Odysseys of Tomorrow

(Edited for Final Portfolio) 

Tonight was absolute

Our flow strengthened as the current grew

As though the waves of chance have been renewed

The night was marked

A date at a time where it all stood still

The ticks and tocks silenced by our deceptive reality

This was not the time for covers and sheets

The storybooks that had once depressed our eyelids

Now unsleeping pages, itching to be filled

The night became the vigilant schemer

Inclining us to pursue it like a felon

But it was us who stole the moon and the stars

Unguided, we drove to see the night on our sorcerous blankets

The wayward streets delved deeper into us

Sealing evidence in the chambers of memory

Though the night became eternal

We sought the odysseys of tomorrow

Like we had found the Tree of Life and become immortal

The creatures of the night embraced us curiously

And so we evolved and grew feathers darker than the sky

Our hoo-ing and cooing echoed a loud lullaby

With the winds of melody blowing us forward, we flew into the night

Reaching the heights of the sleeping dreamers

Drinking from the Milky Way to satiate our appetite

At night, we became one with the wonders and the whys

Embraced by the shadows left behind at daylight

Evident like the twinkles of glitter spread across the eternal heavens

But the night grew tiresome

The cloak that had shielded us too heavy to hold any longer

The moon punched out just as the sun punched in

And so we shed our feathers and retired to our cribs

The drafted book returned to the shelf next to the many others who sat
Waiting for the night to come

Heil Monster

(Edited for Final Portfolio)

A monster feared not just by the young, or the peasants, but even by great knights, by noble men and great kings; the bravest of warriors could not single handedly defeat! He is man like creature, born and raised by our kind. His growth is suddenly stunted around the same time a box-like, wooly whisker begins to emerge above his palate. Hair and eyes as black as the ashes he raises, though he prefers that of a lighter shade. He appears petite in size, but don’t let this fool you… From the slithers of his slimy tongue emerge the most foul of creatures, hypnotizing all who urge to listen. With one tentacle held tightly to his side, he casts the sharper out before anyone who is near. If it were to reach you, the tentacle would pierce your throat and steal your heart. But he isn’t through with you just yet. His slimy varmint wait to abduct all reason, and claim your mind, too. Those who are unfortunate enough to fall into his grip are granted life, and those who claim successful against his magnetizing spells and swarming virus are wretched with death endlessly surrounding them, taunting them, until they, too, succumb. Unequivocal is the damage he serves to deliver.

So, I warn you, beware. He may emerge from his cell at any moment, without a given permission, enticing you with words of hope and pride. He may choose a goat to sacrifice, proving that God will accept his offering, all the while playing God himself. He will raise his tentacle up at a salute, directing his minions towards destruction. And before you know it, he will cast a shade over the land you call home, and on all those you hold dear. You will be left surrounded. There will be no escape, for this Monster has taken all reason, and has lavishly consumed all hearts. All that will be left is the strepitous, deafening melody of his blonde hair, blue-eyed progeny singing, “Heil Monster.”

Visible Vibrations

(Edited for Final Portfolio)

If we could see sound


Every raindrop splashed, unique to its key

Every wind resonant, yet only the gentle flute to the thundering drums of lightning

The storm, a sanguine symphony

If we could see sound

Every supple ray of sunlight shouts, the brightest sound of trumpets

Every dawdling cloud, the smoothest transition between one note and the next
The sky, the stage, the perpetual anchor, to the orchestra who plays it all.

My Father’s Belief

(Edited for Final Portfolio)

This is my father’s belief

To give my all

And take back what was stolen by the thief

A long journey searching for relief

To climb the city that thrives on the mountain and sound the Prayer Call

This is my father’s belief

A knife, a stone, a pistol, as taught by our Commander in Chief

To stab, to throw, to shoot, to squall

And take back what was stolen by the thief

But sometimes I wonder, can we turn a new leaf?

“They took your land, your home, left you with nothing but a dirt wall!”

This is my father’s belief

“Make us proud, Habif.”

I hide my tremble beneath the covert wires packaged neatly under my shawl

And take back what was stolen by the thief

I am enthralled by my father’s grief

This had not been my intention at all

For, this is my father’s belief
To give my life, and take back what was stolen by the thief

The Cacophonous Cart

(Edited for Final Portfolio)

Pushing the cacophonous cart

Through the endlessly stocked avenues

Looking for what the wife had asked for,

I glance at my ticking timer.

Who craves Double Chocolate Cookie Dough Brownie Swirl and Pickles at

11:34 pm and I have yet to hear from him.

He left this morning

Slamming the door, shattering my heart behind him.

Maybe he’s back at the apartment waiting for me . . .

Oh! Mangos! I should get him some since they are his

Favorite song! Tap my feet, discrete as can be

“We’ve known each other for so long Your heart’s been aching but You’re too shy to say it”

I grab the shampoo bottle off the shelf, alone in the aisle at last.

Never gonna give you up, Never gonna let you down

Never gonna run around and

Dessert for tomorrow’s dinner party! Frank and Willis just had to

Invite themselves over so last minute.

Macaroons? Strawberry Cheesecake? This Almond Crusted Apple Pie sounds delish!

Oh, but Willis doesn’t like apple bits . . .

Well she can just stick those bits up her

Asparagus, not Broccoli, nor Carrots or Sprouts

I want candy

“I WANT CANDY, MOMMY!”

These Dino Gummies, the Reese’s Cups, Twizzlers and Hershey’s too

“I SAID, I WANT

To quit. Sweep this

Pick up this, stock that

But Ma needs my help. We barely made last month’s rent.

The Kardashians taunt me from the cover of People on display by the register

They never have to worry a day in their lives all because one of them

“Sucks to lose, don’t it? HA HA!”

The phone wedged between my ear and shoulder, I grab the Coors Light six pack

Checking a second time to make sure it’s the cheapest of the beers.

“Beginners luck, you say? Guess we’ll find out tomorrow! Beers on me!”

So much money at stake. The Giants better win again tomorrow or else I’m

Fucoid Seaweed would go delightfully with my Filet Mignon!

Porcini Mushrooms too! Sautéed in melted Compound Butter. Mmm.

A fair young lady, her presence noted

The scent of her J’adore Eau de Parfum tickles my whiffer

A Bottle of Chateau Lafite, dinner, and her would make me

Sleep. Almost time to get out of here.

Beep. I hear my bed calling me. Double Choc Cookie Dough Brownie Swirl Pint $5.29

Beep. The warm blankets engulfing me under layers. Vlasic Kosher Dill $3.49

Beep. 8 hours of pure bliss before all this again.

I tear a bag from its stack and compile the groceries. “Thank you and have a Good Night”

Laughter

(Edited for Final Portfolio) 

It pulls me in close, letting the obscurities go. It pushes away the fear, engulfing all that is near. Brings me back to radiance, avoids all the melancholy resistance. It surrounds me, fills me with thoughtless speech. It arouses me, inconsiderate of all sullenness. It grows and fills every layer, and burrows its way deeper. Unable to restrain, I grab on.

It guides me with a newfound sight,

Perplexing me by the view

It contorts my frame

Leaving me breathless,

Breathless but viable

Breathless but more than animate

And it’s gone,

As suddenly as it had come

But it leaves me with a gift of what once was

Its charity so pure,

Of the most satiating beam on my face
And a glimmering jewel left in my heart.

Together

(Edited for Final Portfolio)

A hot summer day, I feel a chill run through me.

So many people surround me, I can’t move

But then I hear it,

It runs through me.

So many people around me,

But together, we move.

I don’t know him, I don’t know her

Strangers under the same sun

Where they’ve come from, I do not know

But then we hear it.

How strange it is to not know,

But together, we move.

The sound, the beat

The energy rising from beneath our feet.

We raise our heads and arms,

As directed by the conductor upon the stage

He waves, we cheer

He plays, we awaken.

We are surrounded.

Him by me, Her by him.

Us by the words, We by the beat.

But then I hear it.

Different voices, Different keys,

But together, we move.

I hear the different voices and different keys,

Hear it become our voice.

I feel the strength of us,

Feel the ground beneath the thousand jumping feet.

Surrounded by us, the music, and the beat.

Surrounded by him and her, becoming We.

A hot summer day, the chill runs through me.

It runs through me, and I hear it.

It runs through me, and I feel it.

So many people surround me, and together we move.