He’s on the island rooftop where as far as the eye can see in any direction are buildings, cranes and flags atop structures from other nations. Of course it’s another pipe session, and he’s managed to find shade that he hopes isn’t defeated by the moving sun. There’s a buzz in the air. It’s the day before a day off but there is some unrest in the area. People are looking forward to the time off but with heightened awareness. Local protests and movement could spell trouble. Folks are prepared with a watchful eye. Today’s air quality isn’t the best, but the cool breeze and clear skies make up for it. Despite the foggy horizon of the future, he’s still content to puff and people watch.
Since departing his homeland, he’s surprised at who asks and who doesn’t ask, “How are you doing?” He doesn’t take offense to it… Is only surprised by it. It either comes or doesn’t come from past marriage partners. The question either comes or doesn’t come from future or past flings. It either comes from short-term friends or doesn’t come from lifelong friendships. Are there agendas he’s not privy to? It doesn’t matter because he notices that the sun is on the move.
He continues to people watch and is interrupted by what it looks to be a wasp. Not sure what this wasp is upset about but it looks angry. It’s body is an amber red with yellow patches. He hopes to never encounter its sting.
His focus on the wasp is broken by crunching plastic in the distance. He looks and sees that a palette of water bottles has fallen from a forklift’s grasp. Like ants to sugar-water, people swarm the spilled water bottles to help clean up and to get the forklift back on its way. Just as they finish helping, the sun is beginning to grip his ankle. His shade is losing the battle. He empties the pipe in his hand, flicks the ashes onto the ground, and goes about his day. More to tell…
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1 comment on Peace in a Foreign Land 2
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Looks like you’re inviting me back
We were only just becoming real friends
I’m talking about the friends you profusely protect
Everything from knee, chest, and neck
It saddens me that we weren’t there yet, but at least you knew me
Knew me enough to know that you traded me in with intentions to introduce me to the others
Sorry it didn’t go as planned
I’m glad you’re reaching back out to me…I missed you
You smiled more then
I hope to build on what we had -
The early morning sun is beating down on the top of his head and shoulders. He’s sitting in a smoking area enjoying his pipe, watching the birds bounce from roof to roof. He brought a book to read but is more interested in what he is currently sitting amongst… Calm.
He’s in a foreign land but in a familiar place. A place he hasn’t been in for quite some time. He waves the flies away from his lukewarm coffee and takes a sip. Not the best cup of coffee but the best cup of coffee with where he’s sitting.
He hears distant birds singing, competing with the radios from cars driving by. He remembers how simple life can be and how simple life should be. It was only made difficult when he invited the wrong company into his simple space. Somehow “simple” was too difficult for the company to grasp. He’s happy to have shed the weight of the difficult.
The people he knows a world away are just now going to bed, but he’s beginning his day. That’s how far he had to get away for the dust to settle from the calamity. The sun has finally moved on from beating down his head and shoulders. The difference in temperature is immediate. He’s traded in immediate sunlight for a landing pad for the surrounding flies. He takes another slow drag from his corn cob and gazes down the street.
Different lives from different worlds are amongst him and he couldn’t be happier. He’ll be in this foreign land until next summer and fall has just arrived. He will miss the birthdays of most of his kids and most of his parents, but he couldn’t be happier. He has finished his coffee and cleans out his corn cob. He begins to head towards his 15×15 room that he shares with a man from another land. His living space is smaller than that, but he couldn’t be happier. The stories he’ll be able to tell… -
I’m sitting out here attempting to enjoy my pipe
Going over the personal inner workings of my lifeFortunate enough to be amongst the palm trees and to see the waves
Hoping to clear my head of what’s been going on over the last few daysI catch a hummingbird looking for a snack
Then a white butterfly flies over my shoulder towards my backI see three lizards. Two are male and are after her
They puff up their blue bellies trying to prove who’s best for herI hear the crackling of the dead palm tree leaves
They dangle from their trunk like a shirt with long sleevesA large red tailed hawk casts his shadow on the ground
His partner, always in pairs, make their screeching call to those aroundIs that a sea lion? I hear so much going on.
Are the issues I’m worried about really as big as I’m making them?A black and yellow bird is pecking at the palm trees
The sound from a hummingbird is louder than I believeProof that life will continue to go on regardless of my concerns
And that what I consider to be so big is so small while amongst the ferns -
It must be serious, he brought over the coffee maker
He must be planning on going, seeing, sleeping, and waking up with her
Bringing a toothbrush doesn’t hold much weight
You can place that in your pocket and leave when it’s too late
To even leave articles of clothing isn’t as serious
Those can be hard to miss when both parties end up furious
To bring their coffee maker imples investment
There will be time spent to flood the place with coffee scent
That cheap appliance insinuates the building of a home
The house contained senseless sex, but love is being cultivated and then some
Bonding over a cup of coffee, thinking of the night prior
Filled either with love or sex or dreams of being rescued in a tower
Bringing a coffee maker is more than going steady or just talking
You’re now thinking of growing old with them… It’s longevity you’re stalking -
Come one! Come all!
The conversational contortionist!
Where what you believe you said
Makes you think you said something that you missed
This contortionist is almost like a magician
Making topics and words appear
While removing others… Amazing!
Could be considered a conversational tactician
This contortionist will twist up your words or theirs
Who cares?
As long as there’s a victor, or victim…?
You said it was a circle, but, through magic, becomes a square
Come one! Run all!
No one is safe! No topics are simple
There’s always a way to twist up topics
You said what you saw, but it’s all going to change, regardless of the optics -
With one shot it will be over
He let everyone down including his lover
He doesn’t want to do it, but he’s tired of hurting
With this one shot he won’t be returning
Tears are dropping from his chin
He turns and sees a picture of his kin
It’s him and his kids, having fun at the zoo
He picks up the picture and remembers other times too
He knows he shouldn’t leave them all alone
But his mom did it to him. He hears a ring, but ignores his phone
Still thinking of his kids, he smiles through the tears
He hears past laughter and consoling them through their fears
He puts down the one shot and picks up the phone
He reaches his oldest, she answers, “Dad! Hello?!”
He tells her of his hurt and how he misses her
She rushes to the car to hug her father
He didn’t take the shot and years later is thankful
He thought the glass was empty, but his kids showed him it was always full
She’s awaiting a phone call, it’s late
She tells herself, “After all, why would they?”
She’s been wanting to work there since a child
Striving for this while married, misfortune forced her husband to file
On this quest, she’s given up a lot
But it doesn’t matter now for this is her shot
It’s not like she doesn’t deserve it
She might be alone, but at least she has this
Still waiting by her phone with her hands on her temples
The clock ticks, her eyes are closed. Her phone begins to tremble
It’s ringing. It’s them. She answers with veiled confidence
She’s hanging on every sentence and working to maintain patience
They tell her she’s happy she applied, but have some bad news
Her throat tightens, her breathing quickens and her heart sinks to her shoes
They say they are happy she applied, but the issue is about pay
Due to her qualifications and all that she brings they say
It would only be right to overpay her original ask
For such a large company, really an easy task
They hang up and she can’t believe
How the fruits of her labor are more than she could conceive
As she ventures to the bathroom, she’s crying tears of joy
Looking at her reflection she says, “Oh boy…
“All of those years…you didn’t think it would happen
But you are worth it…even when it was maddening!”
She wipes the tears with a towel and smiles wide
It certainly wasn’t easy, but she’s glad she stuck by HER side
He’s been sitting there long enough to grow cobwebs
He takes another shot of whisky thinking how lonely it feels crawling into his bed
The ancient medicine prevents him from remembering how long…
How long he’s been married to a cheater or their wedding song
He wants to leave the relationship, but it’s unfamiliar
To fight for his peace with no prisoners, not even her
She doesn’t respect him anymore and only wants his packed wallet
Did she ever want me or my wisdom? He can’t call it
He sips more medicine, he glances at the game being played above
“Did I miss something? Did I not do something with enough love?”
He doesn’t realize that it was doomed from the start.
He didn’t read her fine print…especially the small parts
She wants veiled success, but he offers wisdom and wealth
He doesn’t like how this is impacting his health
How will he know who wants him for him or those many commas?
Why is wealth met with so much drama? -
My brother,
I know you miss your dad
If you only knew he misses you too, but keep going
There’s plenty for you to still do and accomplish
There’s so many people that look to you for smiles… So please smile… Don’t go… Please… Please
My brother,
Please don’t choose that other route, there’s still plenty to do
Your purpose wasn’t that previous job
Your purpose is beyond now
Don’t you see it? What’s in the way? Please see it…please… Can you see it?
Don’t go…please don’t go…
My brother,
No one judges you more than yourself
You are more admired than you are of yourself
It’s not so hard… please… Can’t you see?
It may seem dark now but, just look! See!
Please see it…please don’t go… I beg you to not go…
My brother,
That relationship wasn’t everything
I know it’s tough, but just because she didn’t need you doesn’t mean the world doesn’t need you
Press on brother please… please
Don’t go… please… -
I am slipped on with hopeful intention
In this moment, I represent all the possibilities of a loving future
I am there when there is strife and also there when arrives a new life
Others see me and compliment my size or others see me and know that my wearer can’t be theirs
I’m there when conversations with another take place and, oh… What is this… The other is wearing one of me too
I’m slipped off when the other and my owner are together and slipped back on to rejoin the giver of me
The giver learns about the other… What do I represent now?
Is it disrespect? Is it disloyalty? Is it betrayal? Is it everything?
The day comes when I am given back to the giver.
What is to become of me now? -
My house burned down, and I was the only one in it
Tragic…yes… I’m so concerned about all that is lost
But not about the one victim in that house…
I am convinced that it can all be replaced
Good as new
But how can something be anew when it has been changed forever?
Oh well, I can rebuild this house!
This is a real opportunity!
Forgetting that I’m no longer around either
The shoes I can stitch back, but I’m not there
The furniture I can repair, but I am not there
It can all be recovered but HOW when I am NOT there?
It can’t be recovered, the precision of the arsonist was too grand
Those hands knew exactly when and how to cause the most damage
Taking with it my soul
I want it back, but there’s the arsonist
Waiting… Preventing… Crushing…
Recover, how? How?