In His Arms

Laying my head on his shoulder, I could feel the strength of his arms around me. Being so relaxed and comfortable at the same time was a stolen treasure. My arms curled around his sides, holding him tightly to my body. Breathing in his smell was like icing on the cake, so clean and masculine. The warmth of his skin under my fingernails as lazily I drew imaginary figure eights was nice. Resting his head against mine, I felt concern and caring radiate from him. He was always a caring soul, more than just a pleasure. He softly asked me if I was okay, "I am just enjoying the moment." was my quiet reply.

Time and Memory

The broke doll on the floor, the arms juxtaposed and hair covered in dust. Why did your little girl leave you so, Dolly, did you not drink your tea?

A book flayed open, it's red cover layered in the sediment of time. Why did you not engage your reader, was your story not well written?

Crumbling lace curtains barely hanging to the rod, rift with many more holes than intended. Why can't you block the sun and protect the privacy of this house, isn't your job never ending?

Time and memory goes on, but never looks the same in the end. It always morphs into a different point of view, the principal players dancing the same steps and calling it a new song.

Lives & Bone Knives

In my clawed hands I hold the 5 hearts, the potential to crush them all in one blow is weighing on my mind, the power of it feels sultry and dark. They each have their own personalities, the essence of their being, and I must decide.

They are named thus; the Heart of Child's Joy, the Heart of A Father's Love, the Heart of Security, the Heart of Wanton Desire and the smallest, the Conjoined Hearts of Twin. Looking down as these lives beat on, their earnest pleas sing that I should spare them, I won't let their voices sway me. My cold hard stare picks apart how to map this out, how to divide and conquer this love. I could find the faults and decide, find the weakest and set on to my work.

I look at the Heart of A Father's Love, his weaknesses are many, but he has an inner fortitude. If he can focus on his goals, learn again how to be, there may be a small chance. Maybe his love can carry him through to the end?

The Heart of Child's Joy, if examined critically and clinically can be likened to our times, everyone learns about the cold and hardness of this world. Maybe some lessons are better learned now for later strength?

The life within the Heart of Security, the sameness it holds. It's a selfish life, no thought but it's own situation; no growth, pathetic. To cut it free would be the catalyst of putting yourself out there, to expand. Would it be the next logical step?

How about the Heart of Wanton Desire? How can that be encouraged to change? It is the one that is the most puzzling. How much investment is there in base needs, enough to warrant letting it continue? This one leaves nothing but questions, keeping me further from my own answers.

Finally, the Conjoined Hearts of Twin, so needy and diminutive. The last vascular organ may be the most difficult to deal with, the pain of the yearning, the demands it has makes the others pale in comparison. Does it get to continue, no matter it's own condition? The damage is there, the nicks and scars, bruises and dents, yet it still beats. How does one decide to end the suffering, start the healing?

After I have examined the last one I know, I have a starting point. A cold and calloused love, pained by a blade and tempered with a well thought out plan, my hand encloses the first heart and the ancient bone blade starts the procedure.

Deep Resolve

Looking down into Jayleen's brown eyes, Kyle said in a slow deep voice "You know, I have always loved you."

She dipped her head down quickly to hide her sudden blush, letting her soft brown hair cover her face. "Me? I don't believe that." she said as she carefully shook her head.

Jayleen looked up shyly, "You always like being with all those beautiful girls. The tall popular blond types." She looked into Kyle's hazel eyes, willing herself to find a hint that he was making a joke at her expense.

She felt a tightening in her chest when she saw his deep resolve.

Stand In My Shoes

How do I show you my life? I want you to feel as if you lived it. If I add that imagery and taste, something to bring you there, you would be standing in my shoes.

Starry Princess

The diminutive Lady, her dark tresses flowing over her ermine winter cape, heavy fabric of her gown protected her from Winter's bite. The Princess stepped slowly to the parapet, all of her attention focus on the panorama before her. The ground was covered lightly in snow, giving off a faint glow. Dark evergreens stood sentinel over the courtyard. Deep cold had left a heavy frost and from the frost came a million sparkles of light. Every inch of the surrounding land had a hoary thin layer. Her little black slippers crunching at every step, was the only sound. An astounded breath caught in the Lady's throat as she leaned on the stony wall. The great dark expanse of the cosmos humbled her. Twinkling light of the brightest stars were sending her messages of ancient knowledge, in a language she did not understand. None the less, her attention was rapt upon the astral scene. The distant planets show in brilliant reds and blues against the dark fabric. She could almost see the tiny moons circling each one in their symbiotic relationship. Luna hung in the sky greeting her as an old friend, the rocky crags and foreign peaks reflect brilliant light to liven the scene. How tiny she felt, and vulnerable.  To be such a small being beholding the great heavens, was a gift to her heart.

Remembering

Bare branches reached toward the dark grey sky, she stood alone, thinking. Remembering people in it. Remembering the faces that she dared to love with all her heart. The times when their kind words meant the world to her and lifted her spirit. The moments she shared of what was in the inner most circles of her mind. Ideas she bestowed and solutions planned out. Her dark hair brushed her cheek to call her attention back to the present. The breeze pushed around her pale dress trying to persuade her to continue forward. The sun was setting and the forest denizens were settling down. As she resolved to take a step forward, a single onyx raven sailed by, cawed her a single note and tapped her shoulder, giving her strength and a reminder that she was ready for this venture.

Coming Back Every Night

Every night, it never changes, I come back home on the same path, always the same ending to the journey...
I am not sure how I find myself there every time. I just know I have arrived when I am surrounded by the wild trees. The golden leaves rustle gently in the soft warm breeze, never having time to drift to the forest floor. The trees do not appear to move forward in time, holding onto the yellow and orange foliage no matter how many times I visit. The sun shines low in a soft blue sky and clouds never darken it. The climate washes me with comfort and security. The weather worn cabin on the edge of the clearing, appears to watch me, following me with its windowed eyes as I walk slowly around in the tall flaxen grasses. I feel there is no one there but myself and the lone building that watches over me. Time is still as I am there enjoying the solitude, then I start to walk up the hill into the forested glen, the first step always bringing me back to my pillow, with my blanket snuggled up to my neck. I sigh at the lost opportunity to stay just a little longer.

My Winter

Winter; it cleans up the world, gives her a new identity. It shows off Nature's beautiful flaws and perfect landscapes. There is no practical hiding in winter, every contour is seen. Evergreen trees covered in fluffy tufts of snow on each branch, layered like Christmas cake. The ground smoothed out, each hill and bump rolled together into one colorless plateau giving a semblance of an angels unblemished complexion. Ice crystals sparsely glinting in the sun, like little jewels strew across the terrain. Many times you can only catch the glimpse of quick movement of a hare or ermine, dashing under a tree to home, after hunting for a meal or precious item for winter storage. The dark blue shade in the surrounding valleys lead to a perfect contrast of the white covered peaks. Rocky edifice try to peek out from their winter layer, showing their strength despite the firn coating the mountain sides. The sky, deep and dark blue, with no ending in sight. Sometimes I wonder if but the thinnest membrane is between me and space, something  barely holding back the cosmos. The purest time of the year. The time where the Northern Aurora can seem to be calling down to Mother Earth to enjoy a color show, the likes of which can not be duplicated anywhere else. Light dancing across the sky, reflecting in the snow. You can almost hear the crackling of the display while it chases itself in brilliant color, never looking the same twice. Stars twinkling across the black sky, lights gently flashing off and on as if they are calling you. Effervescent tales of heroes and gods that guided our ancestors, trying to tell us the same stories. When the winter moon is out, the stage is lifted to another level. The ethereal light brings the crystalline sparkle of the snowy ground to a crescendo. The carpet of the frozen fields and forest dazzle in cold radiance. You can look out across the vista for miles and miles, seeing the variation of the mountain ridges, and low plains. This is winter.

Conversation with The Immaculate

Her sweet, still voice called me from across the courtyard. "Come here child"

I quietly let a small "no." escape my lips.

"Come close, let me hear you", she soothed. "Why do you seek me? Let me hear you."

My mind began to move into high gear. I needed to plead my heart. I earnestly looked upon her face from where I stood, and felt I was standing directly in front of her. I began my prayer.

"Oh, please, Dearest Mother. Guide us and show us love. Help us to choose and help us to understand those choices. Be with us in these hard times. Teach us to love and understand. Give us strength and courage. I ask that by your love, by the love of Nature and by the Spirits that we are able to overcome ourselves and carry on as good beings. Please hear my prayer and help us."

Her stone eyes considered me for a moment. I felt her loving and knowing look sweep past me and then silence.