MacGreg

A common phrase often repeated: Silence is golden. Words sometimes get in the way. Training early on to communicate through body language and tone of voice rather than chatty conversation is all a part of this. you live it. you know. But that's not to imply conversations are dissuaded; a path of open communication between partners is just as necessary. Thanks for reading and commenting, tim.

I sense some frustration here, Parker. Yet, even your frustration is illustrated perfectly, with growing angst shown in each line. We've all been held up by delays at one time or another. Great job.

Controlling the interactions with a look, a touch, a simple command. Words are hardly necessary. You own the moment. You demonstrate how the passage of time is important, for both of you. And with it, your boy's patience, concentration, compliance. You've written a compelling piece, Mike. Thanks.

Words can be like that.

Short or not, this poem packs a powerful punch. It describes exactly what I'm feeling at the moment, so thank you for posting it.

The hour is late. I watch as you exit the restaurant into the night - your waist-apron slung over your shoulder, your head pointed downwards in fatigue as you descend the short run of cement steps to the sidewalk. From across the parking lot, someone calls your name. We both look over at the source. You smile at the young valet, approach him, slap hands, share a joke together. I wait nearby, half in shadow, half in lamplight, casually leaning against the side of my truck with arms crossed.

Chicken broth and bacon fat? Interesting! Thanks for sharing your secret recipe, molly.

Powerful poem.

Yes, sometimes you do have to let them go. But are they ever really gone? That's the struggle. They reappear when you least expect it and when you least want them to. Still...it helps to verbally say goodbye. Great set of poems, tim.

Well, this almost slipped right past me. I need to keep a better eye on what's happening around here. Congrats on the spotlight, tim. your writing deserves to be discussed and re-discussed. There is so much variance and complexity in your poetry and stories. I've always felt a connection to you and to your style of writing, which is raw, honest, emotional, and vibrant. Never a dull moment in anything you produce. I think it's safe to say we all look forward to reading much more from you in the future. - Mac

Everyone has an evil streak (or two, or three) inside. Humans are hopelessly flawed. Some events or circumstances can spark those evil tendencies to surface, but not all people inherently aim to do harm. Most people can decipher right from wrong and make sound choices based on certain values and morals that are put into place to keep us from completely destroying one another. As Jay pointed out, there are varying levels of evil, and how actions affect other people, positively or negatively, makes a difference in the perception or acceptance of the wrongdoings. Some things are forgivable. Others are too deplorable to even consider. Each of us has to live with the choices we make, just as we must learn to deal with iniquities made against us. Like others have mentioned here, we have "evil" moments we must atone for. No one is free of guilt, because no one is perfect. I do not believe humans are puppets, being directed to perform evil acts. But it's certainly tempting to place the blame on an evil superpower in order to absolve ourselves from the responsibility.

Superlatives and conjunctions. Very sexy.

Def, you always offer great insight to this story. As we've discovered, talking is not Ben and Travis' strong point. The physical communication speaks louder for them. But you are right that serious discussions need to happen in order for the air to be cleared and for them to be set on a positive course towards a relationship that will work. Whether or not they can have those discussions is another thing. Thanks again for your comments. I really appreciate it. Cheers - Mac

Hey Peter, thank you so much. You've been a faithful reader from the start, and I appreciate your feedback and your insights about the story. Just for mention, I am aiming for some harmony. It's not my intention to only show the dissonance. But the dynamics are complex and events cannot easily be shifted to an HEA. Stick with me, though. There will be some light. Cheers, my friend. -Mac

I hope it's not so painful that it's a distraction. I want the story to stand well, despite discordance between the characters. Thanks for your support of the story and for always taking the time to comment. I appreciate it, tim. -Mac

Parker, you describe the story well - the dissonance of two instruments played slightly out of tune. That's where Ben and Travis are. The song is mutual, but the tune is not quite in sync. They have to work together on that in order to find harmony. Thank you for your great comment. Cheers - Mac

(reposting what I already told you privately) Your poem speaks volumes about family, and the emotional struggles that come along with some of those connections that we're forced to endure because of relations. Sharing genetics isn't always enough. In fact, it can cause more pain than happiness. (This is a great poem, molly. Glad you started a blog for your writing. Keep going.)

I think you speak of something fundamentally important here: the need for human touch. Words are nice, sentiments are nice, but giving and receiving touch, whether a hug, a handshake, a caress, or other solidifies connection. It's necessary for development and well-being. It's sad to think that even a punch can be welcoming, but to some, it is. The message here is powerful.

It's going to be challenging for both of them. At some point, they will have to bridge the gap and be completely open with one another. You're right that they bottle up their emotions. Right now, the physical language between them is more impactful than the spoken words. In some ways, that's sufficient, but in the long-term, it won't be. Thanks, as always, for your insights, droughtquake. Cheers - Mac

Yes, they do fit well together. It's a connection that's developing and revealing itself slowly. As you said: it's symbiotic. you understand this concept well. Thank you for being a supporter of the story, jp. It means a lot.

The dynamics are there, although yet to be explored or understood. Ben is a very strong person. As we know, being submissive isn't about being weak. Quite the opposite. So, despite the dissonance, their relationship is continuing to develop in interesting ways. Thanks for your comments, Jay. I'm glad you picked up on this story.

Graeme, your observations are astute. Ben has many strong qualities, and he wants to be strong for Travis. At the same time, if Travis tells him to jump, he'll to do so without hesitation. That's part of his strength, but as you pointed out, it could also be detrimental in some regards. He can't overlook some of the important things just to appease Travis; that won't help either of them. And, yes, Travis needs Ben just as much as Ben needs him. Thanks for reading and commenting. I always like hearing your thoughts on it. Cheers - Mac

Thank you, Val. I'm glad it was worth the wait. For Travis and Ben, a pocket of solace can go a long way. It might even hold enough strength to pull them through - if they can stop fighting against it. Thanks for reading. Your comment means a lot. Cheers - Mac

Would that you could... I know you would. Thank you.

jp, what happened should never have happened. Not a thing I can do about it except write a poem. I hope the right person reads it and that people really give the message some thought and take it to heart. I'm tired of hearing about and seeing friends getting hurt. Take care, boy, and know that I'm near.