This “she” was birthed
in his fractured dreams
trusting as a forest fawn
endangered as a snowflake
falling on a May predawn
unwitting captive
to his fearful heart
caught in his twisted fantasy
conjured by his crippled soul
his power is his fallacy
always threatened
he seeks to dominate
to stifle her rising voice
to keep her mute and under thumb
tries to deny her right of choice
covetous of her beauty
envious of her intelligence
sought that she would be just his
in time she recognized the trap
realized she did not want this
with strengthened will
she at last finds her voice
speaks direct to what she sees
startled by her forthright way
he wants her silenced on her knees
she — whose tears once seared
this barren land
finds her rebirth
and makes a stand
she says — fuck you!
to his strangling hand
and walks away
from the startled man
”You’re a beautiful fucked up man… building a mystery” Sara McLachlan
~ Scene From A Mystery ~
Fate had orchestrated this fortunate chance encounter. Fate was also unfolding this less fortunate, convoluted chain of events. What was she to make of it? Where could she begin in an attempt to unravel this mystery? Why had Eric threatened her tonight? Why had he looked so strange? Why was she being followed and photographed, by a vested man? Was her life in danger? These thoughts were tumbling through her mind when she was startled back to the present by Jack, the man she just met, literally stumbling into him as she fled. He was returning to the room with pillows and a blanket.
“I will take the sofa tonight,” he said, “You’re completely burned out. I’m putting you in my room,” he continued in a kind and caring tone. “My bed is amazingly comfortable, and you need sleep, lots of good, deep sleep, it would appear.”
He reached down and softly took Grace’s hand, helping her to her feet. Gently bracing her arm, he escorted her down the hall, and into his room. Stopping just inside the door, he said, “you will be safe in here. We’ll talk in the morning, about everything you shared,” and he gave her a quick hug, stepped back into the hall, and closed the door.
Grace was grateful she’d met this kind person. She also realized there were too many questions to answer, too many unknowns, just too damned much to even think about right now. She certainly needed a safe shelter, and definitely sleep. “Yes, in the morning,” she mumbled to the closed door. Then, hugging her ringed leather bag, with the very mysterious envelope Eric had demanded, tucked safely inside… Grace shuffled across the room — and collapsed on the bed.
fate is a puzzle
how does one make sense of it
best let it unfold
This is a photo of the middle Clackamas River, this river I love. For a sense of scale, look closely, you will barely see a white water raft passing between the rocks.Author’s note:Not far from the home in which I lived for 25 years in Oregon, flows the Clackamas river. It falls from the Cascade Mountains down the westward slope of Mt. Hood, through a gorgeous rugged canyon. It is a young, geologically speaking, and powerful river. Cold, pure, drinkable water – alive with native trout. My son Justin rafted its whitewater rapids, and I fly-fished these waters. Every trip into this captivating wilderness freed my soul, touched my heart, and ignited my sense of wonder. This magnificent natural paradise is the inspiration for “The River!”.
Gazing up this magnificent canyon
cut by time and current
in the great rock of the earth
I marvel
the power
the beauty
the determination
of this mighty river
sculpting this majestic work
it tumbles
relentlessly
in timeless clarity
over boulder and falls
in onward resolve
I’m captivated
by the song
of the wind
that plays the boughs
of the towering pines
that scale the cliff walls
it soars skyward
then wafts gently
down the lofty climbs
brushes my face
tosses my hair
and dances past me
round the river bend
Jabberwock’n Luv (phonetically)
~
A ghost-lee fine look-er-miz
with a sof-ti-cal smile
swings leg-nous-lee swell
in rare girl-lee-ghost style
such a score-chi-ful bo-di-face
as might burn-lee-bad be
en-stokes sul-tri-fi-cay-tion
that e-row-za-nates me
my steam-lee-ful brigh-ten-blinks
are max-fi-ren-ly day-zened
by the beau-ti-fa-li-ci-tee
she or-bi-nous-lee blay-zened
I shoun’t slah-bern-lee droo-le-nate
over her pow-ti-fuss chu-bens
nor ten-der-li-cious-lee og-gla-nate
her my-god-lee bu-bub-bins
it’s lew-day-cious-lee nix-i-cated
to stare-zing luv-lus-ting-lee
so as girl-lee-ghost swing-you-lated
I mine-da-filed my biz-nes-si-tee
but in drea-me-ton’s rel-men-hood
as my mem-or-a-ti-cus re-mem-ber-ated
I ree-zoo-ma-fied sweet gur-lee-good
as my blood-pum-pi-nay-tor en-thraw-bi-nay-ted
when more-nin-sun ree-tur-ni-fied
I wo-ke-nay-ted all in-fa-chew-cay-ted
and im-me-dee-ous-lee pled-ji-fide
girl-lee-ghost-’d be re-a-ni-may-ted
~ ~ ~
“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”
Melancholy’s grey
the black of loss
fear’s dark ebony
the violet of regret
the purples of pain and anger
sorrowful blues
peaceful greens
golden joy
laughter’s bright amber
love’s ruby red
the scarlet of passion
the white of knowledge
these are the colors
of my life
painted by the brushstrokes of time
blended in the palette
that defines my essence
T his epiphany
incandesces my essence
burns deep my soul
stirs my spirit
unsettles my being
ignites my wonder
and whets my seeker’s vessel
with need to be filled full
at once familiar
yet exotically foreign
strangely boxed
but exquisitely wrapped
in longing
loss
love
and infinitely more
it reachs to a hollow place
deep within
echoing a past
awakening a myth
exposing that which I embrace
in the moment
as truth
stirring my pain
my loneliness
my hope
offering just enough answer
that I combust with questions
sacred uncertainties
suspended in inquiry
in memories of neverwas
recognition of evermore
enrapt in blissful cognizance
of that which was once not known
but now love breaks like a golden dawn
once transfixed by this mystery
I am now elevated by insight
impaled by love’s vision
aflame in ecstasy
the portal is thrown open
love rises like the sun
it is a good day
