Deep Blue

Deep blue; the water and sky
The distance white where the waves break over the reef
Sunlight giving way to starlight
I look north to where the pivot centers
The horizon in endless slow motion, almost imperceivable.

Stay and witness infinity with me.
So long since the first axis spin.
So long since the first crashing wave.
So long since my atoms and these were one;
Still one in the recognition of the whole.
Great beauty around and within.
Water and sky and we are a part
Of the deep, deep blue.

Sea Glass Beach

Kauai

Each morning she walks
the sea glass beach, collecting
blue, green and turquoise
glass to sell to the lady
in the big pink pearls
who uses them to steal from
the silly tourists

Unconditional

(Photocredit: Silence by Jason Theikle)



What would a woman be without her friends?
Oh, the cliffs I might have jumped from.
Oh, the relationships I might have destroyed.
He is distant. He surely hates me.
No. He’s a man. Chill, the heck, out.
Talk to me, my love. He needs a break.

What would a woman be without her friends?
Oh, the self I have despised for so many unforgiven sins.
Oh, the love I have denied for so many unforgiven wrongs.
I am ugly. My mother said so.
No. She didn't. She loves you more than you love yourself.
Unconditionally.

What would a woman be without her friends?
Oh, the blood that might have made me tremble.
Oh, the lack of blood that scares the more.
I might have lost her. I might have created her.
No. You are fine. All is as it was meant to be.
Be calm. Patience and faith, my love.

What would a woman be without her friends?
Oh, the desperation and the joy of it.
Oh, the exhaustion and the pique of it.
Still. Sister. Still.
All is well.

Accountable

I know that I'm not supposed to...but I am posting today because I just uploaded my flash fiction piece to the NPR Three-Minute Fiction contest - Round 4. The challenge in Round 4 was not to write about a picture (like in Round 3, see previous entry below) but to write an original piece of fiction with less than 600 words containing the words: Plant, Trick, Fly and Button, in any tense, usage or conjugation. Here's my attempt!!

Accountable

“Is this a trick? You can’t be serious!” I tried to chuckle but terror was growing in my stomach and sounded in my voice.

A man in a dark gray suit stepped between the goons looming on either side of me. I didn’t recognize his face or his voice as he said again, “Sir, you have to come with us.”

I planted my feet wide, crossing my arms. “I won’t be going anywhere with you,” I tried to sound firm, though it was quite clear that I wasn’t going to be given a choice.

The gray-suited man nodded and the goons’ hands were on me. I was forced roughly into the dull aluminum interior of the black van and shoved onto my knees. One of the thugs held my hands tightly behind my back. As we pulled away, I glimpsed my coffee mug standing ridiculously alone on the top of my white BMW.

The van flew out of the parking garage like an action film stunt, four wheels off the ground, heedless of traffic on all sides. I felt every excruciating bump hammer my kneecaps and reverberate up my skeleton. The pain only intensified the thoughts screaming in my head.

I’m not blindfolded. Shouldn’t I be blindfolded? As if this breach of kidnapping etiquette was somehow indicative of something.

Verboten

It is a sad, sad thing, but my newest writing class teacher has asked that her students not blog during the 6 weeks that we are in her class. She wants all of our writing effort to go into our coursework. So...I'll see you in 6 weeks with new inspiration and new material.

Thank you for reading!!!