Parker Owens

I thank you for your very kind comments. The old words actually show up,in my conversation from time to time. Only later do I have to restate what I said so as to be understood. Glad you liked the mathematical poem! I did, too. April 12 is possibly my favorite of this group; and birds are creatures I observe frequently. I am sorry to have made you cry in the last one; I thought to be humorous at first, but the beat turned everything somber.

Yes, it really happened. Both boys were at least as shocked as you...delightfully so. For once something really good happened to each of them, particularly Andy. Thank you so much for reading Andy's journal, and I really appreciate your comments!

I am so very glad you continue to read the story. This may not have been Zander's finest hour, or week, for that matter. Kaz is being a good friend, and using the language he knows best.

You make a good point. Perhaps Zander simply has a place in his social structure Andy never had. At any rate he certainly couldn't free himself of the girl, and Andy got hurt. Neither boy can find a way to feel safe in talking to the other.

Excellent start. I'm hooked. All three boys are sympathetically drawn, and I want to know what happens. But who is unforgivable, and in whose eyes? Great questions, and I bet we'll learn some answers...and be delighted at reading it along the way!

Your number 12 is a true gem. It is as impressive and thought provoking as anything I have read recently. And you're so right: anxious, frowning toe-tapping will never make anything happen faster!

APRIL 8 The river gently called today a conversation to begin; insistent in her quiet way, my ear's attention tried to win. She varies so capriciously, now frowning dark and raging white, then speaking right judiciously, or gossiping into the night. I knew we had to talk, although the topic brought no comfort near. I listened to her rhythms slow and knew she'd spoken to my fear. Tomorrow I will bring my friend to meet her in her greening dress. Together we may start or end, perhaps a pas

Resigned to David and Alex. Want to wish Twoey and Erik happiness. Sad David seems to be cutting bits and pieces of Twoey out of his life. Wonder what Ginny thinks of Erik, whether she misses seeing David. Will she come visit? The pairs all seem happy on the surface. Sam and Deena, Gary and Mel, Twoey and Erik, even Matty and Chuck. You've managed at least a little order out of relationship chaos! Alex seems besotted with David, and maybe she pushed in and maybe she didn't. Hard to tell, we weren't there. Only David can ask the right questions... As is often the case, I have more questions than answers, but you've done a marvelous job of bringing things to a good resting place for now. Perhaps David can heal and get his head and life back together now.

Viii. I am drawn to this one; it is mysterious and compelling. ix. Oh, the circle one treads trying to move on. You often wind up exactly where you were. Perfectly made plain here. x. This one is intriguing, as I want to know more about the speaker. But I can think of many possible ways to interpret this! Xi. In the ocean, tears are what surrounds me. What a powerful image. Xii. It isn't until the very end that I get the metaphor...it is brilliantly obscured. Xiii. So many hats, and I may have worn most of the...

Great chapter. Not mad about the cliffs, so you're forgiven. But can we have the next chapter soon, please?

Another excellent chapter. David's wallpaper metaphor is brilliant; the last sentence states things perfectly. His confusion about Alex is understandable, and the emptiness where Twoey used to be is, too. Wiser heads would have him think all this through, but since when has wisdom been a part of the adolescent mind? David has broken bones, not broken hormones. Twoey and Erik will be their thing, whatever that's going to be. Maybe David can end our 18 weeks by seeing that playing out...at least, that's what he seemed to say in this chapter. Sam and Deena pairing off may be very good for Sam. But what's good for David? That will be the subject for the remaining chapters, perhaps?

More building up, more teasing. Poor Patrick's going to burst, I think...

A lovely, lovely lullaby for whoever you love. Marvelous.

So now we are twenty one; your couplets are very well done; and once you immerse into this kind of verse, you'll have only just started the fun! ... ThanksDrew

Happy Birthday, naughty Drew! I calculated pi for you. May all those digits, mighty fickle, give you a hearty birthday tickle! Happy Birthday, Pi.

I am very glad you liked 'Hermit Crab,' as I fought my way through that one longest and hardest. How to look at a person - oneself, even - at more than one age? I am so glad someone else knows about Yellow Pear tomatoes. Am trying Sun Gold this year. Your remarks are kind and generous, and I really appreciate your reading this first set. I am really enjoying this...

I fear I didn't follow every prompt, but my ardor was not dahmped. Thanks for reading every verse hope my rhyming won't get worse!

You bet I'm having fun! And now for the next week! Glad you liked them, I did...

Dear Val, these are powerful, emotive and wonderfully written. Your #4 is both compelling and heartbreaking. And the image of being cocooned by blankets and cats is a picture of comfort and warmth, as detailed as any photo. And Zombie fingers! What awesome images, all of them.

(i) Great fun, and a lovely turn. I prefer the second fool (ii) a perfect Haiku! (iii) You make me want to be out and about with you! A compelling poem. (iv) Oh, the wicked transformation into humor in this. Liked it immensely. (v) My favorite for this group. The yearning, the hurt, the emotion all come through with complete clarity in this. (vi) Oh dear - I had to miss lunch! Wonderful. (vii) The desolate loneliness of the speaker haunts me. Beautifully written and moving. Thanks so much for all of these! On to week two!

Thank you for reading these. April 7 could have been called 'endless reverberation,' I suppose. Glad you enjoyed them!

I am very happy you liked these! About April 4: I am so mad at winter right now, we're not even speaking. I am glad you liked April 5; there's a lot going on there. April 7 reminded me of what you see in two opposed mirrors...thanks again. I'm enjoying this!

Thanks so much for your reactions. 'Hermit Crab' could be a conundrum - lots there that's hidden in plain sight, kind of like the crab himself. And number 3 was pure fun.

APRIL 1 So I flirted and I fooled, I read sonnets 'til I drooled, then I shouted to the poet crowd: "I'm in!" Though sometimes sounding phony (more doggerel than pony) I would hope my verse makes everyone to grin. Never mind my fingers black, or the adjectives I lack, My thesaurus or my dictionary thick; Every day I'll try a verse (or an ode - whichever's worse), and perhaps this literary stuff will stick. APRIL 2 Snow on bright flowers; April's unkind foolery rep

Well, if David was going to be Twoey's boyfriend, it would have happened by now. It is possible to be attracted to a person without also being that person's boyfriend/girlfriend etc.; maybe David's attraction really is platonic. That doesn't mean he wouldn't feel a little bit empty knowing there's a part of Twoey he'll never share. I think that statement on David's part is right on target. Now he his paying more for his intense self-focus: he can keep Twoey as a friend, but only as a friend. Wonder whose arms he'll wind up in one day? Alex's way to David is now relatively clear. Expect the DMI (David Misery Index) to increase. On another note, David never thought much of Erik, but why should he think of him in the same kind of terms as PPF and She Who Must Never Be Named? What evil has he done (besides stealing Twoey's heart)? Of course, if Erik hurts Twoey, one would expect David to wage merciless war on him, and Erik wouldn't know what hit him. As always, this was a highly entertaining chapter! Many thanks!