent
testimony to the countless visitors who dropped in for food, friendship and fun.
They never seemed to mind her thread-bare sofa or miss-matched dishes. They
pulled the odd assortment of wooden chairs up around the kitchen table at
mealtime and enjoyed the hospitality as if they were members of the family.
I thought of her today as I fussed with Thanksgiving preparations. Would these
dishes match the tablecloth? What could I use as a centerpiece? Supposing more
company came than I'd expected; would there be enough turkey and cranberries and
pumpkin pie? And I really should have cleaned the rug and freshened up the
kitchen curtains and...
In my mind's eye I could see Grandma Gibler in her bib apron, matching the the
one on the bottle of Lemon Joy. Grandma was welcoming people through that old
wooden kitchen door.
I picked up the phone and called our church minister's number.
"Hello, Ed. Is there anyone you know who's alone for Thanksgiving? There
might be? Please, bring them with you! See y'all later, Ed."
And then I began to peel a few more potatoes.
Just don't sweat the small stuff!
A Dragon’s Life – In Search of Home
The ground shakes violently as you hear a very loud roar and scream that would crumble the foundation of any normal cottage. More screams and roars come from a nearby cave as a very large female dragon is giving birth for the first time. Every time she roars and screams in pain, the top of the cave drops many little balls of dirt and rock from the vigorous shakes. The mother dragon, Shadria Dragonfyre, continues to push her first born out into the world as the father dragon, Crimson, looks on awaiting his new baby dragon.
A lot of friendly creatures have come to this secluded cave to witness this remarkable event. Some of the ones who have decided to watch are the little white rabbits, a couple of does, a trio of trolls who came for the refreshments, a clan of gnomes, and a flock of birds as well. Finally, the moment arrived for everyone. One final push was given and the little baby dragon had came out. Shadria cleaned off the little one and discovered that she had given birth to a beautiful baby girl dragon. She decided to name her Krystle Dragonfyre and announced it to everyone around.
Shadria then gave Crimson the honor of holding his daughter and handed him Krystle. As Crimson held his beautiful little bundle of joy, a small fairy suddenly arrived out of nowhere and touched Krystle with her magic wand and made her glow so bright, it lightened the cave. From that moment on, everyone knew that this girl dragon was special and was destined to have a remarkable journey that will change the course of history and the world.
Here in 450 A.D, Planet Earth is beautiful and peaceful in many ways. The trees that sway in the breeze are as full and green as the crisp grass that flows under them. The flowers that add a variety of color and aromas to the different areas of the ground are blooming all over. Birds of many sizes and shapes are chirping while they soar over the tall mountainsides and trees. The water that covers half of the planet is as crisp and clear as Mother Nature could make it. The sounds of the many waterfalls fill the air and make everything serene.
With a planet as beautiful as Earth is, one would tend to believe that life would be filled with peace and harmony, however a few unlucky souls don’t have the luxury to see it that way. In this day and age, some people and creatures as well, have been picked on and have been deemed different and considered by many to be evil.
For instance, Merlin is considered by many to be evil because he uses magic. However, Merlin helps others with his powers and has friends that believe in him. There are creatures that are treated the same way. They are known as dragons and they are considered bad and evil as well. Dragons come in various sizes and colors. Normally, they are gentle creatures that wish to live just like the human race and that is in peace and harmony with everyone else around them.
For years upon years, dragons have been tortured, punished, ridiculed, and even killed because people think that since dragons breathe fire and are very large and overpowering creatures is reason enough that people consider dragons to be evil. However, some people have seen past the many stereotypes of what dragons are and realize that they are beautiful creatures and for the most part just like human beings.
In the little town of Moldan, humans and dragons live together in harmony and peace. Dragons were forced to move from place to place, hiding out in shelters and abandoned towns and this town is one of the last places they have found to live safely.
The mayor of this small and remote town of Moldan - Arariel Shallot, has had her fair share of troubles, as neighboring cities and towns are now discovering that dragons are alive and living in a town with human beings. Moldan has even been banned from annual festivals and monthly street faires that Moldan works so hard every year for.
Arariel makes sure that her quiet little town is a peaceful town by taking care of the few troublemakers that visits the town personally. You could say that she whips and tortures out the disobedience in them and makes them see the error of their ways. She does have a security team that is in place and will help her maintain control in dire times.
Her security team consists of a wizard apprentice that is under the personal training of Master Wizard Merlin. Her name, which is as beautiful as it sounds, is Elizabeth. She is accompanied by a master swordsman that skills are as sharp as his looks. His name is Sean Wesley Youngblood. The final two security members are on the large and tall size. Crimson and Shadria Dragonfyre are a very protective dragon couple with a baby dragon name Krystle that will have a lot to live for when she grows up.
This team has been able to live up to their skill level and take care of many difficult times in Moldan's past, and their strong will to better themselves will overcome all challenges from the neighboring cities and towns that want the entire dragon race eliminated permanently.
Word got out one day a few months later that soon, a grand army headed by a leader to be feared by all, will be coming to destroy the town that believes that all creatures are created equal and this army has set out to kill the dragons and if needed people as well. Once the whole population of two thousand humans and one hundred dragons knew of the rumors that were going around, a town meeting was called to talk of the proceedings and to plan the war that was soon to be laid before them.
After the town meeting, the preparations were underway for the ultimate challenge that faced them, which was survival. The people were stocking up on supplies and food that they could get in town or import from the few towns that had respect for them. There weren't many towns, cities, or villages nearby that were friends of Moldan because of the bad word of mouth that was rumored.
Moldan's finest blacksmiths were busy making weapons and armor for everyone participating in the major battle of the century. Bows and arrows with steel tipped points were made as well as spears and any other weapon they could use in battle.
As time passed as it took seven long months for all of the preparations to get set up but the few scouting teams that secretly traveled ahead found out, that the other armies were preparing slowly as well.
The scouting team found out that the leader of the evil army that wishes to destroy the peaceful town of Moldan is none other than Queen Hanna Windhamshire. She is ruler of the biggest town in the whole western area, which is named Tarburia. Queen Hanna has her mind set to want to have everything she can get for herself and is by far, the meanest person you could ever meet.
She brings fear into her servants and fellow townspeople as she sets down very strict rules in her town and if someone doesn't follow the rules exactly how it is written, she will make sure that person is executed on the spot.
She has tried several times with error to rid the planet of the entire dragon race and once she destroys Moldan forever, she will feel that she will have completed her mission and will be able to take over Moldan and surrounding neighborhoods and villages.
Queen Hanna Windhamshire has convinced other towns and cities that the town of Moldan should be considered a disgrace because it is friends and lives with dragons and she will stop at nothing to see that the town of Moldan is wiped off the face of Planet Earth.
Little does Queen Hanna know that there is another city that has more power than she does. This large city has numerous neighboring cities and towns behind it. She hardly mentions it or talked about this city because she fears that she will lose what supporters she has. The city is named Victoria and is ruled by a brave man named Lord William Hearthsire.
Lord William Hearthsire has ruled Victoria for decades and has friends in high places. He also knows the right people to talk to who have also given him information about how Queen Hanna has been planning a major battle against the town of Moldan that he has total respect for. So as she prepares her troops, Lord William has secretly been sending Moldan supplies and Lord William Hearthsire has also been preparing troops of his own to help Moldan escape and ambush Queen Hanna's troops from behind.
Eight short months quickly pass by as all parties involved in this major event that will change people's lives forever. The three armies which consist of Lord William's, Mayor Arariel's, and Queen Hanna's, are all completing their preparations and setting the stage for the biggest battle this country of Aquaria has ever seen. Once each army feels that they are ready for it, the three armies wait for each other to make the first important move.
Days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, and months turn into four long years, as the three grand armies are on full alert. Queen Hanna's army is just outside the town of Moldan watching the army of Moldan closely while Lord William's troops are waiting outside the town of Grandiville which is on the outskirts of Moldan and very close to Queen Hanna's army. While the first move has yet to be made because no one wants to make the mistake of going first and leaving them wide open for an ambush.
Finally, Queen Hanna couldn't wait any longer and sent in her troops, in the wee hours of the morning before the dark of night turn into the light of day. They attacked the town of Moldan while they were sleeping and took out one third of Mayor Arariel's troops. As they were franticly trying to build a comeback, Lord William's troops were waiting and decided that this is the appropriate time to strike.
Lord William sent in his troops and attacked Queen Hanna's troops and caught her off guard. With Lord William's troops and Mayor Arariel's troops, Queen Hanna was pinned from both sides. Her troops were becoming diminished so much that she brought out her last hope of winning the battle, which was her wizard apprentice Nemesis Windshire. However Nemesis Windshire was no match for the skills that Elizabeth possessed.
Nemesis and Elizabeth was battling back and forth as Queen Hanna's troops were diminishing. Elizabeth matched every spell that Nemesis could cast; Elizabeth would send a spell once more at double the speed as the first. Nemesis couldn't withstand the punishment that Elizabeth was displaying, so Nemesis gave up, knelt down on one knee and surrendered to the better wizard apprentice.
Queen Hanna decided that she wanted to hurt Mayor Arariel where it would leave her helpless, so Hanna decided to send the final remaining troops to attack the dragons. The troops started to launch their cannons at the dragons and the dragons started to die rapidly. Out of the one hundred dragons that populated the town of Moldan, seventy-five of the gentle giants were killed by Queen Hanna's troops and used their scales as shields.
Luckily for the surviving dragons, Lord William's troops were able to see this massacre take place and stop it before it got any worse by eliminating the final remaining troops of Queen Hanna. She still insisted on fighting till the death of everyone that stood in her way and Hanna killed three more of Mayor Arariel's troopers, when a dying dragon happened to fall her way and landed on top of her, crushing any chance of Queen Hanna ever achieving victory.
After the battle came to an end, it came time to clean up the wreckage. Survivors of Mayor Arariel's troops and Lord William's troops started to help pile up the bodies of the newly deceased. The lifeless bodies were then taken to an area away from the town of Moldan to where they could be properly disposed of. Out of the one thousand seven hundred of Mayor Arariel Shallot's troops and of the four thousand six hundred of the troops that Lord William Hearthsire lead into battle, two hundred and fifty of Mayor Arariel's and two thousand three hundred of Lord William's survived the battle. None of the seven thousand eight hundred of Queen Hanna's troops survived. Five thousand of the troops were burnt to a crisp when the dragon troops sent a wall of fire and roasted Hanna's troops on the spot.
Lord William Hearthsire and Mayor Arariel Shallot begin to assess the situation of whether or not, it would be a good idea to rebuild or to find a new home. Elizabeth came over to Lord William and Mayor Arariel and started talking about how with Master Wizard Merlin's help, the remaining townsfolk of Moldan and the remaining number of dragons could go in search of a new home which would lead them away from Planet Earth.
Master Wizard Merlin could come up with a way to make sure that the town of Moldan would experience safe travel, especially since it would mean that it would involve leaving Planet Earth and finding a planet that would be safe to inhabit themselves. Merlin could cast a spell that would shield the people, the dragons, from the ozone layer of Planet Earth and allow the people to ride on the backs of the dragons as the dragons were given the ability to fly through space.
Lord William Hearthsire would take the remains of the town of Moldan and create a shrine in honor of the brave souls that gave their lives to give the town of Moldan a chance to survive. Lord William also helped Mayor Arariel and her remaining townspeople with supplies and support in getting everything they need to survive the long travel.
Two short months went by as the final preparations were being completed. Elizabeth finally completed the magic skill test and overcoming the challenges of using magic in the battle, so Master Wizard Merlin was honored and gave a big ceremony for Elizabeth and also the great rank of being named Master Wizard.
Queen Hanna was buried in her town of Tarburia under a small oak tree on a large hill, while her grave site was large and well built in honor of her, no one came to visit her or even placed flowers on her gravestone because of all of the grief, heartache, and fear she placed in the hearts of her townsfolk.
Master swordsman Sean Wesley Youngblood was able to better himself in what is now called the battle of dragon mountain for it is there in which the final moments of the battle took place. Sean perfected his fighting skills and is now said to be even more of a ladies man than even before. He even has to make special appearances for the ladies that want to meet the man that saved the town of Moldan and the dragons as well.
Mayor Arariel took time out of her schedule of preparing to leave Earth, to hold a ceremony to honor the many lives of her fellow townspeople and also the dragons that gave their lives in search of peace. Lord William Hearthsire did some research and discovered that there was royalty in Mayor Arariel's family history so he thought that it would be right to give the honor of announcing that Mayor Arariel Shallot should now be known as Queen Arariel Shallot. However Arariel didn't like the title of Queen, if she had to choose a title to represent her, she would like to be considered a true lady and be called what the ancient people of France called a respectable lady which is known as a mistress. So it would be now known as Mistress Arariel Shallot.
After the preparations were completed and the ceremonies were given, it was time for the final good-byes for everyone. Lord William Hearthsire gave Mistress Arariel Shallot a warm hug and a kiss on the top of her hand in respect. Master Wizard Elizabeth gave warm thanks to her mentor and teacher Master Wizard Merlin. Master swordsman Sean Wesley Youngblood was signing autographs and getting kisses from the young ladies that thought he was the sexiest man alive.
Finally, the protection spells were casted and the remaining people of the former town of Moldan, took off on the backs of the dragons as they left the somewhat peaceful surroundings of Planet Earth in search of a new home. Once they got out of the Earth's atmosphere, they started the long and tiring task of finding a place to live. Luckily, Master Wizard Elizabeth was able to learn a new spell and create a passageway to the other side of the galaxy.
After it seemed like several years had passed while space travel goes beyond time and space, so when it seems like a few days or months have passed, it has actually been years. The townsfolk and dragons would find spots in nearby planets to rest from time to time. Some of the planets that they visited were either too hot or too cold or not suitable for their needs.
Eight long years had passed and they have travel what it seemed like millions upon millions of miles and the people of the former town of Moldan were starting to give up hope of a place to live. Krystle Dragonfyre noticed a planet out of the way as they were flying around and it looked beautiful. The rest of the group decided to investigate the planet further to make sure it was suitable enough for their needs.
The water was as clear as a new star shining on a clear night. The skies were as blue as the heart of an ocean. The trees, plants, and grass were as green as the shine of a freshly cut emerald. And the air was as fresh and clean as a newly born baby. They gazed across the plains, hills, mountainsides, and valleys; they were pulled into the peaceful harmony of this planet.
With oceans as far as the eye can see and mountains high enough to touch the clouds, the planet was as serene as it looked to the town of Moldan. They thought it was almost heaven like, so that is what they decided to call their new home - Heavonia. Heavonia was to be the place they would call home and start a new life in peace and harmony.
It would take several years to build the town to what it was like on Planet Earth, but with the natural resources that the environment of Planet Heavonia provided them, the newly re-created town of Moldan would be spectacular and grand. The town of Moldan has finally discovered their dreams and is living their lives happily.
Mistress Arariel Shallot and her group of followers would face new challenges of living and populating a new planet and getting used to the new climates and the birds and animals that were already on Planet Heavonia. Life here on the serene planet of Heavonia would be full of new ways of living, new species, and newcomers to the planet that would come about once word got out that a new planet was being developed and becoming a nice place to stay.
So the town of Moldan is now home and life is good for all of the townspeople. With the new people that will come to the planet soon, there will be further adventures for the Mayor and Ruler of Planet Heavonia, Mistress Arariel Shallot and her group of followers. Bold and difficult adventures that will test all of the townspeople's skills to their fullest level and that will make the planet of Heavonia the best place to live.
Until the next adventure begins....
Brian
Immune To It
Strength and Courage
Are both lost in fear
Slowly being disabled
Year after year.
With Faith and Love
Believe this true,
God works in all
For the good of you.
So be strong
And trust in God,
Though it may be hard
Though it may feel odd.
Endure the trial
And find out soon
Through the struggle
You've become immune.
Immune to fear
Immune to disbelief,
Through the love of God
You have found relief.
Karen Morris
Look in the mirror and write a poem
or short story about one of my
facial
features.
Like a cat
they stare back
from the reflection
In my mirror.
Daddy called me
by the name.
I look deeper;
I never knew if it
was the color
or part of my given name
but his were
as green as mine.
In the sunlight
people become fixated upon them,
mesmerized by the
clarity of color
as pupils expand and contract.
I wonder if that is all they
see, my best feature
or what lies beneath the surface?
They miss the person
as they sink into my emerald eyes
becoming one with the cat.
mc rigsby 8/4/06
Toby was excited as she got off the plane. The glorious lights of Vegas always mesmerized her. She was to meet her party in the airport restaurant. Since she had met him online, and visited him twice, she could only recognize him by his hat. Walking in the restaurant, she took her sunglasses off and glanced across the room. Not seeing him, she went to the maitre'd. My name is Toby Hendrix, I was supposed to meet my party here. Have there been any messages for me? "Yes madam" he said. He handed her a card. " You are to follow these instructions and they will lead to your party," "You can go through the red door there he pointed. Puzzled, Toby said thanks as she picked up her luggage and headed to the door. As she opened the door, it was quiet. She was in a big room which had sheer curtains that led down the hall. Looking at the card, she was supposed to find a blue door handle and open it. Stepping through that door, she found herself in a jungle type atmosphere. There was a big tree and as she leaned back to look at it, she found him. "Hey he said, welcome. Come to the ladder and climb up it. We will have the ceremony here. Smiling, Toby took her shoes off because she was always up for a challenge. As she started to climb, she notice that her hands looked like they had aged to someone twice her age. By the time she reached the middle of her tree, she felt her body sagging and by the time she reached the top she was walking with a cane. The groom was standing there motioning for her to look at the mirror. When she did, she seen that she had aged very quickly. You see as she was climbing the tree, she had aged. After she got to the top, the image of both bride and groom was how they would look when they hit their golden years.
Sheena
The Sanctuary of Silence
I revel in silence where no words
are spoken,
A place to be whole---not fragmented or broken.
For when I am silent, there is rest for my mind
And such peace that only those who are quiet can find.
It's a language so soft and yet so clear,
That only those willing to listen can hear.
A place where fantasy and reality meet
And burdens from the past would not dare to compete.
A place where I can be focused and free,
Yes, a place to finally find the real me.
There is such a place with no tremors of violence.
This place that I speak of is my Sanctuary of Silence.
~~Christi Ray~~
Courage Found
A crusty piece of bread lies
molding on a shelf,
Evidence of neglect from days gone by.
Unfinished business awaits each beck and call
While babies' cries and lullabies ring through threadbare halls.
The shackles of a world filled with empty, idle threats
Finally burst in frustration like the webbing of a net.
Freedom pushes through to the surface worn with pain,
And a lonely person finds the courage to live again.
~~Christi Ray~~
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