Chasing the deer through the twisted underbrush, David was hunting to feed his pregnant wife. He had been hunting all day and his muscles were throbbing in refusal but he had no food to bring home and another day and Jenny his wife would possibly have a miscarriage or die from starvation. The winter had been long and the forest was oddly quiet but David continued to chase after the deer. Into the clearing it dashed with David right on it’s tail, he was going to get this deer no matter what it took. Out of breathe from all the running David stopped and pulled out an arrow and shot the deer straight in the eye, if only he’d thought of this sooner.
Deer dragging behind David headed back for town hoping that his brother would do him a favour and butcher the deer for him. But as he came to the village his thoughts became panicked because for some reason no one was outside even though usually all the children would be out playing at this time of the day. Trying to think of reasons David thought maybe there was a town meeting or maybe old Franny’s hips were hurting so every one was holing up for a storm. No matter David continued to trudge through the slush to his cabin on the far side of the village. As he walked he got more and more weary because the houses looked empty and if someone even dropped a pin you would be able to hear it, something was definitely going on.
Approaching the Cabin it was just as quiet as in the village center but this wasn’t strange, Jenny was never one to be a loud talker or make a lot of ruckus. Through the window David could see that Jenny had left a candle burning as she did every afternoon waiting David’s return. Walking up the stairs they creaked with aggravations, as David pulled the deer up onto the porch he stopped for a moment, something was wrong but he couldn’t place it.
Maybe it was the faint sent of baked bread missing from the air or maybe it was the fact that Jenny had not come to greet him, whatever the reason something was very wrong. Slowly approaching the door David’s heart felt like a hammer in his chest. Cautiously David turned the knob on the door and pulled it back, but what he saw made him shut it faster than his brain could process. What David had seen was utterly terrible Jenny had been slaughtered and her body was now mangled sitting in the chesterfield as she always did waiting for David to return.

The wind runs its cool fingers through my hair,
As I sit outside in this calm, sunny air.
I think about my life and everything within,
I think of memories both of friends and of kin.
What comes to mind is a mixture of emotions,
They arrive slowly and rhythmically like waves of the ocean.

Happiness is the first to arrive,
It brings with it thoughts of home, like bees for their hive.
Home brings thoughts of happier times,
When I was young, innocent, and free of crimes.
Home, when my mom and dad where still united,
Before the flame of anger was ignited.

I long to see them together again,
And soon, the happiness went down the drain.
Happiness is gone, sorrow in its place,
Of all my failures of all my disgraces.
I have made so many mistakes, so many wrongs,
I often find myself asking where I belong.

I am shocked that I find my fists clenched,
It was not sorrow but anger I felt, that I have not quenched,
Why could I possibly be mad?
It may be all the mistakes I have had.
I can’t stand to sit much more,
I need to escape this personal civil war.
I stand and walk with no apparent direction,
Hoping to evade this inner reflection.

I remember what I couldn’t before,
One thing in this world worth living for.
My son, my daughter, my loving wife,
These are the people that make up my life.
They are my glimmer of happiness in this world of sorrow,
The people who keep me wishing for a sooner tomorrow.
I realize this is what I live for,
I find the answer that ends this inner war.
I gather myself and head towards home,
To get away from being alone,
And to be with the ones that I love.

A daughter’s love may drift and wane
When miles part, deep values changed.
A mother’s love eternal stays
No cause will make her love estranged.

Words may hurt, when misunderstood.
Actions viewed, as they were not meant.
A growing chasm separates,
Words not spoken, emotions spent.

What true recourse will bridge events?
What words will melt the frozen gap?
Calloused knees, time spent in prayer
The mystery God will unwrap.

Do not despair, Oh Mother Dear,
Your offspring must, her own path find.
Your heritage will still remain
Though she keeps it back in mind.

One day, maybe when you are gone,
She will see the truth and know
That what you gave her through her life
Is what sustained her, let her grow.

Twilight settled over the cobble-stone street
As two lovers at Maraise’ café dared meet,
She performed a curtsey, in her coral blue day-dress
He a sweeping bow attired in his finest no less.
The crystal chandelier emitted a soft amber glow
Candles burned in wall sconces and violins played low,
She fanned her face demurely, daring to meet his eyes
He smiled at her wanly, a wolf in sheep’s disguise.
The waiter produced two menus featuring the ‘piece de resistance’
Which was comprised of nothing short of the finest sustenance,
Beyond the window to the right a moonlit river flowed where through
Silken scallop-edged draperies, the strands of time were slowed.
The boatswains steered their gondolas down the river line
As Gents and Lady’s of substance quietly sipped their wine,
As they perused the menu, he clutched her small gloved hand
She gasped in feigned surprise but gave no reprimand.
The music swelled as patrons gathered on the ballroom floor
Boisterous and lively, the atmosphere calm no more,
Redingote with wooden trim, checked trousers, vests, and cravats
Cashmere dresses with silk embroidery, and beautiful matching crepe hats.
Walking sticks were set aside, velvet clutches left behind
As the bourgeoisie elite socialized, wined, and dined,
As the music waned and tables were prepared with grand and ornate ware
The patronage of the chateau sat down to consume the fare.

I asked the Lord today

To give me peace inside,

I prayed for Him to take

Away every ounce of pride.

I begged for His mercy

Repenting of every sin,

Asking Him to purify

And make me whole again.

I cried over my troubles

Asking, “why me?

“Lord, don’t you hear me? I

I need you, can’t you see?

I want to do your will

I gave my life to you,

But I can’t accomplish much

If I don’t know what to do.

I don’t understand why

I have to suffer so,

What purpose does it serve?

I really want to know.

Why can’t you just tell me

What to do every day?

Come down and take my hand

And firmly lead the way.

I try to be so good

I try to be so strong, but

Every time I turn around

I end up doing wrong.

You said your yoke was easy

And your burden light,

You said you’d give me power

To overcome my plight.

Why do I struggle than

With every little thing?

When you my Father are

A Great and Mighty King?

I continued to cry,

To fret, and pray,

When suddenly I heard a

Still, quiet voice say

“Peace, be still child

It’s already yours,

I heard you knocking

And I’ve opened the doors.

My mercy is everlasting

Your sins are washed away,

Cleansed by the blood of Jesus

Every single day.

There’s no need to worry

And you don’t have to fret,

I am your Shepherd

Have I ever failed you yet?

You were created in My image

For this dark world to be a light,

There is nothing you can’t do

Just walk by faith, and not by sight.

Trials and tribulations

In this life will come,

But how can you help others

If you don’t experience some?

I left you a road map

With instructions to go by,

Utilize them wisely; My

Word to your life apply.

You cannot win by power

Nor by your own might,

Only by My Spirit will

You ever win this fight.

Be wise as a serpent

Yet gentle as a dove,

Overcoming power comes

Only through My love.

Trust Me with all your heart

And I will give you rest,

I own the cattle on a thousand hills

My child you are blessed.

My little angel bug
Like a shimmering summer hug
Her laughter from the bubbles in the ocean
Wanting her to have the beauty of the world
Wanting only peace and adventure for this girl
Those summery lakes in her eyes full of wonder
That space in my soul made only to love her
The day will come
When she’s tall and strong
But her sweetness will still shine from her skin
And when she’s off on her own
When her wisdom has grown
She’ll follow her guts and gentleness within

A sick strange thirst for something more
An insatiable beautiful craving
For everything I’ve never had before
They’re of another world
The feelings of my dreams
And they’re clever, quick and taunting it seems
Content with your fingertips bleeding magic into my skin
Wondering about happiness
And what’s so wrong with it again
It’s the vulnerability and the need on my part
That puts the storm in my gut and the screaming in my heart
So I keep it just like this
The heat from your hands and salt from your kiss
Your rough sublime body enough to fill mine
Something for my soul will come in time

In this hall we make our lives,
selling ideas and making jokes.
In this hall we reign supreme
making decisions for the world.

This hall has seen it all;
our triumphs, our upsets, our failures.
Unrealized dreams and broken hearts.
Fighting, arguments,
Discussions of how the world is going to hell.
Laughter, loving times, moments of friendship.

This hall is our protection-
in it, we are untouchable.
this hall supports us, it belongs to us,
We are the Hall.

Here we meet without fail,
called in by friendship
and trapped in by love.

In this hall we made our lives,
passing classes and planning grad.
In this hall we reigned supreme
ruling as the highest grade.

But most importantly,
in this hall we were happy.

Love could be seen in the sun as it set, not only in the horizon, but also reflected through her eyes. For a brief instant, through her long black eyelashes, her green iris’ appeared to be blue, and the love in his chest churned.

“Chayla, your eyes are like the ocean tonight.” He smiled, and relaxed his shoulders as his little girl plopped into his lap and played with one of the beads in his hair.  Her eyes grew wide and she laughed as her father’s lock of hair began to attack back. Only one year left for them. Before long… he would have to give her up, even when she was so young.

“P..ap…a!” She exclaimed, her smile as wide as she could stretch it. She clapped her clumbsy hands and her little ebony curls glinted in the day’s final glimpse of light. She was so beautiful. So perfect and innocent.

His sight blurred for a moment, eyes burning with unshed tears. Such a child had to die for sins that were not hers? Such a child must bear a burden that he had tried so hard to prevent from falling upon her shoulders? Such a child… His child?

He tried not to picture the gruesome death that his girl had to endure. He tried not to see the ugly faces sacrificing her life for their own good. It made him sick.

“A..bb…a…?” Chayla asked with concern at her father’s face. He smiled, accidentally letting a tear fall to her cheek.  She laughed and held her arms up trustingly to the father whom she loved and would betray her and everything she believed in.

And the Father cried for her.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

A/N: For those who don’t get it, which I realize may be a lot of you, this is about the love of the Father for Jesus who had to die. I put it into a tribal setting wherein human sacrifices are the annual norm. Okey dokey! So this is just a short version for you guys so I could put it into the “short story” section!

The tiny bud begins to flare
His infant eyes first blink then stare

Bright green, petite and new
Soft skin with pinkish hue

In spring wind it shivers lightly
Wobble, bobble, he steps, not sprightly

Deepened color and growing size
Ever taller with clever eyes

Full and firm, now hunter green
Mature and thoughtful, strong and lean

Some shade it gives throughout its life
Deep care and love shown to his wife

Trunk and root by it are fed
He tucks his children into bed

Much storm and wind it safely weathered
Family, to him, securely tethered

Summer’s end means fall is here
Girl speaks “I do,” he sheds a tear

Around the edge, see yellow there
Gives wise advice, gets silver hair

Orange it turns, by all admired
His mind is strong, but body tired

Splash of red shines for a while
Deep loving eyes and tender smile

The sturdy points begin to curl
With age the aches and pains unfurl

So now the Leaf begins to brown
The Man is surely slowing down

It falls in splendor for all to see
His life remembered, a great legacy