Release the Clowns!

Someone shouts "Release the Clowns!" to unleash terror and madness upon the world.

A horde of clowns, a clutch, a seether? What does one call a group of clowns that have banded together to spread their maniacal mirth and mayhem?

A circus of clowns.

A death, a clusterfuck.

A jesterfuck!

Held in check for so long, but not any more.

Like a scourge upon the earth, they will come in waves, heralded by the twinkling warped tunes of carnivals and ancient wind-up toys.

With painted faces, and too large feet, no longer hiding their true selves.

They come and come.

~Temper
image from http://techmage99.deviantart.com/art/evil-clown-1-156535320

Bear in My Path

“How do I get there?”

“There is a path, but watch out for the bears. It’s quite overgrown, but I’ve been through it, you should be able to get through, no problem.”

“Bears?”

“Yeah, they’re just waking up from hibernation.”

“Okay, thanks!” I say and we set off. I head towards the path, I’m in the lead with my children behind me. When we get to the path, it’s gorgeous. The grass is already a lush new green. Have I grown smaller or has the grass grown taller? In any case, the path is before us with the tops of the grass criss-crossed together. It’s more of a tunnel than a path, but I can see the tracks of where my guide had been. We move forward down the path. We’re rolling forward like on a bicycle when I’m suddenly startled.

It’s a bear! It’s huge and black and it turns to look at me. It starts to gallop towards me. I back all of us. My first instinct is to protect my kids.

I back all the way out of the path to give the bear as much space as possible. I hesitate. I could turn to run, but I realize that I’m not really scared of this bear. I’m just giving it the respect and space I think it needs. My concern is not for myself.

As I stand there I realize, I am just one bear looking at another.

I wake up.

Was the bear there for me?

Is it the answer to my question?

Do I indeed know where the path is, I just have to trust the bear to guide me and keep walking, I don’t need the bicycle.

Good things to ponder.

~Scorpion

Like Sugar in the Lemonade

I know I've seen you before.

You were banging at my door.

Hello, young and wild!

You were old, and I was still a child.

Our gazes never synced.

I left the room, our hearts were linked.

Why?

How the time flew by,

First loves lost and a coin let fly.

Finally, the balance flipped.

Oblivious, unhappy and uncertain of what didn't fit.

I look up and you looked down.

You held me up, I pushed you down.

We lay here, my hand on your chest.

I have you pinned, like sugar in the lemonade.

I know you.

Bittersweet.

Complete.

~Scorpion

Game

Draw something.

The only rule for this part of the Game.

If we play well we would be allowed to go.

If not...

Lucky for them.

I am first.

Palms slick, heart racing I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.

The door opens.

“Draw Something” they call.

I see the chalk board and the fat stub of chalk hanging from a string.

I see a door beyond, closing slowly.

I run.

I can make it.

I glance at the hunters, night walkers, vampires who have brought us here for their fun.

I push through.

Safe for now.

Who’s turn next?

~Temper
This is my entry for the drabble challenge on this great blog:
http://thewriteaholicblog.wordpress.com/2012/03/12/drabble-day-game/ 

Traveller

In my dreams, I'm a traveller.

I went to the forest, and at the road I met my friends.

Tim and Joe were there, just leaving, said a friend.

Another told me, "There might not be any left, you'll have to go farther."

I was gathering sacred medicine and I took the path I'd intended.

I waved at Tim as he passed me. I haven't seen him in years, I muse silently. It was nice to see him, and he was smiling. 

I found the plants I was seeking. There were hundreds of them, but the others had already thinned the thick growth and left only a few strong leaves close to the ground. The plants were a deep shiny green with tear-drop shaped leaves. I could have filled my basket with their leavings, but instead I left these sacred plants to grow. I could come back next year when they would be tall and strong again.

I followed the lake shore back to where I'd started. I passed the place where my car was parked and I started walking in the other direction down the beach and along the treeline.

I scoured the ground for more of the plants, but there were none. I kept walking. There were none. I kept walking and eventually met someone in a van, it was a friend, just spending a few nights. We had a nice visit and I continued on my journey. 

I crossed a vast green field. On the other side was a bluff of trees. I felt certain there would be some of the medicine there. I was right. There were a few plants. I looked up and around myself and was startled to realize, I'd walked all the way to Italy in my search.

It was okay, I'd been here before, but how curious to have crossed the ocean without ever knowing it. It seemed the beach stretched around the whole world. I was on the shores of the Great Lakes then listening to the melodic voices of the Italians in the piazza. 

I woke up with the thought that some day, I need to go back. Italy is calling to me in my dreams, and it has something to do with my present journey. My journey back to discovering myself and my culture, it might not be where I think it will be.

~Scorpion

Faerie Charms

Keri was a spiteful faerie, sometimes mean, and always intimidating -to me, anyway.

Short, dark, jagged hair.

The biggest eyes for drowning prey.

Her perfect, sharp teeth flash lopsided smiles in her heart shaped face.

This is how she reels them in.

Cute as a button, not many can resist her manipulative charm.

How does she get her eyes to twinkle when someone has to bear the brunt of her fun?

I'm so naive.

Or jealous.

That she never turned her vicious attention on me.

Would I wish that on my worst enemy?

Never.

But for myself?

Maybe just once.

~Temper

Image from:
<a href="http://abstract.desktopnexus.com/wallpaper/44131/">

Suicidal Angel

I have a suicidal angel.

I'm not sure what to do with him.

Maybe I can save him.

He was so easy to catch – he had let go and drifted into range.

Now he just lies here, listless, molting.

Feathers fall from him like tears.

Surrounded by soft down he is beautiful.

I feel guilty, that I find him so wonderful in his despair.

I am only human, I tell myself.

Fallen feathers fade from crisp white to flat grey.

How much time do we have together?

How far will he fall if I let him go?

I’ll miss him.

Temper

Clock

There is a clock on the other side of the door.

I cannot see it, I cannot hear it, but I feel it at my core.

Tick. One step too many.

Toc. I haven’t a penny.

Tick. A child in my arms.

Toc. A man with wild charms.

I sit with my back against the hollow door.

“It must not open!” I’m crying on the floor.

Tick. It hasn’t been long enough.

Toc. I was only acting that tough.

Tick. Live my life without regret.

Toc. I’m all in. I’ve hedged my bet.

Tick.

Toc.

Tick.

Toc.

The door opens.

~The Scorpion

Stolen Wishes

I’m not giving them back.

Especially not for your dirty toonies.

They were just sitting there, out in the open.

You didn’t seem to want them then.

So why should I give them back now?

Or sell them back.

That’s insulting.

I could see how you’d miss a grand wish, but these ones?

You don’t even need them.

In fact, you should thank me for giving them a purpose.

You should pay me to use them.

Yes, that would be for the best.

I’ll take those toonies now.

I'll give them a lovely spot in my treasure chest.

Temper