Text Tuesdays – Rudyard Kipling – “Macdonough’s Song” *Coachella Week

Tags

1917, 2015, A Diversity of Creatures, Bombay, Coachella, England, India, Joseph Rudyard Kipling, Macdonough's Song, Poem, Poet, poetry, Prose, Religion, Short Story, Text Tuesdays, United Kingdom, Westminster Abbey

Whether the State can loose and bind
In Heaven as well as on Earth:
If it be wiser to kill mankind
Before or after the birth–
These are matters of high concern
Where State-kept schoolmen are;
But Holy State (we have lived to learn)
Endeth in Holy War.

Blue Lines Blog – Free Write Based on Blue Lines Protagonist – “The Wedding”

Tags

Azul Louis, Azul Taynor, Blue Hurt, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, California, Cyan Abueg, Key Yemaya Walker, Keypsiia Walker, Keypsiia Yemaya Walker, Los Angeles, New York, North Carolina, Sacramento, Short Story, The Wedding, UCLA, UNC, UNC Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Vinyard

This morning coming into work  (8/18/11), I thought of the idea for this story. Based on characters from my manuscript Blue Lines, the few who have read it may have some additional insight on the items and themes in this short story. It also references elements of my manuscript The Eyes Of a Man Born To Life, (which no one has read). A manuscript I began as a 20 year old, to write during any writers block with Blue Lines. I digress, this short story stands alone, while not giving away story arcs and elements from my manuscript. Please enjoy.

It rained lightly, but life had taught her not to worry about the small things.
Cyan fretted, as her daughter watched her run to and fro.
“Baby, it’s raining on your day,” Cyan pleaded at the verge of tears. “Azul is here, where are the rest of your girls,” she asked panicked, as her daughter slowly eased into the application.
“It would be fine,” she thought silently as she broke a slight smile between her makeup being applied as random drops slid down the window.
Azul dashed in in a panic, “Key-Key, rain…I thought it never rains in southern California,” she slightly laughed extremely happy to be free.
Keypsiia smiled widely, glancing at her best friend and mother. Thinking back on those long years ago in North Carolina, and her mind was slightly kissed by Blue. A fleeting melancholy was easily overcome by her day. She marveled at her best friend from New York. Azul Taynor had been there with her since the day they met, at that time she was simply Azul Lewis. She was there during the entire experience, and even accompanied her when she left UNC for UCLA.
In college Keypsiia, an 18 year old, was the seemingly grounded one, the stable one, yet she looked onto her matron of honor. Azul had been married for 7 years, and had two children. Both were Keypsiia’s God-daughters, or as she called them, nieces. Azul, now lived in California, and Keypsiia would head back home to New York after the close of all of the events.
“Who would have thought,” Azul blurted, trying to rephrase her words.
“It’s OK,” Keypsiia broke, “After Blue,” she finished. “I’m just shocked,” she joked, “you got married,” she smiled. “North Carolina and LA were so different from you, and now Brooklyn girl lives out here with her Cali man, and her little Cali babies. I love you Azul,” Keypsiia admitted, as if it were the first time. “I wouldn’t do this without you.”