Lorn Elera stared up at Tan Maldrin. The ancient palace loomed above the priestess of the Denith Lorn, crowning the hill on the West side of the ruined town where she stood. A shadowy figure stood atop the central keep, silhouetted against the light of the setting sun. A low howl reached Elera’s ears. It slowly rose to a wail. The sound filled her heart with darkness. It was not terrifying, but depressing; a noise filled...

Bear came rumbling into the great room of the cabin, muttering to himself. He threw himself down on the rag rug in the center of the room, gave a huge sigh, and closed his eyes. Girl, who was making herself some lunch, said, “Is everything okay, Bear?” Bear ignored her. She walked gingerly over to him and stood nearby. “Bear?” “WHAT?” he shouted. Girl jumped back. This was most un-Bear-like behavior. “I’m sorry, I didn’t...

All my addictions Wrapped up inside my brain You want to take a run at this disaster You'll only have yourself to blame The door it's locked The windows wide open That closet is full of pain Take it to heart Run for your life It's a hard falling rain Where these figments take me Far, far away All my dreams can be your nightmares No different they are all the same Come on! Won't your drown with me Inside this bottle of sha...

Bear and Girl were lying in the grass on the meadow outside the cabin, enjoying the warmth of the Summer evening and waiting for the stars to smile down at them. “Bear?” “Girl.” “Do you think there’s life on other planets?” “No way of knowing,” said Bear. “Yes, I know that, silly. But do you think so?” There was a long pause, then, “Oh, well, probably.” Girl giggled. “Will they be as…interesting…as you and me?” She asked....

I like gas station cheeseburgers Those red hot burritos too The sun coming to shine on my backyard Got a woodpecker and squirrel, they think they own the place I suppose they probably do I like getting high in my basement Listening to Davis Byrne and John Prine I like the things that just pop in Yah I think that works just fine Got an old house and two old dogs We are all rotting together I like this person I've become I...

Chaos, unpredictable running helter-skelter burning down homes flinging stones scripted but no King David crazy, deranged addiction, intoxication madmen insane everything woke Prozac made in China logjams, bridges block one-way streets with speed bumps and no red lights gothic barbarous appetite shadows on the wall fools miming echoing bled beseeching until dead transgendered heroes muted voices Baby Boo Boo Oprah Winfrey...

When I was a little girl, I lived in silent fear of losing my mother the way she lost hers. That fear became excessive when I reached the age of seven, the same age she was when her mother fell down the basement stairs and hit her head. I watched Mama like a hawk, terrified that she would meet the same fate. I offered to go to the basement to get whatever she needed to the point of making a pest of myself. Finally, she go...

Beneath a tin can sky of indigo-blue and the doves can coo on nature's mother earth adorning the Ponderosa Pines with a basketful of jubilation as God's shells sunlight cascading over babbling brook and Ebenezer stones in poetic Genesis and the doves can coo

That old man with the walker Took one to the knee another to the thigh on his trip to Vietnam Comes to every one of his grandkids' games If he doesn't get a move on He'll miss the whole thing Hold the door Here comes that kid with the fingernail polish Nothing but trouble look at his face all black and blue Came up to get away for a bit Maybe tonight someone will glance him kindness And he'll carry it with him on his long...

My first day on the job, Arrived quarter till nine; To the frowning Miss Fanny, I'd be a ray of sunshine. She peered over her glasses At my color-streaked hair; She was rethinking her bun, I could tell by her stare. "Sort the shelves in the back And empty this cart." Was my first given task, I was eager to start. Upon seeing the bookcases, My mouth gasped at the sight. I must restore order To this library's plight. "Twas...

I want to watch as their eyes light up when I walk into the room I want it that when they catch a glimpse of me the rest of the world falls away And I am the only one left in focus I want deep late-night conversations about our dreams I want lazy afternoons and 3 AM walks I want laughter in the rain and soothing cups of tea I want to cook warm meals and dance with them as I do it I want someone to see me in my entirety St...

Getting my nude on beneath the Hippocratic eyes of dubious doubters who have lost bouquets being the squatters to observe the nakedness of you and I focusing on the shadow of my being into the midst of recurring dreams my own Michelangelo and not someone's Salomé in a pale blue satin chemise being naked is a gift beneath nature's wings, wear it with a smile yet the witnesses of hypocrisy know not what God looks like liste...

Bear had settled onto the rag rug in the great room at the end of the day and was starting to drift off to sleep, when he thought he heard something. He perked his ears up. There it was again. He lifted his head and turned towards Girl's room, and this time heard it clearly. He lumbered up and padded quietly down to her door, then stood and listened. The sounds were…intermittent. It almost sounded as if she were talking t...

It’s been a one-night stand. That’s what I’m thinking as I lean against the shelter at the bus station and wait. Don’t ask me why I know it was a one-night stand, but I do. Neither of us said anything but I knew it and she knew it. Maybe it was the way we said we’d see each other around when we parted by her front door. Maybe it was the look in her eyes and maybe it was the look in my eyes. Maybe it was the picture of the...

I see you You see me We see nothing at all Hand in hand we walk into our willing blindness I speak You speak We don't understand any of the words Tongue on tongue tied into a tight knot You listen I listen The noise is so loud we can't hear The lights have gone dim on Main street Avenue empty and cold We keep waiting for just a flicker But its dark and the storefronts are closed I hurt you You hurt me For the gold in our...