Autumn. The day after Helen left for Madeira. The city’s noises vanish in a moribund sun. A paraffin lamp burns on a glass table. The light trickles on the walls like water. There is something familiar about this room. Vague scents of dried flowers. Tear-like motifs on the walls.
I hear footsteps.
I shudder.
– Miguel, let’s get out of here.
He put his hand over my month.
Laughter comes from upstairs. It’s Jacques’ laughter. His and the laughter of a woman. She is not Helen. It can’t be her. Helen left yesterday. What am I thinking? The laughter can’t be Jacques’ either. He is dead. Jacques is dead.
The smell of the dried flowers Helen put on his coffin on the day of his funeral invades my nostrils.
I pull away from Miguel’s arms, my soul dark, the tightness in my throat stronger. In a mirror I replace my image with that of my mother. My voice is not mine anymore.
– Miguel, with you or without you, I am getting out of here. Where is the door?
He bites his upper lip.
–Anastasia, I know you are surprised.
I am enraged.
–Surprised? Who? Me? If Winston Churchill would walk in this room right now, wearing Josephine Baker’s famous top hat instead of his, and Bottega Veneta stiletto sandals I would not blink an eye. From now on until the end of my days I swear nothing is going to surprise me anymore.
The light from his eyes vanishes.
– Anastasia, how many times have you asked me for the truth?
I shout.
–Oh, the truth. Stories masquerading reality: the plot, the characters, the setting, the conflict, the theme. Spare me the banalities. I do not need your truth anymore. I want to get out of here. There are dead people in here, or ghosts, or whatever. I want out.
—Anastasia…. Listen…
The geometry of the space changes. Through a little square cut from nothingness, I see a lonely blue jay feather floating in the sky.
Paraffin and dried flowers.
Was Jacques dead?
*draft – modified version of The Blue Jay’s Feather, a piece published in my #1 Amazon Bestselling Book: Woman: Splendor and Sorrow I: Love Poems and Poetic Prose.
Announcements:
- I wrote in a previous post that I was going to launch a new project in mid-October. Thank you to all my followers who expressed interest. The launching may come a bit later due to circumstances that are out of my control. Please be patient. Much love to all of you.
- I am deeply grateful to everyone who reads and supports my work. Your likes, comments and shares brighten my days. Thank you to those of you who brought to my attention that my posts are getting reproduced on some WP sites on their entirety without my permission and without any links to my original work. To the very few of my followers who do that a gentle reminder for now: unauthorized use and/or duplication of my posts without express and written permission from me is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank you.
Gabriela Marie Milton
Pushcart Prize Nominee
#1 Amazon Bestselling Author
Books:
Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women (ed.), Experiments in Fiction, 2022.
Woman: Splendor and Sorrow :I Love Poems and Poetic Prose, Vita Brevis Press, 2021.
Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings, Vita Brevis Press, 2020.
A wonderful piece, Gabriela.
Good morning Tim. Thank you so much.
You are so welcome. I hope all is well with you and your kitties.
Thank you for asking Tim. We are fine. It’s just that I have so much to do these days. I hope you guys are ok. Hugs from me and lots of treats from Maya and Mr. Churchill.
xoxo
The say “No rest for the wicked!” It seems there is no rest for the beautiful and good, either.
Haha. Thank you Tim. I really don’t know what’s up. Too busy and everything needs to be done twice. It must be that Mercury retrograde 🙂
Mercury will get you every time and make you mad as a hatter.
🙂 🙂 🙂
A lovely piece indeed Gabriela. As usual I feel the poetry within you in your works. Un abrazo de València
Muchas gracias, Francisco. Envío un beso. Enjoy the rest of your day.
De nada Gabriela, igual, bon dia y feliz finde.
🌹
A dramatic piece that makes one hold one’s breath in anticipation. Lovely writing, Gabriela. 🙂
Thank you so much Terveen. I am glad you enjoyed it hon. Have a beautiful weekend.
You too, Gabriela. Wish you the best always. 🙂
Thank you so much. Same to you 🙂
I love this, Gabriela! Sad, provocative, intriguing.
Thank you so much my dearest Dawn. I am really glad you like the piece. Sending love. Have a great weekend.
xoxo
You, too, Gabriela! Don’t work too hard!
xoxo
Love the tension in this piece, and I look forward to hearing more about your new project.
Have a great weekend, Gabriela.
Thank you so much Michael. I am grateful for your wonderful comment. Have a great weekend too.
I love this story and spell bounding imagery that is truly delightful. .. Good questions posed.. dead or alive. I know all about pushing things out till a later date which keeps things even more intriguing. It will all come in good time.
Loved this truly G! ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you so much my dearest Cindy. I know you are really busy. I am deeply grateful you found time to read my story.
“It will all come in good time.” Haha. You are so sweet. I promise you it will not 🙂
Take good care and enjoy your weekend. Love you.
xoxoxo..
I want to know more about the feather? Was there a nest, a passing bird , or just an indication? And why blue not white ?
Please, stay tuned 🙂
Saturday night will do???
What about the following Saturday? 🙂
It is exciting to witness the direction your writing is taking, Gabriela! 😊🙏
Thank you Ingrid. That’s so kind of you to say.
xoxo
This is just wonderful, Gabriela..I think one of your great talents, within your excellent poetic prose, is your surprising dialog!! Just a few lines, even a few well chosen words and we are left wondering, after reading this scene…who is really dead and who is alive? I love that!! The Bluejay feather for me is very significant…it reminds me, that jays stay…while geese gather and leave..who has left…and who is left alive in this well-written delirium?
Good morning my dearest Karima, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for your beautiful comment. I am really glad you liked the piece, especially the dialog. Coming from you it means a lot to me. Then it’s your excellent understanding of the piece. You really made me happy this morning.
Sending love and wishing you a glorious weekend.
xoxo
I love the mystery woven with poetic prose! So I gather there is more to come? I always enjoy a ghost story. And Gabriela, it’s shameful your posts are being pirated. I hope you can resolve this issue. ♥️💐🌹
I am so gla you love the piece hon. Thank you.
“it’s shameful your posts are being pirated.” Yes, it is, thank you. I hope I can solve it.
Love and hugs are coming your way.
xoxo
🙏♥️🥰
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I like this story very much. It made me want to know more about these people, the quick and the dead.
Thank you so much Liz. It means a lot to me.
xoxo
You’re welcome, Gabriela.
🌹🌸
A beautiful piece, Gabriela. I desperately want to read a novel from you. Selfish, yes. Happy weekend, dear friend. 🌹🌺❤️🌸
Thank you from the bottom of my heart dearest Jeff. You are really wonderful. I will be ready with a novel, and yes, I hope you will read it.
Have a beautiful weekend my friend and thank you again.
xoxo
You’re most welcome, my dearest Gabriela. Ah, this is good news about a forthcoming novel. Excellent. Thank you for the weekend wishes. xoxo
Oh, Jeff, it’s not forthcoming, I wish 🙂 I just hope I will finish one day.
xoxoxo
Ah, got it, thank you for clarifying, Gabriela. You will do it, my friend. I know it. xoxoxo
Thank you for being so encouraging Jeff.
xo
Aways. xo
xo
This write-up is unique. It’s written with mastery and it’s difficult to forget. Colorful and passionate writing.
An exquisite piece, Gabriella. I enjoyed the read.
My Dearest Benjamin. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your wonderful comment. I am humbled by every word you wrote and really glad you liked the piece.
Have a beautiful weekend. Sending lots of love your way.
You are welcome, Gabriela. Your response is warm and sweet. Have a beautiful weekend too!
Thank you 🌹🌸🌺
Beautifully written 😊😊👍🎉
Thank you so much hon.
xoxo
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🌸🌺🌹❤️
❤️❤️❤️💐💐🥰🥰
Beautifully poetic prose, Gabriela. As always. And so sorry to hear that your work is showing up on other sites without attribution or permission. 🙁
Have a lovely weekend, my friend. Hugs <3
Good morning and thank you so much for reading and for your kind words Diana. You know how much they mean to me.
Sending hugs and wishing you a lovely weekend too.
xo
Another beauty of a piece, cara amica! So many unanswered questions swirling in my brain. Wish I could read more of your piece right now! Be well, cara! xox
Thank you so much hon. Those words mean a lot to me. Sending love.
Have a beautiful week.
xoxo
Thanks for sharing this Gabriela.
My pleasure. Thank you so much for reading 🌹🌸🌺
Captivating story…beautifully written…looking forward to hearing more about your new project…that’s quite crazy that your writings are copied…plagriasm I smell…which I really don’t understand…that why people wanna do such things…
Hello Navin, and thank you for your beautiful comment. It means a lot to me. I will be announcing the project very soon. “why people wanna do such things…” Oh, well.. I know why but I do not want to bring any negativity in our conversation. You are such a dear friend and I am grateful I met you. Enjoy your weekend. Sending love your way.
You’re very welcome, Gabriela…you too have a wonderful weekend…much love ✨💟💫
Thank you so much 🌺🌸❤️🌹
There is a scary beauty of tranquil horror that bridges the gap between the living and dead. Beautiful symbolism!
Thank you so much Thomas. Thank you for reading and for your wonderful words. Deeply grateful. Enjoy your Friday.
What a lovely piece, Gab! Mysterious, sad and beautiful. 💖🌷❤️
Such a wonderful, dramatic & captivating piece 💫
thank you so much my dearest Navin.
xoxo
You’re welcome, dearest Gabriela ✨💟💫
xoxo
You’re welcome, dearest Gabriela ✨
xo
You take your reader captive Gabriela – we serve your sentence – your laying out of words – your entrapment of willing souls.
Eric, I am humbled by your words. Thank you so much!
xo
🤠
Your words hit my heart, “The light from his eyes vanishes.” Remembering that time I cried. I became less of who I once was.
Oh, Stephen, thank you so much for reading and for commenting. It means a lot to me. Stephen, I think we always become more no matter what.
Sometimes I hope I can write a piece that will put a smile on your face. I can only hope.
An elaborately composed poem by you! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you dear 🙏🌺
The Blue Jay’s Feather is a poignant and evocative piece that explores themes of grief, betrayal, and disorientation. Milton’s use of imagery and shifting perspective adds depth to the story and the blue jay feather serves as a symbol of hope and connection. Overall, a beautifully written work.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart Sebastian. I am humbled by your words.