Undefeated

Undefeated

The warrior felt his resolve falter. How could he dream of destroying such a beast as this? Again and again he struck down the heads of the mighty dragon, only to be met with two more each time. He was exhausted and didn’t know how much longer he could keep up the fight but still he fought on. The beast was advancing on him swiftly, all six pairs of fangs barred, occasionally blocking an escape route with a blast of flame. Further and further back the warrior was pushed, all the while, trying to defend himself. He was in the field of fallen heroes that the dragon had left behind now. His shield had become almost useless under the constant barrage of flame and his sword had become dull and chipped after constant scrapes on the hard scales of the evil creature. Suddenly, one of the beast’s heads lunged for him. Sure it was the end he raised his sword as if to defend himself and, quite by luck, plunged his sword into the open maw, right into the dragon’s head. With a force that shook the area around him, the head crashed to the ground, lifeless. Curious. Instead of cutting the heads off, it looked as though he need only stab through the creature’s brain. His resolve began to come back. He could do this. He only needed more time and weapons, both of which he had. He darted away from the dragon, grabbed a sword from one of his fallen comrades and turned to face the monster again.

Unstoppable

Unstoppable

The mighty beast seemed to be taken aback by the warrior’s sudden scream. As the soldier rushed towards him the dragon faltered, but only for a moment. The man swung his mighty blade, missing the monster's throat by mere inches. The dragon, enraged even more now, lunged towards the man. He dodged, rolling just out of reach of its massive fangs. Once again, the dragon opened its mouth and a jet of golden flame roared towards the warrior. Once again, the shield was raised just in time and the soldier was blown backward. This continued for hours, the brave soldier would advance on the mighty beast only to be forced back. Long into the night they struggled, each one becoming more and more exhausted. Finally, the man was able to dodge the jet of flame erupting from the mouth of the dragon and, with a horrible sound of steel cutting through flesh and bone, he lopped off the head of the beast. He screamed in triumph, the victory was his. The dragon, slayer of so many, had finally fallen. He could finally rest. But, as he turned to leave, a disturbing sound met his ears. A roar, starting out low but getting increasingly louder. He turned to look back and cried out in horror, for the beast had sprouted, not one, but two heads to replace the one that it had lost. This fight was not over, no, it had merely just begun…

Unknown

Unknown

The brave warrior had just come off a time of rest; a brief respite from the grueling task before him. The roaring dragon, conqueror of so many, stood snarling before him. He didn’t know what to do. His mind had gone blank! His period of leisure had stolen all of his resolve and skill and he now stood at the mercy of this mighty beast. The great dragon’s maw opened and out flew a golden flame. The man raised his shield just in time but was blown backward by the force of the blaze. All around him erupted and he was trapped. There was nothing more to do but face this foe. Then, as if the flame had awoken his mind, his training flooded back to him. He was made for this! As the fire continued to encircle him he rose to his feet, drew his sword, hoisted his shield, and with a mighty scream, ran to confront the beast…

Waiting

Waiting…

I sit here, tired of waiting, so tired.

Why? Why must it take so long?

Why does everything feel so wrong?

I’ve been waiting for some time now,

All the while, I thought things were getting better.

I thought the darkness had passed.

I was wrong.

Why though?

I should stop asking that.

I know why.

The real question should be how do I stop the hurt?

Is it possible?

I feel as though I’m already too burnt.

I miss the times of old.

When smiles hid what the lips kept untold.

When the pain was hidden.

When I was ignorant.

But wait, do I really want to go back?

I guess not.

I’m just sick of the waiting.

I want it to be over, no matter the outcome.

That sounds wrong, I know, but maybe, deep down, you feel that way too.

But, we must persevere.

The prize is worth it, the prize is dear.

Do not give up,

I will try my best.

Will you try to?

Are we up for the test?

This is dedicated to my mentor. The man I look up to more than anyone else. He's made some mistakes in his life, but that just makes him human. I hope that this encourages him. Remember, never give up, never back down. I love you.

The Rescuer

The Rescuer

The fear engulfs me,

Washing over me like a mighty wave.

I raise my hand up, reaching for something to grasp;

My fingers close on empty air.

My last hope drains from me as the air escapes my lungs.

I scream, but no sound comes out.

The darkness is coming.

Slowly my world is fading to black.

But then, just as I slip to the edge of unconsciousness,

I feel a hand grasp my own.

I feel a tugging.

My head breaks the surface and I see your face.

Forever in your debt, I collapse at your feet.

Thank you

You saved me from the hopelessness

You are my Rescuer.

I Miss You

I Miss You

I miss you.

I miss everything about you.

Your smile,

Your laugh,

Your beauty.

But do you want to know what I miss most?

The ignorance I was filled with.

I believed we might be together.

Can we?

Could we?

Only God knows.

I don’t even deserve you.

You are too good and pure for me.

I’ve done too much,

Too much that can never be washed away.

I don’t want to hurt you,

I know I would end up doing just that in the end.

I know I wouldn’t be able to live with myself after that.

But the worst part?

I still believe.

I still HOPE.

Maybe, just maybe, it could happen.

Maybe God will be good to me,

Maybe my desire will become my reality.

But what if it doesn’t?

Will I be able to handle it?

Will it be too painful for me?

Please God, show me the truth.

These Have I Loved

We read a poem entitled "These Have I Loved." It was about ordinary everyday things that the author loved. We were instructed to do the same and title it the same.

These Have I Loved

I love many simple things, all of them subtle.

The sound of blasters and the hum of a glowing blade,

The anticipation felt while waiting on a Disney shuttle.

The laughter of friends is something I would never trade.

The coolness of a summer night and the newness of springtime,

The pools of water leaking from the snow,

The pain caused by finding the perfect rhyme,

An embarrassed smile and a winking text that helps you know,

The smell of a freshly mown lawn,

Staying awake and talking until dawn,

Far away memories of a dead friendship, long-gone.

These things have I loved, they have brought me joy,

From the time I was small, just a little boy.

Tell Me I'm Pretty

Tell Me I’m Pretty

The muzzle flashed. Terrified, he checked to see if she had missed. She had. He sighed with shortsighted relief.

        “Just a warning shot my love; I could kill you whenever I want. I choose to wait. I like to play with my food first.” Bella screeched and then laughed. Her horrible cackle put a shiver down Tom’s spine. She was serious! She meant to kill him!

        “Why are you doing this to me!?!” Tom cried as another bullet whizzed past his head, so close, he could feel the heat of it. He dove for cover behind a burned out car. He was afraid. Terrified; more terrified than he had ever been before. He knew he wouldn’t get out of the junkyard alive. He made a mad dash for the exit. As he reached for the gate latch, Bella took a potshot at him, narrowly missing his hand. He stumbled backward, tripped over a displaced muffler and fell to the ground. Tom looked up and saw fire burning in Bella’s eye.

        “Why!?!” he pleaded once again.

        “Why?” she asked “Because you lied to me!” she screamed “Now, Tom, one last time, tell me I’m pretty.” She said in a silky smooth voice.

        “You’re pretty Bella!” he sobbed “You’re beautiful!!”

        “LIAR!!” Bella screamed as she pulled the trigger.  The loud crack of the gun broke the stillness of the night. Tom slumped to the ground, his life gone. As Bella walked away from her former husband, she spied her features in a cracked car mirror. How could anyone believe she was beautiful? Bald, missing an eye from birth. Squished nose that looked more piggish than human. Hairy mole on the cheek. She was hideous! She let that fool trick her into thinking she was gorgeous.

 Seven years earlier, when Tom and Bella had first met, she thought he was just being kind when he asked her out. They dated for six months, all the while Bella was in heaven. She couldn’t believe that someone actually loved her! They married and almost lived happily ever after, that is, until she heard Tom and her father talking one night:

        “You have to, you have no choice!” her father’s voice yelled.

        “Fine!” Tom snapped “But I want more money! It isn’t worth it anymore! Her face isn’t the only disgusting thing about her, she smells putrid and is just a horrible person in general!”

        “Watch it, Tom!” warned her father “She is still my daughter! You know her birth defects cause all of that, she can’t help it!”

        “That’s not my problem anymore, unless you pay me more.” Tom countered.

        “Fine, I will pay you one and a half, will that satisfy you?”

        “Certainly, pleasure doing business with you.” Tom snidely replied.

Bella couldn’t believe her ears; her father was paying Tom to be her husband! Just then, Tom walked into the hall, said hello and walked off. It was then that Bella snapped. Running into the bedroom, she pulled the dresser drawer open and grabbed the .45 pistol. She chased him into the junkyard and shot him

        “You’re next, daddy dearest.” Bella whispered as she looked in the broken mirror. “I’m not THAT bad” she said, running her hands across her smooth scalp. “I think I’m beautiful, and that’s all that matters; beautiful in my eye.” She walked away, ready to face her father for the last time, with a new confidence.

The Greatest Wonders

The Greatest Wonders

Many can look up into the nighttime sky,

And what they see there will bring a tear to their eye.

Others look up and scoff,

“An explosion created all of that stuff!”

Our universe is vastly misunderstood,

Just as our young people who have stood,

Before an adult, just wanting understanding,

Instead they receive a reprimanding.

All too often we are shoved aside,

Placed in a category where we should not abide.

Like the stars in the sky, we are not all the same.

To treat us as such should bring you shame.

We require an understanding that few can grasp.

Most have closed their minds like a clasp.

When forced to attempt to understand the void,

They give up, their teens get annoyed.

When asked to give another chance,

They mock and say nothing could enhance,

Their narrow view is set in stone.

It’s not their fault, it’s ours, you see.

That’s how it’s always been, but not how it should be.

From our childhood disdain is what we hone.

It was the same for them as well.

The only way to break this spell,

Is to change our ways while we are young and well.

We must decide not to judge just by sight.

We should have learned early on that it’s not right.

And in the future we must learn,

So it will become easy to discern,

The differences that make us great.

And so we will, no more, be filled with hate.