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Anais Vionet Nov 2022
Leeza (the 13 year old sister of my roommate Lisa) and I are in the building 220 lobby, heads-down on our phones, waiting for Lisa and Peter (my BF). The lobby is huge and deserted except for a lady concierge at the front desk, a security guard and the doorman - all far away from us. This is by way of explaining that our masks are off - mine hanging, useless, on my left ear.

When this unmasked guy, I was grazingly introduced to at last year’s 220-building Christmas party walks up to us and says, “Anais, Hi. You’re back!”

I flinched. I know a lot of people are over the whole mask thing and the covid thing - and have the temerity to risk it all, but I don’t - did I mention flu season or covid variations? Someone unmasked getting unexpectedly up in my personal space is jarring, rude, and on several levels dangerous and scary.

“Oh, hi,” I said. I vaguely recognized him, but I couldn’t remember his name. He’s one of those guys who’s cutely strange looking. He’s short (5’4”) (nothing wrong with that, short kings, you’re valid), his hair’s dark at the roots but blonde tipped (beach-hair?) and when he smiles, and he smiles a lot, his smile looks too big for his face. I remember he’d seemed socially awkward when we met, and Lisa had said his father is someone important.

“Yeah,” I said, with a shrug, “Holidays again.” I briefly bob up on my toes, to glance over Leeza’s head and to my relief, I see Lisa and Peter coming out of the elevator. I decide to mask up and seeing me do it, Leeza does as well.

“I’m sorry,” I said apologetically, “I remember you, but I can’t remember your NAME. I’m an idiot.” I give him my best, ditzy shrug.

He reintroduced himself, “Merritt,” he said, offering his hand and smiling again, still unmasked. As I shook his hand he twisted in Leeza’s direction and said, “Hi Leeza!” She gave him the smallest possible 13-year-old’s courtesy nod.

Peter and Lisa arrived, having masked up. “Merritt, hey!” Lisa said, greeting him warmly. “Have you got senioritis yet?” she asked, cheerfully. “Merritt’s graduating from Brown this year,” she announced, turning to include us all in the good news. “Public policy, ya?” She followed up.
“That’s it,” he confirmed, beaming.
“Congratulations!” I said, nodding.
“Way to go!” Peter added with a “yes” nod.
“Merritt, this is Peter,” Lisa said, taking charge. “He belongs to Anais.” she reported, as they shook hands and exchanged nods. “Merrit,” Lisa said, in a disappointed tone, “I hate to rush off, but we’re in a scramble for a dress fitting,” she lied. Lisa can lie like a politician.

And just like that, in something like 45 seconds she shook-off Merritt - who seems like a very sticky guy indeed - without resorting to mace or anything - Lisa’s got charm.

Thoughts about charm..
My grade, in physics 3 (an A-) was 2-one-hundredths from an A+. I almost certainly (like 85%) could have charmed the professor for that tiny bit. We’ve all seen it done - you put on a self-effacing smile and say, “I’m so close, is there something I can do for extra credit?” But I can’t DO it, physically, I can’t say the words and beg for grades. It’s like I can picture my mom watching me having to beg for something she earned, and I’d be mortified to even try. It’s my small disadvantage, a self-imposed handicap.

Besides, if I did betray my code, there’s the awful chance the professor might say no - and that would **** me.

Lisa, on the other hand, wouldn’t actually have to charm. She’d ask about her grade, periodt. The teacher, seeing there’s something he or she could do for this goddess - would just do it. With no asking involved.

Imagine you’re an airline agent and Beyonce´ stepped up to your station. She has a little problem you could effortlessly fix with a click of your mouse. Would you, do it? Hells-yes you would and before she even asked. “It’s already done,” you’d say - just to have Queen Bey smile at you.

The rest of us have to work at it (sigh) - and take our chances..
BLT Marriam Webster word of the day challenge: Temerity: "a foolhardy contempt for danger”

Slang.
periodt - an absolute period - there’s nothing else.
It's always a casual see you later,
  then somehow you leave forever.
  I see your obit on google and wish
  I'd reached out when I still could.
  Here's to our shared misery and joy
  sharing secrets and keeping them.
  Here's to ******* pants laughter
  and a broke piece you left in me.
john p green  Oct 2015
redemption
john p green Oct 2015
Chew on that! How proverbial
Once you taste that grit
Finally opening those eyes
And finally laughing
Was it merely hit or miss
****! You certainly did
This time you missed
Does this merritt a wish?
Or simply goodbye to taste
Yeah! You know the flavor
Goes on and on
Till reality cups your lips
And washes it away
100PaigesShort Apr 2015
I see a netted drape
Over my mouth
And a knotted one
Over my occipital

A breath of fresh air,
Still finds its way south;
To give no relief
As my ***** drawls.

I'm a southern girl,
So south you ain't south anymo',
The same as my health,
Downed like a Merritt Island Iced Tea.

(For those of you unknowing,
MI is were addicts go to retire,
and our teas are more green than the dragon)

For vainglory we go
Buzzed and slow

I did so well,
despite red in the bowl
over and over
I just saw roses

On my long nails,
under my eyelids,
in my nostrils,
Unnoticeably pale.

The pain makes me pass,
outer than cattle
In the Atlantic, you still won't find them.

If I count like a toddler,
why can't he?

He strangles my ears,
Slaps my eyes,
clenches my stomach,
hurts my hands, my arms, my spine, my legs, my face, my jaw,
And still they don't listen.

I can't blame them much.
Though I said many word,
The passion didn't seem right.
Wrong to the right people,
Screamed to the able,
Signed to the deaf.

No one has done anything horrible to me.
Nobody but me.

Sure, I have problems with my mind
Like most of you here
(otherwise we wouldn't be writers,
though I am of a differemt [boring] breed)

But that's not what's killing me.
My body is shutting down,
And I wish that was metaphorical.
Or that it would hurry up and finish.
Cedric McClester Mar 2022
By: Cedric McClester

Jussie Smollett
You’re innocent I bet
If only in your own mind
But you should regret
Making us upset
Just because you’re inclined
To prevaricate
About that alleged crime of hate

Despite all your chatter
The truth of the matter
Definitely needs to be mentioned
You clearly were seeking attention
The story you conceived
Is hard to be believed
Because it defies convention
And causes nothing but dissension

You did a week
And are out as I speak
While awaiting your appeal
But for a moment let’s be real
You’re gonna find
That your appeal will be declined
Based on lack of merritt
You’re lucky a judge agreed to hear it

But you won’t relent
And take your punishment
Because you think you’re an exception
You’re practicing self-deception
Consider what it took
In order to close the book
See thirty months isn’t that bad
You’re lucky that’s all you had





Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2021.  All rights reserved.
Maddy  Jul 2022
Happy 4th
Maddy Jul 2022
Let's hope it isn't our last one
Merritt Garland when you recover from surgery and all is well
Please do what needs to be done
No need to spell it out but rhymes with Dump
He and his cast of characters are not above the law


C@rainbowchaser2022
It's always a casual see you later,
  then somehow you leave forever.
  I see your obit on google and wish
  I'd reached out when I still could.
  Here's to our shared misery and joy
  sharing secrets and keeping them.
  Here's to ******* pants laughter
  and a broke piece you left inside.
Neville Johnson Sep 2018
The stars of Dan and Merritt shine bright
Amidst fine friends and family
How fortunate we are to share these special moments
For this is what life is all about
The love we’re meant to see
These two lovers
Now weren’t they meant to be?

This is a celebration unlike any other
They have volunteered to make the world a better place
May they grow old together
May they have a grand old time
With much mirth and joy
Shooting for sublime
Welcome to our family
As we join with thine
Gord Dec 2020
Looking at you now
Seeing the candlelight flicker off your body
As if it were dancing shadows
I cannot think of anything that I have ever seen
That is more beautiful
You fill my soul, you mezmorize me
Numb my mind
tranquillize my senses
Euphoria
I will love you if you will let me
My passion re-ignites
with each look you send me
Like sparks to dry tinder
My soul is chaste and wanting
My love is pure and untainted
My spirit is undaunted
Lead and I shall follow
Lift me and I shall walk beside you
Ask and I shall carry you
Pushing my feet deeper into the sands
But only the weight of your indecision shall burden me
For your love makes me light
One set of footprints is the sign of two walking as one
And your body shall warm and strengthen me
You give me life and reason
You energize my soul
You are mine
Even though you stand alone in the shadows
As the candles dance

Gordon Merritt
Cedric McClester Jun 2019
By: Cedric McClester

We’ve elected
An African-American president, he said
When right from day one
He declared him dead
Like the restorative justice
They’re moving ahead
To provide reparations
And put slavery to bed

While it’s true
That we’ve fought a Civil War
That in itself
Doesn’t even the score
Nor do the bills passed
That we can’t ignore
The remnants of slavery
Has still left us poor

150 years and slavery
Has passed
So why reparations, now
You well might ask
When you’ve reaped the benefits
Of that checkered past
It’s about time
That we place you on blast

Mitch McConnell is
The last one who should talk
When Merritt Garland’s nomination
He chose to block
To place a conservative
On the Supreme Court dock
Even someone
That the public could mock
















Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2019.  All rights reserved.
Gord Dec 2020
Think of every love song
that ever touched your heart
Put them down on paper
and select the sweetest parts
Put them all together
with the perfect melody
And still they couldn't start to say
the things you mean to me

For words are only words my love
and words could never say
The way you make me feel inside
That very special way
Mere words just lack the emphasis
They only say a part
of the love that I am holding
So deep within my heart

I guess I'm really saying this
to make you realize
I'm feeling something deep inside
of monumental size
It's taken much too long
for me to say right from the start
That it would take a million love songs
to say what's in my heart

Gordon Merritt
Gord  Dec 2020
Untitled
Gord Dec 2020
I sat and watched the stars tonight
They burned so hot and shone so bright
Reminded me of your sweet love
and lifted me so high above
I sat and watched the angels sing
And saw you there with your new wings
you sang a sweet sad lullaby
It made me smile, then made me cry
Then back to earth too soon I came
Twas Bittersweet, to hear your name
on Angels voices high above
Sent back to earth without your love
I sat and watched the stars tonight
they burned so hot and shone so bright
But I touched heaven for a while
And I shall dream of you and smile...
Gord Merritt...

— The End —