Lockdown
Lockdown Branches twisted, twined, knotted, connecting each enchanted tree to its neighbor; roots ripped free of earth, through gaps interweaving, forming a barricade from crown to roots, that spanned a thousand feet into the air, sealing off its hinterland, keeping penned malformed creatures who eat magic. They spare no one; they kill all they encounter; penned they do no harm; their teeth made to rip flesh, not bark; their poison’s useless and their eyes don’t mesmerize plants. Keep their neighbor’s flesh whole, keep the Magic One safe, that’s the prize. So the enchanted forest’s on locked down; no one enters, nothing leaves that lock down. … Continue reading Lockdown
Takeoff
Takeoff The jet screams down the tarmac but it’s all fading fast. Grass breaks through asphalt; trees rise; branches twine forming a forbidding wall. The jet skids; its body molts its disguise. The passengers wink out of existence leaving me astride a dragon wond’ring if they were ever real. At this instant, it matters not; the dragon leaps, wings catch the updraft, propel us towards that place I can’t escape nor unplug from for long. Shayari’s calling me, I must now race back to her verdant lands, where I belong. There’s no trace of that jet left behind, nor hint of whether I was e’er … Continue reading Takeoff
Waiting
Waiting (Picks up from Light the Wreath) In dark we stand about a candle slim. We light this Advent taper in caves deep, in castles old and forests bold. Though dim it stands this tiny flame to ward of sleep. We keep the watch and wait for the promise. In monasteries, the brothers’re chanting. Everyone’s waiting for the one promised. In Shayari, purple stones are glowing, in wreaths ringed around it, families are praying. They wait for the promise to come and his light shine, banishing the darkness there. For that promise they’ll wait, do kind acts from from the heart’s wish to aid, to … Continue reading Waiting
Not a Fan: Pumpkin Chuckin’
Pumpkin Chuckin’ (Hear, ye! Hear ye! You’re invited to: The First Annual Chuckin’ of Pumpkins at Mount Eredren, Shayari Presented by Mount Eredren’s Ranger Core Judged [under duress] by its commander, Jerlo Come one; come all and have a ball!) ~ ~ ~ How’d I get into this situation? Jerlo wondered as his Rangers built trebuchets and catapults from odd bits at stations on the green. ‘Team building’, no way, it’s play- time for adults dressed up as ‘team-building’ and it cost him a day’s worth of patrols. A day for the forest to play, boding ill for people stupid enough to stroll about an … Continue reading Not a Fan: Pumpkin Chuckin’
Light the Wreath
Light the Wreath (picks up after Faith ends) Ran cracked the door open, peered though to rule out mischief in the living room. Standing there Nolo, Inari, their son Nerule, in a small circle, with Nolo talking, “…livest and reignest forever. Amen.” Nolo nodded; his son hesitated. “Put the purple one in; we can eat then.” “I’m not the youngest child,” Nerule stated. He nodded to Ran who spied all this through a door cracked open. “Ran should do this now.” “What’re you doing?” Papa asked though he knew. Or maybe he didn’t ’cause he joined Ran now. Like a protective wall, he … Continue reading Light the Wreath
November in my Rearview Mirror
November in my Rearview Mirror November draws to a close; I repose and reflect on the adventure so far. I’ve come from fantasy places supposed to exist where bright dreams and nightmares spar… Come into the seeming, the dreaming time and slip into the fantasy I’m weaving. Leave reality behind for some time, let someone else, to the real, be cleaving. Dive into these highlighted delights from November’s storehouse of memories taken. Into their fair tales do descend and come back for more for December awakens. Holidays tiptoe near on angel feet upon Shayari‘s green miles bearing treats. ~ ~ ~ Sarn, his son and … Continue reading November in my Rearview Mirror
Turkey Bowl (or Turkey’s Revenge)
Turkey Bowl (or Turkey’s Revenge) Sarn waited for Nolo to tell him what tonight would bring: practice, running, scouting or wandering around the forest, but just as the man started to speak, shouting and the pounding of feet interrupted. Two forms shot across the meadow, something white chased them, threatening gobbles erupted– Sarn’d never heard that before; the bird-thing flapped wings, hopped and tried to nip the backsides racing ahead of it; the two men veered towards Nolo screaming, holding their backsides. Nolo just stared as the spectacle neared. Sarn yanked his master out of the men’s way. What mischief they’d caused, they now … Continue reading Turkey Bowl (or Turkey’s Revenge)
Faith
Faith “…he needs faith,” Nolo said, “in something, my God, any god, it would help a great deal.” “Faith takes time,” his wife replied, “meetings by friends who introduce…don’t make a big deal out of it if he refuses to come.” Footsteps. “So I shouldn’t invite him to church?” “I just meant if he says no don’t succomb to anger. Please don’t sour him on church.” Ran crawled out from under the low table pushing his ball, wondering what ‘faith’ meant while they left for the place with that label. He waited, but didn’t ask what they had meant. He’d go ask Papa; this was an adult thing, so … Continue reading Faith
Black Friday at the Low Market
Black Friday in the Low Market Sarn glared at the black cloth strip in his hands. Light-tight, once tied its weave would hide his eyes, suppress their glow, allow him to withstand the low market crush and not jeopardize his son who would be his eyes for this trip. Now tied, his vision cut off; his magic took over, gave different eyes equipped with a detailed map of the illogic that abounded inside Mount Eredren. “You take too long. We go now.” Ran tugged on Sarn’s trouser leg. “I lead.” Ran unfastened the door and started into the hallway, his promised outing … Continue reading Black Friday at the Low Market
The Match
The Match Cyprus’ ringside seats enabled him to watch the match. Who’d leave in a coffin? The acrobat tumbled, his strength let him toss the mawkish gawker out on his fin. Through the hawker’s hand lapis lazuli beads slid, clicking, blocking Cyprus’ view. The stench of brimstone warned he’d better lie low ‘fore the serum wore off. Sweat bedew his forehead, his arm pits, deodorant’s failure, its obsolescence in process. Then his human skin molted and the chant began quickening the change in the press. A demon spilled forth ending the death match. Everyone left without coffin or scratch. ~ ~ ~ Like vignette-style sonnets? Want … Continue reading The Match
Giving Thanks & Turkey Carving
Giving Thanks & Turkey Carving “Why he do that?” Ran pointed at the bird. Nolo defeathered it on the terrace. Sarn drew Ran back inside. “To cook the bird, you have to remove its feathers.” Distressed Ran squirmed, “he’s hurting it.” Sarn shook his head. “It’s already dead. So it can’t feel pain.” Ran glared betrayal, but his green eyes plead to hear that Sarn had not caused the bird pain. “I found it trapped, dying–Nolo killed it.” He didn’t know if Nolo had set the trap and he didn’t want to know. “Are you helping–” he started to say but stopped when a strap caught … Continue reading Giving Thanks & Turkey Carving
Spring with Flair
Spring with Flair Flowers, flowers everywhere, in my hair, falling without a care, as I glide ’round my bower’s stair. Who’s that there? Moonlight fair? Follow you where? Hear madness there resounds. Flowers, flowers in my pants, as I dance. Ring-crowned spiders spin their hair with some flair. They make a gown I can wear for the dance. My bro wears a lizard’s skin, it’s not fair. Feathers, feathers everywhere, in the air, on my chair. Spinning in a dizzy dance, my last chance, to prepare, that girl to spare, if I dare. There in the square, I do dance. Ladies fair, everywhere, I sing the prayer; I share all I dare, … Continue reading Spring with Flair
Giving Thanks
Giving Thanks I’m thankful for all the bloggers I’ve met, the friends I’ve made and the lessons you taught. I’m thankful for great posts to read; they whet curiosity, spark wanderlust and thought. So thank you to those who proposed challenges, writing prompts and creative exchanges: Without your push, I’d not have mined my mind, dug up gems; so thanks for the weekly grind. ~ ~ ~ Thank you for the insightful poems, posts, stories–I raise my teacup in a toast, to you who fill my reader with such gems, in no real order, let me list those gems: Thank you all, for all that … Continue reading Giving Thanks
Letting Go
Letting Go Five years ago… He faced the window, Mount Eredren’s lord, author of all Sarn’s pain, eyes on distant sights, his back to the shadowed nook where bored death waited in a teen hands. The instant the Lord’s guards left, Sarn crept ‘cross star shined floors, shadow-silent, knife shaking, poised to pierce that last barrier. Full-circle once more, victim becomes the killer; shock pierces anger, knocks him back a step, makes him think. Killing the Mount’s Lord won’t unwound his soul, unbreak his bones, undo abuse. Sarn shrinks, he’s no killer; he’s an innocent soul. “Why didn’t you strike me down?” the mount’s lord moaned. “Because it … Continue reading Letting Go
Working Thanksgiving in
Working Thanksgivng in Darkness choked the magicked forest; a light kindled here and there to trick to travelers but not the patrolling Rangers whose sight ignored the forest’s enchanted feelers. Sarn shoved away an inquisitive branch, looked about for evidence of distress. Another boring watch with not a branch out of place and still more hours in this press. “Why’re we out here? There’s nothing happening,” he complained batting a thin bough aside. “You want to hear Thanksgiving’s beginning?” Nolo asked; he sped up to walk beside making conversation possible ‘gain. The trees leaned to listen to talk of men. ~ ~ ~ Sarn nodded, stepped o’er a recoiling … Continue reading Working Thanksgiving in
Melinda Kucsera - USA Today Bestselling Author of Epic Fantasy Adventures 
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