This thing all things devours;

Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;

Gnaws iron, bites steel;

Grinds hard stones to meal;

Slays king, ruins town,

And beats mountain down.

I didn’t write this, Tolkien did.

The answer is : Time

“Clouds in my coffee”*

Unreal possibilities

Vanishing softly.

* Thanks Carly Simon *

Chapter 1.

It all started on an oppressively hot day in July of 1928. Robert Bloom, wanderer that he was, came strolling along the old dirt road past Old Man Barkley‘s general store. Wondering if the man had any decent liquor, he ambled thought the front door and quietly made his way to the counter. “Might you be Mr. Barkin?” He asked with a drawl. The old man popped into view and said,“ That’s the name all right, now what can I do for ya?” “Well, Ima lookin for some liquor worth buying, you got any?” “Now look here” Barkin said with alarm. “ Jest who do you think you are! Accusing me of having liquor around with the whole derned prohibition thing going on! Why I otta!” “Now, now” said Robert “ Let’s not have none of that, I’ll just a regular feller lookin for a drink, now ‘scuse me , but you don’t look to be someone who takes all that nonsense seriously. Now if you don’t got none, them maybe you can kindly point me in the way of someone who does.” Taken aback, Mr. Barkin let out a sigh. “ Well lad, I’m sorry me temper got the better of me there. You see, this ban hasn’t been good for me customers these past few years and I’ve had the law set on me tail more than once, now the only kind of liquor we got ‘round here would be up on Old Cass‘s place. He’s the shiner in these parts. ‘Fraid I ain’t got my batch in yet, so if yer hankerin can’t wait, I’ll give you the directions to his place?” “Alright” said Robert. “Thata be just fine.” Mr. Barkin scratched out some directions, almost illegibly, and handed them to Robert.” See here, now you past the school house, down the road, take a right at the fork, cross the creek, and over the hill. The William’s place is just beyond the rise. You’ll see the chimney smoke. Ain’t no more‘n 3 or 4 miles.” He said with a grin. Robert begrudgingly took the paper, taking note of the man’s mocking tone. “ I ain’t afraid of a little walk, but his liquor better be worth the trip or I’ll be back old man.” “ Well, you’ll just have to go and see for yourself now won’t you lad?” Barkin retorted, still grinning. At that, Robert stomped out of the store and began his quest for the Williams still.

Good enough for chapter 2?

Walking into the room I see you

Say hello, words, just a few

We take our seats, I wonder if you care

You sit in front of me, out of reach, there

Loneliness's icy fingers spread across my heart

As if ignoring me has become your art

But then I see a glimmer of hope

I catch your eye, my soul starts to grope

For a sliver of feeling, something to cling to

I feel empty when I’m not looking at you

Do you feel the same, similar, at all?

I fear if this love is not returned, I shall fall

Deep into the pit of despair, broken

The voice in my head saying ” You are nothing” keeps pokin’

Am I to remain unseen, invisible, forever?

Stain glass leaves of amber, gold, and umber

Adorning the land before Winter’s barren slumber

Like the trees of Valinor they twinkle and glow

They're life depends on the will of the snow

The fallen become a quilted carpet stretching across the land

Intricately sewn by Mother Natures tender hand

Jewels of flame scatter upon the howling wind

To warn those of the imminent end

Autumn’s glory will rest in silent peace

But shall return again, as sure as the sun‘s rise in the distant east.