Rot In The Woods

At first, it was a faint whisper. “Brains…” he moaned, then as he stumbled by the trees and came closer to her, reaching out for her shoulder. “Brains…” came even louder, this time…

At the edge of the woods, a blood-curdling wail…

It was too late for her to run from his grip. They embraced in a close disheveled lock. His mouth made contact, teeth ripping into neck flesh with a hunger she couldn’t imagine. For him meat and blood were life. As he feed, her screams turned into gurgles, her body slumped against him. His strength grew immensely as he fed, his hands spoiled with blood and soil. For a moment he pressed his right palm into her face, then continued to eat the back of her neck, as one single teardrop slid out the corner of her dead eyes…And so it was done.

It didn’t take long before she woke…not alive, but not dead. So her fate was is his, to meander about the black woods…with an endless hunger…

This original short story, essay is written and copyrighted by Juana M. Gumbs. All photography was made/taken by Ms. Gumbs, all rights are reserved by her in October 2022 (C)

Sequence: My Garden Overflow (Short Story)

Most avoid looking directly into the sun, but I embrace it. Laying on the plush grass making contact with the Beloved while the glare penetrate my every core and seeps into my minds eye. I am wide open to receive it’s code.

“Blessed sun take me where no one else can go, your warmth is unlike any other,” I said while my arms are out stretched, welcoming. “Possess me, Creator, I need to draw strength from your being.” I lay there, arms garnering the unseen forces that come to me, alone on this earth, hugged by only nature.

It came soft and caressed me, entering first from my arms, then the cavity of my chest which made me groan slightly. It was not painful, more so, it was as though I was being filled up, brought to life as though I was a tree, feeding. It flowed down and up within my limb stems and leaves. I lay sighing, short gasps, the oxygen escaping me. “This is love,” I responded.

This original short story, essay is written on the fly and copyrighted by Juana M. Gumbs. All photography was made/taken by Ms. Gumbs, all rights are reserved by her in February 2022 (C)

RETURN TO THE STARS

Sun star rising in the Scorpio Constellation

Bright in the lives you touch

There you are

Lighting the way

We behold you in all your glory

Coming into this time and space

First, tiny and loved in your parents arms

You are whole in their brown eyes

Along the way, you experienced life

As all humans do, the ultimate reality like a dream

Growing families, playing the roles we are dealt

Until the eve of the return

everything makes sense

becoming complete

Great comfort surrounds you

Spirits lifted

Becoming

Once again that opulent, intricate eternal star

Energy transformation

Star dust glistening

You know now, Before us

The true reality

What we are truly made of

Returning to the stars

Aligned

*My original poem is dedicated to the memorial of my best friend’s brother, Yonni.

This original poem (poetry) is written and copyrighted by Juana M. Gumbs. All photography was made/taken by Ms. Gumbs, all rights are reserved by her in July 2021 (C)

Inspiration, The fleeting Lover

It hardly ever comes naturally

Occurring like small instances

Sometimes coming from pin pricks

To secrete from human eyes

A tear

Wrecking havoc to tragic

Ponderings to chance

Even as in awe

Or often times induced

From failures

To fears

Mostly no one cares

If you touch one heart

May be two

If luck has it

Success in your grasp

But most likely limited

In a moment suspended in rhyme

This original poem (poetry) is written and copyrighted by Juana M. Gumbs. All photography was made/taken by Ms. Gumbs, all rights are reserved by her in July 2021 (C)

In Gray Area

Dethroned and abandoned

The loss of heart’s will to warm

To be the only one left to mourn

Without the body

Then left to carry on

As a huge and wounded heart in hands

carefully, carefully

while they display

laugh and play

To then pretend away your existence

Present day

*you aren’t the only one to feel so deeply, Wanderer.*

This original poem (poetry) is written and copyrighted by Juana M. Gumbs. All rights are reserved by her in July 2021 (C)

The Unsent Message To Niine – A Short Story

Benevolent One. My Niine, The Crown Upon My Head, and as if I wasn’t clear before, I would say it loudly to your beloved face if I could, as you are profound in your own creation and I yearn for it.

I miss your essence. Your reluctance to say and do sentimental things, listening to you speak about those elements and ideas that excites you and you are so passionate about all of it. I want to be there when life makes you livid and you need to vent and release, without input, just listening…the journey with you, has been an incredible one so far.

I don’t expect anything from you in this immediate point in time. I just want you to know my thoughts and feelings and that I am very distraught for hurting yours. It doesn’t change how you feel about me in this current time. So, Beloved, Benevolent One…i am patiently waiting…come home to me.

Many, many moons ago, a friend of mine turned to me and said, “love is…a funny and complicated animal.”

This original Essay/Short Story is written and copyrighted by Juana M. Gumbs. All rights are reserved by her in July 2021 (C)

Leaking, Pouring Down the Whole – Poetry

I have become the drip drip of ink

Grim, shiny

Pleasing only to things grasping in the noir rub rub smear

Becoming a former model of itself

To encounter the deep devoid of any wish or desire

Just a new hastening to mere darkness

And if this snake was a ring it only naws at it’s own tail and ass

Going about it’s daily and eternal task

These original poem (poetry) are written and copyrighted by Juana M. Gumbs. All rights are reserved by her in May 2021 (C)

Red Eyes, Dim Thoughts – Poetry

The bawling never subsides

The claim

Then the realization that absolutely nothing can be done

Lingers like the aroma of dead flowers scattered under a Magnolia tree

The essence of what was

Is distant

And I squint my eyes exceptionally hard to see the horizon beyond a hazy oasis

My mouth so arid

It is as though I draw breath through the sand in an emense heat

Choking, sobbing in my hands

While I gag

These original poem (poetry) are written and copyrighted by Juana M. Gumbs. All rights are reserved by her in May 2021 (C)

False Memory Is Everything – Poetry

Thought a man

That one day he would thrive

Formulate and populate

Then expand

Imagine it thoroughly

To the extent

That he will fly upon it

Caress notions with textures from it

Unlike any he has ever touched

Still

Unable to pick it like fruit from his whitered psyche to supply those deemed worthy

But by then

Life took its final stand

And he lost time and forgot he put it all away

Now the world will never catch a glimpse of it

Or have felt

Or have known of its existence

Or even inclined to provide it vigor

At this point.

This original poem (poetry) is written and copyrighted by Juana M. Gumbs. All rights are reserved by her in May 2021 (C)

Agony, My Friend In The Dark – A Collection of Haiku Poems

Warning: if misery is a current mood, do not read any further.

1. Agony, my friend

In the dark corner, surmise

My impending doom

2. Misfortune mature

In an Amalgamation

Evoking anguish

3. Great cloud of twilight

Which creeps in subtle states from

Dawn to dusk, untouched

4. Bloodline curse bestowed

Upon the fated bastard

Begat of brute loins

5. Deep the jaws of grief

That devours contentment,

To shit out despair

6. Divine fortune ebbed

As chance flees this dastardly

Game of existence

7. Vast tree, forsaken

The branch siphoned of majic

‘Til none prevail

8. Life manufactures

Anguish with every angle

No matter the trend

9. Nightmares manifests

From much dismay and peril

Dwindling all our hope

10. Suckle my pain out

From this broken place, derived

From all this sadness

These original poems are written and copyrighted by Juana M. Gumbs. All rights are reserved by her in March 2021 (C)