The Devil – 11/1000

We knew from the very first moment that he was the one.

He fit the description perfectly – skin white as porcelain, black hair, black eyes, eyes that were a void, and terrible to behold.

He came quietly, opening and shutting the door so only the faintest whiff of smoke and light from the burning pyre made its way into the sanctuary.

At the altar, he turned and rose his arms, the smell of sulfur stinging our noses.

“Are you all worthy?” his voice boomed.

And suddenly we realized we weren’t, so we ran as fast and far as we … Read the rest

location tracking -10/1000

The rain is battering the skylight, and Bess sits close to the radiator, chilled to the bone.

Her eyes are glued to her computer, watching the little dot that was Mike moving away from her as she wept.

“I’m done,” he’d said. “I’m leaving.”

But she couldn’t let him go in weather like this. The rain would turn to ice at any moment. She had to go after him.

Bess sped as fast as she could to reach him, but the dark, icy rain was blinding and her tires were starting to slip.

They never found each other.

Or Bess.… Read the rest

so much

I am a broken person. I was a broken person when you met me, and you were broken, too. I suppose we justified ourselves by saying, we’re so much alike, we have so much in common, we enjoy each other’s company so much. It was only after the fact, once everything fell under the category of “too late” that we realized the weight of our choices, and how our baggage doesn’t jive like the rest of us. But we love each other so much. 

Today’s poetry prompt words were: justified, after the fact, and weight.

Photo by Michael Fenton on Read the rest

dear jenny – 9/1000

Jenny,

I am ok. I’m where
I’m supposed to be.
I know you must be angry
I left, but please,
think of me as I was
when we last kissed.

This island is beautiful,
you would love it.
The palm trees sway
in the magic light of
sunrise and sunset, and
I think about you
every time the light
kisses the waves of
this vast ocean
I got lost in without you.

There was a storm, Jenny,
and there was nothing
I could do to save myself.

I thought I was dead,
but no, I’m still here
dreaming of you.… Read the rest

a willing ear – 8/1000


Everyone is thrilled she is coming, and they clamber to get tickets to her show before they sell out.

The excitement builds but people start falling. First the banker’s wife, found dead with her ears cut off.

“Her EARS?”

“Oh, yes.”

On opening night, the theatre has many empty seats, yet she sings so beautifully, no one notices she can’t pack a house.

By the last night of her show the theatre is only half full, yet she shines anyway.

It helps to know that even when she can’t pack a theatre, she always has a willing ear to listen.… Read the rest

manifesting

I see myself sitting poolside, my pool boy in his tiny shorts skimming the cool blue water, and I ring a bell for someone to come bring me another iced tea. It’s so Gatsby. Though I am nowhere near the glitz, and nobody knows my name, don’t underestimate me. I’ll publish five books a year and be a millionaire before I’m done with this life.

Today’s poetry prompt words were: poolside, underestimate, and five.

Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash

that guy – 7/1000


I hardly recognize him.

This isn’t the pimply, pockmarked face under greasy hair I remember from high school.

This can’t be the guy who got spitballed and wedgie’d, who was tripped in halls, who had his lunch tray dumped on his lap.

This can’t be that guy, because this guy is glowing.

I see him in the grocery store, pushing a cart with two little kids, smiling brightly like the gold band on his finger.

I go home and look in the mirror and see myself as I am, and I can’t help but wonder how he got everything first.… Read the rest

him

I’m going to take my name
off the list of the ones waiting
for their person.

I’ve found mine.

The hunt has come to an end,
because this one makes me feel
like a baby bird under a wing, 
like the air we need to breathe.


No wonder he leaves me
breathless and tongue-tied.

When he holds me,
all I want in the world is him.

Today’s poetry prompt words were: list, the hunt, and tongue-tied.

Photo by Igor Rodrigues on Unsplash