Parker Owens

Blessing and being blessed with those you love and take joy in - that’s the delight of Christmas. You say this so well, it makes me smile. Merry Christmas, tim, to you and Michael.

A warm blanket, a good story, hot chocolate, and someone to share it with...

One of my all time favorites, and what a performance! Thank you!

I have read many, but am looking forward to finishing them with hot chocolate...

This reflection and poetic observation is a great encouragement to a weary hearts everywhere. Thank you.

And with wonderful, sensuous variations... thanks for reading!

Some wonderful things in this chapter: Galen connects with another injured creature; connecting again with Josh; getting professional help. Miracles aren’t happening overnight, but hope gleams on the horizon. Thank you!

I could not agree more. When I run into trouble in my writing, it’s often because there is something in it that begs for research, for better information to guide me and the story. Your writing clearly benefits from your research - it’s wonderfully crafted and utterly believable.

Hope your Birthday was filled with joy. And cake...

Your kind words made me smile. That this could conjure images and sounds for you is surely testament to the delight in sharing poetry. The silent watching and listening is both erotic and loving, I hope. Thank you; I am so very glad you liked this.

Thank you, jp. I like that you can hear this as I do. I’m glad you like this.

Sometimes the night is full of notes. I love the idea that these sounds sing to us - that’s very comforting. Thank you, tim for reading this one, and responding to it.

The night has its music, and we can enjoy the rhythm and the melody. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Thank you Val - glad you liked this and caught the sounds of the night in its music. And the edit is now done...you are very kind...

Puppi is completely right. I am very much enjoying how this story is developing. These two are becoming fixtures in my heart.

Thank you for picking up on that detail. For that reason, the whole mood and color of the last stanza changes, and with it, the tenor of the poem...at least that was the idea. I am so glad you liked this.

Thank you, Gary. If this poem set and painted a scene for you, then I feel glad. And classic jazz was kind of fun to use as a metaphor...

he has such memorable lines; these especially stick with me - his soul is a restless place... ...he reaches out to hands inaccessible to an equal heart... ...the universe teems with it and the universe disavows it he wanders a path parallel... I read and re-read and re-re-read this, looking at it as a faceted diamond in perfect light. you appealed to the sense of observation, and brilliantly so, floating above, beside and around. then reminded me of a musical scherzo, maybe because it seems to have a faster tempo, or perhaps there is the sense of possible freedom from ghosts and skeletons. If the previous poem was a scherzo, then now may be a brief rondo; the recurring search for happiness likened to nurturing and rebuilding the flame of love. Each of these spoke to me in your own unique voice, and wonderfully so.

Slow Dance I dance the rhythm of the night, the whispered stream, the owl in flight, the subtle ticking of the clock in synchrony with noises slight. On doorframe do I softly knock, by silvered moonlight taking stock, and watch your shoulders rise and fall, your breathing steady as a rock. The dripping sink from down the hall does nothing much to still the call I'm hearing from your flanks and spine while naked 'neath the quilts you sprawl. Thoug

Such a busy chapter - but this one opens up some new characters, and lets us see CJ living a student’s life, mostly. A high profile student, to be sure, but a student nonetheless. This was very enjoyable, although I kind of hoped for a glass of wine, myself...

What a shattering end. No HEA here. Elijiah’s brokenness could not be healed.

There is poetry in these words, and deep stories waiting to unfold.

How good you are to say so! Squirrels nests in the trees are very messy affairs, often tossed about by winter winds. But they are safe enough in the trees. Thank you for your comments.

Thank you, dear Sas!