Trudge

Glass half empty

Too far now to turn around

Hopefully there will be 

Shelter soon

The light keeps coming closer

Can't tell if it's angels or spaceships

Maybe the train carrying promises 

Has derailed

Since vows are only lies that haven't

Yet come true

At Arms

Steadfast Tin Soldier

Becomes Soldier of Fortune

My heart is shattered.

Gift

Sidling my feet

Along the gravel

Completely unsure

Of myself

Eyes kept downward 

As I approach 

She looks over

And I reveal the daisy 

From behind my back

I'm unable to breathe

As I wait

For any reaction

Hidden

You're so very smart 

You bruise what others can't see

And hearts don't heal well 

Stolen

The world tilts

And tilts back

The winter shift is on

And the thief steals my sun

Leaving cold in her wake 

Casting a large shadow

As she leaves the flower behind

I'm left to dream

About warmth's return 

A shiver

A shudder

Then black

Tears can water 

My roots

shutOut

Reach out.

It's just a fingertip.

I'll hardly notice it missing.

Keep reaching out.

A finger or two isn't a big deal.

Reach out again

And now a hand is missing.

But I sill have arms

I can still hold.

Do I reach out and

Lose to the elbow now?

I'm running out of arm

To slice off.

Hole

Dig until you can't 

Dig anymore, bitch. And then

Enjoy your new home.

Whirlwind

It creeps up

By your feet

Swirling and hugging 

Your ankles

Travels up your leg and

Wraps tightly around

Your waist

Arms thrown wide 

You hug the air

That spirals and spirals 

And lifts your hair to

The sky 

Your entire body wrapped in wind

You'll never know you're strangling

Until the sky turns red

Attention

Wanted posters shout:

Looking for elusive 

Self Esteem -

Criminal Outlaw

Crusher of dreams

Destroyer of hope

No reward 

Middle

Neither loud nor silent

Not gorgeous or ugly 

That horrible in between

Where no one notices you

Lost in the moat of plainness 

That divides the extremes

Possible to drown 

Without fanfare 

Better to fade unnoticed

Don't worry the edges

TwitterShort Challenge 4

 

 

                After spending forty-five minutes in a high intensity workout on the treadmill, I thought I would reward myself with a cup of hot tea. Naturally. Because after working out your heart to near explosion and sweating your ass off, it only made sense to drink a scalding hot beverage. I was going to show those bathroom scales who the boss was. Afterward tea always seemed to be the right way to calm myself.

                I had just placed the teapot from the cupboard on the counter when I heard a noise from the front room. My roommate was visiting family in Peoria, and I knew she wasn’t supposed to be home for another day. My jacked up heart rate only went higher. I couldn’t remember if I had locked the front door or not. And someone was definitely in my brownstone.

                I looked all over my kitchen for some kind of weapon. A travel coffee cup wouldn’t amount to much. Neither would the staple gun I’d brought from school since it was empty. The only thing left to grab was the cast iron pan.

                I grabbed the heavy skillet and headed toward the living room, hoping the intruder was still in the hallway. My first floor made a circle with the front door hallway, dining room, kitchen, and living room. I didn’t dare peek from the dining room to see if he was there.

                I crept as quietly as I could. My naked feet were soft on the Persian rug that covered the threshold between the kitchen and living room. I saw a shadow of the man thrown on the wall by the front door. I clutched my pan with both hands and drew it back over my shoulder. My knees were shaky. I was so jacked up on adrenaline and fear that I felt like I had no bones. I was certain a rubber chicken would have more ability to stand upright.

                I summoned all the courage I could and charged the man. I swung the cast iron with every bit of strength I had. With that one swing I remembered why I never made the softball team. Total whiff.

                “Jayzus Krryss, Eleanerr! Whahter y’doon?” the figure shouted as he ducked.

                There was no mistaking the accent.

                “Holy fuck, Tommy. I’m so sorry.” My face turned scarlet as my neighbor turned to look at me.

                “I goht a piece a’ yerr mail. Saw th’ door wa’zohpun.”

                “The door was open?” I asked, fear one more grabbing my heart.

                Suddenly a crash came from the kitchen.

                Someone, or something, was definitely in my brownstone.

 

 

Stagnant

I've been here too long

My feet are itchy

And my legs want to stretch

The streets and winding roads that

Threaten to swallow me

In their familiarity 

Push me to seek 

Adventure

Newness

Something that makes me 

Feel once more

Something to finally break 

Monotony 

And allow me to grow

Something that says it's ok

To smile

Fades

Watching the time tick

Fumbling the lock pick

Lost in a small park

Crying in pitch dark

Making a small sound

Wishing to be found

Holding a rose fast

Praying it will last

Portal to a heart

Knowing it's false start 

Falling

Imagine courage 

Enough to jump but then not

Enough weight to die 

Share

When feeling becomes

Harder to bear alone

Everyone surrounding you 

Runs away

Everything is confusing

Architecture crumbles

Rivers run dry

Energy is stolen

You do your best to be

Optimistic however

Unsuccessful

Echo

Wall after wall

Of frustration 

Beat the walls until

Your hands bleed

Scream until your ears close

And voice goes silent 

There's no one to hear

The isolation chamber 

Doesn't care how hungry

Or thirsty you are 

It doesn't even acknowledge you exist

Reinforcing

Just how alone

You really are 

lowTide

There sits my love

Across the sea

I imagine her laugh

As we text, we chat

Every facet of her an inspiration

Crafting beauty from a void

And she'll never know

The depths of my love 

Because I wander to the shore

And stare at the waves

Unable to go farther

For I am afraid of the water

New Grey 3

     After three days of travel, the landscape started to look familiar. The trees became more twisted. The ground became more barren. The familiar scent of sulfur danced in my nose. I never realized how home sick I had been until that moment.
     I had been fighting in the fifth civil war for over twelve years. For most of that time, I was in charge of messaging and correspondence. I knew I would never be called as a general, and I excelled at my position. The last mission I was commissioned to do put me on the front lines. That's when I found myself with fatal wounds and trapped under a fallen sister. The Unknown Angel gave his blood and I found myself changed. After a bizarre encounter with strange creatures in the woods, I knew I needed to find answers. Home was calling me back.
     I breathed deeply of the acrid air and tears nearly spilled from my eyes. Had it been so long since I'd seen this place? The sprawling castle of The King looked sweeter than I'd ever seen it look before. I kicked my heels in to drive my horse faster. The last five minutes of the ride were at a dead sprint. I jumped from my horse and crashed through the castle gates. I barely heard my feet hit the cold stone flooring. My all consuming thought was to enter the throne room and throw myself at The King's feet and weep with joy at being home.
     And suddenly my perfect vision was before me. There He was. The King. Shining and beautiful and everything that made sense in my world. I finally loosed the tears from my eyes and they streamed down my dirty face. I raced across the room and grabbed at His ankles.
     "FATHER!" I cried with breathless joy.
     I was met with silence.
     "Who are you?" He asked.
     Then the world I thought had just been righted completely tilted.

Stranded

Alone

And wandering the woods

I've lost the trail

Panic sets in

How will I get through

There is no way for anyone 

To find me 

There is no way for me 

To tell you I'm lost

Drowning without water

Racing heart

Beads of sweat weave their path

Along my skin

Shivering from fear

I'm crippled

And waiting to die

Please find me.

Reversal

On your knees

Keep them fifteen inches apart 

Don't hide anything

Tops of feet rest on the floor

Hindquarters to heels 

Bound wrists comfortably

Against your spine

Keep that back straight

Keep those shoulders back 

It's too early to show fatigue

Chin up, toy

That blindfold isn't going anywhere

You gave command 

For me to orchestrate 

So you take the fall

And Scarlet Woman rises

2AM

Skip and skip

And skip again

A broken heart 

A broken record

Makes no difference

A heartsong that replays 

Over and over

Burns my lungs

Catches my throat 

Fires my brain

Fuels my soul

And oh the nights are so very long

nextDoor

She is close enough

To touch 

To smell

Brilliant and carefree

Appropriate laughter placed

Strategically to win them over

Bat of eyelashes 

She pulls them in

They always see her

While I stand in her growing shadow

Unnoticed

Unwanted

Alone and shivering