Blood Ink

image from minutestocountdown.deviantart.com

You can only fold a paper

seven times they say,

but I must have read your letter

a thousand times a day,

until I finally realized

the ink had dried away.

It bled into my hands

and ate away my soul,

until I cried black

and fell into a hole.

The abyss was vast and deep

the feelings began to creep,

until I remembered why

I chose to let you die.

And as I write the letter

the words they come out pink

for only assassin’s blood

can be used for contract ink. 

Mar's Bar

I drink a cocktail of moonlight in this lone bar of Mars. I quickly glance at my wrist to check my messages, and though I know that 40 minutes will pass between each line of conversation, I hope that you will reply before your bedtime. Everyone in the colony is lonely and lost, tired and disillusioned; coming here was a grave mistake. We all knew that now. 

If the possibility of return was minimal before, it was close to none now. The attempt to create a sustainable food source was proving to be difficult. Luckily we had a life supply of Tang that had been sent long before anyone had dreamed of actually transporting life to this red planet. I personally didn’t mind, the strange orange flavor reminded me of my grandfather and his obsession with his childhood favorites from the 70s. He even found a few old videos that had survived the Metallic Freeze and had us watch them, laughing hysterically. If I had known that I’d be drinking the strange Moon people’s drink on Mars, I might have laughed too. 

“Sometimes I wonder if there’s intelligent life on that planet.” 

I wonder that too Orange Man, I wonder that too. 

Twenty-three minutes passed and I received a purple check-mark on my message board; your phone received the message, but was currently in sleep mode. I imagined you in bed, three times the weight, but triple the comfort and softness of our rotting cots. I knew that life would not be glamorous here, but I had expected to feel more glory upon my arrival – to feel… more like a hero to mankind. Instead the monotony of raising plants designed to flourish on florescent light, artificial air, and electrolytes, were proving just as limp as my conscience. 

I never should have left you. I thought to myself as I downed the rest of my drink, glancing through the telescope at the life I left behind. 


..............................................................................................

PS. If you want to see the Tang commercial referenced in this story, here's the link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf1kw5Yp9Ck  

As always thanks for reading. 

Until next time lovelies,
Raely Marie


Written for the #Nightdwellers #ProseChallenge #beginningline
Original post at https://theprose.com/post/139668/mar-s-bar
Write a piece of literature with the beginning line ‘I DRINK A COCKTAIL OF MOONLIGHT…’ Tag it #nightdwellers #beginningline. http://www.facebook.com/groups/NightdwellersWrites/

Take a Stand

You think it’s cool to hit women
back ‘em up against a door and start screamin' at ‘em
punch a hole in the wall, watch ‘em duck out the way
as the tears start streamin’ down their face,
hopin’ it would be a different day, 
another life where she’d have a knife in her hand
shut you the fuck up and make her stand

cut your throat and watch you bleed
watch you fall down to your knees,
sittin' on the ground sayin’ baby please,
stop this right now can’t you see
all this stabbin’s hurtin’ me

baby please, I gave you all – that I had
look in my eyes and see I’m sad
I’m sorry baby I know I’ve been bad

can’t we just try, try to forgive
we’ve got this whole damn life to live

He’ll fall to the ground, drown in his blood
ruin her brand new homemade rug,
but she just won’t give a damn,
cuz today was the day she fucking made her stand

...but today’s not that day and tomorrow neither,
cuz today she’s a hoe and a lyin' cheater
and there’s nothing she can do to change his ways,
cuz today’s the day he decided to beat her

cuz you can’t forgive a fucking lyin' cheater
gotta put her in her place and it’s not in the kitchen
gotta fuckin' teach this fuckin' bitch a lesson

smack her in the face and watch her cry
she looks like she deserves to die
so pitiful pathetic on the ground,
she looks like a baby crawlin’ around

nowhere to go she’s stuck inside,
where you goin' bitch there’s nowhere to hide,
come back here and take your beatin',
you know you deserve it, cuz I know you been cheatin’

and while she’s down there on the floor,
she’ll think about goin’ to the corner store,
ask for a gallon of gasoline,
ask for the matches as she turns to leave,
burn all the rubber on her tires, 
speedin’ home to set the house on fire!

…all her stuff, will burn with him
and she’ll have to start all over again, 
but she just won’t give a damn,
cuz today was the day she fucking made her stand

...but today’s not that day and tomorrow neither,
cuz today she’s a hoe and a lyin' cheater
and there’s nothing she can do to change his ways,
cuz today’s the day he decided to beat her
cuz you can’t forgive a fuckin' lyin' cheater

you gotta beat - the lesson - into her,
cuz this fuckin bitch just won’t learn,

Why you gotta go and make me beat you,
you know I hate it, I really do, 
I just gotta do what I gotta do
Where you goin' bitch, I got your shoes

Her hand slips off of the door,
as he drags her across the floor,
he keeps repeatin’ that she asked for more
cuz last week she was a little whore,

she doesn’t know what he’s talkin' about
she opens her lungs and she tries to shout
his hands on her throat no air will come out

and as she’s choking tryin’ to breathe
she’ll think about how great it be
to get the rope down off the shelf 
and make him tie it around himself

take the noose around his neck
and hang him back off of the deck

and when the policeman finally came
she wouldn’t even have to try and explain
she wouldn’t even have to try and hide
cuz all her actions were justified

and even if - she went to jail
and there was no one - to post her bail,

she just wouldn’t give a damn,
cuz today was the day she fucking made her stand

...but today’s not that day and tomorrow neither,
cuz today she’s a hoe and a lyin’ cheater
and there’s nothing she can do to change his ways,
cuz today’s the day he decided to beat her
cuz you can’t forgive a fucking lyin’ cheater
cuz today’s the day he decided to beat her
cuz you can’t forgive a fuckin lyin’ cheater

But today’s the day she’s gonna make her stand
cuz some motherfucker’s need to understand

che-che
boom

...
Raelynne Hale
Madrid, Spring 2012

...
In lieu of participating in the injustice challenge, as I would have had to have written a story, I am posting my spoken word piece on injustice that I wrote and performed in Madrid in 2012. This piece was very therapeutic for me and is available on my youtube channel from when I performed it at Triskel Tavern in Madrid, Spain in 2012.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTQr_V7wOrE 

...
#ProseChallenge #injustice #domesticviolence

Ralph's Confessions

Ralph's Confessions

“You know, honestly, I don´t know why I do it anymore,” he stated in his interview Friday afternoon. “I used to do it for the good feelings, the pats on the back, the compensation, the food, ahhh, the food… that was the best.”

He paused in nostalgia, looked out the window, then continued.

“But now, that’s all over, the delicious snacks… they’re gone. I don’t even get a real thank you, just some half ass pat on the shoulder – out of obligation.”

He looked down wearily.

“You know… I still find myself drooling over that… that stupid tennis ball. I even pick it up first now, dragging it over to them, initiating the hard work. I just, I just don´t know why I still do it… all for nothing.”

And as Pavlov’s great great-grandson finished his interview, Ralph just sat there, wondering how he’d gotten to such a place as this, deep in tennis ball addiction, without the satisfaction of any meaty treats.

dedicated to my Grandpa, his stories always keep me going.

And Lucky, my trusty pal.

                                                                                                                       

Raelynne Hale

Madrid, 2014

Nursery Rhyme Politics

‘He’s a strong man, a great leader and one heck of a bareback rider. Nearly as good as me in all three departments. I’m a little better of course, but wow. Even I’m a little sore after all the riding we did,’ exclaimed Trump, describing his trip to Russia. - David Marrs, The Daily Squat

Nursery Rhyme Politics
Donald and Putin sittin’ in a tree.
K – I – S – S – I – N – G 
First comes love, then comes hate
We’re all gonna make America Great!

Build that wall, make that call
Put up another shopping mall.
It’s no worry, we’re not in trouble
Let’s all live in a giant bubble.

Donald likes peeing, Putin likes eating
Our economy’s gonna take a beating.
You’re not worried, I’m not scared
I’d just rather be eatin by a bear.

But have no fear, our president is…… is…… 
is…… is…… is…… is…… is…… is…… is……
[error/invalid input/error/invalid input/error]
is…… is…… is…… is…… is…… is…… is………………..


Original post at https://theprose.com/post/127475/nursery-rhyme-politics
Photo courtesy of http://www.dailysquat.com/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-enjoy-riding-bareback-together/ 

Distanced by Time

I looked up and met your eyes, falling deeply into the abyss. My spirit reached out, and for only a second, I knew you, all of you. 

Sorry, I muttered as I moved out of the way for you to enter and bowed my head, soaking in the chocolate scent of your eyes. The dark brown I’d always known, but would never meet. What’s your name, I thought, but never uttered. As I checked my phone and ran to my next meeting, your essence evaporated into nothingness. I could feel, as I began to drift back into this reality, that our parallel existences would never collide again. I wondered who you were and what your voice sounded like – Did it sound as beautiful as your coy smile? 

You would never return to my reality and I wasn’t even sure that you existed. Why were you here, my perfect stranger? Why had you come to our realm? I learned in that instance of your knowledge and power. I learned in that moment of my minute and unimportant self. I realized that ours was not the only lifetime. I discovered that time travel was happening and you were on your way home. 


Written for a theprose.com challenge for week 55. If you like it, please follow the link below to give me a like there and repost my entry!

Original Post:
https://theprose.com/post/127558/distanced-by-time

#theprose #ProseChallenge #getlit #itslit

Tragically Beautiful

“I can´t handle your kindness.” The words fell out, one piece at a time, as if being chopped up into chewable parts.

He didn't know what to say, or to do. She was crying uncontrollably and through sobbing, real deep silent sobs, there was a pain and sorrow that couldn't be expressed in words that lingered.

What did they do to you? He so desperately wanted to help her, to understand the tears so that he could stop them, but he dared not to ask. He feared it would literally break her, she was so frail in that moment. No one was so tragically beautiful.

He sat down on the bed next to her, and pulled her into his arms and out of her vacant fortress. He could feel that she was gone, emotionally somewhere else. He felt like he was losing her, she was cold and stiff, as if the fear and sadness were sucking the life out of her, and he panicked.

“Hey…. Hey!” he shook her. 

“Come back to me,” he whispered as he wrapped his arms around her.

She couldn't come back. She looked down from her dark empty room and stared at her body in his arms. She had never been happier. And because she knew she'd never be able to handle losing that, she turned, and continued walking into the chamber of darkness she had created so long ago.

She died happy in his arms as he shed his first tear.