Styxian

Styxian wrote a new post

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February 18, 2026

I pretend that melancholy tastes like caramel.One is a treat, both are rare for me.How both linger like a pest,one in head, one on teeth.Her skin was caramel.Her neck, a spoon dipped in mocha.The collar of her shirt relaxed,while she rolled the paintup and down the wall.A second coat of white,trying to bury the purple."Who does that?!" She exclaimed,as she fretted with her hairfeathering down onto her lip.I didn't think she expected an answer,so I didn't offer one.Probably had been a girl's room,around fifteen, undecidedif she liked red or blue,so she subconsciously went mixed with them.Her parents could barely affordthis beach house, so she had done with itwhat she could, for this time in being.But it's Annie's place now.I am just a sand walker,looking for shells. Intriguedby this caramel woman I sawlugging paint cans into her house.I guess I looked safe; older,thin, with pretended wisdom upon my face.Annie let me in.So many windows, sunlight sentcalm rays into the room.Crackles of sand glitteredupon the ceramic floor-some still gatheredin the shape of toes.Annie didn't notice, asI placed my foot beside her footprints,pretending we were walking along the shore.-Maybe tomorrow, once she knows mewell enough, if I can stretch out this day.She had sun-tea, some sugar, no ice.And I recalled, there's that caramel colorthat I can't avoid.Maybe later, when the sun once againmocks suicide of itself, out on the water,we will pretend the stars are ice,crinkling through our tea glasses,when we hold them up.She's still rolling, though.I grab the brush and beginto second coat the trim."You don't have to do that", she says.Yet something about the waythe brush glides, wet, slick,covering every inch...I tell her that I enjoy painting.Upon the wall, by the door, a crucifix.Her mom insisted. To bless the housefrom demons and probably sins.Because Annie is still young enoughto partake of christening the houseover and over again, with less thanhonorable men.Summer can be intolerable,without an outlet for her simmering.If she starts talking about her fatherthen I know I am doomed.It means I remind her of him.My fantasy will crash,like an ugly pelican into the ocean.So far, though, she just complainsabout the seagulls shittingon her little wooden porch.Yeah, it's one of the negativesof a beach house. Butat night they settle down.Two hours of small talk followand long strokes of her paint roller.I glimpse over my hand at her,as I run the brush overthe bedroom door. I peek inside; her bed is smalland I am the tall mast of a sailboat,without the benefit of sailsfilling me out.-There's always the comfort of spooning,curling, fetal positioned.That faint security we can't recall,from when we were just infant minded.Subconsciously wanting some form of return.Annie wants to walk the beach.Changes her shirt, to a white blouse.Her areolas unashamed, as they stare at methrough the barely shy veiling.My impulses screaming inside me;I'd marry her today.Divorce in the Autumn, but for nowhoneymoon for ninety days.As we strolled, I found a white feather, drenched,offered to the land-lockedby the generous ocean.I twirled it dry, best I could,then handed it to Annie.Maybe an angel was on its way to her,but fell short, into the sea.So it sent me.Maybe she's thinking about curtains,or the gasping sound of the old refrigerator.I remind her, because I know the feeling,of how in the morning, the wavesfollow the breeze onto the shore.How the first calls of the seagullsare calm, stretching their wings,waiting for the coming morselsfrom clumsy beach goers.I will take Annie's clumsiness,if she wants to falterduring our gracefulnessof painting over the purple.These bruised walls, of a fifteen year old'sbroken heart, a summer ago.When her own angel fell into the sea.We trudge through the deep sand,back to the bungalow.“Wanna stay tonight?”, she offers, as she runs the feather over her lips.I don’t think she meant...

16 Comments

Fia Naturie
8 months ago

I love how you put so much nuance into this piece.
- Styxian
  7 months, 4 weeks ago
  
  Details are the building blocks, yeah? Sometimes it’s too easy for me to write ones like this. I’m good at visuals. I could literally live within the writes. But really, it’s what we notice, the nuances, yes, that make a moment memorable. And life is all about the moments.
  Thank you, Fia. Keep rockin!
Adelphina
7 months, 4 weeks ago

This feels good. Nothing is rushed – it just is in the moment.
It’s like you turned seconds into an un-rushed comfortable stretch into the next.
I love how you created this beginning for your characters and moved them into possibilities with a beautiful sunset.
Even the sheets played a very cool visual – comparing them to sails.

Loved it! And you. I’m so lucky to get both:)
Styxian
7 months, 4 weeks ago

I just changed the title. This one is more appealing.
At any rate, thank you Sir Damian! It was an idea, with a little real person added in. LOL. I’m just trying to stretch my creative muscles a bit!
Styxian
7 months, 4 weeks ago

Well lookie who showed up! How’s you?! It’s good to see you popping in.
I appreciate your visit and comment. I liked the build of this write.
I kept visualizing it off and on for days. It could have been much longer, but i spared myself and the readers. LOL.
It’s more like August-October, though, in reality!
You ready to post some of your own material now? It’s been awhile!
Styxian
7 months, 4 weeks ago

Well, you do have an influence on much of my ideas… The feminine aspects and such.
You’re right, I didn’t think about the easy pacing of this/them. But it’s there huh. Good observation!
Hey, nice avatar! I get to kiss that face!!!!
Crimsin
7 months, 4 weeks ago

hello dearest Styxian you are a beautiful storteller I felt the easy way you told it like the tide ebb and flow and like the tide building… I wonder at end if your coffee black you had enough of her caramel… great write ❤️
- Styxian
  7 months, 4 weeks ago
  
  Thank you, Crims! I actually drink mocha (coffee, cocoa, and milk).
  I like writing my stories. They are mini’movies to me. As long as there is someone who enjoys reading them, I will post some.
  So thank you for the encouraging comment. It helps my motivation.
I_IS_ ME
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Great piece dude, totally love it. Do you know at one point the post of the poem “Footprints” popped into our head? Tight
- Styxian
  7 months, 3 weeks ago
  
  Remind me of that poem. I know of the one about being carried by God or Jesus or something like that. No?
  Oh wait, I get the connection.
  Thanks a dual bunch! LOL I keep trying to come up with original ideas/writes, to keep me warmed up creatively.
  I’m supposed to be putting all my best writes together for my book. But I keep editing them more! Argh.
  Hope you are well, We. 😉
I_IS_ ME
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Dude your pieces are great, they are original and relatable. Our mind relaxes while reading your pieces and we see calming things
- Styxian
  7 months, 3 weeks ago
  
  I do write some brutal truth stuff, rarely. Creative writing is my happy place, so yeah, usually I try to balance good with bad etc. Life needs light.
Ghosteen
7 months, 3 weeks ago

I really like this Mark. When I joined sites decades ago. this was the kind of poetry I wished to encounter. I’ve learnt so much from Americana (though I have worked with Americans) some of it has been a nefarious experience, but mainly, it has had a massive positive influence in my little Welsh world. Your movies are inspiring.
Styxian
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Well, I’ve mentioned before that my biggest influence are the writings of a little ol Chinese lady! Yet I’ve also taken in so many other writers’ works into my brain, from several cultures. I literally love unique concepts and viewpoints from so many avenues. It does mold us, when we open our minds to what is out there.
So thank you, Rob. But in return, your writes make me think, and thus expand too. You are noticed and learnt from.
- FlatDaddy
  7 months, 3 weeks ago
  
  Well, we haven’t met except for a quick comment you made on my “Creepy Old Cat” piece. So I thought I’d take a peek at your work and found this little gem. Nice work, too. You have a good eye for imagery and nuance.
Styxian
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Thanks FlatDaddy. I do try!

PAR (Paulo Acácio Ramos)
8 months, 2 weeks ago

The poem operates as a rite of declassification: the subject is neither bear, nor wolf, nor man, but the oscillation between all of them. And it is precisely in this instability that love appears—not as redemption, but as a force that anchors the untamed without domesticating it. Very well written, I like it very much.
- Styxian
  8 months, 2 weeks ago
  
  How are you, Paulo.
  I appreciate your words. And you are right. We are always evolving mentally based on mood or circumstances. This is a whirlwind of a few examples.
Adelphina
8 months, 2 weeks ago

This write is clever with a lot of twists molding into each other. And I love the red kite!
And the heartstrings. I’ll never look at them the same again. I love when you do steamy writes.
Never over done but with a few sharp edges – bringing the heat.
I can’t wait to see your book! And all the works you decide to put in it.

Love everything you do plus you;)
- Styxian
  8 months, 2 weeks ago
  
  Well I love you being so biased! No matter how down my day was, you cheer me up!
  I kinda stole the physical parts of this write from one I ditched earlier in the week. So yeah, this is like a hybrid write. LOL
  Ah, my book!? I swear I will get it done baby! You set the bar pretty high. I have to catch up!
I_IS_ ME
8 months, 2 weeks ago

When we read this our mind mind thinks within the piece. Everything that we want is within the cave, truth of self and existence, safety in relation to everything within the cave, all emotions within the cave are real. Outside, there is darkness and every lie that it can hold, There are the teaming deceivers outside totally envious of the warm relationship within, snarling and gnashing their teeth at truth. Tight one dude
- Styxian
  8 months, 2 weeks ago
  
  Your comment deserves to be written out as a creative piece. Very enlightening, you are!
  And yep, you nailed it pretty accurately, in more sense than I did.
  Thank you much for this. It is quite helpful.
Fia Naturie
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Beautifully written and so well thought out, even though you said your ideas were slammed together. It came together very well.
- Styxian
  8 months, 2 weeks ago
  
  Actually it really just blended itself, as the ideas bounced around my head. I usually just write it all out nonstop, once the thought train is rolling. Then of course the hacking and second guessing comes! Not too much though. I try not to over edit, otherwise I end up basically rewriting the whole thing/s. Which is exactly what is happening with my book I’m supposed to be finishing!
  Good to see ya, Fia! Thanks so much, too.
Wally
8 months, 2 weeks ago

I dig the mix of spiritual and philosophical feel to this, delivered like spoken poetry, that rhythm that begs the reader (or listener) to lean in closer.
Great work.
- Styxian
  8 months, 2 weeks ago
  
  Grant it, you won’t hear me ever reciting anything aloud. I have a glitch. LOL
  Yet,I do try to bring interesting writes here. Obviously sometimes the reader sees things a bit differently within the imagery. But that’s okay. We all interpret pour own visions, even as a picture is “painted”.
  I sincerely thank you, Wally.
Styxian
8 months, 2 weeks ago

It was a mess in my head for awhile, and this is the result of that jumble. LOL.
Funny how a few random ideas/lines can blend into something after all.
thank you, Damian!
Thomas W. Case
8 months, 1 week ago

Brilliant.
Styxian
8 months, 1 week ago

Thomas, I wish! But I’m keeping that accolade! I’ve been stabbing my head with a pen lately, trying to make my material worth the read. So thank you for the encouragement.

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