Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Burning Bridges

"Maathi! Maathi! They're burning the orchard!"

The old woman slowly raised herself from where she had been inspecting the roots of a gnarled almond tree. The boy ran down the dirt path, his bare feet beating the dust as his lungs stretched to their limited with his panting breaths.

"Jannis. What's the matter?" She said as the boy collided into her, wrapping small arms around her thighs, pressing his face to her as he sobbed. "There, there my child. What is the matter?"

"The orchards. Our family orchards. They're burning them." The child raised his large, swollen eyes to the old woman. "What will we eat if they burn them, Maathi?"

The old woman placed her cool, dark hand against his red, burning cheek and spoke reassuringly, "There, there. Jani. Everything will be alright. If they burn your orchard, then you can come eat from mine. Did you see the papaya's down by the riverbank? They are as big as your head already. There is no need to fret."

The child still clung to her, but she felt the sobs die down. She placed her hand reassuringly upon his head as she looked to the two other women with her. The younger of the pair looked towards the direction the child had run from, the Jones Farm on the other side of the river.

"Wangari?" She said pointing towards the smoke rising above the trees, "Do you think they will come here next?"

"Tamar. Take Jannis inside and get him some juice." She answered, handing the child to the younger woman. "Helvi and I will go talk to them."

As they walked up the path, the sheer silence of the moment seemed to breathe terror. The small section of forest before the clearing was unusually quiet. As if the forest knew what true terror was lurking on its way through the darkness within.

"Wangari, you don't think they'll cross the bridge, do you?" Helvi asked, trying to match her stride. "They know that the international community will not just sit back and let them breach the clear demarcation boundary."

"This is not about my farm and my orchards. This is about my neighbor's orchard." Wangari said as she continued her march towards the river. "Helvi, if you want you can stay behind with Tamar and Jannis. But I would appreciate having you at my side when I speak with them."

Helvi simply nodded and decided to turn the tape recorder in her pocket on. She might not be a lot of help in their confrontation but at the very least she could document what happened. And she could be there to help Wangari.

"There they are. Up ahead."

They walked out onto the riverbank where the small bridge spanned the rushing torrent. On the other side a group of men stood around the two bodies lying on the ground. They didn't seem to notice the two women on the other side as they kicked the forms and spat on them.

"You! There! What do you think you are doing?" Wangari was suddenly more angry than she had ever been in her life. The rage consumed her and she couldn't stop her mouth as she continued yelling, "Those people have done nothing to you!"

"Old woman, stop your yelling!" One called back as the rest turned to look at her. "We're here to help you take back our land!"

"From whom exactly?" She called back, already knowing the answer.

"From the imperialist! We are here for the good of our people! Go back to your house and make us some food. You should be thanking us." They laughed at this comment and Wangari clenched her fists.

"Do not try to teach me about manners! You obviously have none! Behaving like animals, destroying a family who never harmed you in any way! You should all be ashamed of yourselves! You bring shame to our people!" She called back, turning her back on them in a sign of dishonor.

"You old hag!" The leader called, throwing down the stick he had been using to hit the two bodies, grabbing the gun he had given to a comrade. "You don't turn your back on us! Maybe we should teach you some respect!"

The group grabbed their machetes and guns as they advanced towards Wangari on the other side of the river. They were shouting and yelping, making obscene gestures towards the old woman and her companion while gripping the ropes on the bridge.

"Wangari! We should go!" Helvi said, taking the old woman's arm.

"No. You stay here." Wangari said, as she moved forward on the bridge to meet the men.

The group moved towards the figure walking towards them, hefting guns as if to scare her.

"Old woman! You are a fool! You should have run while you could."

"I will warn you only once. Do not come any closer. You have already destroyed enough life today. Turn back and do no more harm." She answered, looking the leader in the eye with a look that said she pitied him.

"We have not even spilled a quarter of the blood that will run this day! And yours will be the next blood to flow!" The leader called, his eyes burning with anger.

"Well, I warned you." The old woman said, sitting down on the wooden slats.

"We are the ones warning you!" The leader shrieked as they reached her. "There is no use begging and bowing now!"

The old woman looked into each of their faces as the one with the largest machete stepped forward, letting the sun gleam off his blade.

"You're all just children. I am sorry that you will all have to die today. I am old. I have helped people and have lived life. But you. You have barely tasted it. I am sorry. So, so sorry." She said as she closed her eyes.

The group jostled to get closer to her when they heard it. The snap. The entire bridge lurched to the side as it swung horizontally. They grabbed frantically at the ropes to find a hold as one of the group fell into the rushing currents below.

"What did you do, you old fool!" Yelled the leader as the bridge swung back like a pendulum, a few more of the men falling into the river.

"I'm not the one who didn't read the sign. It says the bridge can only hold two people at a time. You should have seen the signs." She said, not opening her eyes.

There was another snap, followed by another and the entire bridge disintegrated into a jumble of wooden slats, trapped limbs, and snake-like rope binding all together. For a moment this strange conglomerate creature hovered in the gap above the river. Then it seemed to slowly descend and disappear into the rushing water below.






Monday, September 26, 2011

We Implore Thee

Now hear this word
That we dare to ask
Dare to utter
O Utterness of All

Now wait for us
we are so slow
Slowly we begin to see
O Seeing of All

What would u have of Me?

O Utter-Seeing
O see Utterly
See what we have become
See and do not see away

What would u have of Me?

we are so tired
Yes we can barely stay awake
And yet still
we cannot sleep

we are hungry
Oh so hungry for something
And yet we cannot
Cannot force ourselves to eat

What would u have of Me?

we are thirsty
Oh we thirst to death
And yet water has become
Like a poison to our lips

No ointment for our wounds

What would u have of Me?

No balm for our bruises

What would u have of Me?

No cure for this plague

What is it to Me?

What?

What is it to Me?
Look about u
u who do not deserve
Even as many letters as u
Torment will be ur bread
Salt tears will be ur drink
Make which ever bed u will
But only nightmares will I visit on u
Look here I fill a world for u
And then I shall take it away
And then I shall replace it again
With this right hand
With this left cosmic yoyo
And if u dare not trust Me
After I am done with My play
My plan
Far worse will I do to u
Be humble!

we are humble

BE THANKFUL

we are thankful

BE NOTHING BUT DUST

we are nothing but dust

BE NOTHING BUT VAPOR

we are nothing but vapor

BE NOTHING

we are nothing
THOU art everything

Now what would u have of Me?

Everything
For thou are everything
And we are nothing

Good
Good
It is very good






Saturday, September 24, 2011

Roses in June (Unfinished)

"Where is the florist!"

Danielle wanted to scream until every last one of the crystal champagne flutes exploded. This couldn't be happening. Not today. Not today of all days.

"Erin!' The maid of honor hoped out of her chair at the mention of her name.

"It's okay, Danielle. I'm sure they'll be here." She said, rubbing her friend's shoulders as Danielle covered her eyes and began sobbing. "Shhh. They'll be here. Don't worry."

"They were supposed to be here last night!" She said, pulling away and stomping to the window.

"Dominque said that they haven't called and no one has been able to get a hold of them." Erin said, tucking a brown curl behind her ear. "At this point, maybe we should try to make it work without the flowers."

Danielle had sat down on one of the maroon chairs and and looked up at Erin with fire in her eyes. "We. Can't. Have. A. Wedding. Without. Fucking. Flowers!"

Erin ducked as the telephone on the side table was thrown at her.

"Jeez, calm down Dani." She said, backing up a bit. "Yes you can."

"There won't be any centerpieces on any of the tables at the reception!" She said, tears beginning to flow again.

"Shhh. It's okay. We still have the candles." Erin said, directing one of the spectator bridemaids to pick up the fallen phone. "We can put them in the middle and make it very minimilist. You said yourself that you don't want your wedding to be tacky. This way. It will be. Classy."

Danielle sniffed and looked down at her small feet squeezed into the pair of white Prada's she had received last summer. For a moment she felt like everything would be okay. Then her shoulders tensed and began shaking. Her gloved white hands dug into the red velvet she sat on. Her makeup streaked eyes locked onto her maid of honors as she spat, "And what about my bouquet!?!"

The smile on Erin's face died down. In her mind she was quickly weighing options. Danielle was her best friend. So booking it out of the doors and escaping wasn't an option. Danielle was the one who had insisted on having the wedding at the mountain lodge, almost a 2 hour drive away from the nearest town so there would be no back up florist. And because they were way up in the mountains there wasn't a chance of finding any flowers there, wild or otherwise. Erin was running out of options.

"What if we improvise with some lace and some pine branches." The look on Danielle's face told Erin she wasn't buying it. "I mean. In case the florist doesn't show up."

"I'm. Supposed. To walk. Down the aisle. On my WEDDING DAY! Carrying a fricking tree?!?!" Erin sighed and closed her eyes as Danielle went on to list all the people she hated and blamed or this happening.

"Well, hun. Listen, I'm going to go grab some of them. Just the small, thin branches. They'll fit with the location too. In the meantime. Here. Have some champagne to clam your nerves."

Danielle chugged the alcohol and threw the glass against the wall, sending bride's maids scattering and covering their heads.

Erin just shook her head and walked out of the room, smoothing her black silk dress. She opened the door to walk straight into another person. Miles stood in the doorway with his hand raised, mid-knock.

"Erin?"

"Miles!" She grabbed his arm. "Good. I'm glad you're here. She needs someone to calm her down till I get back."

"Did you find the florist?" He asked, dragged into the anteroom.

Erin turned sharply on her high heels and looked him in the eye while lowering her voice, "Don't mention this to anyone. Especially Danielle. But. The florist went to the wrong lodge. They're on the other side of the mountain and won't be here until 3 at the latest."

"But the wedding is supposed to start at–" Miles began before Erin's finger was shoved on his lips as Danielle walked into the room.

"Miles? Any news from the florist?" She asked, drying her eyes.

"Danielle. God, you look awful." He said, holding out his arms.

She began to cry again and slowly walked to him, clutching him by the coat lapels as she cried into his vest. Erin shook her head and gave him a look that said, "you're a moron" before she turned to go on her mission to go find flowers.

"Come on, let's get you some water." Miles said as he led her back to her room.

He nodded with his head that the rest of the bride's maids should clear out so they would have the room to themselves.

"So, what exactly is happening?" Miles asked looking confused.

"Everything is going wrong." She said, walking over to the window, having regained a semblance of control of herself. "The stupid florist just disappeared."

"I see." Miles said, swallowing.

"What?" She turned on him, "You know something! Admit it! Where are they!?"

Miles slide further down on the bed to get away from her as she advanced on him. "I don't know anything. I swear!"

"Miles." She said, leaning over him, piercing his soul with her gaze, "Don't think. That you can lie to me. Because you can't."

"Ha!" Miles said, ducking out from under her and standing up, adjusting his lapels. "Please. I've lied to you for years and you never caught on."

"What?" She said, now the one sitting on the bed as she rolled her eyes, "The fact that you and Evette aren't really together? Please, I could tell you weren't interested in her from the start."

"Was it that obvious?" He said, smiling and sitting down next to her.

"Well, you two did book separate flights here, separate rooms in the lodge, and I've barely seen you in the same room. So yeah." She said, flicking him none too gently on the forehead, "Just a bit obvious."

"Hey." He said, rubbing his forehead. "You haven't done that to me in a long time. Not since–"

"Don't." She said, standing up. "That's the other thing Miles."

He remained sitting on the bed, looking at her back, where the bodice of the white satin wrapped around like two thick, flat arms, connecting in a line of pearl buttons running down her back to disappear in the folds of chiffon.

"I know you're still in love with me." She said turning, her gloved fingers running over each other. "I know you've tried to pretend like you got over me. But I've felt it. I've felt your gaze lingering. I've felt the way you touch me arm when you're passing."

Miles didn't say anything. In his mind he was running through all the subtle things he had done since arriving at the lodge. He was trying to figure out where he had been too blunt. What would have made her talk to him like this.

"It's sweet. It really is." She said, crossing her arms, "But it's also sad. You've got to move on. I mean, there are plenty of fish out there."

She smiled slightly as she said it. For a moment she did relish the feeling that someone couldn't get over her. It gave her an intoxicating thrill. But at the same time she felt bad for him. Her friend. She cared for him too. Just not in that way.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Miles said, getting up and grabbing one of the glasses, sipping from the fizzing amber liquid.

"Miles. Please." She said, placing her hand on his arm and squeezing it softly, "You have to let it go. We were both too young and stupid and just not ready."

Miles finished off his flute and then turned away from her, looking out of the window. When she walked over she saw he was smiling. She didn't know why but for some reason it made her stomach turn.

"What?" She asked, breathing in deeply, "Why are you smiling?"

"Because if were not going to play pretend anymore then I guess I should at least be helpful. Do you still need a bouquet? Because I got one for Evette. It's up in her room right now. She hasn't even looked at it. It's yours if you want."

Danielle felt a ray of hope. She wouldn't have to walk down the aisle with a tree. She would have a bouquet! Maybe her wedding day wouldn't be ruined after all.

"What are they?" She asked, as her hopes suddenly dove. "They're not carnations, are they? You know how allergic I am to them."

"Nope." He said, smiling, "White lilies. Come on. We can go grab them right now. Evette is out at the bar already."

"Oh, she is a classy one, isn't she?" Danielle smiled.

"Come on." Miles said, leading Danielle from the room by her hand.

They rode the elevator up, the soft classical music pouring down on them, filling the room with peaceful quiet. She looked down at her small Pradas again and over at his shoes. He was wearing his Prada's too. From their trip to Milan. Out of the whole group they had been the only ones to actually buy shoes while there. Her gaze traveled up his suit. She could tell it was expensive. The material had a certain sharp texture to it. A crispness.

"It's French." He said, catching her gaze in the reflection of the bronze elevator door.

"Oh. I hadn't even notticed." She lied, focusing instead on the numbers slowly climbing upward.

The rest of the elevator trip was spent in silence. The classical music stifled the air and droned tensely.

"This is it." He said, just as the elevator doors opened.

The long hallway extended before them, dark mahogany doors lining the plush red velvet carpet, while the lights spaced between them seemed to tone everything cold. She followed him down the hallway. And as they walked she couldn't help but think this is what it would be like. Him. Her. Her wedding day. The hotel hallway. Had things been different.

"It's just in here." He said, sliding the key into the door and opening the heavy brass handle.

The door opened into a dark room that was stifling and warm. Like a garden on a summer night, she thought. The scent of lilies blossomed across their senses. He stepped inside and she followed, the only light coming from the white, dull lights in the hallway. Then he flicked on a switch and the whole room changed.

"There we go." He said, as the warm lamps and lights across the room lit it up in tones of burnt umber and reds. "Sorry. She had the light's set for some... alone time last night."

"I see." Danielle said, holding her dress up as she walked in. As if to say how disgusted she was with the little slut, "But you were at the bachelor's party last night, weren't you."

"Yeah." He said, rubbing the back of his head. "Anyway. They're right over here."

He walked into the small bathroom and pulled them out form behind the sink. She gave him a look that asked a dozen of questions. He just smiled and motioned to the large bouquet of sunflowers, carnations, and roses standing on the dresser. "Well, apparently I was outdone anyway. She won't miss the lilies."

"Thanks." She said, taking the flowers from him.

For a moment she just stood there, the light of the hallway illuminating them both from behind.


Wednesday, September 21, 2011

The Font of Phlegethon

Tongue in cheek
They trod the trail
The led upon the path of old
When the world was thin
and the air was frail
And all was lost
To the thing so bold
That dared to rise
With the wondering eyes
And call upon names
That should never be named
And the world grew still
And all life grew ill
And the waste of the world
and its treasures now gone
Quivered and shuttered
With the scream of the wronged
And when the ice broke free
And the waters broke forth
And the gaping void
Was all to be seen
Then the crackling fire
And then the light of desire
And rising the phoenix
With plumes of gold
Shrouded in light
Burning from old
Bound about the world
Its feathery embrace
And screamed in pain
As immolation was tast'd
And then there was fire
Oh, there was fire
Encasing, embracing, enchanting
fire
And the land was burnt
And cinders flew
And ash was tasted
By the mouths of the faithful
Who dared to drink
Of the font of Phlegethon
And feel the rising
of the passions of Eros
Gurgling as blood
Rising as bile
Stronger than the Nile
Wider than their pain
Overwhelming their senses
But the goblet is deep
Much deeper than a man
And those who dare drink
Of this font of Phlegethon
Are doomed to drown
In it's fiery embrace
And doomed to burn
To burn with cold hatred
To taste the ashes
More sorrowful than death
To feel the breaking
The breaking of their soul
And when Phlegethon has risen
And its waters have grown deep
The baptism of the damned
Begins with the beat
The beat of the drum
Of the broken hearted
The beat of the trodding
Upon the path
Called redemptionless
No Lethe to sleep and forget
No Mnemosyne and regret
No Acheron pours full in force
The pain of a thousand souls in its course
For the font of Phlegethon is deeper still
Darker than the night
Sweeter than rue
As fragrant as a corpse
With irony glued
Together piecemail and rough
A phantom to walk
And feed on the lost
For here in Hell there is much to fear
The wicked deceivers
The red handed killers
Those who would be a false friend
Those who make this a darker end
But then there are those more feared than Death
the dark master who brings all rest
They are those who are drunk on the damned font
Those who have tasted and hungered and hunt
Those who have gone through the flame of desire
Those who have gone through the pain of the pyre
Those who have traded their left eyes for vision
Those who have eaten the fruit of derision
Those who have no more love in their soul
For their soul has been traded for the burning coal
Taken from the hearth of that flaming band
Taken from Phlegethon's burning hand
Do not speak to them when they are found
Do not near them wherever they be bound
Do not look into their darkened eyes
Do not stop to say your goodbyes
For the beasts are loose upon the world
Their flaming tongues now uncurled
And they will not spare you
They will not even think
And when they kill you
They won't even blink
Flee from the flames
Before they reach you
For soon comes the day
When you will drink too