Coreopsis 11 – c1

   Orion gently woke Sarah up. “One hour.” He lifted the blinds to allow the sunlight to pour into the car.

   She shielded her eyes. “That wasn’t nice.”

   “Sorry.”

   They packed in silence. Not saying a word about the Motietoian’s. The guard. Or blocked tracks. 

   At the train station two porters where waiting on the platform. As soon as the train stopped the porters entered the car, collecting their bags. 

   Okay, she thought. 

   Orion led her to a horse drawn carriage. It looked like something out of the pages of a child’s story, four huge Clydesdales pulling a round carriage. It took her breath away. She froze just marveling at it. It was amazing. Sarah had never been in a carriage before. Whoever he had commissioned to build it had worked hard. She couldn’t help but admire the metallurgy before she ever thought about getting in. It was covered with scenes.

   “What do all these mean?” She asked rubbing her hands over the designs. Her lungs filled with the smell of hot iron. Sweat beaded across her brow. Sparks flew through the air as a hammer fell on the glowing metal. Her arm vibrated when the blow landed. 

   “They are scenes from our nations past.”  The sound of Orion’s voice pulled her from the vision. “Father had this commissioned to remind us where we came from.”

   “A carriage?”

   “Father is a tad bit romantic.” 

   She couldn’t help but study Orion’s reaction to that comment. It was almost as if he was saying that about himself as well. She continued gliding her hands over the iron. 

   Orion slid his hand over hers. It took her by surprise. He opened the door allowing her in. “Milady,” he bowed.

   She couldn’t help but laugh. “Thank you kind sir.” 

   The inside of the carriage was red. Sitting down on the seat was like sitting on a cloud. There was no artwork inside. When he was in, he reached around her pulling the shade over the window. 

   “How am I supposed to see your home through blinds?”

   “These are for me.” He smiled. “Once we are out of the city, there is much to see.”

   “Why are they for you?”

   “People talk. I can’t stop that. But I can slow its malice.”

   “I see.” 

   The carriage stopped after what seemed like forty-five minutes of a silent ride. A porter opened Orion’s door. Orion came around and opened hers. “Welcome to the Morian Estate.”

   She blushed, “thank you, kind sir.”

A bird in the peanut butter

In an attempt to govern my appetite, 

trying to make better choices before I take a bite. 

The winter solstice had me craving things. 

My stomach, loud and proud did sing. 

More than half of the peanut butter jar was a dark void. 

Could I be any more annoyed?

Holding my breath, I unscrewed the lid. 

A black bird leapt out of the jar. He bowed to me, farewell he did bid.  

No words could I speak. 

Not a sound did creak. 

My mind was in shock.

How does one take stock?

There was a bird in the peanut butter.

This concept, I couldn’t mutter. 

http://livingpoetry.net/2026/06/15/monday-poetry-prompt-black-govern-solstice/

Coreopsis

 First insert, part six

The guard brought two people with him back from the train. There was no introductions. They scrubbed up and got to work. Dying tourches were replaced with fresh ones. More hot water arrived. Soiled fabrics were taken away. Tools were boiled. 

Sarah sighed, “would you asked if it’s okay to bring linens from the train? We don’t have enough.” Orion translated. Leader Lady nodded yes. The guard was sent back to the train.

When the guard returned, not only did he bring a laundry sack full of fresh linen, he had a message. There were no boulders in the snow bank. The train could plow through. And the damage to the tracks ended up being very minimal. Only a thousand feet of track had been damaged. But there was a miles worth of debris on the tracks that gave them the appearance of being damaged. When shall we leave?”

Orion looked at Sarah before he answered, “when the job is finished.”

The guard groaned with disappointment. 

Sarah was amazed that the difference having just two extra people made. The load seemed much lighter. 

The torches were changed again. 

Sarah was so stiff she could hardly stand. “Did I hear you say the train is ready?”

The guard jumped to his feet, “yes!”

Sarah and Orion spent a few minutes in conversation with Leader Lady before it was agreed no more help was needed. 

Once the train was back in motion, the guard couldn’t hold his peace any longer. “They need to pay for the damaged tracks. The time lost. Materials wasted.”

“Materials wasted?” Sarah questioned. 

“Our linens. And your, plus the other doctor’s time.”

Sarah got directly in his face, “send me a bill.”

When they were in their car, Orion voiced, “I think our guard made an enemy today?”

She only bristled. 

The Book

Recently, I finished The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas (audiobook). This thing is massive at 52 hours of audio time. 

What got me started down the Dumas trail was I read The Three Musketeers and loved it. 

In my friend circle, we talked about the book. One friend had to read it in high school. After I finished the book, reflecting on that comment, that was a mistake. Her distaste for this classic novel might be that how many of us in high school, ages 14 – 18, have enough life experience to appreciate the work? When the main characters life went to hell in a hand basket, he was only 18. Had been out many times to sea as an employed sailer, was going to get married, and had the hopes of becoming the youngest captain for the company he worked for. I know at 18, I had all these life experiences. Haven’t you?

“The novel is set in France, Italy, and islands in the Mediterranean Sea during the historical events of 1815–1839, the era of the Bourbon Restoration through the reign of Louis Philippe I. It begins on the day when Napoleon left his first island of exile, Elba, beginning the Hundred Days period of his return to power. The historical setting is fundamental to the narrative. The Count of Monte Cristo explores themes of hope, justice, vengeance, mercy and forgiveness.

It follows the life of Edmond Dantès, a young sailor who is falsely accused of treason, and imprisoned in the prison Château d’If. There, he meets Abbé Faria, who educates him and reveals the location of a hidden treasure on the island of Monte Cristo. After escaping, Dantès recovers the treasure, and transforms himself into a wealthy and enigmatic nobleman.

Under the identity of the titular Count of Monte Cristo, he enters high society in Paris and begins a calculated plan of revenge against those who betrayed him, including Danglars, his former ship’s supercargo, Fernand, the cousin and suitor of his fiancée, and Villefort, the crown prosecutor that ensures his imprisonment to protect his own career. In the end, he abandons complete devotion to revenge, seeks redemption, and departs with his former slave and lover Haydée, leaving others to confront the consequences of both their actions and his.”

I used this Wikipedia because it works. But one piece I’d like to add to this is that Dantes (so wrapped in his vengeance) believes that he is doing God’s will. There is almost a chapter of a monologue where he is in turmoil with himself over this. This concept I can get down with. Because I have done it. In my case, I used the Bible as a weapon and that was not my place. Romans 12:17-19 :English Standard Version

“17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it[a] to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.””

Not having read the original but the English translation, I didn’t think Haydee was already his lover. However, she was purchased as a slave. I might have completely missed that. It was my impression the Count bought her because she was part of his plan for revenge. 

This book is full of twists and turns. All of our human emotions are touched on. Toward the end of the book, I found myself wanting Haydee and the Count to sail off into the sunset. 

If you had access to a fortune that knew no bounds, how far would you go?

The Count of Monte Cristo – Wikipedia

What did you say?

Acts 17:23 “For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an alter with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.” 

When I was in college, we HAD to take Old and New Testament. One semester of each. There was no getting around it. I honestly don’t remember much but when I read Acts 17:23, I remembered us discussing it. Paul was on fire when he started preaching to the crowd. He got their attention quick, fast and in a hurry. But shortly into his preaching he changed a pronoun. He started talking about God (I want to say in the feminine and not the masculine) but he lost his audience. He was doing great. He was speaking to the Greeks by invitation. He didn’t mention Moses, Jesus, nothing Jewish because they had no context. He even uses their own literature to prove his point; he knew the unknown God. He did have converts that day. So it wasn’t a total loss. 

Has this happened to you? It sure has happened to me.   We offend, insult, or hurt someone’s feels not because we meant to. “It isn’t what you say but how you say it.” Inflection and tone being chief among them. “Plain talk is easily understood.” But a lot of times plain talk will not help you win friends and influence people, if this is your goal.  My bio-sister can say “good morning” to you and you feel like you’ve been cussed out. 

I feel like Jesus had this down pat. He had some hard lessons for us but people flocked to him to hear the good news and to accept salvation.