people tiptoe eggshelling it
worried I'll blow up bang
burst go off fly into pieces
I'll admit it happens often
takes little to detonate me
lit stoked explosive laden
not a temper just turmoil
waiting to be exasperated
stirred boiled overcooked
nothing to do with you
I was born as dynamite
ticked off bothered riled
Pusherman, taps on the steering wheel, mountain justice, and a primitive gnaw.
In case anyone has a case of the Mondays, on the show today, in number 26, Curtis Mayfield sings us into three reads by three vastly different talents with one vast thing in common: Each one is their own creator with a style like no others. Top off your coffee, and sail away with us.
Here's the link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMz90tLIE5s
And here are the pieces featured within.
https://www.theprose.com/post/812076/memories https://www.theprose.com/post/811802/the-women-in-the-trees https://www.theprose.com/post/812519/the-line
And.
As always.
Thank you for being here.
-The Prose. team
he quit taking notes years ago
my story repeated many times
same beginning same ending
he knows how I feel about it
angry bitter regretful enraged
we've gone over it over it over
somethings can't be undone
somethings can't be unstuck
maybe it's all a bit life lesson
perhaps you needed this fall
will make you a better person
having loved lost lived through
makes you strong resilient stuff
unmovable untouchable muted
tell me again tell me again again
Chapter Twenty-three Backstory
A young man walks nervously into a haphazardly kept room. He stands at attention. He doesn’t really know why he is here but when the great one summons you, you come. The great one was attending to something that involved beakers and vials containing substances that common people don’t even know exist. Substances that contain unusual properties. The great one turns around and notices he has a visitor.
“At ease” the great one orders, “I’ve been looking for an apprentice, someone with whom I can teach all my secrets to. That person could be you. You don’t have to but if you are interested, you must leave your family and friends and devote your entire existence to the study and practice of magic.”
“Why me?” The young man asked.
“Because you have what I call the spark. It’s an innate ability to tap into the magical elements of creation. Not everyone possesses it. Only those who possess it can practice magic. I can guide you into learning how to access these magical elements or you can go back to being normal, it’s up to you.”
“Can I think about it before I decide. That’s a huge change.” The young man answers.
“Of course. Take all the time you need.” The great one answers.
The young man leaves. Becoming one who can command the magical elements would bring respect and prestige. It would elevate his status. He would no longer be pushed around by people who think they are his betters. It is a tempting offer.
The young man returns to his work. It is grueling manual labor, working in the fields. As he toils and sweats under the burning sun, he thinks about the amazing offer that has been extended to him. However, while this offer would improve his life, it would also make it less. He would no longer have the security that comes from the close-knit relationships that are forged through community. He would be giving that all up in a single-minded pursuit of power. He was not sure that the trade was worth it. The men he worked with and the people he spent his time with while he was not working meant everything to him. The fact that he did not have a wife meant he did not have any commitments to disqualify him from accepting the offer. That night communing with family and friends, he made this offer known to all of them.
“I’ve been given an opportunity.” He started out, “I want to tell all of you about it.” He raised his voice so everyone could hear him and while it took a few minutes, it was soon quiet, and everyone’s attention was focused on him.
“I met the great one today.” He started out, “He called me to his house and has offered me a tremendous opportunity.” He paused to let his first statement sink in to all who listened, “He has offered me an apprenticeship. I am to learn all the secrets of magic.” He continued, “This opportunity comes at a price. I am to leave my old life behind and devote myself completely to his guidance and direction. If I accept, I will have to leave all of you behind.”
The young man stopped talking and there was silence for more than a few minutes. The young man finished, “I need all of your advice to make the right decision.” Everyone was shocked and didn’t know how to answer him. Once the shock wore off, several people offered an opinion.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, you have to take it?” One person said.
“Ita not worth leaving your friends and family.” Another person argued.
As more people voiced their opinions, it was some variation of the two, with some thinking the opportunity is too good to pass up while others thinking the benefits are not worth the cost. When the young man laid down to sleep that night, he didn’t know what he should do.
That night he had a dream and the dream seemed as real to him as any dream he had ever had. He saw the world in all its glory. He saw kingdoms whose splendor took his breath away. While he was taking in the magnificence of the images he saw, an army rose up and started marching across the entire world. One by one it consumed entire kingdoms. He saw a wizard who had power that could not be contained command the armies to do his bidding. When all seemed hopeless, he saw a woman. She was a common peasant who rose up to resist the powerful wizard. She wielded magic on a scale that he could not even begin to understand. The two forces opposed each other. Before he could see which force was victorious, he woke up.
The young man was shaking. He did not know what to think. Was his dream the result of an overactive imagination or was his dream a foreshadow if things yet to come? He didn’t know. He did know one thing. If there is such a threat coming, he would need to know the secrets of magic to oppose it.
He spent the day in the fields. He told his friends about the dream and that he needed to accept the great one’s offer, to protect them all from this deadly threat. When the sun was at its highest point in the sky, the young man went uninvited to see the great one.
He walked in and stood at attention, just as he did before. When the great one noticed him, he gave the young man his attention. “So, did you decide?” The great one asked.
“I had a dream last night.” The young man started.
“Let me guess,” The old man interrupted, “You saw the coming of a great war.”
“How did you know?” The young man asked.
“I have also had that dream. It is a dream of the future. A dream that we must prepare ourselves for.” The great one answered.
“Who was the woman who rose up to oppose the great wizard?” The young man asked.
“I don’t know but she is someone who has the spark. Someone who learns it’s deep secrets.” The great one answered.
“We have to find this woman.” The young man replied, “All our lives depend on it.”
“What about your own life?” The great one asked, “Have you decided?”
“I have,” the young man answered, “I have decided to accept your offer.
“I’m glad to hear that.” The great one answered, “Of course, you will have to complete a few tasks before I can accept you.”
“What tasks?” the young man asked, he didn’t know anything about any tasks.
“You’ll find out.” The great one said smiling.
Bibliothèque
forlorn eyes peep into the sky
The faith lies deep between lies,
Another lonely night is on the rise,
She lost the tears in her eyes,
She appears in his mind,
Another lonely night,
I think that might be right.
I’m feeling trapped inside,
Feeling petrified,
Another lonely night is on the rise,
You can see the fear in his eyes,
The tears he cry,
The reasons he lies,
Is the reason she confines.
Two wrongs don’t make a right,
Now she is travelling on her bike,
She seeks more than she can find,
Another lonely night.
The feeling left his eyes,
He didn’t feel tortured inside,
Instead he found a joint to light,
Disintegrates the feeling within,
Makes him forget he sins.
The two conjure in a abnormal manner,
Nothing normal but nothing to fear,
Twice they puff the forgiving stick,
Twice they find luck.
Burn
You smell like sunshine. When your skin is saturated in it and every hug smells like childhood lake days and you thrill me like teenage amusement park rides. You’re warm beneath my fingertips and your lips stay cool, pressed to my heated skin and you burn me. You burn me until I am nothing but freckles and sun spots. My skin is taut, red and soft to the touch. Was the burn worth the warmth that covered me? Yes. I would happily burn my burns for you.
Hope is for Suckers
I'm not getting my hopes up.
I've had too many people speak flowery language into my life
only to make me feel like I'm the fool for believing their lies.
I'm not getting my hopes up.
Allowing you to have all the power
only to take it away at the last minute
and try to convince me that it didn't mean anything
or that it was all pretend.
I'm not getting my hopes up.
Because deep down,
I know you don't mean it.
I know you don't.
I know you,
and you don't.
I guess I'll continue to be your distraction,
your escape,
because I can only be the person you want me to be,
when you control me in your mind
and in your dreams.