Penfury

Duke stretched, sat up straight and tipped his Stetson back. "Turn left up here at the light." "Left?" Anthony watched two loads of horses turn right just ahead of him. Duke's nod was lost in a jawbreaking yawn. "Yeah, we got some things to take care of. Plenty of time before check-in." "You're the boss."  Anthony watched the double row of clapboard houses give way to a dusty play yard outside an aging boarding house and a laundromat advertising rooms for rent. The road ended at a double set of railroad tracks.  Across the tracks sprawled the paddocks and barn of the railhead stock yards. "Head right past the depot and right again before

She heard him come home, his angry strides across the veranda, the slam of the screen door and thud of books on a chair. She imagined him standing outside the tiny parlor given over for her use, clenching his fists and composing himself before entering. She was wrong. The youth burst into her sanctuary, his boots leaving a scuff of soil and a few damp traces as he crossed to her side. No matter, she could clean it later.  He needed her. "I want to beat them bloody!  Every single one of them. Just take a fencepost to their lying, cursing mouths. They're nothing but ba -- bullies." He was the image of his father, standing tall and rigid with

Walk in my Shoes It was a brisk day well before Thanksgiving, the light wind biting enough to pinken cheeks and make one hurry about their business when Rascal came into my life.  He was dodging traffic along the highway in front of my driveway and attempting to defend his chosen territory from all comers, including the truck and trailer pulling in to unload.   Dad tried to shoo him out of danger, then tried to catch him, but the pup dodged and darted all around him; wanting to come close, not quite daring to be caught.  Fearing for the pup's safety, Dad asked me to try and get him from around the vehicles whil

Duke stretched, sat up straight and tipped his Stetson back. "Turn left up here at the light." "Left?" Anthony watched two loads of horses turn right just ahead of him. Duke's nod was lost in a jawbreaking yawn. "Yeah, we got some things to take care of. Plenty of time before check-in." "You're the boss."  Anthony watched the double row of clapboard houses give way to a dusty play yard outside an aging boarding house and a laundromat advertising rooms for rent. The road ended at a double set of railroad tracks.  Across the tracks sprawled the paddocks and barn of the railhead stock yards. "Head right past the depot and right again before

Speak to me in words I can understand; black and white with an insinuation of color. Leave long winded, gaudy phrases and prose (purple as a child strangled on lifesavers) to those obscure poets lofty in their hubris. I wish to know the who, the what, and why should such as I care for esoteric effusion. Show me the world through a mirror of words stripped bone bare of vanity, posturing and conceit. Reveal sorrow and joys,(these have I felt) unbearable loss of necessity born. Touch my heart, mind and soul; cherish my memories, But be not shy nor chary with the truth for truth be told, the telling is yours and I am you.