TwentyTwentyONE

The Sky Is on Fire 2/23/21 Orange and yellow Pink and purple Remnants of blue Attempt to douse The flames Unsuccessful Water as lava Flows beneath The inferno Reflecting its beauty For all to feel.

Opinions Are Like... 2/21/21 The hell with you And your opinions. They mean nothing. They are only the spiteful regurgitation of the hatred that was directed at you.

I have sat to write every day these last few weeks. There have been some productive days, and I've created some pieces I'm reasonably proud of. However, most of the time, I've been struggling to latch onto that nugget of an idea rolling around in my head.  This year, I've wanted to not just simply write every day, but write something of meaning. I also want to develop my writing by working on some larger pieces.  Maybe I'm putting too many restrictions and expectations on myself. Probably. I guess I'm no longer satisfied with writing crap just for the sake of writing something. Maybe I should be. And, I also don't want to keep rehashing topics or emotions I've explored time and again.  I have many ideas I want to explore, many topics to uncover. It feels like my efforts are trite, rambling and simply don't represent what I want to say fully.  I can't blame it on the pandemic lock down. I've been out working in the world for a few months, an...

Lotus 2/16/21 I watch as she gently grabs my foot. Both of my feet had been soaking for quite some time, and I’d been ready. I knew exactly what would happen. Perhaps it’s because she herself has endured the pain or in spite of it, but Grandmother steadfastly and calmly performs her role in the ritual with deliberate and exact actions as Mother holds my hand, watching with what I believe is a tear at the corner of her eye that never quite releases itself. She massages my foot with deep, almost mean motions. This is how she loosens up the muscles. This must be done because what happens next is almost unbearable without it. I brace myself. I have seen the faces and heard the cries and screams of the women who have gone before me. I find a spot miles beyond the wall in front of me and deeper in my mind than I’ve ever traveled. She bends my little toes down, pushing them with such force no one would believe this tiny old woman could possibly have had the strength. As she pushes harder and ...

Kitty Parkour 2/11/21 In the most graceful feline of ways, She climbs to the top of the tree. With a hop, and a jump and a pounce she goes. The perch is where she is free.

Imprint 2/10/21 He pulled the tab of the beer can. It made that familiar metallic snap immediately followed by that hiss. The sounds he’d heard thousands of times before. This was different. It had been years since the last time. Back then, he’d been able to open two cans at once, one with each hand. He’d chug them down back to back, finishing a case in a matter of minutes. He was proud of that, and would accept any challenge that came his way. One case in 5 minutes. Why not two cases in 10? It never occurred it wasn’t actually a talent. Not until the night he woke up behind the wheel, staring straight into the headlights of that Peterbilt. He veered just in time to miss the truck’s massive metal grill and certain death. When he gained control, he sat on the shoulder shaking, crying, cursing, promising that he’d never do that again. He didn’t know if he was promising himself or his god, but it was a promise he intended to keep. That was many years ago. The memory of the night still sho...

Good Bye 2/9/21 There will be a moment when there is no choice but to let the dream die. Hold its hand until it drifts away into the dark.

Time 1/17/21 (edited 2/9/21) When it’s time, you’ll know. Don’t watch the second hand. It’s too slow. When you’re ready, you’ll know. Don’t watch the hour hand. It’s too fast.

Simian 2/8/21 Ape What means ape? Does ape eat human? Does human eat ape? What means human?

Memory Lane 2/5/21 Heading south along the highway, I passed many memorable places I had only thought of as minor parts in my history. As each street sign came into view, the reality came crashing back. These weren’t just some exits along the highway, they were places that helped shape me into who I am today. The seemingly insignificant amount of time I spent there compared to a lifetime of experience contained some of the most influential moments.

I was literally on the road for about 3 days, finally returning home in the wee hours of Sunday morning. I allowed myself the day on Sunday to recover and Monday to begin catching up on my writing since. The good news is that I found a lot of inspiration in my travels. Some of it has already been converted into words, more still to come!

Touch 2/3/21 I stepped outside into the comfort of a barely warm breeze. The heat of the sun caressed my skin. I hadn’t felt its presence in months and had almost forgotten it existed. While my skin basked in the warmth, my mind became calm and still, an almost instinctual and natural meditation.

Unnoticed 2/3/21 I walked through the woods     I had walked many times before To my surprise, before me     just off to the side was something     I had never seen before. A path. Plain as day. Bare to the dirt,     not a remnant of grass or leaves to be found. Its opening agape     for everyone to see,     inviting them to explore. Paralyzed by my discovery,     I studied the path for longer than I can recount. I peered down its winding essence     as far as I could. I examined its entry way     like a child who has just trapped          its first firefly in a mason jar. In awe of how far it seemed to extend, Bewildered that I had never noticed it before.