Heat behind the eyes intensifies as tears well up,
saliva pools in the mouth, swallowing to send it down.
that lump in the throat threatens to send me over,
all in response to a question making my heart cave in.

Just breathe. In. Out.

Bitten nails scratch into the palm as the hands clench,
shoulders tense then release, attempting to relax.
Eyes drawn to the scars marking my hands, haunting,
memories of the darkness comes back flooding.

Answer them. Look up.

I'm fine thanks, how have you really been?

Sipping my coffee on a crisp
but sunny fall morning, I noticed a brown spider
hanging from a single thread
attached to an awning in our back yard

It wasn’t moving, possibly waiting
for its next meal to wander into its web
somewhere above. Being so still,
I became curious and reached out
to stir the gossamer strand

The spider, still unmoving, was gone
Gone to wherever spiders go
when they are done being what they are

Broke down feelings visit me
during the dark hours sometimes
Part of me knows something's not right

But when I think of you
I know the morning will return
bringing all that is new again

Like the dawn has a need
to be part of the day
you come to me with tenderness
intent on being there as a constant

Fixing me with a smile
the demons, foiled once more, retreat
to their dark and unwelcome lairs

I haven’t thought much about her ashes
since she’s been gone. Grief, as I’ve known it,
never needed a physical place to take up residence

But I’m worried about the ashes now
as we try and make our peace
with dispersing the dust of what is left behind

How will I know which ashes were there on my first day of school?
Which ones listened to me when I needed to share my troubles?
Maybe I’ll be able to make out those that were part of her smile…

Dear Ones,
Hoping that you all are doing great
and will have a wonderful and safe Halloween!
It looks like it's going to be a
beautiful Halloween Eve
here
in
HomeTown,
Alaska.
Just recently,
Batman and Robin
were seen
jogging around Sherwood Forest!
There may be a lot of
interesting activity warming up.
Will keep my eyes open...
if I don't fall asleep.
Sending my love and
blessings to all of you.
Hugs and Kisses,
Grammie Fenton

After the storm, the field is not the same.

The water has washed away the whole world
and the earth is dampened.
The scent of mud covers our noses,
filling our eyes with yellow colours.

With the rain come the secrets.
With the rain dissolve the dreams.
And with the rain, we get lost in the secrets of our dreams.

She could not see the flowers
as an act of kindness,
as a thank you for sharing
some of her time with me

The expensive bouquet
was still there on the counter
Monday morning when she left

The roses, azaleas, and carnations,
even the inanimate vase,
seemed saddened and troubled
at having been seen as an apology
for a crime where no charges
had yet been leveled

She sits at the table
working on a puzzle
I rise from my chair
to pour us some wine

She suddenly asks me
if I might ever come up to her
and tell her I no longer want her

(this happened to a character
in a book she's been reading)

My brief pause causes her
more angst than she can
comfortably carry without
the help of my answer

I tell her I want to stay
as long as the nights
keep chasing after the days

She smiles and sips her wine
and places another piece
in her puzzle

Halloween and monsters
I've loved them all my life
Throughout my seven decades
Ask my friends and ask my wife

I'd dress up for the evening
Give out candy to the ghouls
The super-heroes dressed in tights
Villains and Joker-fools

I'd make up myself real scary
Like a vampire or a fiend
Lots of blood and gore
Make the little kiddies scream

It used to give me pleasure
To see the children cry
Then shower them with goodies
Wipe the teardrops from their eyes

Lightning flashes across rattled panes, Indigo films on clover leaves,
Purple rain.
Chicks retreat to higher grounds, Metal birds cling onto hangars. Downtown,
Whispering palms bath in the silver moon's luminous light,
Orion hangs like a chandelier in its stead on a starry sky,
Barefooted generators run into the night,
Words find their feet, spring up and fly, Feelings lit up a page like fire-flies; They are bright enough to make hearts glow,
I throw a pebble down the stream's shallow end for rivers run deep.