Metamorphosis:- a striking alteration in appearance, character, or circumstances. It is said that the eyes are the windows to the soul. For many, the eyes can tell a whole story on their own before even the beginnings of a word can be spoken. Eyes, they don’t lie … unless they want to and at that, they can then offer a deceptive sense of calm. A point came in the young life of a certain Derek Hanson when he took a look de...

What weather brewed behind me? I knew not. Maybe snow? Could fog be rolling in? Then thunder clapped. Lightning skittered across the sky causing me to turn toward reality. The wind -- she -- embraced me. The rain -- she -- filled my heart. The fire -- she -- lit my soul ablaze. The storm changed everything. She changed everything. What weather brews behind me? I worry not. She changed everything.  

Breezes usher in on an orchestrated serenade of autumn. It enters cool and sedated, as subtle as the high notes of a summer song. Where once the raucous of beach-laughter and jubilant screams blended with crashing surf, they now trail off, dissipating into the scent of cozy fireplace bellows. I sit, chin on knees, and watch as the leaves’ brilliant folly comes alive. Colors held and hidden away from the heat, spring forth...

  DRAMATIS PERSONAE Santa Claus: a midwinter icon Hans Muff: a satyr The Boy: a curious lad The Archangel: a herald Befana: an old woman The Reindeer: an animal Chorus: peasants, angels     INT. A PARLOR ROOM   A boy is seen in a chair, reading a book. BOY    Santa Claus is very big and fat. He’s got a red suit and a white beard. He brings you many gifts, but not if you’ve been naughty. He sometimes frightens children, bu...

The Board is changing. The Board will change is perhaps a better way to say it. When the Board changes, the game changes. And when the game changes, no one predicts the outcome because there are new rules in the game. No one can predict the game's winners or losers when the rules are not yet known and discovering the new rules is part of the game. The watchers are hopeful the game will be good for them but they don’t bet...

There is no doubt that poetry has a unique ability to move the human spirit; an ability shared only with music and far more so than even the greatest prose, however impassioned. It is, therefore, no surprise that the greatest composers have felt impelled to set poetry to music; and whilst the lyrics of much popular music are repetitive and banal, the works that will survive are those where the words tell a story or expres...

I dream of a city where everyone are neighbors Knowing helping each other isn’t wrong And there is no race or color Where old ladies can feel safe and sound   I dream of a state that works as one Taxing people fairly and giving back what isn’t theirs Helping the poor man to find work and feeding the destitute While not lining their pockets with the sweat of everyone's back   I dream of a country that is good and kind to a...

  All the ‘grown-ups’ were gone, but no one was interested in re-starting the card game. At Amy’s suggestion, the guys fixed something to drink while she grabbed some snacks. Provisions in hand, they went out into the warm night air on the screened-in back porch. To keep from attracting bugs, they left the lights off. Except for the glow from inside the house, it was dark.To no one’s surprise, Mark got the conversation ro...

I drifted to sleep and into a familiar dream.I saw you holding a glass of wine and smiling at a beautiful woman. She was dressed simply yet she was breathtaking. Her eyes were vibrant and honest; her smiles were pure and genuine. She laughed with so much glee, talked with little inhibitions. She looked content and free.She was me.I woke up with a start. I stared at the mirror, at shadows and hollows on my cheeks and eyes...

Decades passedNothing lastsEverything changesVarying stagesAbsolute lifeChaotic strifeDo some things never change?Chasing demonsCollecting leminsLovings lostSoulless accostEnduring supportEndless retortDoes anything stay the same? Staggering endsPassing friendsWords unspokenTrusty tokenJilted heartsFalsified startsIt seems everything must changeEternal needsSowing seedsRavaged lustGrandiose trustRestless shiversCarefree w...

Is it time to leave?When do you know?You wait to see if change comes alongYou choose to make these changesWork, home, relationshipsWhich one comes first?Do they all need to change at once?Change is part of lifeIt's a way of growthTo embrace changeTo face your fearsA chance to learn new thingsHave new emotionsYou never know what might happen

How can things change In the blink of an eye How do you stop loving Stop caring and longing Why do things have to be Either and or How can one learn to walk out the door To turn off emotions To not answer a plea To not give your heart And hold on tight How do you go from Lovers to friends and then back again Tell me please and make me see The mystery and rules of things It happened so fast But will never be through  In a...

Try it, you might like it It’s really not so rough Once you get the hang of itAnd practice just enough To some, it’s second natureOthers search the netStill others look to guidance books(Mine isn’t written yet)People will be drawn to youFriends to you will flockYour social life will blossomOf the town, you’ll be the talkI know what you’re thinkingOld habits hard to breakBut the benefits of changing thisThe detriments outw...

As the girls sat in Marcia's room, they talked about the party. Marcia asked, "I wonder what happened when the glitter bombs went off. Also how long did they wait until they discovered we left?" "I don't know, but I bet you will hear about it from Sarah. She must be humiliated by now. I hope she was in the room when the glitter fell. That will be a nice mess to clean up." Naomi said. The girls watched a movie and went to...

Marcia wanted to call Naomi after she talked to Sarah, but it was easier to talk to Rebecca and Naomi at school together. As she drifted off to sleep, her mind raced with many thoughts and questions. She knew Ralph would be around at the party. Sarah still held a grudge against Marcia. The Halloween party would certainly test the relationship between the two girls. She slept badly tossing and turning all night. When she w...