Possible Prologue For a Book

The rapids rushed in from all sides, whipping my head around in un-natural directions. Everything was black, pitch-black-dark. My legs had become noodles bouncing around in over boiling water. The air inside my lungs wasn't enough to feed my exasperated heart. Spasms tightened my exhausted muscles in my arm as they hopelessly fought to keep hold of the rotten branch, the only thing preventing me from completely going under. It was my only hope, I mustn't let it go. I gnawed my teeth together and kicked against the timultuous pounding of the unforgiving water. Using every last ounce of the power in my shoulders I broke the water's surface. Daylight blinded my  water-logged eyes, oxygen bursted throughout my being. A dream much too great to behold more than a split second in which I was back beneath fighting for myself.

I strained, I begged, I yanked at my muscles. I pleaded for them to please, please pull me through. They were failing me. They wouldn't listen. How could they do this to me?

The water smothered my face, erasing my tears. My journey had bever been easy. Wasn't there a better way? I opened my mouth to scream for help. A mouth-full of viral water was the only thing I got. Another spasm striked and dominated my quivering shoulders. An especially rough swell shoved my pitiful frame, pushing me against something sharp. Needle-like pain throbbed in my stomach, knocking the only bit of airi left in my lungs out and into the rushing current. My throat sucked helplessly for the relief of air but nothing came. I felt my muscles weeze and begin to shut down. This was it, what else could there be? My time had come.

My world went black while my eyes remained open. My gripping hands released their hold. My aching body was swept away, going with the jagged rises and falls in the natural curvature in the current's swells.

But then, abruptly, my body was yanked from the rushing river. The jolt of solid, rocky, ground surged mucky water out of my lungs and through my mouth. It trickled down the my pale cheeks. My extremeties refused to move, but my eyelids parted slightly. Though water-logged and hazy from the filth that had collected in them, they shot an image of heavily mudded, brown working boots to my delusional conscience.

The image was breif. Darkness caved in once again as everything went black.

The World Awaits

The World Awaits

Created in the image

of perfection-

whittled from the

finest wood

Chizzled from the most

precious stone-

brushed on the

smoothest canvas

Cupped in the arena of

flawless fingers-

moisted lips pulled together

and part

A warm breath softly

washes over-

faintly a heart beats

beginning steadily

Calling in the distance the

world awaits-

bracing itself for utter

resounding beauty

A New Home

A New Home

The colors on the walls

to not match

at one time the floors

were straight, even sturdy

now, sagging and remain rotting

Like all things on Earth

rotting away

with the broken mirrors

and molding sofa, rats

nibble at ancient crumbs

Among shards of glass

laying all around

atop the vast cracks

of a crumbling foundation

in which I called my home

Standing in the doorway

which held no door

my black-rimmed eyes

surveyed, for the last time

this wreck, a sorry excuse for a house

Dirt caked feet shuffled

me from room to room

brushing my heavily callused

hands as I went, reliving

the tireless years spent making this disaster

The corners of my eyes

caught myself in

the remains of a rutty

mirror, bestowing the sight of torn, battered

clothing on a skeleton body

Fitting too closely here, yet

too largely there

rain began again, bringing

more roof down in its path

a loud thud resounded

One last look back

into the darkness

then I was gone, holding,

clutching my arms to my

stomach, not allowing a turn back

Mud splashed up on my

shivering, bare legs

droplets rained down on my cheeks

whether tears mixed in, I

did not notice so

Onward, trudging, climbing

up the valley

the King's mansion in my

sight, slipping atop the

damp rocks, groans let out in pain

Branches, weeds, all of that sort

wrinkled wet hands

gripped with determination,

shoulders quaking to succeed

The last effort over the edge

I stood momentarily,

shoulders slightly slumped

balled hands in adrenalin fists

I was finally here

Relaxation swept over

charming my body

walking easily through the

steady sprinkling of a shower

from the rolling clouds above

Stepping each mudded foot

onto flawless marble floors

I had no questions to ask

only mysterious graciousness

for the King who asked to buy my house

Every belonging of mine too

no money he brought

only the golden key to the palace

and an urgency in his voice

to accept his offer with hast

Each room was emaculate

every corner decorated

the only thing left was

the note on small white

paper resting on a cushioned chair

"My house and possessions

are all yours

wear the jewels and crowns

explore my palace, my kingdom

it is  now your home."



Whispers in the Wind

Along the forest floor

the silence is shattered

as the branches, the leaves

begin their hourly dance

Sliding here, sliding there

to the music only

made by their stamping

errupting all around

Relaxation is carried away

an empty mind

suddenly fills, a

heart resumes a rapid beat

In the music a voice

too familiar to ignore

whispers between the beats

of the wilderness anthem

The whispers inch closer

with every passing moment

a hand reaches out as it

slips easily through the fingers

Once again the dancing stops

silence washes over

relaxation is found once more

One Window Is All I Need

One window is all I need
to watch the sky cry for me
to lose myself in its framed beauty
wishing I saw it in myself
to look out the window and touch its pane
sliding my fingers carelessly
smudging here and there
though easily wiped away on a window
the same is not for me

At Last

At Last

In a harbor just after dark

Shaky hands light the wick

A subtle flame illuminating

Pale toes beneath the

Ever coming waves; waiting

The water was warm and

Thick with sea salt much

Like the air was filled with

Anxious anticipation that caught

In a tight knot in her throat

A soft wind curled around

The coast’s bend pulling

Back the sails of the

Magnificent ship, the journey

Had not been easy nor brisk

Tireless water beneath swelled

Before it, daring and daunting,

Heaving against the crusted

Sides, thrusting the ship

Aback, but never without a fight

Many miles had separated

Along with many quiet

Nights and rainy noons,

Threading hope into a thin

But sturdy rope to hold

Again the wind blew

Bringing a brown lock into

Her face, obscuring, only

For a moment, the vision

Of her deep, never blinking eyes

High to low the swells

Carried the boat, the gusts

Forcing the sails forward

Speed growing and strengthening

Going now with and not against

Atop the bow the captain

Stood, his gleaming eyes

Set on the ongoing

Horizon, wondering if it

Had been worth his travels

Dawn was creeping on,

Tickling the  edges of the

World, her heart grew heavy

Against their rope, keeping

The flame alive, for a promise she made

She would not leave as

She had told him so, today

Was the day, in the water

She must wait and

Never fall into a slumber

He feared the sunlight

Now as he saw it peaking

In the West, its light

Was dangerous to the

Single flame that guided his journey

Cursed wind, how slow it moved

The journey was long enough!

Cursed eyes fail to find

All that he had been seeking

Time was running dry

Clammy hands twisted around

The brass holding the

Dripping candle, its wick

Was almost gone, the end

Surely now in her view

But, oh, look there!

A mast has come in view

Making a speck against

The gray, cloudless sky

Come, flame, burn a little more

Could it be what he thought?

He narrowed his eyes to see

Yes, indeed, the light he’d longed

For the many miles could

Separate them no more

At last