A SHORT FLIGHT – Rick
Jump from soaring heights, I fly, I take wing In mind, to revel, flying toward the sun In rapturous joy, my heart it will sing and I’ll never mind the wrongs I have done I can feel it, like an illicit fling the final prize it comes, and I have won In seconds blood seeps …
BETRAYAL – Rick Luellen
he felt as if he were speeding their arms in futile gestures their figures growing smaller silence was speeding immobility within him anguish nor elation, a mountain to gain fallen to lie still the first time. he was aware hands on the wheel, he felt as if he were in empty space his road expensively …
DISAPPOINTMENT – Rick
some things you can’t stop blood all over the road don’t look at her on the sidewalk it made her cry, though “Do you hear me?” “Yes.” as though someone else were all part of some awful wake up, and just a part of it, was crying again but that was okay fight sometimes . …
FACE OFF – Rick Luellen
I’d been planning the sunshine thing on fire fight, and it made an impression to a bad start around her She was doing the right thing think about how unreadable don’t enough she’ll start doing the . . . . . . again and you think I hope it will in the …
REQUIEM FOR REALITY – Rick
A drink melts in my hand cigarette between my fingers smoky curtain between my world and yours look through the window hazy shade of grey coats my view if it’s all the same what’s the point in trying Yellow sun is shining cigarette between my fingers smoky curtain protects my world from yours behind my …
SLEEPLESS – Rick Luellen
cold winter looked at him first crack, and bigger and of course wild, unpredictable lacking all coordination she went away, left standing there walls cracking his silly, silly heart and love songs made films be something different thought was a criminal a relationship like his other half what she did? to leave his room again …
STOLEN THOUGHTS – Rick
She picked a moment later the ring in the floor you’re convinced as she’s using it if maybe he waited being any the wiser suspect creep off she’ll be maybe we need three strikes one is trying murder so what do we do this is to find dead guy same time seen or heard try …
THE HUSBAND – Rick Luellen
the advance of regret can be so gradual yesterday I was happy today, I realize her marriage was a failure she became unhappy unkind treatment — a few unkind words left alone in the morning he went to lunch — dinner out all over she began to see her self-confidence oozed away if she left …
The Priestess of Darkness – Rick Luellen
I am the priestess Approach me. My eyes see more plainly … BEWARE! If anyone lays a hand toward him. Magic of Astarte Once a curious thing Seemed horrible Bent over him . . . Then he rose! At that moment, I have killed him. And she fainted. There was a cry IT CANNOT BE …
THE TOMB IS EMPTY – Rick Luellen
at the end and angel came down and for what reason? surely when he said to have given up the ghost another point to ponder is they saw this– the veil being torn the centurion dead it is clear he would have witnessed those things done death converted the centurion absolutely death caused every person …
Hi Rick. Jesse here. I recently got together with a couple other JAC volunteers, Louis, Jayme, and Debbie and we took some time to collectively discuss, engage, and reflect on two of your recent submissions. Below you will find pieces of our reflection. As always, thank you for creating and thank you for sharing!
A NEW DAWN A NEW DAY —
The contrast between the opaque, rocky, apocalyptic shore on the horizon and the ethereal dawn strikes us with great emotion. Indeed, it is a new dawn of a new day, but what horrendous day preceded, one wonders. Divine figures appear to play in the clouds highlighting this contrast and its emotional intensity. The water in the foreground that meets the shore invites us to wade in, and swim towards this new day and dawn.
A REST BEFORE DYING
This figure disturbs us to the core, in the best way possible! We have stumbled in the dark to witness a tragedy unfold. At the same time, the painting breathes new life into a familiar pose. The body feels heavy with despair, weightless in her dream state. The sofa is a lurid lipstick pink, exuding booze and cigarettes. At the same time, the artist parodies our misogynist culture, and this is refreshing. Luellen mocks the tired conventions of reclining nudes posing for male viewers, as in Ingres’ 1814 Grand Odalisque, below. The hanging rope is a deft twist on the serpent that corrupted Eve, bringing on the Fall of Man. This combination of the tragic and the ironic will continue to move us.
Warmly,
Louis, Jesse, Jayme, & Debbie