The midday insects buzzed in the gum trees,
and invisible heat refracted distant waterfowl.
With the scenery out of the way,
I approached a stranger seated
at the water’s edge.
“I’ve come to warn you.
The river’s flow is orthogonal
between its shores,
and its cloudy blue is beyond
all that is natural.
“On the far side, the cross-flow
rises from the underworld,
and here, it returns to the depths
from whence it came.
“It’s undermined the riverbank.
The ground will surely crumble,
and you will fall to whatever fate
awaits you.”
I needed a little dramatic tension.
The stranger looked up
from peeling her mango.
“The water simply reflects the sky,
and though the patterns
of intersecting ripples
are unexceptional in every way,
I enjoy the subtle harmonies
of nature.”
“My apologies. Perhaps
I’ve mistaken a misplaced memory of
dry dreams for mundane reality.”
I dipped my nib atmospherically
in the blue-bag water and wrote:
Only nothing pleases me,
the rest is either six of one
or half a dozen of another.
My eyes were bleeding ink,
and the stranger stared.
An explanation was called for.
“These dark tears are of no concern.
They are not my true sorrow.”
The ink was the dry variety,
found in laser printer cartridges.
It coagulated electrostatically
on the page, and added
a few words in Klingon:
ΦΣ⊇ξ λ⊗ ∏∀Γ
Behind us, there was
a rumbling sound.
A sinkhole rose,
and a factory
sank into
oblivion.
“Looks like you were right.”
She shrugged.
“I’m Alícia Arrepio.
I worked in that factory,
plasticising manufactures.
“Would you like some mango?”
“Thank you. I call myself Blade Walker.
I’m not afraid to walk on the grass,
even if the signage forbids it.”
to be continued or discontinued
artwork
Riverbank, from an original photograph at Carss Bush Park, with the visual evo engine, my software that seeks unimagined realms, and the Visual Revelator, that uncovers what is hidden in the shadows and the light.
Very good!
Thanks Audrey, glad you liked.
Invention continues undiminished. Comedy intermingled with climate emergency which is how non literary life can be nowadays. Enjoyed as ever.
Thanks Paul. You have to find humour wherever you can, the way the world is. I started out with dark intentions (as far as the story was concerned 😸) but I got sidetracked by the characters, as often happens.
another good one! nice sci-fi feel, recurrence of dryness playing opposite wetness, and a touch of whimsy
Thank you, glad you liked. I originally had a rather dark piece in mind, but the interactions changed things, and although there may be future catastrophes, they didn’t happen yet.
I like the heat in this poem, Steve, (we’re freezing over here) and the way you casually discard the scenery and the daring of the central character in the face of forbidding signage…great stuff…happy new year, JIM!
Thanks, Jim. Yes, it’s pretty hot over here, and I suspect it’s going to get hotter. I am becoming a bit blasé, it may be the heat. He’s no Blade Runner, but blades of grass can be challenging.😸 Same to you, all the best for 2022. Whoopsie.
~<3 really enjoyed some o the places you took me (back to) here 🙂
Thank you, glad you enjoyed.
Hi Steve, I enjoyed the characterisation in this piece and self-conscious references to story telling. Looking forward to reading what happens next!
Thanks Nikita, Things have happened, I wouldn’t call it a plot. As you can see, WP is slipping. I’m going to have to drop back to posting once a month. It’s because I’m spending all my time reading “How to Write” books. 😸
I really don’t think you need to read those types of books Steve! Although, coincidentally I recently came across a marvellous book by George Saunders called A Swim in the Pond in the Rain and I’ve been recommending it to all my writer friends. I listened to it on audiobook and it was just like being at one of his University lectures. I’ve had a dry spell on the writing front and taking a break from social media so I fear I’ve missed a lot on WP. 😻