I became hard
not like a man
but like a stone
impenetrable
camouflaged
a pebble on
the beach
able to blend
in with all the
other pebbles
and let the tide
wash over me

Take the long road
walk in the woods
feel the grace of trees
consider each winding turn
bees hum
plainsong in the heather
drowsy as the passing day
do not wave
make the final corner
close your eyes
and rest

Meow!! Wow!!
What is happening now
Why all the excitement?
Oh is it that ball again
how slow are these human beings.
Must have been a Cat’s game
You wouldn’t see a paw on the ground
It would have been a total different game.
Jump , float and take.
Well I wouldn’t score a thing
I would float, take and run away.
The ball would be forever mine.
You know I don’t get these people.
Sometimes I look at them and wonder.
It’s a good thing we are the boss here.



Shell ✨🐚

They're all dead, the men who
loved me in the backseat or
on the water bed.  Or not.
Or mostly.

Bless please the memory
of warm nights and street
lights.  The rock and
roll of hips blinded by
loves.  The music

of traffic going by.


The voices of love in
the night.  Rhythm
me now.


I loved the rhyme of hips,
the Song of
Throats rolling and
sibilant.  

Ghosts who haunt me.
Let us pray.

Come to me tonight.
Rescue me from

long nights with the

Lamp's signal's

Flash incessant.


Caroline Shank
12.6.2022