I am alone

     "Join together our strength and we
will succeed!" The orator in the tweed suit
burned claret red and his statement met the
pounding of his fist atop the podium. The
crowd cheered.
     "No." Charly said, "I'm alone."
She stood up.
     It was silent.
     Until the little man in the back row
agreed. "She's right." He raised his hands
and clapped. Up sprung the first line of
bodies with a yell, and when the fifth row
agreed, the rest jumped and joined the
anthem, "I am alone! I am alone!"
     When the yelling ceased, Charly
was alone. She smiled, content, she had
cleared the room.
 

The other side of town

From this Bird's Eye View
Color dissipates to grey and sepia tones.
But behind pine trees,
farms,
dirt roads
graveled over, if picture perfect point focus
twists to the other side of a Tallahassee post-mark,
I'll read what happened to Mary.
Learn the Johnson's barn burned
March 2, 1908. Read
waterlogged lines about the fifth win for
Joe Crepes, junior swim meet captain.
I will start writing postcards.
These mailed memory's mysteries
hidden immobilized behind stopped time compel,
propel me into romanticism over words written.
 

Mia E. Rogers