Smell of Desire

As time ticked slowly by, her breath was all I could hear. The distant cries of children, the thunder and rain, bells in the early shadows of the evening sun all seemed to disappear as she gently whispered to me while she slept.

Images, visions, reality seemed to drop away quickly now as eyes that could barely stay open closed and into bliss the first step was taken.

Her horse nudged beside her, turning, surprised. The lush green grass cooled her bare feet, she dug in playfully into the soil, feeling every sense in her body pulse with such tranquility. She giggles, leans her head on her horse and gently strokes her. She encourages her and before she knows it she's one with the wind, her dark hair wild as she gave herself in to freedom. Golden brown sunlight shines off the calm ocean waves, it's sound lifting her spirit higher. It sang to her and she moved in time to its silent crash and roar. White sandy beaches, the scent of nature, she was lost in it.

In the distance, figures move towards her, curious. Her horse seems to understand and she is now again being led ever so carefully on. She hears voices, though against the breeze, it sounds clear.

"Mother!"

Her children, running with arms wide open, joyful in her return. Her horse lets her down and they run into her arms, hugs of love, appreciation, cherish, desire overwhelm her and they roll in the sand, laughter echoing throughout the wild. She turns to the look, and there lies a house and yet another figure.

She gathers her children in her arms, tiny hands holding onto her skirt as they walk towards the house. She wonders who is this person standing there, waiting. She draws nearer and a smile greets her, knowingly, filled love love and passion. Their eyes meet, a tear of happiness trickles down her cheek and....

.....she knew she was home.

Lincoln

"So I said yeah, tuna is fine. And he looks at me real pissed sort and I give him the stare ya know. Ok, then he starts stuffing my sandwich with lettuce and tuna..."

"Hold on. Everyone knows the tuna goes first, then the lettuce."

"Yeah ok, whichever, so he puts the tuna and the lettuce, looks up at..."

"You don't care do you? You know why the tuna goes first?"

"What? No, why...?"

"The lettuce wraps the tuna, so when yer bite, tuna don't spill the fuck outta your face like yer nets broken."

"Ok, so what, i'm telling the story..."

"Nyeh..."

And they go on to argue more about tuna and how they should be caught. Lex, an arms reach away looked sideways at me, obviously uncomfortable. His lips puckered slightly his brow creased in a frown. I quickly looked back at the gate. I cleared my throat.

"He scares me you know. The one with the...."

I pointed to my face and drew a line mimicking a scar.

"....the, you know yeah."

I blinked quickly unsure of what to say. Lex shuffled his feet left and right.

Then Lex spoke.

"Think we should just leave? I'm a bit spooked."

"Thought you'd never say it. But think it's alright? What with the boss coming..."

"I'd say fuck it. He don't even know. And look at the mess."

"Yeah, go, really."

And so they left the two to bicker on and on through the evening as the stink worsened. They looked around for the two that left, but they were no where to be found.

"Lou, we're dead."

"Why, Dan, why? I don't like dead."

"They left."

"Who did?"

"Who the fuck else? The two crazies"

"Where did they go?"

"Oh, yeah, see they went that way then they made a left turn, stood on their hands and did a left tit shimmy. Where did they go, how the fuck would I know that?"

"Oh right. That's a good thing right? They gave me goosebumps."

"No it's not."

"Why?"

"Christ I'm tired. Cause the boss is on the way here and he'll think we did this..."

He waved his hands in front of him at the pile of bodies stuck together, slick, wet, rotting and dirty.

Grey Wall

As the winds cleared the dust on the plain, bright shining armor gleamed in the midday sun lighting up the entire horizon. It seemed heavenly, the golden light shimmering as they breathed deep.

Battle horns sounded, whips lashed as horses neighed in protest.

The castle was dark, the men trembled and hid behind stone columns.

They drew nearer, the thuds of heavy stone battering the sturdy walls, breaking, crumbling them.

The day was over, the battle won.

But not yet.

His voice thundered through the mountains, shook the trees, scattered the birds and broke the will of mens hearts. They stopped dead in their tracks, fear gripped them like an ungodly vice. The sky darkened, the very world seemed to hide and tremble from his voice.

And again he roared as he appeared from the skies, his hands raised in anger.

Thousands fled, cringed, pleaded. He stood there, rage filling his veins, eyes burning in hate.

They knew what they had done. They knew what he could do.

They knew his power.

Fear, anger, hurt.

And the ground split in two as his hammer crashed into the earth, shattering the age of men.

Orius Kryptos

2027BC

LSD

Is it me or is everything gently falling into place?

Surprising me at every turn, yet with such kindness.

Turn around have faith in all the changes.

Till She Cries No More

I cringed as I felt it. Closer and closer. And I knew, but didn't want it.

Before I realized, it hit me like a truck and I was choking, reeling in the dark. The anger fluxed. And I heard the wings beckon, pleading to listen and move away.

I did.

There I was, on the ledge I find myself coming back to time and time again. Wings shielded me from the hard cold rain. My fingers felt the sharp edge, water rushing to fill the ends of the streets. How high will I always be? Watching you, watching everyone. I am here because I must live.

I am here because I am needed.

I am here because...

I do not feel.

Ave

I made that walk.

With each stride I drew closer, time stopped and all was silent as I looked at the people passing by. I saw her through the window in a red apron, hair tied up, hands busy moving swiftly, smoothly.

I gently pushed the door open without a sound, found an empty chair, laid the case on the table and took out my guitar. I sat down, placed my hands on the strings and played.

I didn't see her turn, I didn't see her gasp, I didn't see her at all. I looked up to glance at her, to see her hands covering her mouth. I smiled a small smile and returned to my guitar.

I didn't care anymore, I just wanted to say the tiny things I never could say, I wanted to say I was real and here I was.

But how would I ever know?

Because I said I did and I meant every word.

Prison

He stood by me in the dark, just watching.

We'd made some progress. Merkain had potential, but he was still young. He'd done some very precise work that I'd admired. He reminded me of a younger, bolder me. The council revolved around time, the timing needs to be perfect. I scoffed at Shval for making it all too clear. Me, the one who perfected time before perfection could be timed. But respect is timely, and timed well, it is perfection. And so, I wait.

Merkains breath literally clouded up the shadows.

"You keep breathing like that, they'll know we're here."

"So, you'll just tear 'em to bits."

"No...my hand's sore from the last one we did."

"You're joking."

"Sometimes I wish I joked more so everyone would say the exact opposite. Serious seems to be too serious."

"No, you're funny."

I turned and stared at him.

"How so?"

He didn't look at me, but instead lifted his arms and pranced on the spot with his cheeks bloated out. I frowned.

"That was a very, very long time ago. And who told you that story?"

"Story? It wasn't a story. Syriane swore it was true."

"Syriane needs to get out more. She tells one too many tales to too many young ones."

Merkains aura diminished. He looked to me for many a thing, and I loved him as one of my own. This, I never made obvious, but he knew. He learned to feel quicker than the rest.

"Don't. You know why I chose only you to come with me. It will never change despite what I say or do."

"I know."

I felt sad and distant as I felt him look up at me, wishing I would say or express more. But I couldn't. The more I dwelt on it, I wanted to rise and wreck my pain across the universe. Yet it would prove nothing. To burn within is to keep the brightest fire alive.

Merkains hand on my arm stunned me momentarily. I didn't move.

"Someday, somehow, it will come. I'll wait with you, if that's ok. For however long it will take. Till this body rots."

And deep down I wept for the pain ran deeper than my eternal bleeding soul.

Miles By Strides

And that time contraption never worked.

It never looked better but Byle said that it did and I trusted that. Having a a second opinion on stuff that mattered made assurances assuring.

"Is he coming? Said he'd be here by three."

"And I'm supposed to know, how?"

His eyes widened and I laughed.

We make cookies when the sun shines and that's just the sideline. Then I saw him coming up on the corner so I had to turn off Sesame Street and focus.

"Checker?"

"Yeah. You made the call?

"Last week in Twholly. Time?"

"Right 'bout now. We've got a great view."

We turned to the harbor and Byle pointed out a spot out in the distance.

"Is it safe?"

I snorted in laughter then the doubt kicked in. I looked at him, then back at Byle.

"Are we?"

But Byle's face was warped as he stared up and behind me.

"We're too late."

An Old Man, In An Attic

Oh, the wind, the wind is blowing,

through the graves the wind is blowing,
freedom soon will come;
then we'll come from the shadows.

he was strong while i was meek

songs he sang from me to him i keep

days to remember, time seems to peek

around the corner, corners so deep

run, run, sway in the wind

long friends, distant kin

are flying on wings so thin

the longing, cold, lies therein

take me there?

On That Sunday

I heard them, I heard their voices rise high and sink deep.

Entering the chapel, heads turned at the back in curiosity. Crossing myself, I moved over to an empty seat. My hood was up, I wanted to be alone. Shuffling through to the seat, I sat down and listened. I closed my eyes and felt it speak to me, felt my spirit calm and surround me. I was here at last, alone with my angel. My angel...

I hung my head and tears began to swell in my eyes. I throbbed in silent weeping as I felt it course through me, I was pleading, searching, praying.

The deacons around found it disrespectful I had worn a hood in the chapel, and so, one of them walked over to approach me.

Tears fell at my feet as I continued to commune with my angel. I felt a tap on my shoulder and an abrupt halt from it being repeated. What I didn't know was the person beside me had stopped the deacon from disturbing me. He knew I was praying, crying. The deacon moved away.

Then I felt a gentle hand caress my back, soothing, comforting me. Another hand from the right held my hand and I grasped it, holding on, thankful. I sobbed in joy.

He then said, "Cry, friend, cry. You are safe here..."

Curly Clouds

And so it begins once again.

The rebirth, the recluse.

What fuels it? What makes the very air I breathe, change? Only you know. I want to run, run and run. Where is my freedom, am I to be chained forever? To that land where I am shrouded with undying mystery and wonder, where I can hear their voices fill every corner of my soul and body, where I am who I am with them.

Them.

Who are you?