A Road of Stories

Walking on a road of stories
a trail of tales
Looking into their gleaming eyes
Windows into lives
Glimpses into truths and lies.
They write them down
or draw them out
Then paste them on the walls of the world
For all to see them shown and told.
Mine are inside me
private and unseen
Unwrinkled, perfect secrets
None of those are mine
Never from my time.

Preen

Autumn auspice daunting from the ash
Remained cradling teacup so quakes couldn’t take it
Two of them now, tearing through the trees
‘Is it a bad omen?’ I asked
When morning was eclipsed by the flock
But the bird in confinement had been pensive
His warm sable feathers seemed inviting
Slipping my fingers through the slits of the cage,
He kissed them and sighed
‘When the time comes, you have nothing to fear
In the eye of the storm or the beholder
Focus fixed on you is a blessing, not a curse’

Austin High

11

Wine-Dark Sea

At the dawn of the journey, a chord was struck, so gruesome
Odysseus had a ship filled with the spoils of war, but carried an even more peculiar cargo-
Pride.
The arrogant sailors provoke the gods and are expelled by the wine-dark sea, so unrelenting
Odysseus finds himself on the brink of his demise
Luckily, salvation befalls him
He is recovered by the nymph Kalypso
Odysseus remembers his home and abandons the nymph without question. So bitter
He journeys to the underworld to seek exemption from his torment
He ventures into the darkest corners of the world
Upon his sacrifice to the dead, Odysseus gains the knowledge of his escape
Odysseus is encapsulated by the shrieking and surging of death and destruction
Finally, after his assessment, a chord was struck, so bright.

Valentines Day

Sweets, chocolates, hugs, and kisses
Valentines is so delicious,
Filled with love and happiness,
In the air is love and affection,
Bringing people together forever,
What could be more enjoyable,
then having a happy family on the most lovable day of the year.