Debut

The sand rallies under his boy feet

Ready to absorb the impact

Of the grenade launcher placed on his narrow child shoulders 

The waves step back to give him room

Applauding his auspicious debut

While his mind conjures up faces of imaginary enemies

Wired into his brain by a brotherhood of desperate men

Passing along a renegade tradition 

Of bloody Barbarossa and swift Barbary corsairs 

The pirate captain shouts fire

And the blue ocean turns dark red

From the explosion that topples him

But his father retrieves his proud son

And places victory kisses upon his burned baby cheeks

©kcasady2014

Summer Fun

The tiles gleamed

Or maybe beckoned

Just a little

In their attempt to entice her

Giving her feet tiny shoves

Coaxing her along

As light from each tall window

Aided in their scheme

Tossing about brilliant rhythmic glimmers 

That bounced from black to white

Quickening her step

Toward a hero's chair

Attended by gilded picks and mirrors

Humming note upon note of open wide

With almost enough sweet harmony

To calm her pounding heart

But she knew her mouth faced martyrdom

Her teeth cringed

Accosting her gums

Her tongue withdrew 

Perplexing her lips

She turned 

Struggled against the goading stimuli

And flew into the summer sunlight 

©kcasady2014

Amity

as the war rages

we forget our worth

we battle 

we murder

we bomb

lay waste

end it once and for all

drive them into the sea

call upon our gods

for our righteous cause

they deserve to die

give us the strength to accomplish our glorious mission

finish it 

render our enemy unto dust

but

a singular voice cries out 

joined by one and then another

numbering only a few

a whisper at first

astonishing even in their quiet words

have we forgotten our common past

have we forgotten from whence we came

our history

our ancient compatibility

from long ago when we resided side by side

when our shared father commanded that we both become great nations

and we did

we grew together

granting refuge to each other

facing prevailing enemies

our descendants spreading their lives across the earth

as we practiced our common traditions

and we held holy the ritual circumcision of our boy children

now murdering each other

two peoples of this earth abiding by that potent sameness

is that not a compelling bond

the blessing of a covenant with God

but the astounding voices vanish

first one then another

fading into the haze of fury

until only the silence of gunfire resounds

©kcasady2014

Burnished

Virginal

Sentinel

Fairy Dust

My dear sir

It appears you have taken up residence in my neighborhood 

On the very street where my hound and I walk daily

You picked a quiet virginal lane

Secluded but for the occasional car and the few pedestrians avec ou sans les chiens

The denizens who discovered this hidden urban gem 

Who tiptoe through its celestial silence 

Lest any noise attract unwanted attention

And you sir dodge the world in

this perfect utopian refuge

Your splendid hideaway at the side of my silvan path

Each morning I pass the faux French farmhouse where you bide your time

Working on whatever clever project occupies you

And as I linger for a singular moment

While the hound sniffs out her compatriots then leaves her own message

I glance to the upper window and glimpse you at your endeavor

Certainly you see me for I sense recognition

Yet despite the possible outlet from your burdens

The opportunity to leave your concerns

You do nothing but remain deep in your mind

You fain familiarity as anathema to your being

I shan't wave

I shan't knock

Instead I speak to the nymphs and sprites who reside in the quiet lushness

Pleading for a tiny furor

An enchanted fairy dust storm

Of golden lust

And rising silver passion

But instead the hound finds a morsel

Pulls on the lead

And we walk on

©kcasady2014

Madness

Noted

Book of Life

Youth