attempt to break thru Hadrian's Wall
while roam'n across cyberspace of urban sprawl
dark shadows spill across
the outer limits of the twilight zone
whereby edge of night
creeps brow of me, a Neanderthal!

Since I could crawl,
People painted
Tomorrow with
Dark colors.

As I started
My modest path,
I kept running into
Many dead ends,
So I left the car
And kept going.

No easy stroll,
A rough climb
On windy hills
That make
Hurricanes
Nauseous.

A compass,
Some water,
And a will
to walk on
Unpaved roads,
With stars
As my only
Companions.

I won’t
Abandon
My route,
Even if the locals
Welcome me.

Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve
Written by Kelly Ann Wilson

I would’ve worn the white dress
I had it right there in my closet,
The one I used to play pretend in
As a child.

I could’ve had a daughter
But her dad couldn’t stay sober.
Now, the only place we see him
Is our dreams.

I should’ve been a teacher.
I’ve always been the most curious creature.
Maybe I’d’ve done something that meant something
With my days.

made fibrous threads...constituting heavy blanket
(crocheted by the missus)
on a cool Autumn like morning...

to stave off experiencing getting
chilblains, goosebumps,
or subjected to the blast of cold air
wafting thru the opened bedroom window
on a frosty early August morning
about a month before official start of Autumn.

All is quiet on this western
Front -- because my bank account is dry
Otherwise, I’d face east
I’d cheat, I’d steal, I’d lie
To make you happy, my perfect little beast
To make you safe
At least

You really are mine,
Finally.
And now I know exactly why
People take up arms and die
Of course,
All they want is peace
So much, it’s worth killing for.
And, oh, how the burden is to know
The enemy is sailing
Across the open shore
Pilling up more and more
While my wasted bones are so sore

Ssshhh! they hissed…Keep quiet!
But why? I asked
Only to be frowned upon.
Do as you are told! Don’t talk back
But I want…
Shut up!
You’re cut off!

To your own little world, you retreat
Confused over the matter
Buts and Whys flood your mind
Tears triggered to trickle down from incorruptibility
Heart pierced by double edged swords
Scarred and ruined for life
Shutting down is what you decide

Ssshhh! they hissed…Keep quiet!
But why? I asked
Only to be frowned upon.
Do as you are told! Don’t talk back
But I want…
Shut up!
You’re cut off!

To your own little world, you retreat
Confused over the matter
Buts and Whys flood your mind
Tears triggered to trickle down from incorruptibility
Heart pierced by double edged swords
Scarred and ruined for life
Shutting down is what you decide

Did you just say
You’re not worth
A price tag?

If these words
Could turn into
First-class tickets,
I’d send them
To light the dark
Corners of your room.

I know you feel
Like an expired
Boarding pass,
But remember—
You’re on a flight
To a terminal,
Not just another
Layover.

So if doubt asks
For your worth,
Tell him the register
Can’t count that high.

The Grifter

Having no idea of how deep she was in, she became careless.
Falling under his spell, wanting more of his smoldering charm.
As her guard relaxed, she loosened up, casting caution aside
feeling her confidence grow, she felt would come to her no harm.

Agreeing to see him again the next night, he smiled to himself
she was falling in love with the dark-eyed stranger of her dreams.
The prospect of marriage was presented a few months later in time
presenting a mock ring of engagement, she knew not of his schemes.

My father is much older now
and not in the best of health.
He’s still with us, but I’ve been grieving
his loss for decades in different ways.

I tossed an old photograph of him today.
Damage comes and goes as it pleases.

I don’t mean to denigrate him.
He’s not looking for forgiveness.
Maybe he has no idea he might benefit from it
in ways he is incapable of imagining.

It’s hard to admit, but I’m worried
after all these years I won’t be able
to feel grief for him like normal people.