Tucked away

March 19, 2013January 5, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 33 Comments

I wrote your vengeful words on a torn scrap of paper, folding it into four corners to hold in the strictures, then tucked it into an old, musty book. The one that sits on a high shelf, never read, just gathering dust and losing its memories. Plaguing my weary mind, I muted their chittering demands … Continue reading Tucked away

Origami wren

March 13, 2013January 5, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 11 Comments

Whispering secrets as gentle as a zephyr Shaking leaves of the weeping willow echo Each word, each emotion in equal measure Reading old letters, faded and yellow Our love affair dead, bleeding out through his pen His lies, my offering, wing o’er the meadow Paper drifts on the breeze, origami wren Folded and creased, sharp … Continue reading Origami wren

Fire fighter

March 8, 2013January 6, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 21 Comments

Your constant barrage of hateful taunts turned my once loving heart to stone. My confusion and guilt be damned. If you were burning, I wouldn’t piss on you to put out the fire.

How the cookie crumbles

February 27, 2013January 6, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 17 Comments

"You have entered the winter of your life." After reading the fortune, I wadded it up inside the cellophane the cookie came wrapped in, tossing it on my abandoned plate. Reaching for another cookie, my dinner companion tried to retrieve the first slip of paper. “Wait, what did this one say?” He pulled back his … Continue reading How the cookie crumbles

Peanut butter wars

February 20, 2013January 6, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 17 Comments

Jessie and I were recently lamenting sibling rivalry. We commiserated through short stories depicting what was meant to be examples of hyperbole. What her piece and mine had in common was that while exaggerations, they were also realistic portrayals of how our children actually interact. We also had similar experiences with our own sister and … Continue reading Peanut butter wars

Open water

February 20, 2013January 5, 2015 ~ Tara R. ~ 21 Comments

I exhaust my arsenal of survival strategies too soon. My spirit depleted, your clever ruses skew my sense of worthiness. Changing tactics, I keep to the shallows where my choices are clear. Accustom to playing your mind games and navigating your sins of omission, my last chance at victory is the uncomplicated truth. A secret … Continue reading Open water