Kept

Kept Fresh flowers encase our secret hideout. Heady sweet scents enshroud us. We sit together on a worn oaken bench, Hands clasped, like lovers, like friends. Your dark eyes, bright with joy, Skin soft like tiger lilies, exotically tan. “All these years.” -All these years. “You never told.” -I never told. I lean forward, eyes […]

Juridical

Hammer falls. (Hold my breath.) Hammer falls. (Hold my breath.) Case adjourned guiltyguiltyguilty I am not. I did not. I didn’t.  Rough hands grab    my shoulders. Strong hands lead    me away…. How? Why? Have mercy. Run back. Plead. Fall to my knees. Plead. Run back. Don’t. Wouldn’t help. Don’t. Wouldn’t help. WOULD NOT […]

Innocent Imaginary

Bright-eyed and ghostly white, she stares back at me. Let’s be friends, the first and last words she ever spoke. Let’s be friends. After that, a blur, A warm hand in mine, leading me across Open fields strewn with violet flowers A cascading red sun exploding like fireworks, Food rich like satin running through my […]

Hatred

Black and grey, peeling fire-charred walls. My defenses destroyed, turned to dust. I never thought hate was a thing before. Go along to get along, always my style. I believed in – I trusted – you. I let myself – stupid so stupid. People warned me, You know I don’t listen, never listen. Photo drops […]

Fear

Half-glimpsed not seen in silver mirrors, Cutting my nerves like glass. I have let myself be trapped too long In strange, fantastical places. Nightmares, dreamscapes. Lonely, dark-eyed child whispers. I took the balloon, the half-torn ticket, Climbed aboard.  Belts clicked into place. Sometimes fear is a good thing, hands gripping a steering wheel, children dozing […]

Exodus

Let my people go. Not the kind of thing one hears Often waiting in line to check out groceries. Curious, despite myself, I peer. I see Them, the trio of half-washed, darker-skinned children, illegal immigrants cheap staff whatever Cost-cutting measures. Hastily, I turn away 2 for 5, is that a good deal after all? I […]

Denial

Found you Standing there, blood-stained knife in hand, Preparing to stab it in again. Bruises mark my body where you Threw me to the ground. I tried to stop you. I tried. Not realizing, that must be it, You are a doctor Performing emergency surgery. Soon You will see to me as well. Fine. Everything […]

IWSG: Breaking Writers Blocks!

It’s April already, the first Wednesday in April, and that means <drum roll> IWSG Day! This month’s optional question is: When your writing life is a bit cloudy or filled with rain, what do you do to dig down and keep on writing? I have three tricks I use in those down moments, and I’d like […]

Custom

Red terracotta brick silently strong below Porcelain that clinks, prettily. No one notices. Tiny feet Sneak across the dusty floor. Grab a cookie from the plain red jar While silk clad figures Debate over tea whether The way things have always been done still works. Behind a shadowy screen, wide eyes watch The show, Like […]