settled on the castle, the first we'd seen in our dark trek.

Voices came from inside - we grew closer, notions of filling our minds. The door opened, and a girl beckoned, eyes aglow.

"Time to

3 38

Every when berries and flowers are in full the wild things arise from slumber to hunt and
Frost fills my veins when I realize they have me surrounded
Like a doe in the meadow
Is this the end?
I raise my sword...

3 43


Thoughts jump over the Moon, hitch rides on shooting stars, intersecting, analyzing past, future outcomes. a vortex of lies in unnamed galaxies. How much can I control? Let go & enjoy the ride. Would a talking mirror tell me the truth, or just what I want to hear?

5 44

"To the evil one from a captive at each point of the pentacle."

"Er..."

"What?"

"I've only got cold fishsticks."

"..."

"..."

"Well, I suppose that'll do, but if we summon Bastet by mistake, you'll be in trouble."

2 28

When I I return to the
The price I pay to visit the mortal world
Sliding into the trancelike state, my eyes are closed but my mind is open
They're recording
I cannot lie
But I promise, I'll protect you when they come for us

8 34

An opalescent moon shines bright,
Through my window here tonight.
Close my eyes, search for
Counting jumping lines of sheep.
World feels heavy on my shoulders,
Dreams interrupted by saboteurs.
Falling into nightmares now,
A haunting darkness I will not allow.

10 108

A crimson blossom
Beside my desk, silent muse
Petals gently fall
As pen scratches parchment sheet
Capturing love, pain, and all

3 13

With gentle care
He crafts a bow
Delicate as
Flakes of snow
Beams with pride
His now done
A gift for her
His special one
A simple thing
No shine nor bling
Hoping for a smile
To bring
For his gift
Was true from start
It was his life
His soul...his heart

11 60

There goes a madcap frolic in our misplaced lucky stars, lulling tidal fables with Cinderella's ashen suns. A dream-walking kiss amongst sirens' bones is enough to imbue us with night's amber peppering beneath work's dying skies, but for how long on this vine?

45 173

"Our Rainbows End"

Work so hard
Feel the strain
Just to find
The rainbows end

Good as gold
Stupid as mud
We plow on
Like we know
We should

Finding out
The rainbows end
Just moves on
Without a trace

Dig deeper
Holding out
For tomorrow's
Paradise

10 57

To give a rib an odd tickle
I make it my life’s sole
Skew those framed perspectives
Tilt grandiose pictures in frames
Prick those inflated troubles
Deflate their pompous obesity
Pin a smile on Eeyore’s glum
Even if I can never fix his tail

15 61

So go
Throw away the remnants
Of this once beating heart
It works no more
The savage claw that severs
Remains stained forever
Let the blood that seeps
Creep through your immortal soul
The bits are to many
To piece together
They will never now
Make a whole
I bury love

15 44

"A Closure So Sure"

A door slammed shut
What once was
Misunderstood
Stone cold clear
We have our
The curtain falls down
On our life all around
Complications rose
Through a life once free
You felt like my destiny
But it was not to be

8 51

In the
of this era
I count what
i leave behind
Romance pittance
smuggle kisses
pleas
for intimacy
There was never
a settling account
between us
Just a pause
Can't turn back time
Can't move on
Love
shouldn't
hurt that much

22 160

"The Willow Weeps"

The willow she weeps
In celebration of spring
Vibrant and keen
I get lost in its warmth
Finding my feet
The willow whispers
With the wind is love
Shared throughout
This world

6 41

Amidst the thronging
Lonesome soul I stand
Lost in a sea of faces
No one to understand

All lost in
The laughter rings in ears
Yet loneliness remains

The room is full of joy
I find myself in
Another in the crowd
Lost in the noise

1 12

A book of secrets
Lying dormant
A powerful spell
Casting us away
Rushing us towards
An unknown fate
Filled with allure
And magical dreams

A storyteller's touch
Drawing us in
Conjuring up a world
Of endless thrill
Unveiling an
That will never end

1 18

Today awaits
Emerge and behold
The sun at your back
Your story will unfold

But if behind
You decide to stay
Waiting for an invite
You’ll miss the day

Don’t miss your day!

2 10

are my new
Some say it's early dementia
Please don't rant and rave
take it up with Gabe
before he sails into absentia
😉⛵️

©rp'23

6 69

III
My heart is heavy
My spirit low
I’m struggling to find my way
I have faith and I will grow
And I’ll be okay
Some day

5

1 0