"what's the longest you stayed up?" jack asks.

"oooh, 5 days, a week. who knows?"

they take the shots, touch glasses,
throw down the bourbon.

"I wonder if animals have dreams?" jack says,
I wonder if dogs dream?"

"sure they do, dogs, cats, squirrels, birds," bob is nodding
his head up and down." it's all biochemical.

"not insects."

"why not? fleas, June bugs, moths. it's all biochemical, mix in electrical impulses, you got love and dreams. jack,

tell your dreams to me."

4-** Metal

All touched by hand, all glimpsed by eye,
Flavors tasted, feelings held deep inside.
Love's embrace, hate's sharp cutting edge,
Distrust's cold shadow, treasures kept safe.
Gifts bestowed, fates dealt in silence,
Purchases made, pleas whispered low.
Stolen moments, borrowed time's fleeting grace.
Each action etched, each word spoken true.

My soul seeks The Unseen Side, a quiet within the veiled truth,
Why does the light dim, when all was meant to be whole?
This inner realm, where creation takes form,
And destruction sweeps through, leaving traces.
Every choice, every utterance, a ripple sent forth.
The sustenance taken, faces met along the way.
Slighted feelings, conflicts fiercely waged.
I ponder now, what was, what fades, what lies ahead.
The world sings in tune, a cosmic alignment.

The sun shines, its warmth on every living thing,
All that exists, beneath its constant gaze.
The present moment, a fleeting breath,
What has vanished, swallowed by time's flow.
And all that waits, yet to unfold,
Under the vast, encompassing sky.
A silent rhythm, a perfect balance,
Where every element finds its place.

Yet, my spirit finds The Unseen Side, the moon's cold arc across the vibrant sun,
For there is no true dark side, only endless night.
Why does this veil descend, upon such clear accord,
And cast a long shadow on truth's pure light?
Each consumed thought, every brief encounter,
All slights perceived, every battle fought.
The now, the past, the future's distant call.
I stand beneath the muted sky, seeking clarity.
The sun eclipsed, its brilliance momentarily lost.

I held your love
with the fingers of my heart
I tattooed the promise
to all my tomorrows
across my back to be carried for eternity
. . . where are you now ?

It takes forever for distant stars to burn my lips
There is no mercy found on the floorboards that walk across my kiss
. . . where are they now ?

Remember how the needles of time stitched the nights together ?
How easy does the fabric of love become unentwined
. . .  remember ?

“Sea Blazer”
——————-
They say the sea sinks whoever crosses the waters. But the Sea Blazer? Too bright—too strong—too loved—to sink.
A ship of courage born from the heart of the sea. Not even cannons can sink the Sea Blazer.
Even so—we haven’t seen the Night Jaw in a year. We still keep a lookout as we know there’s always lurking in the night. Wake swears he saw its black sail in the fog last moon. Zen says the Night Jaw isn’t a ship. It’s a “grave with teeth.”
If it ever catches us… the Sea Blazer is strong enough—WE are strong enough.
Sea salt runs in my veins—
From every scar,
Every ****,
Etched into my skin
Like pencil to paper
On a map.
They left me on the docks. Blood dripping from gashes in my body, a broken compass in my hand—rusted, worn from years of use.
The sea took me in—not kindly—but I keep fighting to be free.
I don’t sail the seas alone. Seventeen crewmates call the Sea Blazer home. Each one knows the rhythm of the waves, the boards of the ship, the soul of the sails, and the path of each shore—by heart.
Each one—family. Broken, battered, but loved.
As their captain, I treat them with the respect of sons and daughters. We all have one mission—to find the Night Jaw, **** its crew, and retrieve the Blaze Stone from the Night Jaw’s crew.
The Sea Blazer doesn’t look for treasure, doesn’t sail to ****; it’s after completing this mission. The Blaze Stone—I was attacked in my hometown, left to die by the docks—still with my compass. But they stole the Blaze Stone from my locket and sailed away after torturing my friends—now my crew.
The gem holds the power to control all bodies of water, including the “Ember Sea,” the sea attached to my home. Without the gem, those who travel, live, and enjoy the seas are not safe from the waves, tide, and whirlpools.
Night Jaw’s crew controls the Blaze Stone, raining havoc on all seas—making it impossible to sail, get resources, or live life without fear of flooding from the sea.
To get the Blaze Stone, we need to **** the captors and crew of Night Jaw, retrieve the gem’s orders to protect the seas, and get revenge for the pain of me and my friends.
THIS is OUR mission aboard the Sea Blazer.
On board to complete this mission and secure our waters is…—
Rynn — First Mate
Mack — Anchor Mate
June — Navigator
James — Helmsman
Acker — Gunner
Fate — Lookout
Penny — Quartermaster
Steven — Carpenter
Ollie — Gunner’s Mate
Ivy — Sailmaster
Trick — Ship’s Jester
Calvin — Medic
Veronica — Secret Keeper
Hannah — Deckhand
Wake — Quarterdeck Guard
Quinn — Sail Rigger
Zen — Ship’s Ghost / Survivalist
Olivia (me) — Captain
The ship—A loyal sailor of the seas.
Wooden boards rest solid under our thick leather boots, worn by storms, sweat, and our blood.
Red-orange-yellow sails flail in the soft wind, like flames licking the teal sky.
Each creak—a whispered warning. Broken promises that echo through the worn wood, painful reminders that hum beneath our sturdy, solid deck.
It’s a blazing day to be on the Sea Blazer—to run this ship till my last breath.
My hands—scarred, blistered, pale—but steady—hold the wheel like my life depends on it.
—END OF INTRO— MORE COMING SOON!!!—

there is nothing quite like changing stuff,

you see he always came on tuesday, but then

we started writing that day, so he will come

on thursday each month.

to help me.

it was a mucky day, cold with driving rain, he did

what he could until we both hid in the kitchen,

eating cake, and mending plates.

I am a full human myself—
but 70% water,
27% copy of two genomes.

One is happy but broken.
The other, strong but alone.

I have what they have.

I can't change my waist, my height, my woes.
I can't change this double chin, fragile temper,
fighting then crying, then not speaking at all.
I can't change leaving people,
body hair, my strong soul.
I can't change martyrdom, screams, my nose.
I can't change reading people, my honesty,
my devotion, my cause.
I can't change the beliefs
enshrouded in my eyes,
engraved in my bones.

And the rest 3% is bacteria.

But—
I am a full human myself.