“before my daily rebirth” I dug that line because the rest we get (sometimes) refreshes us, although for some more than others, it’s likely the last time. It reminds me that I have to be thankful for every day I get and try to make the best of it.
Nicely done.

I turned 78 today, so I hear you loud and clear. Each night, one wonders if dawn, or something else, or nothing at all will come. We get one of them, but not our choice.

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.

You’re on a tear lately, Rob. Which is good for us as your audience!
You sir are truly a poet. Even if you scoff at such titles. LOL.
I love where this write took me, in my own visuals. just enough detail to create a scene, for us to be bystanders to with our own eyes in our brains.

Oh, it is all so true! In some universe somewhere inside his head, maybe. I think the people in there will deal with him in a very harsh way. Can’t you see the signs? He is slipping away — just not fast enough.