F
fifteen: frail female form
fortunate fool follows fleeting forevers
faith for flimsy february flings
fingertips feeling flannel-clad flesh
flirtations finished, first flowery fragrance flees
faded face from fatal flames
fault fate for futile fantasy
farewell false forever
fumbling for forgiveness, far from fondness
All are alliteratable!
Andy ate Anna’s Apples
Bob brought Billy’s burgers
Camilla can’t cook
Dawn does dance
Eat Eathan’s eggs
feed Faith four foxes
God’s grace gets greater
has Heather had her ham?
Inda invited Ina into illegal igloos
Just jump Joe!
keren kissed Kyle
Lauren loves Lucy’s long legs
Marvin made me move momentarily
Orpha ordered orenge onesies
Peter poked Piper’s pickled peppers
Quay quickly quoted: “Quinn’s quarter”!
Ruth rushed Rachel ruthlessly
Sam slepped soundly
Tracy’s torus told Tracy’s turtle to teach Tracy tough tricks
Una uses unorthorisd umbrellas
Will went walking with Wending without warning Wayne
Xanthe’s Xylophone
Yasmine, you’re yelling you yellow yet!
Zoe’s zany zoo
C
Creation:
coarse cues collect collateral catastrophe;
callouses created, coexisting crafts.
counterfeit collapses, contructed corporeal.
Completion:
cowardice consumes,
conclusion coming carelessly,
conjuring counterfeit concern
can coexistence come?
creation, creator, cornered
complex conjectures captured.
Collapse:
crush creation's campfire,
cooling coals
creator's contrition confounds,
confidence crumbles.
Creative Calamity.
The Wrong Enemy
A metaphor for everything that is wrong today.
On the Makgadikgadi Pans, life has always been difficult.
To the North, the Nxai Pan demarcates from the other tribes by a single road with a single broken stripe. Running forever, in both directions, this path keeps them on their side and us on our side.
My mother told me this when I turned 8 days old.
For two months, we walked South. During the night, we all are guided by the lights from the Sky Tribes. Mother told me no one has ever seen them, yet all tribes wonder about them. They are of the First Tribes. They have a social order and a language all of their own. The Sky Tribes have never hurt us and never will. My mother promised me this.
We came as far as the Nwetwe Pan and found the Forever Stream the Elders spoke of. Large enough for our entire tribe, we gathered by the edge to drink and bathe. Despite the heat, the edge remains cool; the dust from walking, the insects from the days outside, all wash away within minutes in the stream. Our tribe rarely may find a beast here, yet vigilance is the norm. I require protection. In the future, I will be the protection.
All I have to do is live long enough to see that day.
My mother speaks of the wisdom of our tribe’s Elders. Protection lies further East, toward the Sua Pan. The grass is green and lush and the Tribe of Horns will lag behind us. I ask my mother to describe this tribe. I want to learn.
She tells me that the Tribe of Horns is of equal size as ours. “There has always been an uneasy truce between our tribes. They can be trusted; unfortunately, they lack the stripes that we have, so be wary. They are also known for erratic behavior that alerts the Beasts with Teeth. Since we share the paths and rivers with them, we must watch for these beasts as well.”
I asked my mother, “What will I do if the Beasts with Teeth come?”
She answered in a single word, “Run!”
Two weeks at the Sua Pan, the Tribe of Horns arrive. One day later the Beasts with Teeth arrive. They are few in numbers, but ferocious in might. While the Sky Tribe helps us steer a true course to food and water, it also steers a similar course for the beasts to their nocturnal meals, mainly Stripes and Horns.
On the 5th day at the Pan, the Beasts with Teeth came from all sides. I lost my mother in the melee. I was not large enough or strong enough to save her, but she saved me. I ran as she ordered. I ran with the Horns. I ran with the Sky Tribe. I kept their King, the largest of the night stars, in my sight as I fled.
I could not look back.
But, I would return, much bigger than I am today.
And things will be much different.
It would take three more years before I came of age. The Elders of the Tribe of Horns relinquished responsibility for my upbringing to another Tribe of Stripes. They raised me, fed me, and educated me in all aspects of adult Stripe life.
To all they gave to me, I am grateful.
But they could not give me my mother back.
And for that, I departed quietly one night.
I had beasts to find.
When this Tribe of Stripes began their migration South, I crossed the striped path, heading North. I sought allies for my vengeance on the beasts.
What I found were beasts worse than those on the Pans.
These moved in chariots of thunder. They ran in herds of millions. Their fangs and claws killed at distances. And their young ate everything they touched. The damage they caused mimicked the locusts of my second year.
As I stared agape at their destructiveness, they struck my hindquarter causing me to bleed. Not enough to cripple, but enough to draw attention and more attacks.
These were not Stripes and thus not allies. I quickly moved back across the striped path to safety from them. I found no assistance from the North. I am fortunate the Beasts with Teeth have never found assistance from them either.
The next day, I nursed my wounds before I set off on my path of revenge.
My trek lagged a Tribe of Horns. I remained discreetly at a safe distance and always downwind. I wanted to kill a Beast with Teeth in the same manner they killed my mother, namely surprise. Armed with a lethal kick and a nasty bite, I could kill one. I will kill one. I have to kill one.
The next morning, I had my chance. I viewed a Beast with Teeth of similar size and similar hindquarter wound.
He was also alone.
Now was my chance. I broke cover and charged. The Beast with Teeth took a defensive posture with claws and jaws fully exposed. He did not run.
I ceased my charge, just a few lengths from his weapons. I should have attacked, but I didn’t.
Today, for the first time, I listened.
This beast wanted to parley.
He told me of the striped path to the North and the tribe that lived on the other side. He then explained he has seen similar striped paths to the South, West, and East. On the other side, more tribes of them lived. Each year, their young multiply in numbers. Eventually, they will number more than the Sky Tribe.
And the area, our area, between the stripes, will get smaller each year.
Until it is gone forever.
And with that, he saw my wound, licked his own, and walked away.
My fury was with the wrong enemy.
I was boxed in among the Pans.
Time was no longer on my side.
Or with any other tribe.
A Silent Cry From My Doctor
For years and years you took my calls and somehow made it better.
From unexplained sickness and illness to compensation letters.
Through COVID you stood tall,
And helped the silent cries.
You watched patients come and go with no light in their eyes.
And now you're feeling bad, nearly drained with no intent.
Did anyone ever notice the extra
Time that you spent?
Did anyone ever recognize the unconditional love you gave?
Did anyone take notes of how you worked like a slave?
Well, I noticed Young Doctor and I heard your cry.
I was sorry to hear that you were feeling bad, so I sent a prayer by.
Dear God, it's me, I'm down on humble knees. Father my doctor is now feeling bad, can you bless her please? Can you wrap your arms around her and protect her from harmful will? She deserves so much love father, you're better than any pill.
Thank you Father, Amen
Feelings
Do you ever just feel these things for someone you know you can’t have, and its the worst thing in the world, because they get your whole being they love the things you love and its the most amazing thing. You talk to them and its like the world stands still and you wish time would just go slower. why can’t you, be mine why can't you notice me more then a friend. I love those morning talks, I love waking up and getting a good morning text and talking all day and even if the world is ending on your part, your so positive towards me. I wish I could give you the world and maybe one day I will but hopefully it could be sooner. I want to be able to take your pain away at least for the day, so you could see what happiness is and show you, why you need to stay.