Chandelier

She was carefree like a child, unfailingly charming, always hovering just beyond the line his courage could not cross.

Often he seemed to be stooping under the weight of his riches and pedigree, he was young and handsome, and silent and solid.

This one day she floats into the large foyer of his mansion, following her babbling brook of a laughter, and almost runs into him.

Feigning hurt she blurts out, "you almost killed me mister, we're not even married yet." She smiles almost teasingly, perhaps actually teasing.

Just then the world went silent after the ear-splitting crash that a chandelier makes when crushing a young man, silent and solid. She looked at him, deadpan, dying, and sparkling and shiny.

(This is posted for 3WW. Prompts - carefree, deadpan, ear-splitting)

Jackasses

Jackasses move the
world

in saddles rupturing
skin

oozing splendid red
blood

down thin steadfast
legs

(P.S. This is in response to promts at 3WW (Jackass, Rupture, Splendid) and also at Poets United - Verse First where the notion was The Red Wheelbarrow a beautiful poem by William Carlos Williams. Take a look. Keeping things simple is most complicated.

                                                          so much depends
                                                           upon

                                                           a red wheel
                                                           barrow

                                                           glazed with rain
                                                           water

                                                           beside the white
                                                           chickens
)

Time Traveler's Burden

We traverse through time
And spaces. Smiles on faces
Each with burdens assigned

Deep dark dreams and grime
Sad places. Say our graces
So we go through the grind

We traverse through time
And spaces. smiles on faces
Joy sometimes we find

(This is posted for 3WW. Prompts Assign, Pretense, Traverse)

Today is a Glorious Day

If you were penitent,
Long ago there was a time;
If you were a sinner and
If you committed a crime.

If you were a believer
And in God you did believe.
To the Temple and the Priest
A tribute you would leave.

That would absolve you
Of the sins of the past.
And if you paid more
Of the sins since the last.

Dark were those days.
But times change, you see.
You've right to your want
And to be and let it be.

Cocksure you need to be-
You need not be penitent.
Sins go into the cupboard,
Who really is omniscient?


(This is posted for 3WW. The prompts are Believe, Penitent, Tribute)

Periscope of Hindsight

Periscope of hindsight
Squint back through.
Squirm, sulk all you may
Stop to argue.

Millstone around the neck
Was your pick.
Swim, suspend or sink
You, your wounds, lick.

(Another post for 3WW. The prompts are Argue, Lick, Squint.)

Bird's Mistake

Little bird fluttered outside the window while I sat in my rickety recliner watching the clouds gather. Suddenly the bird crashed into the pane and thumped on to the sill.

I stretched and picked it up carefully. Bird blinked at me. My heart swelled and I hugged it tight. It suffocated.

It’s stupid bird’s mistake.

(This story is written for 3WW. First time 55 words. I guess I do 100 words better. But hey, how would I know if I don't try)

Revenge - Story

Jimmy heaved a sigh of relief and sat down on the stairs that led to the grounds. He lit a cigarette and took a deep lazy drag. It felt good.

Peace comes at last, he thought, gazing at the horizon. Next rain will wash away the blood stains from the walls. No, there wasn't a question about it. They had to die. He knew that for sure. There will be no suffering for anyone anymore at last.

Hard as he tried not to, he could not stop pondering about and trying to validate the brutal torture before they were killed. Death of the criminal merely ensures stopping of the crime; but where is the revenge of the sufferers.

His gaze shifted to his hand that held the cigarette in his long artist's fingers. The specks of blood were almost dry. In his heart he knew he’ll never be sure about what he had done today. He decided he will leave it to time. If not prove it valid, time will perhaps make him forget.

It traced a graceful red streak and landed afar when Jimmy casually flicked the cigarette in the air. He stood up and staggered back into the house. Right now there is a celebration to be planned.

(This story has been written for 3 words wednesday. The prompts are "Heave", "Valid" and "Ponder")
Oh! I also watched Django Unchained yesterday :-)

Drab Pulsating Tendrils

This 100 word post is written for

Life's been drab since the hurricane, when I woke up staring at the churning gray sky. The crashing sound of Billy Bull hit by the roof had awakened me. I remember running out without having to open the door and be surprised by seeing what I saw for I saw nothing. Farm ruined, animals gone, even Kitty. Later I found her rotting corpse a mile North. Grandpa’s Red Maple gone.

Roofless ruined walls remain; closing in like tendrils of devil's hair and I, the heart inside the host tree - barely pulsating.

Slumber of certainty sometimes makes you miss saying goodbye.

The Last Event

Wood that could burn in kitchens
Is piled in neat layered stacks.
You get to sleep on it and calm
You look but for the life that lacks.

One who loved you lights the pyre,
Pour in the oil and the fires swell.
Haters wish some of your body remain;
Who owed in life makes you burn well.

What goes around

No thread is ever lost, just travels in the universe
What goes around comes around, that is the curse


What goes should go, for nothing really we can keep
But for the memories, that scare or sing while we sleep

Promise

Angel, yes you are my angel
And I am a deep dark well
Of love for you, you only
Don't ever leave me lonely


Long after your shadow leaves
I lie with my gusty heaves
Your presence hovers over me
Closed eyes; it's only you I see


Do what one may; time will fly
Truth will prevail over a lie
Rivers will flow to the sea
In my heart you will always be


P.S.
Found this lying in an old stack of junk. Reworked some lines to make it a little less funny.:-) I guess it was written way back in 2003-2004. May be 2002.
No I am not! OK, only a little embarrassed.

Oblivious to change

People come and people go.
Nothing much you can do.
Except let go of the gone
New ones look forward to.

May be sick of being alone
But you are never lonely.
The world may go to another world
Remember, you're with you only

Adjusting to life as it comes
Is a good thing, not only one.
Be oblivious to life and change
There, dear lies the real fun.



ps:
I wrote this as a comment on one of the blogs I follow. Guess, it turned out good.

He Falls in Love

Melt in my arms, live in my eyes.

There forever, you, my love, stay

Shower you with love for a glance,

Thus will be spent my everyday.

Thus he signed all his letters.

Once or more everyday he wrote.

Could assure himself, he wished,

He poured out everything he’s got.

So has he lived since that evening.

Its been months since it all began.

Pearls were dropping from her hair.

 Raven tresses, in sombre grey rain.  

From the nape of slender neck,

Picking ethereal sublime hue.

Pearls rolled through the strands,

Besotted with earth, dropped as dew.

There standing was she, leaning

By the rickety post office fence.

Long trek to his hilly abode,

He was about to commence.

Dumbfounded, he looked at her,

Stunned, his mouth wide agape.

Fiddling she with stubborn gown

That clung to her shapely shape

How her dress seemed to love her

And how she showed it her hate.

How he blessed the pretty moment,

How he blessed his splendid fate

The way her hair shaped her face,

In all its messy dripping glory.

Looked at the moon, then her face,

The face told a better story.

  

In profound pity, her lips curled,

Brows frowned deep in sad dismay

Torrents poured down from heavens

Helplessly trapping her on her way.

Just then for a fleeting moment

As would have the providence,

The eyes met, her eyes blinked

Wiped away every saner sense.

Raising her eyes, she looked at him.

Along came deafening thunder clap

Can’t put a word to it, swift, audible,

Something within his heart snapped.

To his, her eyes were a beacon.

He took a step to cross the street.

Pulled by the pull of her beauty.

Her beauty half way he will meet

He moved to converse with her

To give her that loving solace.

Detering his determined advance

In came car of frightening grace.

‘Tween him and his new found love

It halted with a numbing screech.

Is this an omen bad, My Lord?

Move! In his heart did he beseech

Car lurched ahead, no girl in sight

With trepidation he looked around

“Oh my love, how so drenching wet”

From the car, he heard such sound.

Numb, his heart sunk to his belly

His heart knew not a sorrow worse

Just about to touch the love and not

Oh my lord! what a deadly curse

Since then the letters came pouring.

In sleepless nights after tiring work

Greeting the mail men, twice a day

Next to fateful fence he would lurk.

Lost, pondering, from there he returns

The letter of the day against his heart.

Letter unposted for want of an address.

From words about her, or he can’t part

Thus has gone all his days since.

Habit doing chores, he distraught,

His life a sweet melancholy pain.

Love’s the ailment he’s caught.

Leisure - William Henry Davies

ORIGINAL -
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.


FAKED (BY ME) - 

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stop, and smell the rose
Waft it in and squinch the nose.
No time to see if we won or lost,
When we scramble from post to post.
No time to spare the moment spent 
To savor the sight of reapers bent.
No time to wander in aimless stroll
Blank out the mind, fill up the soul.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

Optimization Game

Welled up with choked emotions
Holding tight grief of letting go
Find an ear to pour it in
Look around there's an ear so


No balm better than a smiling face
No balm better than a perky tone
No balm better than a hand in hand
No pain worse than suffering alone


Letting go can be cleansing
If you see the convoluted fun
Just don't fill the void in a hurry
Bad filler is worse than none


Life is but an optimization game
And dollops of macabre constraints
Winning is finding the best of stations
Losing is just being restrained

On and on it goes

See that wave running

Running to the shore

Crash into its embrace

Like there's nothing more

See that shore waiting

Dry, waiting to be quenched

Soak the mighty wave in it

Let go through fists clenched

Together now and part

On and on, it goes on

So do arms on the clock

You and I just live on