the crow and the line... (THE PAGES)

by
Jack Roth

“A crow perched

so nice

on an electrical line.

Mouth open.

It’s calling.

It’s calling.

It’s…”

___

Calling.

___

“Did she fuck him?”

“When can we meet?”

“Why’s she invited? I’ll just have to be nice.”

“No, I’m not mad…”

“I’m sorry, but it doesn’t…”

“She can’t…”

“…if he tries harder…”

“Why the fuck…”

“…couldn’t even eat today…”

___

Passing through

with a heavy coat of conversation

My hands still stained from the

last request.

Days rested in sorrow are a

playground

and

war zone.

The spill becomes so much

my head hurts…

My dark friend eyes me and smiles

I could reach up and snap –

(that fucking neck)

I could breathe once –

(and the world would be a waste pile)

___

“…acts like a jerk in front…”

“I told you that…”

“…lost the fucking ball…”

“Well, they just need better…”

___

Voices of calamity –

they will be the ones that pull

(the fucking trigger)

I just guide.

(in the darkness with light…

…in the shadows that never cast…

…you can only see what I show…

…and feel what I touch…)

The edge of town comes…

I must keep moving.

The darkness of the forest

gives warmth as

I know it’ll be great.

Until the return.

___

“Look at him screaming.”

(It’s calling out.”)

“What for?”

(“Crows mean death.”)

“Not if that line gives it a zap.”

(Crows always mean death.”)


Read the entire THE PAGES series (hosted by The Penny Dreadful) at Read THE PAGES!

First Art

by Derian Wisneski

Spring-o-Ween

by Jim Wisneski / Derian Wisneski

Mix

by

Derian Wisneski / Jim Wisneski

Love's Note

by

Anne Tyler Lord

Love’s Note was written, After thoughts, Between words, Without obsession.

Love’s Note was played, Between breaths, Outside sounds, Within embrace.

Love’s Note was sent, With wind, Around time, In gardenias.

Love’s Note was not read, Under sedation, Through desire, In enchantment.

Love’s Note was not heard, Inside hypocrisy, Around mediocrity, Over indulgence. Saturating with silent hypnotic bliss,

Love’s Note, always present. Awaiting Awareness in obvious sight, Love’s Note, yearns to be yours.

My First Drawing

by Derian Wisneski

Derian is a 17 month old baby going on 17 years old. He enjoys fresh milk, elmo, cookie monster, and curious george. He has five goldfish, a beta fish, a hermit crab, and two kitties. Besides sleeping and dancing, his favorite thing to do is take a tubby.

Autumn

by Nishi You would wait Wouldn't you? As I swing down the tree boughs Rowing across the river to you The leaves melt into dewdrops Slithering and whispering A tale of hope Not lost As they come alive Year after year Even when they fall Triumph or loss This emptiness is not what I am It is something more I am something more You would wait, wouldn't you? I am gone you know But not so far away, that I cannot hear You Or see you I may not believe always Your ways are true But I shall follow By lanes or crossroads Running into you And then drift away You would wait Do I need to ask? Your faith has always Beaten me I wash up on shores away From your heartbeat My back turned to you I lay staring at the sun Thirsting for a freedom that evades me You would still wait, wouldn't you? © Nishida. C. 2010. Some Rights Reserved. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution – Noncommercial - No Derivative Works 3.0 License.

Peace

by Angie Capozello

It started with a whisper of wings And the sound of trumpets

The birds fled as the first mortars fired They’re ‘softening us up’ before the charge

Voices raised in song filled the heavens Then fell silent before the hiss of drawn swords

If you hear the shriek of the shells, you’re okay It’s when it goes quiet that you worry

The sky trembled as the angels fought Brother against brother, the first holy war

Then the thundering starts, and the earth shakes As the bombardment falls like an unholy rain

It lasted forever, for a moment, an eyeblink An eternity, but it wasn’t over

The War to End All Wars wasn’t the end It just sowed the seeds for the future

There were still souls to win, Hearts and minds to sway

War rose again, like a ghastly Phoenix From the ashes scattered across a million graves

Heaven and Hell, all to win And everything to lose

Again and again, war returns With the question on the lips of humanity

Even in heaven a war was fought

How can man find peace if God could not?