Portal: A Cautionary Telling of Dark Things Hidden

Jan Malique – Open not that portal.

Strange Goings On In The Shed

eddie howell at Unsplash

I present to you a tale of dark things hidden as the veils thin,

As they undulate in breath and sighs of half forgotten fears lain deep.

The portal of ancient terrors writhes in embrace of serpents pernicious,

Whose forked tongues taste of your living presence,

Who urge you come forth,

Who urge you to place the key of freedom,

In a lock meant never meant to be opened.

Hear their whispers fill your dreams,

Emanate from places where darkness is without end,

Where not even Hades dare tread.

Turn back! Turn back! 

Thus goes the cry from one who holds the sword of blue flame.

Darren Nunis at Unsplash

Those who are fallen bid you come and hear their tale,

Of injustice and salt rubbed in wounds.

Dare you believe? Dare you let your guard down?

Turn back! Turn back! 

Thus goes the cry from…

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Christine – an honoring

TheFeatheredSleep – In praise of Christine Ray

TheFeatheredSleep

You don’t know this

But if there is a warrior

That warrior is you

If anyone blazes the way and holds the torch for the light to get through

That woman is you

Because you feel the fear and do it anyway

You set fire to yourself and offer your ashes to the Phoenix

You are unstoppable even as they come at you with everything and more

You’re the wind in the willows, the avalanche, the fucking heartbeat of ten thousand voices

You are Boudicca

Riding your chariot through the Roman siege

You are the woman in ten-year old sweat pants making me laugh until I weeze

Who can smell an idea and rip the world in half with your passion

And when you think you’re just some old bird biding her days

We’re here to remind you of the shine you’ve bequeathed so many

Before you, those things weren’t…

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Christine Ray – Composition of a Woman Like no Other

The group at Sudden Denouement honor Christine Ray

Sudden Denouement Collective

“The world needs strong women who will lift and build others, who will love and be loved. Women who live bravely, both tender and fierce. Women of indomitable will.” – Amy Tenney

I don’t know who Amy Tenney is, have never heard of her, nor read anything other than the above quote, (that I know of), that can be traced back to her, but after reading that very quote, I think Amy Tenney may know Christine Ray.

If the heart of the Sudden Denouement Literary Collective is the impressive collection of writers and their work, editors and their passion, readers and their appreciation, then surely Christine Ray has been a potent infusion of life for us all.

For the past two years, Christine Ray has been a valued, and much loved, member of the Sudden Denouement Literary Collective. As a writer, Christine is nothing short of impressive. As a poet…

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PART 14

The story from Samantha Lucero is almost complete and there’s a surprise from the detective.

samantha lucero

AWAKE

In the downslope of evening dusk, which leaves a cut of blood on the horizon like a knife wound, she starts awake from the nauseous scene in her mind and the clangor of the nightmare weapon. The floor that her contused cheekbone lies on is scented with kitchen rag mildew and dried piss. Her heart still limps to right itself, but she’s awake now lying on a warm floor in a pool of her saliva and coagulated blood. Fully awake and here, where ever here is, with it’s sheer, colorless curtains stained from being used as napkins swaying with a tender, curious breeze slithering in from outside, shapeless dark and grainy figures as furniture that her eyes aren’t ready to discern in their widespread shock of regaining sight so suddenly.

I have a sickness, a man’s voice says with sediment in the throat and whining in the tone, the…

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WHAT TO DO?

Thoughts and prayers,

Sharing in grief and shock,

Speaking words of comfort,

Calling out evil by its name,

All that is good in such times.

But there is something more you can do.

 

VOTE!

 

VOTE against hateful murder.

VOTE against terrorist gunfire.

VOTE against terrorist bombs in the mail.

VOTE against the vile encouragement of such things from the Bully Pulpit.

VOTE against demonizing any who disagree with the “leader”.

VOTE against lies and “Alternative Facts” obfuscation and confusion.

VOTE for respect for all, however they may be different from you.

VOTE for civil political speech.

VOTE for respect for facts and real evidence.

VOTE for equal rights for all people.

VOTE for candidates who respect your intelligence and judgment.

VOTE for decency.

It’s all I know to do – Candice Louisa Daquin

Candice Louisa Daquin brings a clear voice to The Whisper And The Roar.

Whisper and the Roar

Silent men are often admired

for their ability to endure quietly without complaint

whilst women who speak out are many times, vilified

behind their backs described as;

“that obnoxious woman who talked too much”

I lived with a silent man most of my life

he stared out of windows and when people died, his lips did not part

later on I realized it was a form of cowardice, not strength

later on, I saw how when good people say and do nothing

everything is fractured

if tomorrow I died, the people I have most admired

spoke out against tyranny and oppression

they even shared a confession or two

if they were female they were oft lampooned

if they were male they became more popular

because everyone loves a male sharer

this world is not kind to its daughters

its daughters are not kind to their sisters

it isn’t a gender…

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Radiance

TheFeatheredSleep – Basking desirous in the radiance of an other.

TheFeatheredSleep

Sun filigreed through high tree lines

Touching our chosen space with bright finger tips

We swing, irregular rhythm, sometimes your momentum, sometimes mine

I watch you point your toes and know

It is hard to remain calm, not to act upon

Desires bound by respect and difference

You are a forest nymph, a hummingbird

You are a nayad of the lake, your honey my want

I imagine holding your bottom lip lightly with my teeth

Graze your unapproachable grace with whispering touch

Green water is still and birds sound from high

I hear it all

And only the gentle deep of your voice

How you move your mouth

The tilt of your long elegant neck

Sunlight turning your skin into caramel

Picks out the rushing river of your eyes

Glances off the high wistfulness of your cheeks

Your thin tshirt a wrapper, I long to pull toward me

Your fingers…

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PART 13

Samantha Lucero’s tale continues – more unexpected developments

samantha lucero

She asks in that rehearsed tranquility; that silver voice, that comely voice in control of the drumming song of the hummingbird heart, because she’s the immovable rock. She can still be the hero.

What’re they gunna do to him?

And with the wet-blanket heat and the soft strangle of anxiety that makes the swollen edge of her nose trickle with an oval of sweat and imperceptiblytame tears tumbling down one-by-one from her smoke-burnt eyes that she can blame on the crushing stench that’s becoming insistently more putrid; she is that immovable rock. She is that silver voice in the simmering, nervous night.

They already hurt him, so now they eat him so no one can find him, the little girl says, But no hands and feet, that’s bad luck, you don’t eat that.

Can you untie me?

Mmmm, no, the little girl says in…

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#writephoto regulars – Meet Jan Malique

Meet Jan Malique

Sue Vincent's Daily Echo

I asked the writephoto challenge regulars if they would like to come over and introduce themselves. Today we meet Jan Malique, who writes at Strange Goings On in the Shed.

Without those of you who write and read the pieces inspired by the weekly photos, the writephoto prompt would not exist. So, if you follow or take part in the weekly challenge, why come over and introduce yourself too?

Being a regular does not mean taking part every week… so why not drop me a line?

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I finally plucked up courage to write my mini-biog for Sue’s call for contributions. Why the nerves? It meant leaving the comfort and familiarity of the virtual ‘Shed’ that’s my blog, exploring new territory and meeting new people. Sue’s challenges have been instrumental in my creation of significant characters. So, thank you and blessings!

What’s been surprising is that people actually want to…

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I AM

Jan Malique – Who, indeed?

Strange Goings On In The Shed

Ladd Greene at Unsplash

I AM the eye that sees life unfold in all its complexities and beauty.

Sapan Patel at Unsplash

I AM the breath of a thousand voices undulating through green meadows.

Pierre Bouillot at Unsplash

I AM the embrace of the midnight Sun as it lulls you to sleep.

Faye Cornish at Unsplash

I AM the reflection of your true Self in the waters of Creation.

Who am I?

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