Time.

The sky overhead was summer

The sand on the shore was gold

And 'ere the rock and stones tumbled

Where her soul and spirit rolled

The firmament expanse periwinkle

Reflected her facets and shades

O'er the yonder the children called

A game of swords and spades

Her shades and colours deepened

The deeper along you go

Sapphire twinkles shone in her eyes

As the Sun lit her aglow

Her children they danced in the moonlight

As the world was lulled to sleep

The slumbering Earth was quiet

In her arms they did weep

The fronds swayed green with a wind's caress

As in Morpheus's arms they lay

Her gentle spirits fueled their love

As they journeyed to seize the day

And yet her rage boiled over

Like a spirit of a woman scorned

And again she was her sweet dear self

Such like a gentle new born

When her furor took over her

The winds of the storm they blew

O'er the hills and the sprays of breeze

Bore witness to her rue

Her eyes shine like crystal

Her heart is a coveted prize

For what man could be great enough

To kiss her diamond eyes?

Her gentle sways it lulls them

She changes her ways each day

And yonder light breaks the horizon

As they slowly wander astray

Disappearing to the soft air

She watches them say goodbye

She shines a spectrum, a rainbow of light

Her voice reduced to a sigh

The sky overhead was summer

The sand on the shore was gold

And 'ere the rock and stones tumbled

Where her soul and spirit rolled

Her lauzline eyes they speak to them

Of tales and those water graves

While the albatross soars, against the blue

You hear the sound of those waves

 

Halestorm.

Autumn always thrilled her. The first falling leaves with the bitter-sweetness of the ending summer that faded away into the oncoming cooling winds put a smile on her heart and face. She loved playing in the piles of tossed leaves and scouting around for apples, the delicious smells of apple pies wafting from the kitchen.

Or maybe it was him.

He was Autumn.

Now to many people this would not make sense, seeing the similarities between a person and a season, but to Haley it made perfect sense. Just like Joseph Hayden's symphonies paid heed to all four seasons, everything about him was early Autumn. Still light because of the ending summer and yet rich, indulgent and beautiful, trully manna to her soul.

It was his eyes. She saw autumn in them.

There was the hazel. The simple, pure, magical hazel. Yet it was only she who could see the colors of autumn in his eyes. The woody browns of the shedding barks, the sun kissed orange of apples that littered the garden blended in with the deep golds of the sun filtering in through the leaves and the deep velvety moss green of the rocks.. all echoing beautifully with the haunting gray of a dusky October sky and the beautiful jade of a blade of grass in the meadow at twilight. Robbie's eyes spoke of Autumn and the colors in his eyes were the perfect balance of colors, a beautiful symphony of the shades of Fall. A beautiful tribute to the falling maple leaves being blown delicately by the gentle breezes.

Haley was thinking these things. She was seated under a tree. Their tree, with their initials carved on to the bark, a tree that bore witness to some of the happiest and the hardest memories of their lives together. Each little cross on the back represented a a happy day and each straight line represented a sad day, a fight they had. These little lines and crosses came together to make a beautiful pattern on the bark. It was both designs together which made up the pattern. Crosses alone won't be as beautiful. It was an echo of their lives. Time got hard, but it's their toughness that stood through them. Each cross was next to a line, simply showing that one has to live through the hard moments to get to the next happy one. Robbie had Haley to turn to. Haley had the safe anchor of Robbie's arms.

Early spring was the one that got to him. Early spring signified so much to him, so much about her. It was the slowly fading whites of winter and the prospect of hope of a dawning spring that made him see her as the spring. She was always the little piece of hope that he relied on when things got rough around him. She made sense of the madness that surrounded him. When the sanity was on the brink of losing itself, she always put him back together like she always did, with her love and her ways, her touch and her voice.

Just like Haley saw the colors of Autumn in Robbie's eyes, he saw Spring in hers. The grays of the partially melted snow, the fresh blue of the frozen lake on which children skated on, the thawing azure of ice..they were all delicately threaded together with the gray and white of the hail-storm heavy winter sky. She really was her Halestorm in more than just words. She, this beautiful girl this perfect specimen of splendour brought out all the redeeming qualities in him just like he made her feel beautiful, wanted and loved. He felt secure and he felt strong, knowing that she got his back and was constantly by his side like an ever faithful shadow, never wavering in her strength or vacillating in the light that she shone on him.

When he approached her, Robbie saw Haley seated at their tree, staring at the beautiful pattern of happy and sad that made up their lives, that made them truly glad for each moment they shared together be it joyous or sad.

"Bunneh" he whispered as he got closer to her and she stood up.

"Roo" she replied, holding her arms out to him in a gesture that always made him feel loved.

He held her, breathing in the soft fragrance of her hair and the delicate flowery aroma about her. There was something about the way she felt on his skin and smelled to him that reminded him of the softest, tastiest, most delectable cupcake and he closed his eyes and breathed deeply, his arms around her, holding her, never to let go.

A moment passed and she kissed him, trying her best to tell him what she felt for him, trying to put her feelings into that kiss. Robbie, being Robbie understood what she was saying and kissed this girl of his, kissing Haley and she was the softest honey and the creamiest ice cream all intermingled into one. Word would never be enough for what he felt for her, this amazing girl now in his arms, this girl he got to kiss, make love to and live forever with. No, "love" was simply not enough. He felt like a happy helium balloon, filled with love, his heart rising and skipping beats as she held onto to him, not letting go. Her heart thumped happily in response to hers and though they didn't realize it, their hearts, breathing and their lives synced in beat. His hazel eyes found her gray ones.

Autumn found Spring.

A storm of love burst forth.

Robbie and Haley, thank you.

Love transcends all differences. You two are proof. :)

Something Deeper.

She was the smallest girl of her age that he had ever seen. She was eighteen years old and she could easily pass off as a sixth grade child except she was mature in her features.
When he stared at her, he could not fathom why he dated her. Being the gallant guy he is, he was not one to make her cry and leave her because she was small. As much as it took strength to hold on, he could not bring his heart to feel that excitement he knew that the inklings of love brought.

Love makes you want to sing doesn't it? Doesn't it make you want to write odes to your lady's hair and make a fool of you? Why didn't he feel these things? Why was he confused? Why was the only time he remotely felt happy was when he was with his friend Haley? She confused him. She trully did.

They were lying in bed. A night of pointless, useless lovemaking after which he felt exhausted. She couldn't please him. Her body was too small to incorporate him and it affected their movement. He felt embarassed to admit it. He couldn't even feel remotely stimulated let along reach an orgasmic peak. Why so? Why was this so difficult?

He talked to Haley. He didn't feel too bad now. Her stream of babble he found to be entertaining and the more she insisted that her glasses were ugly, the more stubborn he was in maintaing that she looked perfectly gorgeous in them. They talked about a lot of things, comparing music tastes and so on, linking each other videos and then intellectually talking about the many plus points and minus points. He felt that there was a piece of sanity, and that was Haley. His friend who kept him functioning within the whirpool mess of his relationship.

Another night in bed. Again and again he tried until he finally gave up. She could not please him and this frustrated him. He clawed at his head in pent up anger while she slept, completely unaware of the way his life was falling apart. He was stuck with a girl who could gratify him mentally nor physically. Far from gratification, she simply messed with his mind. He couldn't figure out what he felt for her, only that he didn't love her. That much, he was sure. No, love couldn't feel this terrible. Love wouldn't mess him up so. He knew that for sure. He just wanted to part ways but he could see no way out. He didn't want to upset her by leaving her because he wasn't a breaker of hearts. No, he couldn't do that, He needed a way out. He would confess these problems to no one so he was given little comfort. The time he felt alright was when he was away from her, away from everything that reminded him of her.

A third night of lovemaking. Only, according to what they were doing it, love was the last emotion involved. It was painful to him in an unphysical sense. It was unbearable and half the time she kissed him, he wanted to get to bed and run far away.

The night slowly turned into dawn. Still no pleasure. Sure, she might be ecstatic, but wasn't lovemaking a mutual thing? Thoughts whizzed in his head as dawn became noon. Noon went on to dusk. Dusk turned into night and night turned again into dawn. More than a day in bed with her and he gained to pleasure. Surely, either of their bodies would have given in now! No. It wearied him. He felt incompetent because he could gain no pleasure from her. He felt guilty. It was nerve wracking and sad to see the way things fell apart.

Hours upon hours of trying, he knew he was close. He closed his eyes, wating for that rushing orgasmic ebb to hit it and when it did, it was Haley's name that escaped his mouth. It was Haley's face that filled his head while another girl was lying on top of him. It was only after he had said "Haley!' several times that he realised what he had said. Needless to say, that was the infallible ending of that relationship.

He was relieved, and then he was happy. He was more than anything, confused. Why, why had he said Haley? He barely knew her. They have known each other for a short while. Maybe, the deeper vagaries of the heart are unseen by common eyes and common sense? No. He puzzled over this matter for days. He decided he needed to see her, to talk to Haley and to figure out what happened, It was embarassing, but he knew she would understand. She was a wonderful person like that.

He waited patiently. She was supposed to meet him so that they could talk and figure things out. He wanted an explanation for what happened. He just needed to rationalize his thoughts in his mind.

During that day, somewhere in between sharing sodas and cupcakes, her lovely-gray blue eyes found his as she said his name softly. It was like a supernova inside him. A wonderfully cataclysmic tremor shook his very soul and he knew. He knew at once. This was love. Nothing less. Just pure, untainted love in it's blossming, budding form. He cupped her chin and kissed her. not wanting to neglect the feeling inside and as his hand moved to her neck, he felt her delicate pulse fluttering wildly against his fingers. He couldn't help but smile knowing that he made her heart race and then his realised that his own heart was hammering against his ribs in mantric happiness. He wanted to sing, he wanted to hold her and tell her that she was amazing, he could see her face in lovely planes and valleys. He kissed her again, kissing her forehed. All these attributes he could see and he wondered why he couldn't see them before. He loved this girl and he was certain she felt the same. When he looked at her, her sparkling eyes were answer enough. Why didn't he see it all this time?

Maybe, the deeper vagaries of the heart are unseen by common eyes and common sense.....

Thank You for the story Rob and Hales. 

You two are great together :)

Reality.

Wake up! Wake up your voice beckoned to me
I told you that I liked the dark
But look outside, you told me
And showed me that my life was stark
Step outside, you told me
Come, enjoy the flowers!
Let the warmth of the day cradle you
Don't be down and dour

I'm sick of waking I told you
Because I dread the end
I want to dream and not ever know
If I have any real friend
But reality is so much more you said
So much vibrant than a dream
Because the real word keeps on changing
Nothing is as it seems

So I woke and then you walked with me
Along a deep, rutted road
Ditches, potholes, I kept falling
And then you lightened my load
We walked to a cliff, the sea so vast
Spread out like a blue silk fine
The sun on our backs, the wind on our hair
Made everything glow and shine

Walk to the edge with me you said
And I trusted you to hold my hand
So there we were at the brink of falling
Looking out over the land
Your voice and your heart assured me
Your kisses, they spoke the same
I felt so safe and loved and wanted
Whenever you said my name

I left my dreams and came with you
But then, what did you do?
You walked the lonely road with me
But I know now nothing, is true
You see, reality is changing
Where as dreams, they just remain
So when you pushed me off that cliff
Did you feel any pain?

Or did you feel the love that I gave you?
Those nights I held you to me?
Did you turn away while I was falling down
On to the deathly rocks of the sea?
But even as I kept falling
I didn't have the heart to hate
Because the happiness you showed me outshone it
Outshone my sad, loveless fate

Did you remember what you spoke
And the way I felt on your skin?
Was that a tear that I saw in your eye
Did you feel like you did truly win?
Do you still remember these things?
Because I still hear you voice
I call out to you, but you can't hear me
Sorry to say it was your choice

So maybe now you're thinking of me
Analysing things that went wrong
And maybe you'll hear my voice in the wind
Singing our favorite songs
What might happen, I do not know
What things that you might redeem
But the next time dearest, please be aware
That I am choosing the dreams.

Rainbows.

Broken street. Dilapidated houses, regular screaming, the occasional gunshot. Breaking glass, arrays of liquor bottles. Beer cans, soda cans and garbage cans all over. Kids carrying guns to school, adults drunk and fallen on their own porch steps, grass growing wild on lawns, creeping up the boarded broken houses like sneaky parasite sucking the life out of  it's host.

The corner of the street. Several broken Carlsberg bottles glinting like emerald in the bleak sunlight of the afternoon. Weather: overcast and murky. As always. A group of four eighteen year old boys, bordering on the edge of maturity, long hair and short thoughts, swathed in a cloudy haze of bluish smoke, cigarette butts littered at their feet. But why? Shouldn't the cigarettes be in their mouths, squeezing the life out of them one lung cancer cell at a time? Oh no, these boys were more careful. They didn't want to risk dying SO soon, so they resorted to "healthier" methods. Just like the rest of us were using biodegradable materials in a synthetic polymer world to save Earth, these boys were using more "nature-friendly" products.

"Going Green" they called it.

The odour of the smoke was bitingly sweet with a tangy sourness to it, so unlike the choking nicotine saturated smoke of a cigarette. After all, nicotine is nicotine and very bad for you. Why, weed just made you miss your synapses for a little while you traveled to La La Land and paid a visit to the rainbow colored llamas there. Oh no, marijuana is the way to go, so much better than cigarettes.

"Man, toss me a roll man, I need another" said one of the boys, slurring on his words. He was dressed in a red hoodie and pants at least three sizes too large, his white Addidas gleaming. Weed SIMPLY wasn't enough for this young man, he had to drink himself senseless one a bottle of Jack Daniel's as well. The grip on his bottle was shaking as he took another glug. His mate tossed him a tightly rolled bud of weed and he lit it up and inhaled deeply. Immediately he was in his happy place.

"You think we should go home now man?" said another one of the boys. This one was in a white tank top, his arms tattooed, a black beanie on his head. A bag was slung on one of his shoulders. The boy in the red hoodie had his eyes closed and did not answer. The other one, the one who tossed the roll [he was in a yellow Converse jersey] replied from his perch on the graffitied dumpster.

"Why wouldja wanna go home? This not good enough for ya?" he asked threateningly. But of course he was too stoned to even sound remotely interested. His bloodshot eyes were glassy and out of focus.

"Naw, man, just that ma would be wondering where I went" replied beanie.

"Yo ma's to drunk to care man. She must be screwing some white trash piece o' shit right about now" he answered.

The fourth boy was seated on the dirty ground of the alleyway, the laces of his extremely dirt sneakers tangled up. He giggled stupidly.

"Yeah Stan, every'un knows yo ma's a ho" he said.

"Shut the fuck up ULYSSES" grumbled beanie, using his friend's lesser known middle name. At that, the red hoodie opened his eyes and laughed.

"Ulysses? Man, how come y'never told us? We your homies bro" he said laughing.

"Shut up all o'you" grumbled Ulysses. "Joe, you got some coke on ya?" he asked. Yellow Converse mumbled incoherently for a little while looking around his pocket.

"Fifty dollars man, that's how much I coulda sold this for" he complained.

"Man you already made five hundred off the other lot" argued Ulysses.

"Yeah yeah whatever" replied Joe and tossed a plastic packet of white power to Ulysses. He pocketed it. The other two boys watched the exchange uninterestedly. Red hoodie took another puff.

"Man, who you taking that coke to?" he asked.

"I ain't taking it to anyone Brad" he answered.

"I dun hardly see you do coke anymore man, and I know you ain't taking it to your asshole brother" argued Brad.

"It's a chick ain't it Ulysses huh?" teased Stan.

Ulysses didn't reply. Yellow Converse Joe turned his gaze to Ulysses.

"You givin' my shit to some chick man? I'll beat you're crap head to pulp asshole" he said, standing up.

"Joe Joe, man it ain't just some chick man, I think I'm in love with her. She lives on Upper North-cut" Ulysses admitted.
At that, all other three laughed.

"You just drunk and stoopid boy. Ain't any chick living on Upper North-cut gonna like you fail 'tard. Mussbe some crack whore" commented Brad.

"Why you always gotta look down upon me man? Her name's Julia and she's freakin' hot man. And she knows how to beg man.. Damn, she's begs me for coke it's ucking irresistible man" said Ulysses, lost in thought.

"Is that the only thing she begs for huh?" laughed Stan.

"Shut up Stan" Ulysses mumbled.

"You maybe fucking this chick, that don' give you right to give my shit to her Ulysses. It's my fucking shit" he Joe said.

"C'mon man, this one's special" said Ulysses.

"You know your fucking place boy. No one gets free shit from me 'cept you three and you ain't gonna be going around giving it off. Anyone who wants it gotta buy it"

"Aww man-" interrupted Ulysses but Joe cut him short.

"If this chick wants coke so bad and is fuckin' rich enough to live in Upper North, then she can bloody well buy it" concluded Joe. "Or else Imma give you suck a kick in the nuts she won't have anything to blow on"

Brad and Stan giggled while Joe waited. Joe, being the leader was fair minded.

"If she gains my trust though, she can hang with us, and I'll discount her pay, but she still gotta pay for shit aite? You bring her to meet us. If she bitches about us, Imma kill you boy" Joe added.

"She won't man, she hates her white trash parents and shit, that's why she got into coke" Ulysses assured.

"I don't need a fuckin' CV asshole. Just, bring here tomorrw aite? But she gotta pay for her shit. We in agreement?"

" 'Kay Joe. Julia. Here. Tomorrow" Ulysses said.

"We better be getting home man" Brad cut in, nodding towards Stan. "My ma might go and bitch to Stan's ma and you know how Stan's ma is when she's drunk". Brad concealed his head in his hoodie and took the last gulp of his Daniels. Stan adjusted the strap of his bag.

"Later man" he said, slapping Ulysses and Joe on the back while Brad followed suit.

"I gotta go too man" said Ulysses, standing up.

"Bring your chick here tomorrow" reminded Joe.

"Yeah yeah" he replied.

"And she pays for her shit!" Joe shouted after him. Ulysses waved a hand in acknowledgment. Joe smiled on securing another revenue generating means and took a puff of his nearly finished bud. Who say's getting stoned and doing coke makes things worse? It's so fuckin' awesome.

Another day, another business deal. Joe smiled.

The Friendly Face in the Crowd

The crowds gathered below her

To witness her untimely fall

As the crowds gathered previously

To bear the witness to it all

Long enchanting summers

Several years before

They stood for admiration

For her music, poetry and show

They stood to speak of her beauty

Of her poise, grace and charm

Of her wit and graceful turn of neck

A frond of delicate palm

They sang praises when she read

And read compliments when she sang

For no other queen nor princess

Is of such grace in all the land

When she danced they watched her

With hungry eyes and hearts

Desirable woman and supple curves

Oh how she played her part

They all wanted her attention

And vied forever for her smiles

Penning words for her perfect brow

And praising her trends and style

And ere she stands before them

Those people who she knew

But yet, all is an illusion

She knew as the sword withdrew

These people who had proclaimed love

Were now just hypocrites

Watching her yes, but wanting her not

No praise not word for her wit

The poetry they sung were over

The wells of song, now dry

For they looked upon her from below

Silhouetted against the summer sky

Her turn of neck still graceful

Her face yet the beautiful cream

No word nor song reached her

Nothing to say nor redeem

She slowly fell to her knees

Still the princess, the queen

Still the gracious, the wonderful woman

The land had ever seen

She held her dignity and her head high

Her eyes simply scanned the crowd

She held her charm she showed no fear

As the noise and din grew loud

She found his face staring at her

Strong as it always was

She needed a smile not sympathy

For this act was of not just cause

Clairvoyance slowly played his part

He looked at her and smiled

His queen, this woman, it's all he saw

Her answering gaze was mild

Her eyes were open her gaze still held

The noise of the crowd then grew

These people who had said loved her

Were vile as a scavenging shrew

Her eyes found his and there it stayed

When the sword gleamed against the sky

He was her friendly face in the crowd

As she with her full grace, died.

This poem was inspired by the rise and 

the fall of the English queen Ann Boleyn,

second wife of King Henry VIII

O Barney

O Barney is a dinosaur
As gay as dinos can get
I was small when I met him
And since then it's been regret.

O Barney is a shade of purple
A sickening shade at that
Barney has big green spots
O Barney, you're so fat.

O Barney's song is stupid
O Barney, you're so lame
Everyday when I see the damn show
It's the same thing again and again

O Barney, how is that you
Have never come to realise
That it is because of you all other dinos
Promptly committed suicide?

O Barney is just a gay lizard
O Barney, you pedophile
Please take your claws away from kids
Barney, learn some style

O Barney is so very gay
O Barney, learn your songs
I bet at night Barney is a stripper
And wears male leather thongs

O Barney, just please admit
That all you do is lie
So Barney, I ask of you one thing
Please, just go die.