r/tinyprose

I’ve laughed with strangers,
talked for hours,
Shared stories,
sunsets,
Mountains,
and flowers.

I’ve met kind hearts
and brilliant minds,
The sort you’re lucky once to find.

But every one,
though rare and true,
Still somehow felt like passing through.

A lovely chapter.
Nicely done.

Until the day…

there wasn’t one.

—

You have that sizzle.
You have that shine,
Like some grand love
in perfect rhyme.

You simply fit
where no one could—
Like finding “better”
after “good.”

You made the ordinary glow,
A place I’d never thought to go.
The idea before I spoke the line.
The thought that somehow finished mine.

…

Then it clicked
with what I knew.

It had to be
just you.

You weren’t the loudest voice I’d heard.

You are
my favorite perfect Nerd.

You became
the quiet little measure—

The standard
of all I treasure.

You’re my oldest hoodie.
My favorite flops.
The conversation
that never stops.

You’re the breath
I take before I smile.
The thought that lingers all the while.

You’re my silly little grin.
The only one that I let in.

And somewhere
between all
the laughs
and
chats…

You…

Found me.

your king is in another castle,

he's shaking down beneath my sheets

his lips drinking deep from my bottomless creek

his silken hair twisted between my fingers

his touch lingers on my left and right

my cheeks flushed both top and below

as he enters me with his mighty bellow

my creek now a pulsing, flowing river

wind whistling through our trees

as he pushes me down with a scream

every thrust and flicker makes me quiver

my hands on his back makes him shiver

my mouth on his neck makes him moan

my breath on his face makes him whimper

my lips pressed to his makes him groan

no, your king is not alone

he is a farmer planting seeds in midsummer

to fertilize through next frigid winter

and wait to emerge as new shoots during spring

his eyes lock on mine with a feral grin

and he cries my name as his essence spills in

So used to being the salmon

watching their peers swim up the creek

through design

that isn’t mine

they try to make me weak

natural disasters

human laughters

the fisherman’s line

”they will be mine”

this Is a typical week

where there are bears

ready to rip and tear

even lightning storms

trying to steal my form

a peaceful tributary I seek.

in the struggles that wain

I search in vain

have to go up the waterfall again

to be that fish

oh I wish

to sprout legs and walk out of this ish

the river entwined

I will leave behind

later. ✌️

The bumblebee
Looked at his ladybug—
And this is what he said:

“I’ve loved you more
Than ever before.
Will you be mine forever and a day?”

The ladybug smiled,
Looked up and whispered,
“Okay.”

Word quickly spread
Of the wedding ahead—
And every Bumblebug was invited.

In the garden at noon,
Many friends did swoon—
Every last one was delighted.

They flittered and fluttered,
They bizzed and buzzed,
And zipped and zapped all day.

They swooshed and wooshed,
They swished and swashed,
They twirled the leaves away.

They skipped and skittered,
Dipped and darted,
Spun in circles bright.

The crickets chirped,
The frogs all croaked,
The fireflies lit the night.

The Bumblebugs
Just danced some more—
A purely joyful sight.

The bumblebee whispered
To his lovely bride,
“Let’s sneak away, just you and I.
I know just where to hide.”

They tiptoed past
The old garden shack,
And wandered slowly home.

They nestled in a cozy leaf,
Beneath the midnight blue.
He opened up his tiny pouch,
And they sipped some morning dew.

They didn’t need a single thing,
No grand or fancy art—
For they already had the stuff
That fills a happy heart.

Fin

You already missed the signal twice in the last 24 hours and we both know you are doing it intentionally.

I am trying to give you room to grow but if you keep boxing me out it will be return to the sender.

My box said “handle with care”. But you didn’t and now you get all my sharp edges.

With a sense of accomplishment, she stared at the overgrown field and thought….Now, now is the time.

Weekend plans. Coincidences. God damns.
Family. Friends. Tragic ends.
Simple truths. Daring pursuits.
Questions. Answers. Absolutes.

His service. Her work.
Crimes. Accomplishments
Oddities. Quirks.

Bourbon. Movies. Mountain retreats.
Hawaiian shirts. Smoked meats.
Softball wins. Allergy stings
Red Birds swag. Wrestling rings.

Leather boots. Dark-washed jeans
Floating homes. City scenes.
Music. Lit. Linguistics. Art.
Cookie fortunes. “Wooden Heart.”

Pinball. Putt-Putt. Alley strolls
Dive bars. Dinners. Graffiti walls.
Lakeside seats. Food stand parks.
Puddle splashes. Driveway sparks.

Carillon bells. Bold moves.
Eagerly awaited. Charm approved.
Fire rockets. Party lights.
Thrift store trips. Summer nights.

Imperfection. Honesty. Decency.
Loyalty. Respect. Consistency.
Deception. Betrayal. Regret. Remorse.
Secrets. Shame. True North.

Softness. Survival. Trust. Belief.
Iron ships. Safety. Comfort. Grief.
Chaos. Cowardice. Heart thief.

Bill Anderson played by Paul Rudd perks of being a wallflower

I know someday you'll have a beautiful life,
I know you'll be a star
In somebody else's sky, but why, why
Why can't it be, oh, can't it be mine?

(Black by Pearl Jam)

Ya know—

I’m old.

Maybe not in years,
but in life,
I’m old.

Over the years,
I’ve had a lot of relationships.

Some good.
Some great.
Some that lasted only one night.

When I think back
to both the great ones
and the fleeting ones,
I keep finding the same common denominator.

Effort.

In both cases,
two people were working toward
something greater than themselves.

A shared goal.

Something worth building…
together.

Funny thing is—

the goal was never what mattered.

It was the effort.

Not too long ago,
I started wondering
what effort actually is.

What it means.

Why it matters.

How it changes over time.

The more I thought about it,
the more I realized
effort isn’t trying your hardest.

It isn’t simply showing up.

It isn’t planning the perfect date,
remembering birthdays,
or being good at banter.

Those things are expressions of effort.

They are not effort itself.

Effort requires understanding.

And…

Effort deserves understanding.

It is knowing
that today
may require a little more from me
and a little less from you—

without resentment.

Because tomorrow
those roles
may quietly reverse.

Real effort
isn’t measured
by how much each person gives.

It’s measured
by how willingly
they carry the weight
for one another
when life forgets
to make it equal.

If you’re lucky—

you find someone
who makes all that effort…

Effortless.

Searched for an antidote.

Found not in a bottle.

Woven in words. Warm brown eyes. Playful smile.

His tone, coarse, steady. Seductive yet secure.

Quietly he waited, trust formed around his words.

Actions were her guide

From warmth deep within her soul, healing began.

She talks to me

Like that

Right in front of him

Now

They will go home

And fight

He will say

Why do you talk to him like that

She will say

Because at least he talks to me

He will say

You know how tired I am

She will say

I have needs

This will go on

For some time

And then

They gon’ smash

The tension

Left the relationship

Long ago

She now relies

On little jabs

To build frustration

Get his blood pumping

I am but

A pawn

In this game