Parker Owens

Oh, the shrill self righteousness of the willfully blind. Joy seems determined to paint herself into a bigot’s corner, all full of indignation and resentment. But what has Geoffrey done but finally share the deepest truth about himself with her? She wanted him to share, and she got more than she bargained for. But then, as a mother, she seems to be a rather poor bargain, herself.

What an awesome finale. You cooked up a way to wipe out the Lords in Shadow. Beautiful. And the end in which the boys remain, hand in hand and in love, well, that's wonderful, too. Not sure my heart meds are up to any more excitement. Very well done.

I waited to read this. Now I can’t stop. You done good...it’s terribly exciting. But killing Ryan? I weep.

Happy Birthday, DaddyDave, hear me celebrate and rave, wishing you most splendid thought while you party, as you ought!

You tell the story of the Atlantean apocalypse with nail-biting skill. I was riveted. Now I am apprehensive for the Chosen. Yes, they have a dagger, a most formidable weapon. But there are always problems with such weapons. What happens if it is lost, or if it falls into the wrong hands? And the account of the fall of Atlantis makes me wonder if there wasn't some kind of treachery involved. How did the Lords in Shadow know when the shields would be down? Why were they down in the first place? Maintenance? That seems to be most odd for a vigilant and intelligent people like the Atlanteans. And if there was treachery then, may there not be treachery later? I know, I know, I have to wait and see. I can be satisfied if the next chapter comes out in, oh, say the next ten minutes or so...

Dugh, thank you for reading these, and for your perceptive and thoughtful responses. I am very grateful. I hope you enjoyed these unpartnered poems as fully as I did.

I'm happy you liked these orphan skyscrapers. Number 2 just felt unbound and free. Indeed, an invitation to join the delight. Thanks very much for reading each of these.

Thank you AC. These did not fit anyplace in my notes. Yet they seemed to need someone to read them to give them life. I’m very grateful.

The light is definitely changing as the acceleration begins. The driveway isn’t carpeted in leaves yet, but it soon will be. Thanks for reading these; I really do appreciate it.

Thank you, tim. I am very glad you liked them.

One. Leaves start slow; first a few rogue sumacs, then the hawthorn and broad catalpas; ash, poplar and maples accelerate the change from full green leaf to flaming hillside, while proud oaks refuse to surrender. Two. Sway me to invisible music, listen to sunsets paint pink cloudscapes; let us taste erudition's vintage subtleties which dance samba on the intellect under the silver moon's sweet caress. Three. No Alpha could I aspire to be, still less do I

I like that kind of math question.

Reading this is like watching too many cable channels at once...a brilliant overload. The Ever Afters are getting sneakier. Isis, the cat, was no paragon, unlike Adam who has been a saint. Why can’t Kevin just feed the Lords in Shadow some soup, and poison them all? I know, too many questions...

At least Bing Crosby’s ‘White Christmas’ wasn’t playing in the background. Yet one more super creature to test the Chosen. One more victory. Yet I fear the EverAfters haven’t even begun to show their full strength. And then what? What additional strength or power can save the world when the truly seriously nasties roll over the borders into the world?

@BDANR Thank you for taking time with these. Hope you enjoyed going back to chemistry class. The Rubayat rhyme scheme is one of my favorites!

I'm very glad you enjoyed these for their sound, if for nothing else. If only my chem teacher in high school had taught with a nice cadence like these. I might have learned these things the first time through... Thank you so very much for reading these.

My dear Dugh, thank you very much. I am happy you enjoyed these.

I will take my madness as a compliment. You're right that I enjoy taking an offbeat tack on the seas of love. My old father would have said I was 'making bricks without straw.' I am most grateful you took a moment to read these, and for your kind and generous response.

Yes, back to school where I can exercise my nerd muscles better. Thank you for reading these. I'll be looking for ideas for the next Rational Rubayat...

I am very glad you could bond with these, even if the chemistry wasn't perfect. Your words are very kind. And I really think I might have learned more in Chemistry class if I had been able to think of things this way back then.

That was my thought. When my colleague gave me this challenge, not one but two poems suggested themselves. I had to write them in parallel. Thanks for reading these, and for having fun with them.

Jinx indeed. Go smoothly...yeah, right. But let's hope the Chosen can head off the Ever Afters at whatever pass is left, or else humankind is in for a very nasty wake up one day. I'll settle for Killian and Chad learning to live and let live.

Mendelev's Table The periodic table's made as Mendelev came to our aid to catalog the elements in serried ranks to be displayed. As science made developments in chemical intelligence, the atom's patterned data grew, and thus the table's relevance. So that's how Mendelev foreknew that substances of which no clue existed might discovered be, and brought to wider peer review. Now in the table, there to see, is why the bond 'twixt you and me was in our very substanc

Oh, you’re very good. The champion of miracles! I am enjoying this. Yes, Chad got hit by the clue bus, but Adam is there to help him become whole again. But each time the Lords in Shadow send stronger and stronger nasties across the divide. What will put an end to them permanently?

Beautiful, in many senses. The feeling of safety and contentment in Adam’s arms was drawn perfectly.