With the impending race so near, life became a whirl of activity, with much discussion between Jack, Alf and Nate regarding the pace and distance Trafalgar was capable of. Apart from the training, other work was necessary. Jack and Alf worked on preparing the horsebox for the journey, fitting rolls of sacking around the inside to prevent any injury to Trafalgar on uncertain roads. Two days before their journey into the un...

With clenched fists, I pound on your door Shrill cries unlike you’ve ever heard before Mustering all the strength I have left in my core Frantic and desperate screams, you ignore In the dead of night, the world is without colours A twig cracks, a bush shudders Gasping for air as my heart flutters As shadowed beasts encircle me like vultures With a menacing grin and eyes of jade Slowly approaching, each wielding a sharp bl...

I met some nice folks at the State Park. An older couple (probably about the age I am now) staying in an RV in the next camping spot over shared some of their breakfast with me, and wished me luck. I walked out onto the highway. I got a ride right up to the Canadian border early the next morning. He stopped before we got there. “You aren’t carrying drugs or anything,” he asked me. “No, I promise.” I was being truthful. “O...

Despite the ignominious ending of my previous trip, I was determined to try it again, with a few key differences. One: Note that my Dad was leaving me on the shoulder of I-90, not I-35. I was heading north, not east. I had decided to hitchhike to New York City via Canada, swinging over the top of the Great Lakes before dropping down into the US near Champlain. Two: I would be travelling alone. Three: This was a one-way tr...

Once a caterpillar now a musical chair chasing, dreaming, dallying a woo courting a butterfly dancing in the air in celebration of beauty and love listening, winging, singing in queue wearing the best obsidian wings of summertime's scented kisses in a frenzy inspiring more beaucoup

Sweet anesthesia blue eyes cold dysphoria cocaine rain of my mind's decapitation falling into the abyss wearing out the solstice of the corrugated moon behind the cold dysphoria sweet anesthesia blue eyes Sweet meeting promises bound butterfly kisses as a burning ember fall and pierce the desiring heart smiles on faces reflected within the heart and soul gaze with desire joy reflected love never ends alas, there is a grea...

When Nate Oliver came for his first ride, Jack was immediately impressed by his horsemanship. Just seeing Trafalgar, drew awesome praise from the jockey. “Yes, his musculature tells me that this is a prospective winner. It is only a matter of how good he is, and we’ll only find out in the running of him.” Nate Oliver was quick to declare. One surprise for Jack was to see how quickly Nate formed a good relationship with Tr...

My dad dropped me off on the shoulder of an entrance ramp to I-90 on a sunny summer day in 1984 (hitchhiking on the Interstate is illegal, but it’s legal to stick your thumb out for a ride if you do it on the entrance ramp). I slid my oversized, kind-of-goofy yellow backpack out of the back seat of the family VW Rabbit and stuck out my thumb. I wore tennis shoes, jeans, and a hospital scrubs shirt. My hair was cut newly s...

An ache a twinge A silent cringe An expletive uttered Echoes in twos Across the sphere Laughter of children The hoots of owls The whisper of wind Across the roof Twine entwine heard Gossamer fingers whispers of caresses the ardent lover smiles kisses met in sunsets felt at dawn in another Friends and families Laugher and merriment One just gently smile Into the distance Answered by the other Thin gossamer walls Divides th...

It took nearly a week of trying before Trafalgar allowed the saddle to be fitted without any fuss. This was despite Sir Oswald having been informed that their purchase had been broken in. For Jack, mounting the animal proved equally difficult but Becky’s relationship with the horse proved most valuable, for, as she stroked Trafalgar’s muzzle, Jack was able to get himself into the saddle. It took several days of this befor...

Of autumn's cozy winds snobbery's jilted kin in sleeves of cooler weather turning leaves into chowder embracing mannequins with moonbeam-savoring cheddar scrumptious appetizers for the quiche in nature's culinary of pumpkin treats of autumn's cozy winds snobbery's jilted kin

mists on the pathway under tall cypress trees floating leaves slow danced on cold blowing wind sprinkles of rain falling on upturn face as the moon struggled to light the clouds floating on indifferent skies tears from tired eyes fell you walked out of the mists smiling your angel eyes sparkling I reached out to touch your face and grasped nothingness I woke on wet pillows wrapped in my blanket of loneliness...chest hurti...

Seeing the twin horse-driven polished box-like carriage heading up the main drive, Jack Wetherley’s heart gave a heave, knowing that this was his new challenge, arriving with two long-coated men sitting up front. Excitedly, he called Alf, his boss and mentor. Alf hobbled out of the stable, becoming much slower on his feet, Jack thought. He was due to retire soon and that was why Jack had been appointed. But this new arriv...

The call that Jack had been dreading arrived the next morning. He and Alf were going through the Sunday morning routine of letting the horses out graze. A lazy morning. Until Vincent, the Brandling family butler arrived, dressed in button-up black jacket and gaiters, and his instructions had Jack’s heart beating madly. “Sir Oswald,” he said, with the pompous tone of someone who thought himself one of the upper set, “Sir O...

What better way to do with a string... fly a kite string popcorn makes a cat's cradle in a basket and don't forget... to tie your shoes walk the doggie on a Yoyo with a string around your finger play a bass guitar make a string bracelet holding on to a falling star What better way to do with a string... a hammer and nail to hang a picture with a string and don't forget... to tie your shoes ones, that are blue