So a few people know this and a few people don't but I think it's wrong. A few Prosers that know about it have already contacted Prose and yeah, I get that it's the holidays and all but I think this needs to be taken care of as quickly as possible.

Here's the deal. There's a user named Unique who entered into the Challenge of the Month for December. Perfectly fine. But she went and created over 90+ side accounts to go and like and repost her post. It has over 400 views at this point.

Problem Number One: You're only allowed to have one account on Prose. Yeah, sure, a few of us have another account that we like to use when we want to write just to write and now for people to see. It's a personal account that is normally on private. But over 90 is a bit exessive.

Problem Number Two: She/He/It/They deleted any comment that wasn't in favor of the post. I had to recomment twice and then block the user so they couldn't delete it. A fellow Prose reached out and asked what her explanation for all the side accounts was and they responded saying they were people they had invited to Prose. Cool, awesome, we love new people but over 90+ people? There's no way that all of those are you 'friends.' I'll give you like five or eight.

Problem Number Three: This is probably the biggest one. Imagine being a new user on Prose and stumbling upon this post and seeing that Unique is too a new user but has so many views and likes and reposts and you work has like five at most. I know how this is! When I first started, I was excited because ten or so people had liked my post and then I saw veterans on here who had made a bit of a following as they had been on there for so long and they had tons more likes, reposts, and views then I did. But you know what? They took me under their wings and helped me and would even tag other people to come and read my posts. I grew and since I've been on here, I've been trying to help those that are new to Prose. But just imagine! for a split second the discouragement they would feel.

Problem Number Four: Prose is being slow. Now, I mentioned earlier that yeah, it's the holidays and all but it's a matter of time before Unique starts screwing with the other challenges. Luckily, you don't win the challenge of the month because of likes and reposts or they would have blown us all out of the water with their fake system. I messaged Prose several days ago and have heard nothing about it. Yet Unique is still getting away with it.

I just hope that something can be done about this and quickly.

My Little Girlfriends

My return to the windmill with

the red door was most exciting

Remembering my childhood

summers with fondness

Three months out of the year

I could play with mutual friends

Boisterous Games outdoors

where I was not scolded

Wearing blue jean fabric

and dirty messy shirts

Mother indeed was fooled

when I returned with clean

Rarely worn cute girlie clothes

they usually hung on hangers

in the back of the closet

except on Sunday for church

My girlfriends taught me how

to keep my long hair neat

That was easy as I wore hats

Boy caps! My Mother

Never would approve

I must keep my hair tidy

else Mother would take me

to the smelly salon and

have it cut and styled

My girlfriends also taught me

how to keep my nails short, clean

I rubbed cream on my hands

nightly to keep the softest skin

The brothers of my girlfriends

were quite polite with words

as their sisters would report

if any word was too sharp

for me, the girl visitors ears

They would have a long

Talk with their parents

I hope I get to see some

of my summer girl friends

It is a long time coming

I miss them very much

©Julia A Knaake

In my house, we have the jar. It’s become a sort of coming-of-age ceremony for my family. Only Abuela gets to decide if you’re ready for the jar. My cousin, Rico, didn’t get to see the jar’s inside until he was twenty-two. When I was fifteen, Abuela decided I was ready. And now, here I am, staring at it’s colorful red and copper outside as it rests upon the high kitchen cabinet. I sighed, grabbed a stepladder, and took it down.

The jar was cold and smooth to the touch. I ran my fingers over its zig-zagged patterns before thumbing off the clay top. I pulled out the tightly rolled up parchment paper and unrivaled its yellow silk ribbon. On the paper was a handwritten family recipe for gazpacho dating back more than six generations ago. A recipe I’ve memorized six years ago when I first saw it. I sighed, tucked it back into the jar, placed it back up on the cabinet, and left it to collect dust for another six years. I glanced at the clock. It was time to go check on Abuela.

“Hola Abuela.” I greeted as I set a plate of paella on her nightstand.

She didn’t turn to look at me or the food. Abuela kept staring at the ceiling. She stopped interacting with me a while ago, when she forgot who I was, who she was. I still remember the day the doctor diagnosed her with dementia. It’s been a long six years. The doctor doesn’t think she’s going to live much longer. There’s another house visit next week, maybe there’ll finally be some good news. “Make sure you eat it all.” I said as I closed the door behind me.

It’s quiet here. Just me and Abuela. Rico, Amy, Sofia, Luis, and all the others faded after she was diagnosed. I could see it in their eyes: they couldn’t stand seeing her like this.

Dammit.

And they think I could? Corbades! At least I had the pinche guts to stick around and take care of her.

I miss it. The nights we’d gather around the table, laughing, swapping stories. Then, all our attention would serve to Abuela as she carried gazpacho with its rich, savory scent wafting through the air.

No one’s made gazpacho since Abuela was diagnosed.

I took the jar back down. Maybe it was time for that to change.

Aging baby boomer

no longer fit as a fiddle

accumulating extra adipose tissue

around the middle

ain't no impossible mission

whence thumbs I twiddle

to shed unwanted

weight methinks exorcise to unriddle.

Call to action necessitates

yours truly to acclimatize,

calling fitness trainer

whereby honed toned physique

(tubby synonymous with Adonis – ha)

benefits begetting courtesy to aerobicize,

nsync dumbbells compliment exercise,

whereby brutal daily grueling

regimen will also comprise

boot camp rigorous discipline

strength to pilot (minus paunches)

shouldering, managing, hoisting crucifix sunrise

to sundown will non verbally advertize,

verily intolerant to chastise,

hence no bully best better mess

mine mean mien guise

will enjoyably capitalize

zing might equals right to authorize

self defense without need to apologize.

Back in the day, I

presented pitiful sight

self worth equated on

par with botanical blight

buffeted along boulevard

of broken dreams depressed body language

bespoke head to foot

encompassing enfeebled edifice complex

scrawny measly gumby,

hokey pokey height

how I presented such sorry spectacle

courtesy excellent twenty/twenty hindsight

analogous to an emotional black hole,

never exhibiting courage to fight,

rather yours truly immediately took flight

and/or stood dumbfoundedly

in imitation of deaf mute wishing to alight

bajillion miles away, versus

active stance to fight preferring the incognito

guise pitch dark vested gentry

donning luxury invisible

accouterment shade o' midnight

proffered, though natural camouflage

infrared crosshairs nonetheless did sight,

when scaredy cat sacrificial scapegoat

experienced his sealed fate, a heavy smite

upon me noggin scrambled outlook

seeing stars courtesy topflight -

(bare in) strong arms hoodlums

brandishing razor sharp dagger

type like fangs able, eager,

(think) bloodthirsty 10,000

homicidal maniacs

ready and willing to bite

simultaneously trumpeting

hate speech to excite

curious madding crowd

glomming to render airtight

any possible safe escape,

yours truly turned white as a sheet.

Heartfelt Energy 3

Uncle Spiro saw Demitrius walking towards the boat with a fine looking young woman. She looked familiar but he could not place her in his memories. It's about time he walked around with a pretty woman. Uncle Spiro wondered if Demitrius ever dated women. Now he need not wonder. He quickly went to the bathroom where he washed his face and hands then quickly brushed back his hair.

After introductions Uncle Spiro kept looking at Larysa and she at him. Finally she said: “Uncle Spy do you know a good drunken sailor song?”

What shall we do with a drunken sailor?

What shall we do with a drunken sailor?

What shall we do with a drunken sailor?

Early in the morning?

Way-hay, up she rises

Way-hay, up she rises

Way-hay, up she rises

Early in the morning

Put him in the long boat 'til he's sober

Pull out the bung and wet him all over

Put him in the scuppers with the deck pump on him

Heave him by the leg in a runnin' bowlin'

Tie him to the taffrail when she's yard-arm under.

Larysa and Uncle Spiro hugged and jumped up in unison.

“Uncle Spy!”

“Aunty Mame!”

“Uncle Spy!”

“Aunty Mame!”

“How did you know it was me? Where have you been the last seven years? Why didn't you write? Call? Your Uncle Nick was heartbroken when he went to find you. That horrible Geraldine gave the letters you sent back. They had all been opened then glued back. He showed them to me. I told him they were tampered with because if you had read them why would you bother to glue them back together. He had them when he moved and asked if you ever came back to give you the box of letters.”

“Uncle Spy do you have those letters now?” asked Larysa.

“Yes, they are at home safely tucked away.” said Uncle Spiro with a huge smile and another hug.

“Uncle Spy? Aunty Mame? What are you two talking about?” asked Demitrius.

“Dear nephew this is my dear friend Nick's niece that used to come here every summer. Remember the girl that stayed for three months at a time while her parents traveled?

Uncle Spiro hopped up quite spryly onto the edge of the boat saying I will be Patrick if you will be Mame and Agnes.

Mame Dennis: Oh, Agnes, where is your spine? Here you've been taking my dictation for weeks and you don't get the message of my book. Live, that's the message!

Agnes Gooch : Live?

Mame Dennis : Yes! Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!

Patrick Dennis : Is the English lady sick, Auntie Mame?

Mame Dennis : She's not English, darling... she's from Pittsburgh.

Patrick Dennis : She sounded English.

Mame Dennis : Well, when you're from Pittsburgh, you have to do something.

“Nephew she and her friends used to put on plays down at the theater. All the town drunks would come and listen when their wives were out shopping. When the wives went past on their way home the drunks would get up, give a generous tip. They then go off with their buddies to get drunk.

I don't know what the other kids did with their tip monies. Larysa bought paper, pens and occasionally empty note books. Uncle Nick has her notebooks.”

“Is her Uncle Nick here on the boat right now?” asked Demitrius.

No he is over on the island of Leros. He lives in a whitewashed home on a hillside. He went over with a woman to fix her timeworn windmill.

On the property are her late husbands olive groves. She invited him to stay in a small home and tend to the olive groves.

I think he went over three years ago. He said there were many seafood cafes tucked into rocky coves. He drives her truck into the nearest town on Saturdays. She shops and he wanders around looking for books. Said when you are found he will have more books for his little Sea Gull.”

“We have to see him. Can we call him? Wait today is Saturday. Tomorrow. Do you think tomorrow we could go see him? Leros will be a long way won't it? Oh, sorry I am so excited to see Uncle Nick!”

“Calm down my little Mame. We will get you reunited with Nick. First, tonight I must call Mrs. Castellanos.

Are you staying at the hostile? Perhaps you could stay with me. I am in the windmill with the red door up on the hill. Actually your Uncle's house. It was ratty but now now. When he left he told me to stay there and take care of the place.”

“Now I know why I felt familiar up there on the hill. You sure fixed up the place.” said Larysa.”

How about you Demitrius?

There are actually four bedrooms. There is a full bathroom upstairs and a powder room, or half bath on the bottom floor.

We might as well stay together.”

The two agreed saying their backpacks they carried all they owned here in Greece.

“Tonight we will eat out and return to the windmill with the red door. Then I'll see if I can make a call to Mrs. Castellanos.

Your Uncle Nick will be happy tonight.”

©Julia A Knaake

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

STAR WARS

EPISODE IX

THE RISE OF SKYWALKER

IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING FOR FANS

EVERYWHERE. THE FINAL CHAPTER IN THE

LONG RUNNING STAR WARS SAGA (FOR NOW)

HAS ARRIVED.

SINCE CREATOR GEORGE LUCAS SOLD HIS

FRANCHISE TO MAKE EVEN MORE MONEY,

FANS HAVE BEEN DIVIDED. SOME LOVE THE

NEW FILMS. OTHERS ACT OUT LIKE SPOILED

TODDLERS, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE LAST JEDI.

HEY, JUST SAYING.

HOPEFULLY THIS FINAL FILM WILL END ALL

THAT AND WE CAN ALL FINALLY MOVE ON

WITH OUR LIVES.

It’s here!

The final film in the Star Wars Saga, The Rise of Skywalker, with J.J. Abrams returning to the director’s chair to finish what he started. And reprising their roles are fan favorite characters both old and new: Daisey Ridley as Rey; Adam Driver as Kylo Ren; Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker; John Boyega as Finn; Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron; Anthony Daniels as C-3PO; Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian; Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico; Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux; the late Carrie Fisher as General Leia Organa; and even Ian McDiarmid reprises as the dreaded Dark Lord of the Sith, Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious.

A year after the events of The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, and the galaxy is at war once more with the Resistance and the First Order. Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron fight on. Supreme Leader Kylo Ren strikes the galaxy with fear. And an old enemy, Emperor Palpatine, rises from the darkest corners of the galaxy as the ancient conflict between the Jedi and the Sith finally comes to an end. How could Palpatine be alive again, you ask. Just remember this: “the dark side of the force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural.”

You all know I’m a huge Star Wars fan. I love Star Wars. I don’t think anything can change that. Not the opinion of critics. Not the whiny, juvenille backlash from fans. I’ve practically grown up with the series starting back with the Prequels. I’ve honestly enjoyed each film of the franchise. Sure, there are a handful of films where my opinion hasn’t been favorable, but there’s not a single film in the franchise that’s received a grade lower than a C-.

So how doe the final installment hold up?

First, I’m going to do something different and talk about the major issues with this film, as well as the whole Sequel Trilogy. I love The Force Awakens, and yes, I do still like The Last Jedi, although I do see and agree with some of its criticism these days. That being said, it’s clear that Disney and Lucasfilm needed a road map from the very beginning. J.J. Abrams already had something set up with The Force Awakens, but Rian Johnson kinda made his own Star Wars film that conflicted with the direction Abrams wanted to go with the Sequel Trilogy. Basically we got two different films of set up and now Abrams is trying to conclude all that set up and answer all those questions the fans had, and at the same time trying to make a film that audiences will like. It’s not an easy task for the guy. I’ll cut Abrams some slack for that. But if I’m going to be honest in my review, I need to address the big problem, and that is this story’s structure. It feels very unbalanced. Like I said, Abrams tried all he could with continuing from The Last Jedi but he also had to do some retcons of The Last Jedi too. A lot of fans will be pleased about that, but not all of them. Me on the other hand, I figured that was going to happen regardless, so I’m not too surprised, but I’m a little disappointed that they felt it was necessary to take a step backward and try again instead of trying to progress forward. Because of this Abrams was forced to wrap everything up and it does hurt this film’s story. Not to mention that there were some pacing issues. This is a two and a half hour movie yet a couple of scenes felt too long while a couple others felt rushed. Again, Abrams did all this just to please all the Star Wars fans.

Now we come to a personal complaint not against the film but the whole Star Wars franchise: catering to the fans, who have been nothing but ungrateful since George Lucas sold his franchise to Disney for $9 billion. As I said, so far I’ve been really enjoying these new Star Wars films we’ve been getting for the last four/five years. While I do have my nitpicks and criticisms, they’re not enough to take away my joy and love for the franchise. What does take away my joy and love, however, are the fans who constantly bitch and moan about these films. It’s made worse when fans would go as far as use social media to harass and send death threats to the cast and crew of these films, as well as to their families. It’s because of this barbarous immaturity why I view Star Wars fans as the most toxic fanbase in the world. It’s why I don’t talk about Star Wars to anyone in public these days. There’s nothing wrong with voicing your like/dislike about a film--or films--in a franchise. But you should at the very least do so in a mature manner, meaning act like an adult. Meaning no acting like a spoiled brat who didn’t get the toy they wanted for Christmas. No bullying or harrassing others for liking the thing you dislike. And you need to respect other people’s opinions.

Now J.J. Abrams delivers a film meant to cater to fan’s request. The final result, as you probably heard by now, the critics have mixed feelings about the film, yet fans and audiences suddenly love it. I’m not too surprised by this. It shouldn’t be too much a surprise since they’ve been doing this since the release of The Phantom Menace. Hell, they even hated The Empire Strikes Back when it was first released. I’m not kidding. This kind of behavior is the reason why George Lucas sold his franchise to begin with. He was hurt by how fans reacted to the Prequels so he said, “Screw it, let it be someone else’s problem now.”

I completely understand being so obsessive with a franchise. Believe me, I do. But there comes a point where you gotta take a step back and remind yourself that in the end it’s just a movie. You can get over it and move on with your life. To quote a summary from of my favorite internet reviewers Linkara (aka Lewis Lovhag), nostalgia can be toxic. Not that it is toxic it, but it can be. It’s an assumption of ours that having pleasant memories of something meant that it was always good all the time. Desiring to have that feeling again the ignores all the good that’s come since then and all the bad that was there too. It can poison you, blinding you to your own deceptions and greed of how you think everything should be until you ultimately destroy the thing you love and become the thing you hate.

We need to stop blaming actors, writers, directors, producers, and studios for them not giving what fans want. If anything, fans should be blaming themselves. Disney is not ruining Star Wars. Kathleen Kennedy, the executive producer, is not ruining Star Wars. J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson are not ruining Star Wars. George Lucas did not ruin Star Wars. We ruined Star Wars. Us. The fans. And we should be ashamed. If you’re the person that’s claiming someone or something is ruining your “childhood” because they changed something or made it so that it caters to a new audience, then the question you really need to ask yourself is, did you really have a childhood?

I apologize if I’ve turned this review into a rant on the fanbase, but this is something I’ve been wanting to get off my chest for a while now. You don’t have to agree with me. Hell, you’re free to stop following me after this. But I’m just tired of all the complaining and whining to a franchise I love. We all need to get along and move on.

And now for the positives because honestly there’s plenty to like about this film. For starters, the acting is still great. Folks might disagree with me on this but of out all the trilogies the Sequel Trilogy (technically all of Disney/Star Wars films) has some of the best acting in the whole saga, and this one’s no different. There’s not a single hammy moment. Not a single phoned in moment. Nothing like compared to Hayden Christensen or Natalie Portman from the Prequels. Everyone in this film is top notch. Even if you don’t think the writing is good, you have to admit that all the actors do their damnedest and it works for them. All the actors play off each other very well and I love their characters. Rey, Finn, and Poe have such great chemistry together. R2-D2, C-3PO, Chewbacca, and BB-8 are great supporting characters and provide some strong comic relief. Kylo Ren is a great villain. And just to have Billy Dee Williams and Ian McDiarmid return as Lando and the Emperor made it all worthwhile.

But the two stand out characters are in fact Rey and Kylo Ren, all thanks to Daisey Ridley and Adam Driver’s incredible acting. Their scenes together and alone are what help make this movie strong. If you don’t like these two characters, I don’t fucking care. They’re great in my eyes. They’re very complex, they do cool shit, and the actors that play them are amazing.

And let’s talk about Carrie Fisher’s scenes now. Because of her unfortunate death back in late 2016 but J.J. Abrams really wanted conclude her arc in the new trilogy, so they utilized unused footage of her from The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. Maybe in twenty years or so it will look a little obvious, but I believe that they handled her scenes very well. So thank you J.J. Abrams for this. Thank you for paying homage to everyone’s princess.

I think it goes without saying that the visual effects are amazing, right? That one’s kinda of a gimme for this franchise. But it’s still worth talking about it. The visuals are outstanding. A fantastic blend of CGI and practical effects. Even haters gotta appreciate the hard work that was put into making all the sets and designs look stunning in each new film.

Also, I don’t understand why whenever they talk about the new films they never bring up the musical score. Only I do it. Is that not worth mentioning? Well screw it, I’m gonna bring it up. John Williams’ score is truly outstanding in this film. It’s probably his best from the trilogy, and probably my third or fourth favorite musical score in the Star Wars Saga. I already downloaded the soundtrack from Itunes and I’m loving it!

The action is also great. Each blaster fight, each speeder bike chase, and each lightsaber duel had me at the edge of my seat with a gigantic grin on my face. That final battle during the film’s climax, where all the Resistance ships engaged against the thousands of First Order Star Destroyers, is the stuff I wanted to see in this trilogy for a while now.

But the most important factor that determines my judgement over a movie: fun. Can I have fun with this movie? Did I have fun with this movie? My answer: yes, I did. In fact I had a lot more fun than I expected watching this movie. I don’t care what mixed reception from critics or the complaints from the fanbase. I’m just simplying enjoying the fact that I’m watching a new Star Wars film. Besides, there’s no film trilogy that can be made that can top the greatest film trilogy of them all, Lord of the Rings.

Oh yes. Lord of the Rings > Star Wars. No denying it. No take backs. No regrets.

I’ve come to realize in life that each Star Wars trilogy was made for the generation of that time. The Originals was made for the old generation. The Prequels was made for my generation. And lastly the Sequels was made for this new generation. A generation with wild and fantastic imaginations that will one day create stories of their own. Maybe even ones for Star Wars. This is the franchise’s greatest accomphishment. Where would we be without the like minded writers and creators that have helped expand the Star Wars universe as we know it, in both the old Expanded Universe and the New Canon. I doubt we’d having anything like KOTOR and The Thrawn Trilogy novels without those creators and dreamers. And these new films are the gateways for them to create more.

I’ll say this, if you’re someone who didn’t like The Last Jedi you might like this film because, in some ways, it retcons a lot of that film. If you liked The Last Jedi, I don’t know, maybe you’ll like this, or maybe you won’t. If you haven’t liked any of the new Star Wars films (maybe going as far back as the Prequels too), I don’t know what else to say. Maybe Star Wars really isn’t your thing. Maybe Star Wars was never your thing. Again, I don’t know. There’s always Star Trek you can check out, I guess. But if you’re like me, whether you’re a big fan of the franchise or not, and you enjoy everything that is Star Wars, you’ll love this movie.

Overall, I liked this movie a lot. It’s not the best of the Sequel Trilogy, but it is a strong, solid, and fitting conclusion to the Sequel Trilogy that was a ton of fun to sit and watch from start to finish. But this doesn’t mean that this is the end of Star Wars. Oh no, young padawans. Star Wars has grown so large as a franchise that there’s always room for more stories. This has all been a big learning experience for Disney and Lucasfilm. Perhaps when they make a new trilogy they’ll have a road map set up like for the MCU. Maybe they’ll have Dave Filoni, a man was practically trained under George Lucas and has made Star Wars: The Clone Wars and The Mandalorian, to make the next series of films. The future is vast and bright, my friends. Until then, I look forward to the next adventure in that galaxy far, far away.

Light Side:

-Outstanding performances

-Fantastic visuals and action

-John Williams’ score

-Plenty of fan service and cameos

Dark Side:

-Unstructured story

-Some pacing issues

-Catering to fans

-Reylo

Final Grade: C

So those are my thoughts on The Rise of Skywalker. Have you seen it? What were your thoughts? What’s your favorite Star Wars trilogy? Originals? Prequels? Sequels? Or do you, like me, love them all? Please be kind, leave a like or comment, and check out more reviews here on Prose!

If you’re curious about my thoughts on each Star Wars film in the franchise check out the following reviews:

A New Hope: https://theprose.com/post/161886/harry-situation-s-countdown-reviews-star-wars-episode-iv-a-new-hope

The Empire Strikes Back: https://theprose.com/post/169728/harry-situation-s-countdown-reviews-star-wars-episode-v-the-empire-strikes-back

Return of the Jedi: https://theprose.com/post/175640/harry-situation-s-countdown-reviews-star-wars-episode-vi-return-of-the-jedi

The Phantom Menace: https://theprose.com/post/179229/harry-situation-s-countdown-reviews-star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace

Attack of the Clones: https://theprose.com/post/184308/harry-situation-s-countdown-reviews-star-wars-episode-ii-attack-of-the-clones

Revenge of the Sith: https://theprose.com/post/187177/harry-situation-s-countdown-reviews-star-wars-episode-iii-revenge-of-the-sith

The Force Awakens: https://theprose.com/post/190608/harry-situation-s-countdown-reviews-star-wars-episode-vii-the-force-awakens

Rogue One: https://theprose.com/post/120204/harry-situation-reviews-star-wars-rogue-one

The Last Jedi: https://theprose.com/post/195863/harry-situation-reviews-star-wars-episode-viii-the-last-jedi

Solo: https://theprose.com/post/217572/harry-situation-reviews-solo-a-star-wars-story

And may the force be with you, in 2020.

Best Quote:

Leia Organa: “Rey, don’t be afraid of who you are.”

#harrysituationreviews #StarWars #film #opinion #scifi #fantasy #spaceopera #action #adventure #SequelTrilogy

Am I actually the sociopath in my life?

Or are all human egoes narcissistic?

Is it the darkness that whispers horrid thoughts into our heads?

Or are we all naturally evil?

Where is the thin line between empowerment and narcissism?

Self love and confidence or self seeking motives?

Is narcissism really a terrible thing to possess?

Does anyone else’s perception of reality really matter?

Does anyone ever really listen?

Pay attention?

Is it too much effort to let go of our own selfish desires?

Why would a God who created us, punish us?

Why do wives kill husbands, husbands kill wives?

What is the meaning of this life?

Am I good because I try?

Or bad because I have to do so?

Born young

Die old

The sweet cruelty of youth

Tainted with promises of strength

And dreams

And hope

And ever afters

Taken slowly

One

by

One

By the hands of time,

Unbiased and uncaring

Ticking slowly to our rest.

Are we the lucky ones

Who live long years and plod the earth?

Who stare at stars until awe fades

To feeling lost and small?

Or are the lambs of youth,

Shepharded into folds where we can't reach,

Taken from these hills too soon?

Is youth wasted on the young?

Or is it a trick of time,

A consolation prize for things to come?

A book on loan that must return,

Save for those who live

Forever Young.

Genre Urban Arts: "Hives Like Cotton Bulbs ”

Terror. Every morning lit with. Someone to trust has ceased being a fantasy. The way people felt now was none of my business, so I let it go; yet the yellow curled post-it remained behind my desk. When one of them wanted to spring clean my house, I let her. Nostalgia Jones was famous in her own rite, for the Developmental Theory of Supra-Acceptance. Most of them stayed but a month, upon reading what Was she became gone and Jonny Cash’s rendition of Reznor played on loop. What had I become? I didn’t know, but it was not aimed, just general pendulous momentums and willfulness. On occasion I wouldn’t remember their names, so “hon” was ubiquitous, until at the Circle K the girl said that was offensive. Pardon madame. So now I’m a whore? There was little winning left for me, my days were in the belly of the locusts. Millennials at war with a culture that I tasted, touched, and smelled. The last time I said the n word had come and gone and my vernacular leaned heavily left but bereft of weight. Just appearance. Myspace squared.