Hello Rob,

​This has been a fun and truly rewarding collaboration. When I first read your poem, those lines – “I still curate her mascara upon my pillow, The siren, bride to desire, / Will simply sing” -immediately stood out to me. I felt your voice was reflective, a curator of memory waiting for a shift.

The Siren is that shift!  I focused on making her the immediate, visceral answer to your poem. You introduced the idea of the wave and the summons, and I wanted my poem to embody the full force and consequence of invoking an elemental creature of the sea. It was about taking your reflection and turning it into a moment of pure, overwhelming action.

​Thank you so much for the prompt; I genuinely enjoyed writing this with you. I really love this kind of improv and following an established energy.

​On a completely different note: If you liked “The Siren” and want to try another style, I can also do rap! I used to be in a gamer group where the young people would try to battle rap me in impromptus, and I’d completely destroy them. Hahaha. Just a thought for a future experiment!
​I enjoyed this so much. I hope you did too.
​RomaJ

My pleasure. You are an absolute diamond and please promise me this, never ever stop shining.

A rap battle? My sweet Lord, I’m just an indie man at heart. Challenge accepted, but you will have to give me a wee bit of time. I will need the advice of my friends. Lol.

That is one of the kindest things anyone has ever said to me -thank you! I promise to keep shining as long as you promise to keep writing.

​Haha, the rap battle reference is a funny story! I used to hang out in a gamer community where the young folks often started lyrical battles. I ended up joining in just for fun -I love rhyme and could go all day! It made for some great memories. Take all the time you need. I fully respect a rap battle that requires a council of advisors. Thank you for this fun collaboration.

Here we see your tender side. Your family being scattered and fragmented is something I can relate to. Fine work, my friend.

Ah, it’s the eyes that capture the soul. The forests that we get lost within.
Your write tells us it is so for you. You describe it well.
Great write.

Dear Betty, the eyes are the mirrors of the soul. It is usually the first point of contact and it can be the one that leads into temptation lol. This is beautifully penned. Lovely writing. I have yet to post here. Still trying to navigate the strangeness.

Chris