an excerpt from "One Headlight"

here is a small teaser from a book I am working on entitled, "One Headlight." I am always looking for feedback and criticism as this is rough and unedited.

The road ahead was lined with shadows, like decorative tinsel upon a holiday tree. The only light that lit the path ahead protruded dimly from the single working headlight of an outdated and overpriced hand-me-down 94' Geo Metro. It's owner, a young man in his early 20's of average height and a slightly athletic build, was rushing to a destination he was still not convinced even existed. This uncertainty was additionally fueled by the time of day at which he was traveling.

"3am," he thought, "Who ever travels at 3am?"

He looked to the only functioning headlight on his car, the only functioning headlight on a street which, by day, served as the main road of travel in the small city of 32,000 people. As he did, he was reminded once again of the answer to his rhetorical question.

No one.

After daylight, no one would dare to travel this road, which, despite it's proximity to so many prominent local spots, was poorly maintained and was bordered by the White River. The White River, had served served as a death trap to many who chose to travel under these same conditions thanks, in part, to its flimsy, dented and rusty guardrail that served as the only barrier between the road and it's wild waters. An accident this late would mean certain injury, if not death. The young man concentrated, refusing to let his mind wander as he meticulously navigated the many twists and turns that shaped the road. He could not afford to be distracted.

As he rounded the final corner on White Water Road, he made a left turn onto Natalie's street, and allowed his mind to return to pondering on his current situation.

Just twenty minutes ago he had lie prostrate in bed, when he was awoke by the loud and obnoxious ring tone echoing off of his phone which had been intentionally set to be loud and obnoxious for such an occasion. Natalie's voice on the other end had sounded anxious and urgent as she urged Aaron to hurry to see her. She would not say what it was she needed though, as if she were paranoid that someone may have been listening on the other end.

He knew though.

Aaron knew exactly what was going on. Natalie's conditioning was worsening. She was breaking. All the medical books Aaron had been studying had said that her condition was irreversible, but his stubbornness which he had attributed to his mothers side of the family, left him skeptical. He simply would not accept it. He was so confident that he could help her get well on his own, unable to take her to a professional facility due to the nature of her condition.

"I have to accept that I am losing her," he tried to reason with himself, "and it's no one's fault but mine."

As he finally pulled into her driveway, concluding what may have been the longest half hour drive of his life, he new that the easiest part was over and that the hardest part was just beginning. He took one final deep breath and closed his eyes tightly as if, when he opened them he would wake from a terrible dream. He muttered a prayer under his breath and slowly begin to open his eyes. He cursed under his breath, exited the car and began to walk up the narrow blacktop driveway and into the realist nightmare he would ever know.

A World Between Two Suns part Deuce (The Second Sun)

I was a world between two suns
I was an olive between two stones
I am the boy you tried to hold
but in the meanwhile, did not taste

And such deceit begins to burn
as the growing wheels of irony turn
in the midst of this I came to learn
love is too sacred a thing to waste

You taught me things young men don't think
and showed me ships that never sank
in concrete my dreams began to seat
themselves, you were my source

How tragic then did that day become
when I had no choice but to choose that second sun.
and I realized that you were not my 'one'
and it was a thing I could not force

Now both suns had set and did fade away
at heart my muse, you'll always stay
we love each other in another way
hearts intertwined in stone.

And now I see the bright new sun
over the horizon it now does come
and with it rays that feel like love
and the brand new heat of hope

Growing Up

Listen as the wind blows through our metal box in the sky. It speaks of the past & reminds me of ball games with trees. How many did we misplace? "The pine cones have some company," we said, and we lifted the thought away. "Let's play! Let's play!" Other houses danced with us. What a league we were. A league of four we'd say. "I am Omar," I said, "and you can be Jim."

Listen again to the wind blowing, through our floating shell. It whispers, "It is now." Such a bitter truth. There are no trees where I am at, or pine cones for you. Only shirts with ties, and guns, and no one dances. For we are not Omar or Jim. We have our slave names, because that is what responsibility is.

How can I speak of a resolution I do not know? It is simply life's way. One day, we play ball with trees, and then the trees become buildings. And the ball become personal agenda. Then, there is no such thing as the greater good. For there is only greed, and shirts with ties, and guns with bullets. And our names are changed again, to power, lust, hate and vengeance.

This is growing up.

The Sound

Hey, hey.
What's that sound?

Is it the wind walking by my door.
or the ghost of the young lenore.
Is it the raven quoting "nevermore"
or is it just my imagination?

Hey, hey.
What's that sound?

Is it nature speaking mysteries.
Is it my memories getting the best of me.
Is it the world running beneath my feet.
or is it just my imagination.

Hey, hey. What's that sound?
Hey, hey. It comes around.
Hey, hey. It goes around.
Hey, hey. It is my home.

I feed you to the wolves. I litter you with blood.
I tangle you in waste. I wash you down with mud.
I've reaped but never sown. I have nothing to show.
I bury you in stones & yet I call you home

Radiant One

Eyes grow weak upon staring.
heart grows warm upon thought.
hands go numb upon touching.
mouth goes dry to the tongue

My feet do dance at your notice.
my mind does race when we meet.
my nose knows your smell like no other.
my ears most alert when you speak.

When you enter a room people whisper.
and a glow fills the room like a crowd.
and inside my world you are center.
no future, no past, only now.

So touch me, your touch like an angel.
speaking heavenly words in its art.
and I will go on as a mortal.
slowly working my way to your heart.

A World Between Two Suns

I am a world between two suns.
I am pulled. I am thrown,
off of my steady course, into an unknown orbit.
Stars fall into my path.
But none like the two suns.
None as bright or magnificent,
or hot.
I burn when I get too close.
But sulfur never smelled so sweet.
Never has pain been so pleasant or welcome.
I love to burn for them.

But what chaos this does cause!
I cannot commit to one orbit.
So therefor I have no path.
I drift.
This being so, what is my purpose?
The universe is unwell.
Unbalanced and amiss.
Never should a planet serve two suns.
Yet how do I choose?
Equal in beauty. Equal in stability and strength.
Equal, in heart.

But before I can choose, fate makes her move.
And she chooses for me.
I am content, I am pleased.
I know this is where I should be.
Everything in it's right place,
and her rays reach my skin.
Flinching, I am ready to burn.
Burn for you alone.
But I do not burn as I thought I would.
No, instead, I am consumed in a gentle warmth.
I am a world to one sun.
And my course regains it's balance once again.

The Seeker

I seek solace, peace and quiet
in such a loud and busy world
to be alone in the crowded room
to walk busy streets where noone knows me
to escape from demanding family and hand-biting friends
and just live precariously
if only for a day or two

and I seek wisdom, adventure, and knowledge
in such an irresponsible world
to do that which shouldn't be possible
to fly, to swim, to fall
to escape to a place with no limitations
and just live uninhibited
if only for a month or two

I seek to see beauty and magnificence
in such a polluted and diluted world
to see that which human hands cannot create
the land, the air, the sea
to see more of the earths splendor
and just live open-minded
if only for a year or so

I seek, maturity, humility, and understanding
in such a dumbed down world
to see the deeper meaning of death
and the even deeper meaning of life
to know there is something bigger than me
and live beyond myself
if only, for forever