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We sense it because it comes inexorably,
this is the beginning  of good-bye.
Her eyes avert his, a touch with no
feeling, a caress more cautious than
caring, a kiss when lips do not meet,
this the beginning of good-bye.
A perfunctory placement of the hand,
a conversation moribund, sipping
scotch and sodas in silence, a call that
never comes, memories that have grown opaque,
this is the beginning of good-bye.

TOD HOWARD HAWKS
The gall ink slid slow across the grain
not just black, but silent breathing.
It curled where silence might remain,
where truth lay soft and seething.

It danced in fibers, not for show,
but for the ache of meaning
each line a pulse, a moment letting go,
each word a quiet keening.

The letter held no voice or name,
just petals and a thread.
But still the ink remembered flickering flame
long after it was said.

And when the lamp gave one last sigh,
its breath a final stain
the ink still moved, too bold to die,
alive upon the grain.
07 August 2025
Ink Over the Grain
Copyright Malcolm Gladwin
Saying goodbye
To someone you love
Is like reading the final page
Of an amazing book.

As the last chapter ends
You begin to notice
Just how beautiful
And perfect
The plot always was.  

You appreciate the joy
And even the pain
As you read and thumb
Through every page.

Finally understanding
The moral of the story,
You realize you've reached
The end of this journey.

Although the last sentence  
Is the most difficult to read
Another great book awaits
Once you turn the final page.

Eventually you may stumble
Upon yet another great find.
Or maybe you'll return
To the book you left behind.

You may just discover
Once all is said and done
That this particular book  
Was your favorite story
All along.
For Ty & Des ❤️
I used to believe I wanted to be like water.
Water that melds into any shape.
Water that is relaxing and peaceful.
Water that, when given enough time, can cut through anything.
But now I realize I want to be like fire.
Fire that gives warmth and comfort.
Fire that burns fast, creating its own path.
Fire that gives light in total darkness,
Giving you an opportunity to find your way out.
Water is used.
Fire is untamable.
She was setting her past ablaze to clear a path for her future.
She cast her worries and the chains of mistrust into the flames, letting go of what held her back.
Long had she lived, disconnected from her heart, estranged from her dreams.
Now, she reached for those dreams, and in the comforting light of the glowing embers, her dreams reached back…

-Rhia Clay
This piece was inspired by a scene from the Turkish Netflix series “Shahmaran,” Season 1, Episode 7. In this scene, the main character, Şahsu, burns letters from her past along with a necklace. This act symbolizes a change and the process of letting go of the past and the self-imposed “chains” that hold us back, preventing us from growing and fully embracing the life that lies ahead.

I can relate to this scene, as I have also been healing and learning to let go of the self-imposed constraints and worries that have held me back for too long. Looking back over the past 10 months, I can see significant personal growth. I believe this journey of self-discovery has only just begun, and a bright future awaits. Sometimes, we need to step out of our own way and trust the process, knowing that even if we stumble and lose our way, we will recover and find our way back to our path.
quiet opposition
silent reaping

a force umoveable
growing stronger

words to scatter
to the four winds
the day has flared
and fallen

into fire
clouds climb

in silence
the trees whisper

something green
in their mystery

in places
wait the oranges

and reds of autumn
in places

wait the whites
and blues of winter

sometimes we must
look upon the things

we have no name for
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