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Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 

By Chance or Appointment - 4. Borderlands

Three days in late August. As is always the case, errors you encounter are mine alone.

Picking beans

until the screech owls call,

and fingers fail to feel stalk from stem,

I watch the stars emerge over the tomatoes

changing sunflowers to mute shadows

while the katydids chant

it’s bedtime.

 

~

 

Phantom deer

appear out of the mist,

alert, tails a-twitch, ears cocked forward,

dark eyes filled with caution and curiosity;

four tawny forms set to turn as one

toward the dark tangled woods

and vanish.

 

~

 

Spectral moon,

you hide most of yourself

from the dawn behind the eastern ridge

with only the crescent hem of silver revealed

to flirt with jaded constellations

which sparkle still as they

fall asleep.


Perhaps you will be able to tell why Borderlands was chosen as the title for this chapter. In any case, thank you for taking a few moments to read these. If you feel moved to do so, leave a comment or reflection.
Copyright © 2022 Parker Owens; All Rights Reserved.
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Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 
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Borderlands is a good title. I see my little farm as my world, with me as its center, yet it is visited by sights and sounds from the borderlands on a continual basis. Some of these come out at night, and it is with the blessing of the moon I can witness wondrous sights. These were stirring, Parker. Cheers. 

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25 minutes ago, Headstall said:

Borderlands is a good title. I see my little farm as my world, with me as its center, yet it is visited by sights and sounds from the borderlands on a continual basis. Some of these come out at night, and it is with the blessing of the moon I can witness wondrous sights. These were stirring, Parker. Cheers. 

Your farm sounds idyllic. I’m very glad you thought the title was apt. Borderlands is a theme that seems to stick with me these days. I hope your occasional visitors bring you wonder and joy in equal measure. 

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Wonderful Skyscrapers. Each is evocative and walks that beautifully fine line between subjective participation and abstract scene-painting. You are a master at this form.

I particularly like first one. We can all be so busy doing our "human tasks" and obvious to the natural world around us, until suddenly, we are not. She forces her way onto our consciousness with the beauty of her being. At such moments, it feels as if we've woken up. 

Thank you for posting these!  

 

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Beautiful! I agree with @AC Benus 'You are a master in this form.'

I enjoyed these, especially surprising lines like:  I watch the stars emerge over the tomatoes.  For whatever reason it made me smile.

The last is my favorite.

Thank you.

 

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9 hours ago, AC Benus said:

Wonderful Skyscrapers. Each is evocative and walks that beautifully fine line between subjective participation and abstract scene-painting. You are a master at this form.

I particularly like first one. We can all be so busy doing our "human tasks" and obvious to the natural world around us, until suddenly, we are not. She forces her way onto our consciousness with the beauty of her being. At such moments, it feels as if we've woken up. 

Thank you for posting these!  

 

The elusive screech owl is one of my favorite birds. One hears them as dusk slides into night, warning the forest that they’re ready to hunt. As the daylight hours shrink, and school gets set to reopen, the hours to spend at harvest shrink to mere minutes. It’s too easy to work frantically, forgetting how beautiful it is in the darkening garden. Many thanks for your kind words, and for reading these!

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3 hours ago, Aditus said:

Beautiful! I agree with @AC Benus 'You are a master in this form.'

I enjoyed these, especially surprising lines like:  I watch the stars emerge over the tomatoes.  For whatever reason it made me smile.

The last is my favorite.

Thank you.

 

The almost-new moon which cloaks most of itself is a monthly wonder to me, unfailing in its ability to make me stop and smile. The tallest of the tomato plants in the garden are well over 240 cm high. It’s like watching stars through the trees. Thanks very much for your thoughts, and for reading these. 

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The image of the deer is so vivid. I need no extra imagination the visualise the scene. I hope they were just looking? Or maybe hoping you'd disappear off, leaving the fence unguarded. 🤨😄 Your (our?) fascination with the night sky is unabated. You, I feel, are much better placed to see the true splendour than I am. 

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58 minutes ago, northie said:

The image of the deer is so vivid. I need no extra imagination the visualise the scene. I hope they were just looking? Or maybe hoping you'd disappear off, leaving the fence unguarded. 🤨😄 Your (our?) fascination with the night sky is unabated. You, I feel, are much better placed to see the true splendour than I am. 

Now, as September fades to October, all I see are the white tails of the deer waving in the darkness as they bound away. But earlier, they would appear as silent as ghosts in the dusky mist, grazing on the grass in the field. The garden fence is much too tall for them to attempt. Now the constellations are more defined and brilliant. Not only can I see Orion, but also his dog and his quarry. Thanks so much for reading and adding a comment. 

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