The creak of old ship beams

the sighs of tired men

fog drifts over water

like paper pressed to pen

Out past the bowsprit

from the unseen beyond

comes a voice like spun gold

casting spells with no wand

Pressed flat to the deck

hands slapped tight to his ears

a man screams his warning

through the mist of his tears

The ship moves with purpose

pulled tight on a string

to the source of that song

to the end of all things

Long and shimmering fins

mouths stretched tight with glee

they wait for the ship

black eyes and wild teeth

Sharp rocks up ahead

but the ship isn't turning

the men sway like lovers

held trapped in their yearning

Wood splinters jagged

high screams split the air

decks drenched in saltwater

the topsails stripped bare

The songs runs its course

then laughter like fire

it burns and it burns

witches strapped to a pyre

On the banks sit the guilty

their cruelty untamed

dense fog lifts around them

their shoreline bloodstained

Claws dig deep into feasting

lips smeared with dark red

and the wind softly echoes

through the bones of the dead

There is blue in the water

there is sun in the sky

and tomorrow a new ship

will surely pass by

I imagine that you're walking down a quiet, empty street,

Hands crunched inside your pockets, your thoughts a mile deep.

Maybe your chest is heavy and the world has made you wary,

Or the anger at injustice is becoming too much to carry.

I imagine that a voice calls out,

"Hey, you," it gently floats.

Not out of indifference or not knowing your chosen name,

Because I'm glad to see you, just you, from my front porch today.

"Come sit, you're safe with me," I say. And I imagine that you do.

I'm glad whenever you say yes, it's more for me than you.

I imagine there's no virus so I can hug you if you need,

To sit with you in silence or listen to you grieve.

I imagine that I help you in some small, hopeful way,

That you can stand up from my porch and continue with your day.

I wave to you as you begin to leave, if I spoke, my voice would quiver.

I imagine that you're safe and sound and home in time for dinner.

I imagine you'll be back to share a calming breath,

You're always safe with Mama Jean so please come back and rest.

I love you.

Lower periscope

Prevent seeing

Dangerous things

Out there!

All smiles on the surface

Waiting to make me their plaything.

But I see them.

I see them but

They don’t see me.

Lower periscope

Before they do.

I don't get here as often as I'd like to as I'm heavily involved in some anmazing projects just now, one of which involves writing work for an anthology of writers to be published around December/January.

In view of this, I have to request not to be included as part of 'mass' tagging, as I just don't have time (or energy) to read multiple articles when I do dip in here. Tonight, I have four, quite long items I have been tagged in.

I tend to flick through items and also if I 'know' you (ie - we have communicated regularly over the past two years) I still like to keep up with where you're at.

But for now, that's all I can manage.

Hence this request.

Thanks in advance...

Keep your eyes up, child

you will rise up, child

you are brave, dear child

please believe...

Know your worth, girl please

know you're special, please

you are gorgeous, girl

yes, you are...

Though you're crying inside

you can't run or hide

show your face, my dear

they can't know...

You are fine, just fine

there's no scars outside

they see nothing wrong

you are fine...

You are fine, just fine

there's no scars outside

but the one's in mind

bleed sometimes...

You are fine, just fine

there's a thin taut line

between fine, just fine

and "not okay"...

And one day you'll be

fine, just fine, you'll see

but for now just pray

You'll be fine...

I lost my Mother on August 26, 2020.

And I remember her telling me about two weeks before she passed that she didn’t want to die alone, and she made me promise that when it was her time to go I would be right there. And I just looked at her and laughed and said ” you have a lot of time before that happens.” but I still promised.

But what I and my little sister didn’t know was that she was sick( not with COVID) she was only 47.

It wasn’t her death that broke me.

It was because I didn’t get to say goodbye. it was because I wasn’t there.

I wasn’t there to hold her hand.

I wasn’t there to comfort her.

I wasn’t there and I broke my promise.

I am clearly the eldest and wisest left on this earth after the recent pandemic wiped out the majority of our nation’s, and the world’s population. I shouldn’t be alive, but I think my anxiety and blood pressure meds, paired with my weight loss supplements had something to do with it.

I know nothing about running a nation. But I can trust Ben Jodie, who I’ve followed for the past 8 years. He’s one of the smartest people I know, and I trust him with the future of humanity.

Ben will tread closely by my side.

Next, I need to find a way to eliminate those who will try to influence my decisions over the next 36 hours. Todd Plumnar, has been trying to overthrow our government and become our dictator for as long as I can remember. He somehow survived the pandemic; we’re guessing all the product he uses in his hair and on his face had something to do with it.

So, I appoint the crafty and talented neighbor to my west, Kara Shamarli, to keep Todd as far away from me as possible. Kara has the skills of a PI and can watch Todd’s every move over the next 36.

Lights, camera, action.

Time to get started.

Now, someone get me a cup of coffee!