The Banshee Brenna

Once in Eire there was a man and a woman whom lived in a castle, who were wed and in love. The woman's name was Brenna and she was happy to be wed to her husband, Ian. One day, coming back from the market, she caught Ian in bed with another woman. So enraged was she that she pulled out the heart of Ian and threw it into the river where it turned to icy stone like her own heart. She became a BanShee, a screaming woman, and she lived in the castle for 500 years, killing all men who dared enter and turning their loves into BanShees like herself.

Well as the 500 years went by, a village was built at the edge of the hill, which the castle was on. The village men tried without luck to kill Banshee Brenna or to turn her away using everything in their power. But she stayed and killed all that dared.

There was a young man in the village named Aidan. He was strong and honest and pitied the BanShee for her plight and anger at her husband. Wishing to ease her suffering, he went up to the castle and called out,
"Banshee Brenna, will you be hearing me?"
And Brenna replied, "I be hearing ye, what do ye want?" and began to settle herself in for an easy kill.
"Brenna," he called, "I've come to prove that not all men are like your husband.' Now this got her attention so she asked,
"And how would you be thinking to do that?" and stood in front of him to speak to him easier.
"Follow me for a day and you'll see." So intrigued was she that she agreed and followed him around the village. First to his mother's house to bring her the cloak she need.
"Ma, Banshee Brenna is following me, how can I prove that not all are like Ian?" he asked her and his mother said,
"Just be yourself and go about your business she will see." And so he did, next to Mary Catharine's cottage to give her the herbs she'd need for her grandmother's back, then to Maeve's to give her the food she'd asked him to get so she could tend to her father, then to Darcy to give her flowers so she would feel better about the loss of her beau, and on and on through the village till at last his hands were empty and every one in need had been satisfied.
Now at about Darcy, Brenna had begun to feel a bit jealous and sat pouting and feeling neglected in the way woman will sometimes do to make a man feel guilty. Aidan saw this and began to feel a bit worried,
"Is something wrong, Banshee Brenna?" he asked. And she crossed her arms across her chest and said,
"How is it all the women in the village have gotten something from you and I haven't?" and Aidan nodded his head relieved and said,
"Is there anything you'd be wanting then?" She shook her head to say she did not know, "Well" he said "When you be knowing what you want, be sure to tell me then." And he went home and to bed and woke the next morning to see her at his door
"Well then, would you be knowing what you want?" She nodded but kept silent. "And what would that be?"
"Your heart" she said quietly, trying not to cry, for it isn't something a BanShee should do in front of men. Well he gathered her up into his arms and said,
"If that all you're wanting, I can't give you something you already have."

Self-Centered

cries of HELP ME
get lost in
radio waves
and bass/treble
'til only the ME
gets through


** published in Creative Writing, Volume 1, 2004 Edition

A to your Q

I curl into myself
until your voices
become tinny and small

Until I'm watching
a silent film of concern

grayness and distance
as if i watch a movie screen

you try to understand
but you can't

because i don't understand
this easy frustration
with everything i know

I drop my responsibilities
to help you

but you only have time
to ask a question
and rush off
before i know the answers


** published in Creative Writing, Volume 1, 2004 Edition

Life Stories

They tell stories
In the sudden quiet
All listening to each other
As the others walk into
Our conversations of life

Shattered

dragon tails and faery wings
all that lived unclouded seems
to be only in my dreams
as my tears turn into screams

Lily Left Behind

In the picture is a lily.

She looks at it, and smiles
as she does for anything pleasant,
as if she were being watched
and must put on a show of emotion.

She'd prefer a bouquet,
But a picture, of a flower
she doesn't even like,
will at least, garner a polite smile.

"Thank you" she says
and tapes it to her wall,
yellow in bright contrast to the dark gray,
"I'll remember you by it."

She'll remember, that when I left,
the only gift I could give
was a picture she didn't want.


** published in Creative Writing, Volume 1, 2004 Edition

Clerk

She sits in coldness
and contemplates the knife.
Lines scar her arms
a brand name
barcode reading
HELP ME
but when scanned,
the cashier calls for a
"Price Check"
that reads only
the knock-off:
SCARS.


** published in Creative Writing, Volume 1, 2004 Edition

Obsidian Sliver

Shattered Obsidian
From the tap of a hammer
Still has its infinitesimal beauty
But can never be what it once was
As blood from cuts unintentional
Stains the glassy surface.


** published in Creative Writing, Volume 1, 2004 Edition as "Shattered Obsidian"