• Bloody Phones

    I hold the phone look at the screenAnd wonder wheremy mind has been.

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  • Profile picture of RomaJ

    RomaJ wrote a new post

    Plexiglass Train

    We travel through the dark--in a train made of glass--a clear shell gliding througha ruined world.Outside, the city sleeps in shadow--sealed off from its own contagion.Now it’s a tourist route--a safe way to witness decay.The ticket promised:You may look,...

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    • This is like a dystopian future. Great ending. 🙂

      • Thank you! I’m glad the ending stood out. It’s dystopian, yes. but really about how the privileged can buy a ticket to witness poverty from behind glass, without ever having to touch it.

    • Hoi hoi
      What a write!
      And the longer I read, the thinner the glass will become.
      Can you see who is giving the thumb up?
      I’ve tried, but I can’t give you more than one!

      unsure which side of the glass
      I belong to
      The cherry on the cake!
      Keep them coming please.

      Kind regards, Gus

      • Thank you so much! I love how you caught that image of the glass thinning. The barrier was never meant to hold for long. And your line about the thumbs up made me smile! I really appreciate your kind words and encouragement.

    • We humans are complex and complicated at the same time. Is there glass or any kind of barrier that separates our complexity?? I’m not sure there is. I think the complication comes in when we do not understand these complexities, understand that we are capable of anything and everything. That we humans, because we learn and are conscious, can change the world and ourselves, become neither beauty nor monster, just human(e). These are the thoughts I had as I read your poem RomaJ. I liked how the glass disappears and leave you wondering, “who am I” and perhaps also “who do I want to be”.

      Amazing writing RomaJ.
      -Curt

      • Thank you so much, Curt. I really appreciate the depth of your reflection. You’re absolutely right. Our complexities can both connect and divide us, and maybe the glass isn’t a barrier at all but a mirror of our own awareness.

        I love how you phrased that. Becoming neither beauty nor monster, just human(e). That’s exactly the kind of questioning I hoped the poem would evoke.

    • Powerfully penned, Roma. Excellent wordplay and the imagery made me feel like a passenger. Outstanding work. Appreciate you.

      Damian

      • Thank you so much, Damian. I’m really glad the imagery pulled you in and made you feel like a passenger. I appreciate your kind words.

    • What a great idea to write about. Some writers “see”. You do. The way you led the reader along the corridor of scrutiny(?)
      and put them almost as a prisoner forced to watch it play out. Transfixed.
      Great write and thoroughly thought provoking.

      • Thank you so much, Styxian. I’m really glad the poem resonated with you, and I appreciate your generous words about the writing. I love that you described feeling “transfixed” –that sense of uneasy observation was exactly what I hoped to evoke.

        The idea for Plexiglass Train came from thinking about the screens and devices we all look through every day– we’re all passengers in our own glass compartments, watching the world and each other through layers of reflection.

        And sometimes, as we gaze through our own glass screens, we almost catch a glimpse of our own reflection.

    • There is something of magic realism inherent in your verses. A dripping ambiguity & multi-layered which leaves the reader curious. Glass is such a useful metaphor and you give full justice to the word.

      • Thank you so much, Ghosteen. I really appreciate your thoughtful reading. I’m glad the layers and ambiguity came through–glass felt like the perfect metaphor for that fragile line between what we see and what we sense beneath it.

    • This in a way reminds me of a traveling circus. How we go see the bearded woman or the unusually tall man.
      Different walks of life being set out to the public to entertain each night. They’re not monsters but maybe spectacles – and still we the public go seek them out because we are drawn to the unusual. Then we go home and they leave to a different town.

      Maybe a few stay tired of the circus life and maybe a few decide to join the circus looking for something unusual.
      How we are all interchangeable depending on the view.

      Sorry if I’m rambling!
      I loved the write:)

    • The imagery and story telling here are done to perfection. The passengers view the abject poverty outside from their comfortable train. Perhaps to them it just looks like more tv. Like seeing the hungry people of the world on their tv without ever having to interact or see them in person. But maybe the glass grows thinner when the reality brings stronger emotions even empathy. Truly a great poem you have penned here. You have mastered your craft. And I read in awe of your gift. I too had such an experience on a train long ago. I was on the Crescent City train headed from New Orleans to Boston. As we passed through the shacks in the slums of Birmingham, Alabama I heard a two man talking and one said, “You know America really is a dilapidated country” or something like that. It was an eye opener for me.

      John

  • Profile picture of Fia Naturie

    Fia Naturie wrote a new post

    The Time has Come

    When can I write about love and loss, hopes and dreams? When would it be feasible for me to shed a tear and let it drop on a page? Or that I can actually bleed, and you see the entirety of...

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    23 Comments
    • Hmm? Power has many abilities and some are grateful for those abilities. Interesting start. 🙂

    • I love a good vampy story!
      Especially in October!

    • Hoi hoi
      When I was in school I had a girlfriend.
      We laid paper in a thingy that she used to wash the dishes.
      We poured ink for a fountain pen on paper, just so that it didn’t saturate the paper.
      And then we made ourselves cry. Honestly. What you can do with an onion for a crazy painting!
      You don’t really have to be crazy, but it helps.

      And the tears diluted the 🫟 ink.
      Come to think of it, I wonder what’s become of the painting.

      And I still write with Fountain pens exclusively…

      Needless to say I love your write.
      All we can do is to organise the emotions of our readers, and you did that soooo well.
      The spellingschecker disagrees with emotions. What’s happening with these Apple guys?

      Thank you for posting!
      Kind regards, Gus

    • Perfectly timed for Halloween 🦇🦇🦇🦇😎👍

    • Great job with the dialogue with this… excellent flow… pulled me in… carried me along

    • A little dark to start the day. With a vampire on my shoulder. Excellent, Fia,

    • I agree it should be read at dusk. lol
      Thank you Adagio

    • Perhaps a nighttime read, with a lone candle lit in the corner, but then it’s a myth that Vampira(e)s are fearful of the daylight. There is the “morning delights” and a bite on the neck is always desired…. er… perhaps I shouldn’t have said that out loud. Being a Warlock, I do not want to let any Vampires know where I live. Right now there is an uneasy truce between us, my coven and the Vampires. And if you don’t mind, a word of caution and advice, please take care of that untrained Vampire and his master Mino. They pose a serious threat to the peace in the area. But be careful, they are dangerous.

      Sorry, Fia, I kind of got caught up in your story. I can’t wait to see/read how it develops
      -Curt

    • Brilliantly penned, Fia. I always enjoy your storytelling my friend, excellent write. Appreciate you, cuz.

      Damian

    • A good start to a promising tale. I look forward to an interesting read …

    • Is this the opening of the Halloween season, we was questioning it at several periods. We didn’t read the part about this being about vampires. If you don’t read that you may get confused as to is this a gay piece or what. Now we have to find something dark but maybe tasteful. Tight piece Lady

    • This is heart pounding suspenseful story writing of the finest kind. I loved this so much. The dialogue was truly written by the great storyteller you are. This was true to the vampire genre yet oh so original. Loved this from beginning to end. And am so excited by the prospect of reading the two sequels. Truly great tale my friend.

      John

  • Profile picture of Damian DeadLove
    Solace In Chicago

    I got lost in the depths of Chicago tonightSwaying to the horn sections sonic assault Catching the beat with a melody so bright  Hearing this rhythm burning hot as asphalt Smooth transition into another catchy hookA walking bass line marches with the...

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    28 Comments
    • I grew up listening to them. They bring back many high school memories. Nice one, Damian.

      • Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Tim. So glad you connected with the write my friend. Love the classic stuff myself. After Kath passed away, Cetera took control. His vision was more pop, and less horns. Like I said the band lost it’s soul without, Terry. Appreciate you.

        Damian

    • A beautiful tribute to Chicago and Terry Kath. I love how the poem captures the energy of their horns, bass, piano, and guitar. It perfectly conveys how their classic sound can bring both excitement and solace.

      • Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Roma. So glad you connected with the write my friend. Terry Kath, was the heart of the band for sure. Appreciate you.

        Damian

    • To find solace in the music. It is a comfort that I need. Nice writing cuz

      • Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Fia. So glad you connected with the write my friend. It’s something we all need in my opinion. Appreciate you, cuz.

        Damian

    • There is something about classic rock that is so authentic.
      The way it sounds and the tempo. Love the stuff!
      Wonderful tribute write Damien.
      I especially loved the piano is simmering line!

      • Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Adel. So glad you connected with the write my friend. I love that line as well, gotta love the classics. Appreciate you.

        Damian

    • A fine and much deserved tribute to one helluva guy .. Write and rock on my fine literary friend .. Neville 😎👍

      • Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Neville. So glad you connected with the write my friend. He was one of a kind for sure. Appreciate you.

        Damian

    • There really wants another sound like theirs, was there? I’m permanently haunted by the music of the 80s and theirs always lands on my mental and emotional playlists. This is a beautiful tribute, my friend

      • Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Willow. So glad you connected with the write my friend. They had some decent songs in the 80’s. But Peter Cetera took control of the group once Terry died. He envisioned a more poppy sound with less horns. It just never had the soul of the classic 70’s sound. Terry Kath was their heart, and they were never the same without him. Just my opinion. Appreciate you.

        Damian

        • See, I always learn something from you in these. I wasn’t allowed to listen to the radio until the 80s so I missed most of the ‘before’ era. I’ll have to go hunting…

    • Chicago is absolute badass. I never liked the pop-driven 80’s stuff, and I believe it skews the perception of this band for many. Live performances as powerful as any metal band. Solid tribute.

      • Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Benjamin. So glad you connected with the write my friend. I agree. Cetera’s vision of the band was a huge departure from Kath’s. The 70’s stuff had balls, it had heart and soul. Killer live band, Kath’s blazing solo on 25 or 6 to 4 comes to mind. You know your music. Appreciate you.

        Damian

    • I like it when you put us nearer an artist, or group, and we can perhaps learn a bit or just revel in the story too.
      You’re an interesting man, Mr Damian. Thank you for sharing some of your talent and history with us! I enjoy it all.

      • Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Mark. So glad you connected with the write my friend. Well thank you, that means a lot to me my friend. Appreciate you.

        Damian

    • Having older sisters gave me access to all types of music from an early age. Can still recall hearing ‘If You Leave Me Now’ for first time. Your words are a poignant tribute.

      • Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Ghosteen. So glad you connected with the write my friend. I love all kinds of music. I started out a metal head, but I’ve evolved over time. lol. Good song. Appreciate you.

        Damian

    • Hello Damian. Excellent write as usual. Never was a fan of Chicago. My parents were huge into them during the 70’s. The one album I do appreciate and own is their debut from 69. Terry Kath destroys it on that release. His playing is right up there with Hendrix.

      • Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Keith. So glad you connected with the write my friend. The first album was killer, Kath, was an amazing guitarist. Hendrix himself, told one of the horn players in the band, that Kath was better than him. According to legend that is. lol. Appreciate you.

        Damian

    • Band like Chicago were so good and creative. We don’t get bands like that anymore. Great ink friend.

      • Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Nick. So glad you connected with the write my friend. No we don’t it’s a shame. Appreciate you.

        Damian

    • I absolutely love the music of Chicago. They rock my world. And your poem is true to the city and the band. I felt the urban pulse of he music an city that was vibrant and totally had me in the world of that band and the city. As rhythmic as a song and colorful as the greatest jazz poems. Enjoyed this immensely.

      John

      • Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, John. So glad you connected with the write my friend. Love them too, Terry Kath, was their heart and soul. Chicago after his death was a more pop/rock. Thank you for the excellent commentary. Appreciate you.

        Damian

    • Wasn’t it Jimi Hendrix who said Terry Kath was THE best guitar player – EVER? Wow, what a sound this group had…what talent. I caught them in concert in my high school years, and was blown away by the “horn sections sonic assault”. I had a crush on James Pankow, but Terry was truly the heart and soul of this group. What an awesome tribute to one of music’s elite bands. Thank you for your inspiration, Damian!

      • Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Kelly. So glad you connected with the write my friend. I’ve heard that Hendrix said that as well. So cool you got to see them live, that had to be an amazing show. Elite musicianship throughout that group. The man on the sly trombone, Mr. Pankow. Danny Seraphine was a beast on the drums. But, Terry was the man. He made the guitar talk and sing. He had a hell of a voice himself, very soulful. Thank you for the lovely commentary. Appreciate you.

        Damian

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