Poetry & More

Once there was Darkness

Chapter 10

Part 2

“Flower for your thought.” Kol didn’t respond. Kessa sat down in front of him.

“Daydreaming.” He finally answered. “Would you care if I asked you a personal question?”

“As always, my king, I reserve the right not to answer.” She grinned.

“You would deny your king?”

“You would make one of your subjects so uncomfortable that they would feel the need to deny you?”

Her eyes were twinkling like the stars in the night sky. “I think you are being mean to me.”

“I’m hurt, my king. You are the last person I would deny.” It was the way she said deny. She played with the word, even raised an eyebrow when she said it.

He smiled a sideways grin. “Are the Bejhar allow to be in relationships?”

“Of course.”

“Are you?”

She blushed, “no my king.”

“Why?”

“God hasn’t told me that I’m ready for a relationship. Or if he has, I don’t think I’m ready.”

“So you are dismissing God’s direction?”

“If he has told me that there is someone for me, I’m unaware of it.”

“I thought you and Max might be.” He shrugged.

“Max,” she blushed. “No, he’s more like a brother.”

“Thank you. That wasn’t too painful was it?”

She wiggled her nose, “I’ll never tell.”

“Kes, do you remember fighting the Zeede?”

“Not all of it. The last thing I remember was a shield hurling through the air toward your head. I pushed you out of the way.”

He held her face in his hands. “I know what you are going to say. But I need to say this anyway. You are going to tell me ‘all the glory belongs to God’ and I am not disagreeing. Thank you for being God’s instrument.” He lowered his hands to her shoulders, using his thumbs to caress her neck. He tried his best to look deep into her blue eyes. He couldn’t, instead he focused on his thumbs.

Kessa smiled a radiant smile. “God knows what he’s doing.” She was gone.

These tiny purple flowers weren’t done with him. He sat back down, hugging up his knees.

Why was he on his hands and knees in dirt? Mountain dirt. It was cool and damp. Pieces of leaves and small twigs stuck to his skin. His stomach cramped; had he been sick?

It was difficult for his eyes to focus. If an object wasn’t directly in front of him, it was blurry. After he saw it, he wished his vision had stayed blurry. There was a dirty hand with it’s fingers slightly curled sticking out of the ground. As he crawled toward it, panic filled his body. His knees slipped in the damp dirt. The strength of his hands gave way causing him to slide forward. Leaves fell in around him as he moved. With trembling hands, he uncovered Kessa’s face.

A Poet

I saw the tag line recently, “no one really wants to be a poet.”

Poetry is my ‘mont hault’, *mowat.

I will never be independently wealthy from my verse.

It could be worse.

Milton, Eliot, Dickinson, I am not.

Emotions I have not caught,

I can lay them out on the page.

My brain I can engage.

Thoughts are lost to me.

They take flight and flee.

I can say how I feel in words.

I can fight, scream, emotions on my terms.

This dance with words gives me hope.

A way to cope;

with the punches life throws my way.

God sorts the words to say.

I can lay them out on the page.

My brain I can engage.

Feelings are brutal.

I find them futile.

Poetry keeps me sane.

Poetry is healing my brain.

*houseofnames.com mowat, thought to be derived from ‘Mont Hault’ which means high mount.

Once there was Darkness

Chapter 10

Part 1

Kol went outside to let the sun beat on his face. He couldn’t spend another second looking at words. Along the path through the garden were tiny purple flowers. He sat on the ground stroking the flowers small petals with his fingertips.

“Wasn’t that fun?” Kessa asked.

“Our trip to Kepta was uneventful, so no.” Max answered.

“We mustn’t think that way. Not every trip is going to be filled with danger and excitement,” she laughed. The comment was more for her benefit than his.

They stopped by the River Teak to make camp.

A woman was bathing in the river. Kol watched her with keen interest. Her long black hair trailed down her back stopping at her waist line, outlining perfectly the curvature of her behind. Kessa watched him watching her.

Kessa moved her horse closer to him, “I cannot protect you from that one, King David.” Kol was raging mad but kept his composure in front of the soldiers. There was a wild look in his eyes when he made eye contact with her. Kessa pointed at the woman, “Bathsheba; King David from the Bible.” Once she clarified her comment, his anger subsided. 2 Samuel Chapter 11

The soldiers had made camp by the river. She gave them leave to water their horses and bathe themselves in groups of five. She also told them about the woman and how she was not to be harmed.

The next morning as they were resting, she left the camp. Kol thought about following her when her reason for leaving came into view. Two riders approached the camp on horseback.

“It amazes me how she does that.”

Kol’s attention was pulled to a guard at his left. He was sitting by a fire eating a rabbit’s leg. “Do what?”

Another soldier walked out of a tent from behind the guard. “She has this sixth sense about her. She can read nature like a book. I bet the grass told her those two were coming. Or maybe it was these tiny purple flowers that are everywhere. When I go to battle, I want her by my side.”

Kol looked in the direction of the meeting. Even from this distance he could tell that one rider was a woman. The other, a man. She talked to them for only a few minutes before they turned and rode away. She waited until they were out of sight before she headed back to camp.

General Marcus stepped from the side of a tent that was behind Kol. “Where’s she going now?”

Kol almost jumped, “General.”

The general was watching her just as intently as the soldiers were.

Kol couldn’t stand the tension any longer. He jumped on a horse and went out to meet her. “What was that about?”

“That was the woman from the river and her husband.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

There was that sideways grin. She shook off the thought, the feeling. “Yes, her husband came to thank us for not harming his wife. I cautioned her about bathing in such a public place alone and next time the visitors to this area might not be so – pleasant.” She raised an eyebrow.

“Why could you not protect me from her?”

“Not all things are for your enjoyment.”

“God told you I couldn’t have her?”

“She is the wife of another man. She was never yours to have.”

Waste not. Want not.

I collected that salt in a zip lock style bag. There is maybe half a teaspoon of salt here. (Sorry, I didn’t measure it.) I bought it. A little extra something with the candy.

Waste not. Want not.

Growing up; my daily life was filled with the saying, “waste not, want not.”

When you’re young, what clue do you have in lives dot?

As we grow; we learn, “money don’t grow on trees.”

I save the salt from chocolate squeeze.

To my stew you are added.

Flavor has been padded.

DIY Wall Decorations

Most of my fam-ends know that I like to craft. But, I craft with a purpose. When I painted my bedroom, there was one corner of my room that I had nothing on the wall. The center plaque was given to me. It was a plain wood disk. The shoe was from a lunch bag I wore out. 99% of the time, I take my lunch to work. the round disks are c.d.s. I used to get c.d.s in the mail all the time from companies doing promos. Not so much anymore. The fabric covering the disks is random fabric from other projects that match the look I wanted: black, red, and gray. Four rooms in my house are white. White (for my decorating style) is easy to clean and you can match any color with it.

Once there was Darkness

Chapter 9

Part 2

Kol stopped to examine some fruit. In his head he was no longer in the market, he was laying curled up in the bed. A decision couldn’t be made to pass out or throw up. “Talk to me.” He whispered.

“What would you like to talk about?” Her voice was soft and comforting.

“Anything, I don’t care.”

He felt the bed move as she knelt in the floor beside of him. She started reading from the Bible.

“Here.” He heard a man’s voice but wasn’t sure who it was. Or he could have been dreaming.

“I don’t think we are going to be able to get him to drink this.”

“Get some in your mouth and give him a kiss.”

“Dad!” came her shocked cry.

“He would drink it then.”

“Serious suggestions dad.”

“I am being serious.”

“Is anyone else sick?”

“Yes, a handful of people have come to me. I think it’s something they have eaten. I was told the grand dukes wife is very sick.”

She took a pouch of tea leafs from his bag. “Max,” she called. He stepped from the shadows. “Make our king drink this.” She handed Max the cup that her dad had given her.

He grinned, “your dad is right. One big wet kiss from you would get this in his belly.”

She shook her head as she walked away. Max and her dad giggled like school boys.

When she arrived at the grand dukes home, she was met with confusion and suspicion, “I am told the lady of the house is very sick?”

“Follow me.” The porter threw his head back and walked stiff legged through the house.

She was led to a small dark bedroom. The lady was curled up much like Kol. Only she was cold to the touch and her bed was wet from perspiration.

“Has she been near the king?”

“No.” Came the grand dukes shaky reply. He was worried about the health of his wife but more worried about a Bejhar in his house.

“Has she eaten anything no one else in the house has eaten?” Kessa asked.

Another lady was standing in the doorway. “She loves cherries. Ate the whole bowl.”

She gave this young lady the pouch of tea leafs. “This will make a pot of tea. Make her drink it all. Not at once. But she needs to drink all of it.”

“I understand.” The grand duke answered.

She and Luke went to the market and found three vendors selling cherries. One vender, his cherries were much more orange than the rest. They were beautiful and plump. He was arrested and questioned about his fruit. No one died from the fruit he was selling.

After a few days, she went back to Kol, “what did you learn?” He asked. He was up and walking around but she could tell he was still feeling poorly.

“His crop didn’t do well this year. So he picked some wild fruit at the edge of his property to supplement his yield. He swears he didn’t know they were poisonous. Following your instructions, he isn’t allowed to sell in the market for one year.”

He took her by the hand and kissed the top of it. “Thank you.”

She whispered in his ear, “the glory belongs to God.”

Without a word, he walked away from the table in the market place.

“My lady, my lady,” rang out through the crowd. Kessa and the king turned to see the grand duchess quickly walking toward them. She bowed her head to the king, “my king.” Quickly diverting her attention to Kessa; “My lady, I haven’t had the opportunity to thank you for the tea. I have never been as sick as I was from those cherries. It was the worst experience of my life.”

“All the glory belongs to God. I am happy you made a full recovery.” She bowed her head slightly.

The grand duke had caught up with his wife. He said his pleasantries to the king and they walked on.

Kessa stood there for a moment, looking very confused.

“What?” Kol asked.

“That was five years ago.”

Big Mouth

December 1998 Gemmy Industries invented Big Mouth Billy Bass the animatronic singing fish. He belted out “Take me to the River” in grand fashion. By the early 2000’s, Billy had us rolling in Wal-Mart aisles every where with laughter.

I have an indoor dog, Chico. He is house broken which means many, many walks. I have a pair of old shoes by the door to take him walking in. I could wear my nice shoes but I choose not too. For those days when we have a big rain or snow, I wear goulashes. Rain boots for you yungans.

This mornings walk was right after a rain. The grass was soaked. Thunder still hung in the air. Lightning shot across the sky. Wet, squishy grass. Let’s not forget, I mowed yesterday. Wet, squishy, sticky grass.

As Chico and I are making our round of potty town; Big Mouth Billy Bass makes his presents known through my shoe. I almost fell when the sole of my shoe was drug under me as it came unglued. Repeated exposure to Kentucky’s moisture was no match for the Made in China – Dollar General Store shoes that adorned my feet.

We were only half way through our walk. There was no turning back as the sole continued to flap against the pavement and what was left of the shoe. It’s much too bad that I don’t have the skills, I could have flapped out the tune to “Take me to the River” as we plodded along.

🎶Take me to the trash can, throw me in the fire pit.
I’ve out lived my usefulness.
I can no longer preform my duties.
🎶Not only did feet get wet, but someone almost fell.
Take me to the trash can, throw me in the fire pit. 🎶

So long big mouth shoes.

Once there was Darkness

Chapter 9

Part 1

A nice walk through the market would clear his head. He and Abraham strolled along. Most of the citizens were too afraid to approach him. His grandfather four generations back made sure of that. He ruled with an iron fist. Or so Kol had read. His subjects were so afraid of him that they would run away and hide. Even though Kol had a phobia about being touched, he would talk to people that worked up the courage to speak to him.

One booth he passed, he saw Kessa sitting with an old woman. He had to look twice because Kessa wasn’t wearing her big black piece of cloth. This woman had jars full of stuff he wasn’t quite sure what all this was. He watched Kessa take a breath, rose and bowed her head; “my king.”

The old lady got up with great difficulty. Kessa offered to help her but she was determined to stand on her own merit before her ruler.

Kol came around the side of her table. “Please sit.” He smiled and held her arm. Kessa held her cane. The old lady never said a word to him. When he looked into her eyes, she was crying.

“I’ll be back, kind mother.” Kessa walked around the table.

“What is she selling?”

“She has developed a new way of preserving food. One I would very much like to learn. She’s agreed to teach me.” Kol grinned. “What?” She blushed. He just shook his head. But never stopped grinning.

“Would you like to join us?” He motioned down into the market.

“Yes.”

He said a few words to Abraham, who chose to stay with them. A day in the market was good for the soul. Walking the long aisles was stress free. A cool breeze was blowing from the water front. Waves could be heard in the distance crashing against the rocks. Yes, a good day.

The three of them walked in silence.

What Abraham like most about walking the market with Kol was that the merchants didn’t harass him. There was no crown upon his head. No royal robes of court. No pomp and circumstance. Just a man looking at stuff. Lot’s of stuff. But he had an air about him that told people to keep their distance.

They stopped at a table where the merchant was selling birds. The noise was almost deafening. Kol looked at Kessa, then back at the birds. He motioned for the merchant to come closer. “Where are you from?”

“Paulo,” the merchant was terrified.

“How often do you sell here?”

“Ah – bout once a month.”

“May I see your permit to sell fowl?” Kessa asked.

He quickly produced his metal tag. “Since you have a permit, and you sell here frequently, you know it is illegal to sell this bird here?” Kol’s hand was resting on a cage that contained a pretty solid yellow bird with a black beak and orange tipped feathers.

“I, I forgot,” whimpered the merchant.

Kessa smiled, “there are three things you can do; stop selling the birds, get kicked out of the market place, or pay a very large fine as well as stop selling the birds.”

A plump man showed up, “is there a problem?” He snorted, looked at Kol. It took a second for him to recognize who he was talking to. He huffed, “ooooh.”

Kol’s hand was still resting on the cage of the illegal bird. “Abraham, would you care to address this issue?”

“At once, my king.”

Kol and Kessa continued walking. “You look lovely Kes.”

“Thank you, my king.”

Lazy Saturday

Hanging out with fam-ends.

Basketball on the t.v.

Lazy Saturday.

Pop in my glass.

Snacks on the bar.

Lazy Saturday.

Cold outside.

Ham’s baked.

Lazy Saturday.

Dogs asleep in their beds.

Tie game.

Lazy Saturday.

Scalloped potatoes in the oven.

Wait! We’re ahead.

Lazy Saturday.

Need more days like this.

Relaxing.

Lazy Saturday.

Let’s celebrate.

We won!

Lazy Saturday.

Once there was Darkness

Chapter 8

As Kol came to, the world around him was different shades of green. Why was he cold? Why was he wet? Standing took great effort. He fell forward, mud shot in the air when he stomped his foot on the ground to catch himself. The varying shades of green started to take shape: grass, random plants, and distant trees.

Rain! It was pouring the rain. Close to him, soldiers littered the ground. Meccian soldiers were in the process of collecting the wounded.

“Cave!” Someone shouted. It might have been Max. He wasn’t sure. Soldiers started moving in the direction of the voice. Some needed help walking. Others were being carried. Hurt bodies were all around him but he heard no sounds. Other than the rain.

Kol did a quick body check. His head hurt, otherwise he thought he was okay. In the mists of all the bodies he thought he saw a tuff of white. The sight pulled him toward it. His heart sank when he realized it was Kessa. Her uniform was in tatters exposing her body. It shouldn’t have invoked emotions in him seeing her this way. But it did. He took the coverings off of a Zeede that had been slain next to her to cover her with.

It was raining so hard, he was able to catch rain in his hand. His efforts were fruitless trying to clean the blood and mud from her face. He scooped her limp body up, following the soldiers to the cave.

Inside, fires had been build. Rajaf was busy mending the wounded.

“My prince,” it was Max. One sleeve of Max’s black uniform had been cut off at the shoulder, replaced with a bandage from his shoulder to his wrist. Kol was still holding Kessa. “Allow me to take her. Sit here. I’ll have Rajaf come over and look at your head.”

Kol came around to a sharp pain in his head. “Sorry, my prince.” It was Rajaf. “You took a pretty good blow to the head.” Rajaf took Kol’s left hand holding it to the wet cloth full of medicine he had placed on the wound. “Hold this here as long as you can. I’ll come back around.”

“Kessa?”

“She’s still unconscious. But I have faith God will bring her around.”

Kol leaned up against the cave wall so that he could look out into the pouring rain. It seemed to rain harder than he had ever witnessed in his life. He knew there was a forest at the edge of the meadow they had fought in but he couldn’t see if for the rain.

“What do we do with the Zeede, my prince?” One of the soldiers asked.

His head still hurt. “Dead, leave them for their people to collect. Alive, let them go.”

“My prince,” the soldier protested. “They just tried to kill us! We are just going to patch them up and send them home?”

“Tried and failed.” Kol saw Rajaf smile. His words had please the healer. As he sat there, the vision of Kessa state of undress came back to his mind. This was wrong. She was hurt. Hurt, covered in mud and blood, she was still beautiful. Plus, he was to marry upon their return. ‘Help me God. Help me.’ He pleaded. But still the thoughts were there.

Finally the rain stopped. Now it was time for the long journey home. They prayed and thanked God for their lives. Their victory. Their losses could have been so much worse.

Kol walked with the rest of the army. They had some horses. But the horses were for the wounded. Those that couldn’t walk. He and Max took turns carrying Kessa. She was still unconscious.

The River Teak. They were almost home. Kol sank under the water, letting it wash away the battle. Too bad it couldn’t wash away his wounds. In the haze of the water, he saw it. Kessa was fighting 3 huge Zeede. Her black uniform hugging her body caught him off guard, his thoughts were far from the battle. From out of nowhere, a fourth fighter jumped in. Kol raced to her aid. They were a good team keeping these fighters at bay.

Fighters just kept coming. Knock one down, two more showed up in his place. A shield came sailing through the air. It was meant for Kol but Kessa had pushed him out of the way and took the blow. Someone had finally knocked him out a short distance from her. He slowly lifted his head out of the water. Dumbfounded and amazed that she had taken that blow for him. Then his mind filled again with the vision of her body. The torn uniform exposing her to the rain, mud, HIM. He sank back into the water. ‘Dear God, please help me. Lead me Lord and I will follow. I can’t do this alone. Please don’t let confusion fill my thoughts. Amen

Kol shot straight up in bed. This was it. This was the reason God had put a veil over her in his mind. He hadn’t so much as prayed for the way it happened. But God took that thought of her; the torn uniform. The exposed body. God took it all away. Now God was letting him see her for the first time. In ways that he hadn’t thought about or seen her before.

This was not the moment Sarah taunted him with? Kessa hadn’t failed.