developmental bard-ing

i have collected
key rings of every monogram
rested momentarily against
a space bar - vodka and tonic was the order
of the day - cursing
a sun that is always subtle in its awakening
it - having lasted longer
then most writers or instruments
of a developmental bard-ing


me, for me - that elusive key is
still out of reach leaving only
a single (?) mark and
outdated backspace, but (true) true even Mercury
goes retrograde - i suppose there is some
lesson within an
introspective reversal (never publish
until all goes in your direct-ion)

come midday
a future reflects an aging,
using  fear tactics to
highlight an unregulated tab key and talk
of a delete - i can not
change gods now - i have spent
a lifetime
covered in correction
paper threatening a timid shift key
into vowing the
fifth ....

Who?  Who else would listen to my confession????

bkmackenzie
copyrighted 2011

posted for Magpie Tales

from lemons to luck ...continued.....Part III

continued from the past two Magpies


Magpie #55


Magpie #56

Chrissy knew she now had to do something. But what was it....?

Devon was gone and Chrissy just started sobbing, she had never heard or  seen him act this way before and now she was more than leery of her suspicions, she was now frightened.  She walked towards the kitchen window, there a small pot of shamrocks that sat in its sill.  Devon had brought the early token of St. Patrick's Day as the reminder of their fourth anniversary.  They were married on St. Patrick's Day to honor the Irish heritage that they both shared.  She stared at the fragile leaves of the shamrock's and thought of now fragile their relationship and marriage had become since the night Devon had that meeting with his partner Jason, the same night that the murder of that young woman took place. 

Then she was quickly brought back into the current moment.  Devon had returned, jumped out of the car and hurried into the house.  Chrissy had no idea what would happen next and she wonder if she had waited to long to seek help.   Devon came straight up to her and put his arms on her shoulders, he started anxiously talking almost to the point of crying.

"Chrissy", he said, "I have been keeping something from you, something I can not live with any longer.  I thought I could cover it up to protect Jason and you Chrissy to protect you, and all I know is I can not protect anyone and I just can not handle the burden of this any longer."

He moved her towards the couch and they sat down together.  Devon took her hand and look right at her.

"Look at me Chrissy, look what I am becoming how I am acting.  I threw that knife, my God I can not believe I let myself get to this point, I could have hurt you.  You have to listen to me Chrissy, please this will not be easy but I do not know what to do."

"What is it Devon, what happened?"  she really was not sure she wanted to know but felt she had to listen to what Devon had to say.

"That murder, the girl in the apartments not far from here, the night I met Jason and Charlie at the office and we worked until midnight, remember?" 

Of course she remembered but did not what to appear that she was suspicious of him and the blood, so she answered as cautiously as possible.  "The night you cut your hand and it was all over the screen of the computer, that night?"

"Yes, that night.  But I did not cut my hand, I lied, I was covering up for Jason".

"Jason?" Chrissy was surprised.  "Jason, what were you covering up for Jason?"

"Jason killed that girl, I know he did.  Charlie, Jason and I were working that afternoon when that girl came in asking about work, whether we could use an administrative assistant.  Jason said he was considering that and this might be a good time to interview.  He asked her to meet him at Liddy's restaurant for a drink and he would interview her.  She agreed saying she would be there around 7:00 pm.    I thought well he never said anything to me regarding an admin assistant but didn't question it.  He got ready to leave the office around 6:45 and said he would be back, would I be there.  I said yes I would.  Then he asked if he could use my laptop because he wanted to take some notes and his was at home.  I said sure, that I would use my desk top no problem."

Chrissy was listening intently to every word Devon said and found her heart beating faster and faster with the possibilities of what happened. Devon continued.

"So I just worked and waited at the office with Charlie trying to get the Rosland Project ready for review by the bank for funding.  Then about 9:30 Charlie decided he was going home and would see me tomorrow I said fine, that I would wait for Jason and let him know what we had accomplished.  It was close to 11:00 when he returned he had his hand wrapped in a towel.  I asked him what happened, he said that he cut it at the restaurant playing with the knife when he was cutting his steak.  I really did not think anything about it so I asked him about the interview and what he thought of the girl.  He said oh forget it she doesn't have the computer skills and we really did not have the money to pay a secretary right now.  So I told him oh well, I am going to head home and asked him for the laptop. But as I took the computer from him he was adamant that I did not tell anyone, not even you that he had cut his hand or interviewed this girl.  I said no problem Jason, no problem."

Chrissy said, "Well now do you know he killed her?"

"Because,"  Devon said, " after that morning when I said I cut my hand and the blood on the computer was mine.  At that point I did not even know there was blood on the computer so I started blaming everything you said back on my mother. Remember?"

"Of course I do," answered Chrissy

"Well you later that day mentioned the murder that was on the news so I started questioning Jason strange comments and found out that the girl murdered was the girl Jason met at Liddy's. I did not say anything to him or anyone.   Now I do not know what to do except go to the police, but I do not know if they will also start questioning and suspecting me, and I washed off the blood from the computer.  I do not know whose blood that was, Jason or the girls?"

'Chrissy will you go with me to the station, will you help me I love you so much, please tell me what I should do?'

Chrissy said, "I will go with you Devon, I love you too.  Thank you for telling me, I thought I was going to lose my mind also since that day." 

They embraced then Chrissy added, "Devon I have a sample of the blood."

He said, "You do?"

"Yes, I do."

"Good." he said, "Let's go."


The End.....

Magpie Tales #57

Claim Jumper

Why did you cut out your heart and leave it at my steps?
You have no legal right -  You know the cat
staked claim to it years ago, years
And this fake diamond on my finger has no
meaning in gold country, no
mineral rights here, unset
to precious metal

That means legally ounce for ounce a dead rat has
higher status
then a vital organ pumping, spurting like an
oil spill...having no commitments
in stopping its flow or
choking of the
innocent

bkmackenzie
copyrighted 2011

Magpie Tales #51

not here, not there

 Love is nowhere - it is not here, not there
 Somewhere a heart open. Where? Be what kind?
 My world has gone empty the trees gone bare

Winter has fallen, chill fells the noon air
Tremble in sorrow for love, this my mind
Love is nowhere - it is not here, not there

Where 'morrow, without her love’s sweet care?
Sorrow, holds tight my life here un-reclined
My world has gone empty the trees gone bare

My heart grows cold without a touch so fair
Sorrows reason chosen to be declined
Love is nowhere - it is not here, not there

The nights darkness, turned light to be unshared
I cry my sorrow, Where? Good grace to find!
My world has gone empty the trees gone bare

Sense I, her last breath kiss the cold night air?
Be it her heart calling me? “ here you'll find"
Love is nowhere - it is not here, not there
My world has gone empty the trees gone bare

bkmackenzie
copyrighted 2011

Posted for Magpie Tales and Villanelle Exercise....One StopPoetry...

Canadian Blend - Magpie 21

Magpietales 21

I married a Canadian and with my blessing he has retained his citizenship over the years. I cherish Canada as much as he does though we reside in the United States. When July comes along we celebrate our differences with July 1st being Canada Day and July 4th America’s Birthday there are two flags flying red and white with a touch of blue. A blending of borders, a truce called on neutral ground. When he grew up in Canada he was constantly told he had the personality of an American, filled with individuality and fire. Where I grew up on a farm in the Midwest I believed everyone was good and kindness was universal; a true Canadian trait. Years of course have pasted and with them my views have melted into life’s reality; my husband’s reality has melted into mellow acceptance.

It is this first week of July every year when we plan our annual pilgrimage to Victoria BC, and Vancouver Island. Where we will tour castles and gardens, eat at favorites restaurants and have coffee and pastries at outside cafes, when we will again eat fresh blueberries and walk along familar shores. There will be a trips to Ladysmith  and Sooke , and the marking of new spots for exploration.

It is a magical time which we begin each year by riding the BC Ferry,  a border crossing both beautiful and life changing. A time when we see each other for who we really are one American and one Canadian.  It is in the hour and thirty minute crossing from Tsawwsann to Swatz Bay across the Strait of Georgia , that we move away from a world of what is - towards a Neverland of our own design, passing through the Gulf Islands of Mayne and Pender; accompanied by killer whales and bald eagles who have long waited our return, now guiding us from all history of past life and past lives. Every year this ferry ride becomes our sacred passage, a quiet and subtle transformation of our souls understood, but left unspoken. We both know we have been blessed with the peace of knowing who we are, each as individuals honoring our friendship and our freedoms first;  above all other. For me that friendship will be as it is every year solidified in that moment when I see my husband standing on the ferry’s deck, breathing in his first breath over Canadian waters and I realize once again that there stands my Peter Pan, my Captain Hook, there stands all the fireworks this American will ever need.     ...bkm