Tarnished structures, collapsed and torn, lay scattered and tossed across the now desolate desert. Though the bitter sand tugged and toiled to just drag him underneath, amongst the rotting flesh and scarred bone, bury him amongst the lurking creatures whose eyes still twitch, whose ash hearts still pulse…

Gouging his sword into the sand, ripping it apart, he tugged and toiled to drag himself up against persistent nature. He was not going to give up. No, its dust and cruel wind wildly tore at his skin, scratching and pulling his back, back, back, again. Slashing and shredding at bone and flesh, groaning, screeching its chaotic hymns, calling on beasts and critters from underneath. He was not going to give up.

And yet. Something was coming.

Through the scratching, howling wind, a faint grunt could be heard as someone trek...

i simply lay still. you are bathed in our morning light. it blankets your figure, the yellow haze softly kissing your skin. though some fairies drift in, floating amongst the still winds, curious, perhaps? i simply dismiss them. they leave offerings upon your palms.

-

our little lamps began to buzz and glow as crickets sung their final hymn. some stars were beginning to awake, slowly singing and sauntering across night's silky blanket. wind danced across the darkness and slowly rocked the old trees to sleep. and amidst the serenity of slumber we lay... calmly, simply.

dawn's sun seeps in through the silk curtains, [a sweet kiss from the heavens dancing on my cheeks] as I turn to you, tangled in your touch, soft kisses still fresh on my cheeks. in the morning's standstill, my universe is here.

autumn's sun is sinking, slowly. a warm glow fills the room, our heaven bathed in golden light. delicately, you lay against my chest, your touch dancing along my hand, through my hair []. the tv murmurs in the background; you make a few remarks, under sleepy, worn breath, [].

Dusk awoke slowly: little lamps buzzed and glowed as crickets sang their final hymn. Some stars were beginning to awake; their songs slowly singing and sauntering across night's silky blanket. Wind danced across the darkness and slowly rocked the old trees to sleep. And amidst the serenity of slumber, I watched your lips dance with sing-song, a beautiful chorus of your voice and the hum of our friendly night creatures, in harmony, in grace, with the buzz and glow of our cafe’s night friends. Here, I dreamt of you.

Heaven awoke slowly, bringing our beautiful sunrise. From the rivers beneath my feet salmon swiftly guided their way through sleepy water flowers, slowly, slowly, swimming in between and kissing my skin. I watch you weave your way through lazy, blowing grass, allowing our little bugs and critters to dance and play sing in our morning’s breeze. Here, I dreamt of you...

make this easy for me, as i lay my bones in the soil beneath my feet. already they hunger, they thirst and prey upon my decaying remnants of deep and precious sin. don't you hear me howling? calling upon any listening god, who feared not, rejected not, the unknown, who felt the curiosity of mortal man upon their lips. oh, i yearn for heaven's delicate touch of divine punishment. and as i lay down the last of my sins, she'll come, clothed in treachery.

and I'm walking through the sands. softly, silently stuttering is the slow movement of waves lapping the end of the universe. here, as I walk through the sands. I stare at the sun. I think of dark shoals of fishes, flashing softly, striking gold and silver, laced with jewels, staring up at the sun; swivelling through waters and waves, simply searching for the next sea... as I walk through the sands.

and I'm walking through the sands. and beyond the peaks of steady rising, falling dunes, lies a small, squat town nestled amongst steep pyramids, each holding shimmering, sumptuous jewels. I stare at the sun. and agin, I think of dark shoals of fishes, flashing with the brilliance of old god's gems and glory, swimming swiftly between smooth waves.

and I'm walking through the sands. but conquered, ruled sands, which had subdued to the flashing blades and axes and striki...

as the evening sun's glow seeped in through the stained glass, I basked in its glow: slowly seeping, amongst the waves of delicate dresses and suits woven with "". through the mist of song and silk I let myself be carried with instinct and "compliance", like a haze, a spell or curse, had been laced into my veins.

""

little rivers streamed amongst my feet, their waters seeping into the soil, nurturing the forgotten bones and spring's blossoms alike.

"nature resided here: her veins, the little rivers that streamed amongst my feet, the waters nurturing the "". her bones rooted upwards, secured in the soil, to gaze upon her creations, and decorated in a "sea of leaves.""

my autumn comes in little baskets, carefully woven, and decorated with her flowers. she haunts me every november, with silk skies laced with roses, with gifts stitched with summer's leaves. slowly, so meticulously, she paints my skin with ginger kisses; her taste of sweet spice still dancing on my lips.

my roses sit patiently, sleeping under summer's touch... they lay to rest under her precious moon. though she will soon leave, come winter, to travel far west and wide amongst the mountains. may she be welcomed with the soft kiss of snow? or will the gods defy her, topple their mountains upon her arrival, burying her universe?

i fester in my ruined thoughts, i fester in my wilting flowers.

my roses sit patiently, sleeping under summer's touch... they lay to rest under her precious moon. though she will soon leave, come winter, to travel far west and wide amongst the mountains. may she be welcomed with the soft kiss of snow? or will the gods defy her, topple their mountains upon her arrival, burying her universe?

i fester in my ruined thoughts, i fester in my wilting flowers.

tap your heels against the bruised wood, hide me behind silk curtains when it's over, can I play this far much longer? feel your laced dress against my skin, skittering through summer breezes, when all's quiet in morning's rise. I'll be in the back room, when it's over, to feel your warm embrace, tucked in the curve of your neck 'till dawn comes once more, and once more, I hear your heels against the bruised wood... tap. tap, tapping, click, flow, glass nails, glass eyes, against fragility.

tap your heels against the bruised wood, kiss me softly with a stranger's scent, whom we both cursed under silk curtains; can I play this for much longer? take your hand in mine, take a finger across your lips, glowing with the kisses of many mornings and evenings strewn across them. embers flicker through the dark comfort behind your silk curtains. how it intrudes, ...