Dark Rain

Raining in the dark

Hear it drop hear it pound

There is not another sound

That I hear upon the lawn

While I'm waiting for the dawn

With quiet patience do I stare

At the sound that is not there

I'm alone

Shadows

Shadows play in the evening

What will they become

A gruesome face stalking the night

A rabid dog waiting to bite

A monstrous creature up in the sky

Maybe an eagle ready to fly

The shadow makes grand

That which is not

Or makes something huge

The size of a dot

It instills fear 

In the hearts of man

Is that a part of some

grand master plan

Or is the shadow there to enjoy

To foster the vision

Of the impressionable boy

In reality the shadow 

Is nothing at all

A simple reflection

For us to enthrall

Spring

Spring has sprung

Life is renewed

All around, nothing subdued

Trim the trees

mow the lawn

In the meadow

A new born fawn

Evening comes and the night is cool

This season's change is slow

Look at spring's miraculous show

Outside playing

Once again

Young boys turning

Into men

Trees

Tall and green
Majestic
Waving hello across the breeze
It sees
Says nothing

Rigid and straight
Giving
Shelter and shade for one who nears
It hears
Says nothing

Light

Light filtering through color
Bands combine
Infuse new hues
Blues

Colors change
Colors reform
No one knows
What is the norm

The sun may wane
And the colors go
But the shading remains
The mixtures still show

Passers By

Passers by
Riders
Wide right turns
Driving alone and with friends
Time bends
With it sends
A regard
And life is hard

Stop for a moment
Think of the consequence
Something missed
Something gained
What is it that we've attained
And life is hard

So life is hard
For mason or for bard
Each doing as he will
For neither does time stand still
Always moving
Growing
Never showing
Increments of progress

Sheep in Fog

Sheep in fog sit grazing

Gently they stir

Now the sheep dog breaks it up

Their dreams gone

The moment lost

Once upon a time we lived in peace

Now we feel our lives will soon be gone

Our dreams are gone

Our moment lost

Once upon a time

Five sheep sat eating grass

Once upon a time

Five wolves attacked

Attacked from within

The wolves were us

The sheep are gone

They fed us well

The wolf survives

To stalk new prey

Destroy new lives

Destroy today

The wolves are us

The fog is rolling in

Colors change, colors reform
Colors creating a translucent storm
Jorin is dazed by injuries incurred
Leaving his eyes a little bit blurred
The things that he sees a little bit slurred
The specks in the air spin and reflect
The wounds on his head are taking effect
The spinning and strobing of light in his eye
Stability and balance are going awry
He falls to the ground with a loud somber sigh

Everything spinning as he lies on the ground
The silence is bringing a deafening sound
Jorin is helpless to that which he sees
He can’t even bring himself to his knees
Alone, there is no one to hear of his
pleas

It’s help that he needs but will not receive
His stomach is even beginning to heave
It’s driving him crazy there’s nothing to
do
The whites of his eyes are changing to
blue
All that he sees is slightly askew

He sees in his mind himself as he was
But he can’t remember, it’s giving him pause
Jorin is lost and alone in the maze
When someone approaches him there where he lays
To render him aid without any delays
He helps Jorin up and they walk down the road
And as they walk he whistles an ode
He takes Jorin home for water and rest
He calls to his wife to help with their guest
This is the traveler I’ve found, he’s distressed.

NO MORE WORDS

No More Words

When the words come to an end

The sadness begins

Nothing is much harder on me

Than a day without creativity

How long must I wait for the change to occur

A day, a week, a second in time

How come the words that I have do not rhyme

My river’s path no longer bends

Instead it is straight

Still I can’t see the end

Where the river once bent

My thought would collide

When the water is calm 

It’s as though they have died

Now I hear tin where I used to hear gold

Life gets much harder as you grow old

Would you go into the maze?

If you had the opportunity to go into a place where really strange things were going to happen to you, would you go?  In the maze you might be walking down a road and suddenly the sky change color while you are picked up by some strange force and thrown across the sky.  You might also be enjoying the peacefulness of a gentle river when a flock of oak trees flies overhead.

Would you go into a place where the strangest things from your imagination are commonplace?  If such a place interests you, what are you waiting for?  check out my books from amazon.com.  Lose yourself in the maze.

   U.S. :  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007YM2K6Y

U.K.:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007YM2K6Y

Germany:  https://www.amazon.de/dp/B007YM2K6Y

Pepin: A character Analysis

Pepin is one of the main characters in my series The Maze.  It is available through Amazon.com ww.amazon.com/Pepin-The-Maze-ebook/dp/B008YPR9HU/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1362074518&sr=1-4


Pepin is called a wizard.  But many people in his day were called that.  He was very interested in plants and their uses.  He did dabble in tricks a little bit.  After years of studying every text he could  find, he created his masterpiece.  It was a type of door, through which many people passed.  The door led them to an alternate world where strange things happen.

Pepin was a shrewd businessman in a time when business was really just beginning.  He was definitely a capitalist.  Once he determined that he was sitting on a gold mine he turned it into a fortune for himself and his friends.

Pepin had been raised in a wealthy family but he knew of the plight of the poor.    At an early age he made a friend of the son of a poor family that farmed the land that his parents owned.  They were peasants but Pepin didn't mind.  As a youngster he didn't know the difference between rich and poor.  But, he would come to figure it out.

Look for Pepin in the book my his name as well as the book : Jorin, and Nathan's Adventures.

The Old Traveler

The Old Traveler


Age condemns us every one

The more we fight the more undone

Every day we lose our time

Minute by minute losing our prime


Days turn to years and life slips us by

The things that we do never leave our eye

We see things we've done years down the road

Regret is insatiable when we get old


The Traveler is sad for the things that he’s done

The lives that he’s ruined have been on the run

He’s taken and killed without any cause

Now after so long he’s taken a pause


Remorse has taken its’ place in his soul

The man that he was has taken its’ toll

Now there is sorrow where there used to be rage

Advancing in years he’s turning the page.

A Word to My Wife

A WORD TO MY WIFE

For years a sadness filled my life
Because I was alone
The heartache and the longing
Cut right to the bone
But now the Lord has looked on me
And brought me here to you
And now has taken me from the old
And given me life anew

The verse has returned into my mind
Yet words cannot define
The way I feel when I’m with you
And knowing that you’re mine
And so I give my heart to you
To take unto your own
I pray that God will bless us both
With never being alone

I just started a new site to consolidate all of my work.  Please have a look.




http://williambouker.wix.com/william-bouker

Roses

This an excerpt from You Have to Figure for Shadows 



available from Amazon.com
hhttp://www.amazon.com/dp/B008OOXSC6

www.amazon.de/dp/B008OOXSC6  ( in Germany)





The Roses

See them dance, see them cry
See that glimmer in their eye
Hear the stories that they tell
Hear them sing of fond farewells
As they prance across the ages
In a trance the blind man gazes
At the pictures in his mind

On the wall a broken mirror
Did you see the latest thriller
Did you stop and smell the roses on the way
Does the tv in your bedroom
Give you nightmares in the morning
Are you outraged as you watch the evening news

Energy is moving all around you
Things are grooving
Even birds up in the air
Hear the whistles at the fair
But you idly sit there in your easy chair
And why don’t you care

There is rudeness in the world
Yet there’s kindness all around
You get out what you put in
And the wheels are still in spin
And the things that we neglect
By the people we elect
Are the things that we deplore
Yet we’ll take a little more
They lead us to the fall
Put us up against the wall
Still we stand there just the same
They don’t even need a chain

They practice passive slavery
By removing those with bravery
And they make us think that they are justified
But I think that someone lied

Now it’s time to change the channel
For a glimpse of passing interest
And to see if there is still a brain wave there
A cloak and dagger on the late show
There’s a reason that they don’t know
And the roses that you passed up fade and die
Can’t you even cry

As you sit there in your chair
All there is is just a blind stare
Do you think that anybody even cares
As the roses outside fade
You are trying to evade
What is going to overtake you anyway
And it’s sad to read the story
When you die in all your glory
But the roses up above you now will thrive
Because they’re still alive

Book Samples

Here is an excerpt from my recently released Jorin. (Amazon.com)  It is part of the series called The Maze.







Jorin walks through the woods and notices something different.  He can hear birds and other noises familiar to him.  “The maze is growing,” he thinks to himself.  When they first started exploring it there was very little sound.  The silence was almost maddening.  The simple sounds of life were now there.  It was comforting to Jorin.  It was a peaceful place.  He was able to see things differently.  The fear in which he lived was gone from him.  He could be at ease and walk slowly through the woods and take time to notice the little things.  “We miss so much when we don’t take the time to really look at our world,” he thought.  Jorin walked out of the forest and found a large grassy area.  He found a shade tree and sat down for a rest.  He started to think about his life and what it had become.  He liked being a powerful man.  He was putting his life of peasantry behind him.  He wanted more from life than what he had known so far.  He thought back to the short time he spent in the manor house.  It made him feel strong.  Strength was important to Jorin.  He needed it to feel complete.  Jorin also liked the wealth he was gaining.  It also made him powerful and power was everything to him.

But Jorin was an outlaw.  His life would now be harder than it had ever been.  He would have to fight to stay alive.  He would always be in danger of being recognized.  He had killed one nobleman and robbed another.  There would be a price on his head.  Men would try to kill him for the bounty.  Even if they were successful in tricking the sheriff there would always be some question as to his safety.  There would be people that might recognize him.  Growing his beard would not be enough.  He would have to change his voice, his mannerisms, as well as his appearance.  He would need money and lots of it.  He would have to have a stone castle for protection and men to guard it.  He couldn't work with Pepin guiding people through the maze.  He needed to stay away from people.  He would need a new persona; one of strength and ferocity so that people would want to stay away from him as well.

Suddenly the wind quickened.  There were sticks and other debris flying around him.  Jorin ducked behind the large tree.  Things were hitting him as he tried to shield himself.  He finally decided to jump into the wind to see what would happen.  He was thrown above the tree line and he flew through the sky on the breeze.  He flew very far and was able to see many parts of the maze that he hadn't seen before.  As he approached a mountain the wind increased.  He was pulled into a ravine and he rolled down over the rocks.  He hit his head several times as he spiraled down the hill.  He was hurt and disoriented.  When Jorin awoke at the bottom of the ravine he couldn't remember where or who he was.  There was blood on his face and on his clothes.  He looked around and weighed his situation.  He was able to stand with only a little bit of pain.

Realizing that he must have fallen he manages to climb the rocks to freedom.  With his head pounding he starts to walk down what seems to be a path.  The wind is gone and it is very calm and peaceful.  Jorin looks up from the mountain path to see the area in front of him change. It is as though he can step in and out of the new area.  It is very bright.   The sky is a very deep and shiny Majorelle blue with no clouds at all.  He could see deep into the sky as though it were a body of water.  The mountain side was of brilliant earth tones, almost metallic.  The sun was high in the sky and reflected off of everything.  He came upon a river that almost had the appearance of chrome.  The colors were playing tricks with his eyes.  A leaf fell into the water.  It looked like a giant emerald.


Colors change, colors reform
Colors creating a translucent storm
Jorin is dazed by injuries incurred
Leaving his eyes a little bit blurred
The things that he sees a little bit slurred
The specks in the air spin and reflect
The wounds on his head are taking effect
The spinning and strobing of light in his eye
Stability and balance are going awry
He falls to the ground with a loud somber sigh

Everything spinning as he lies on the ground
The silence is bringing a deafening sound
Jorin is helpless to that which he sees
He can’t even bring himself to his knees
Alone, there is no one to hear of his pleas
It’s help that he needs but will not receive
His stomach is even beginning to heave
It’s driving him crazy there’s nothing to do
The whites of his eyes are changing to blue
All that he sees is slightly askew

He sees in his mind himself as he was
But he can’t remember, it’s giving him pause
Jorin is lost and alone in the maze
When someone approaches him there where he lays
To render him aid without any delays
He helps Jorin up and they walk down the road
And as they walk he whistles an ode
He takes Jorin home for water and rest
He calls to his wife to help with their guest
This is the traveler I've found, he’s distressed.

They lie Jorin down on the bed and bring him some water.  Jorin is only half conscious as he lies on the bed.  “This is the Traveler” repeats in his head.  In his current state he is convinced that the Traveler is his name.  Jorin falls asleep while they tend to his wounds and care for him.  He fades in and out of sleep while they work.  The dehydration is passing and he becomes more lucent but he is still unsure of anything.  When he finally does go to sleep, he sleeps for several hours before waking up to find he is in Pepin’s building.
Pepin is in another part of the building cleaning up when he hears Jorin stirring.  He walks over to where Jorin is hiding.  He sits down on a stool near the young man.  Jorin looks up at him strangely.  “Am I the traveler,” he asks Pepin.  The older man looks back at him.  “I suppose you are.  You have been gone for two days.  You look shaken.  What happened to you,” Pepin asks.  “Are you the one who rescued me?  Where is your wife?  Where have you taken me?”  Jorin’s questions are troubling to Pepin.

“Do you know who you are,” asks Pepin.  “I am The Traveler,” Jorin responds in a weakened voice.  Pepin wonders what could have happened to Jorin.  Is this delusion being caused by the strong mixture or did something happen?  He tries to explain to Jorin who he is and also what he’s done.  “I will take you back to my cave.  I have some food hidden there for you.  You must hide there to remain safe.  I will bring your brother to you later today.”  They walk cautiously to the cave.  Pepin continues to explain things to Jorin.  He tells Jorin of the death of Lord Harlan and the robbery of Lord Durham as well.  “You really have gotten yourself into a lot of trouble, Jorin.  Your brother and I are working on a plan to get you out of it.  You must try to remember who you are.  You will have to play a part in this for everything to work,” Pepin explains.

Shirts to go with the Books

I have some t-shirts available from my online store that go with my books.  Take a look at them http://www.reverbnation.com/store/artist_3017008

Leave a comment if you like them or would like to see more.

Book Samples

Here is a sample from my book Nathan's Adventures

Tell me what you think about it.

Nathan finds himself falling into a haystack along side of a barn just as his body was falling to the floor back in his castle.  He picked himself up and dusted himself off.   He looked around to see a stone castle with people milling around.  Some are working a horse in a corral.  Some are pitching hay into stacks.  One of the men sees Nathan and begins to question him.  “Who are you Sir?” he asks.  “How can we help you today Sir?”  he adds.  “I am called Nathan.  I am in search of my wife.  I fear something terrible has happened to her.  She has not been home in two days,” he told the man. “How can we help you Sir?”  He asks again.  “I am in need of a horse but I have no way to repay you.  I can only give my word to try and return it if you would be so kind,” he tells them.  The rest of the men have gathered around by this time and listened to Nathan plead for help.  “You seem very sincere,” says the man in charge.  “I cannot give you a horse.  But, I can ride with you to rescue your wife if you would allow me the honor of helping someone in need,” he tells Nathan.  “My name is Simon.  Let us make ready,” he tells Nathan.  To his men he says “Make provisions for the ride.  Bring this man a sword and a dagger as well.  We ride in one hour.  Gather food for ten men.  Bring as many arrows as you can bind onto a horse.  Now move,” he ordered.  Simon and Nathan discussed a plan.  “Have you ever heard of a man called The Traveler?” Nathan asks.  “I have indeed,” replies Simon.  “Does he have your wife?” he adds.  “I don’t really know if he does or not.  But if he has come upon her and discovers who she is, he will take her,” Nathan explains.  “He is an enemy of mine.  He killed my family.  I have sworn to avenge their deaths.  I know if he has Cecily he will hold her to get to me.  He’ll use her to set a trap.  He is a terrible man, evil and filled with hatred.  And, he is the man that raised me,” Nathan finished.  Simon replied, “I know he has several houses one of which is a days ride from here.”  The men have now gathered everything for the journey.  They will ride under Simon’s coat of arms.  They head our towards the home of the Traveler.

Cecily is asleep in one of the bedrooms of Fumble.  She is awakened by one of the servants.  “Come quickly.  I will help you to escape,” she tells Cecily.  You must tell no one where you have been not even your husband.  The master has very strong powers.  He can keep you here as long as he wishes.  He will kill your husband if he comes here.  Now come quickly.  I have made it to look like an escape. I will tell him I found your window opened when I came to check on you.  I will wake him in a short time to avoid his suspicion.  Now go quickly.  The moon is full.  You will be able to make your way to the river.  Cross it as soon as you get to it to hide your foot prints.  Here is some bread to eat as you go.  Now be off,” the servant points her in the direction of the river.  Cecily walks quickly in the direction of the water.  She knows she is running for her life.  She hopes Nathan has come to save her.  She tells herself that she will never return to this place again if she makes it home.  

Nathan and Simon ride hard to find Cecily.  They are resolute in their mission.  They will find her whatever the price.  Simon is a man of chivalry.  He will die before he gives up.  It is his oath to help those in need.  He will not accept failure.  Nathan is glad to have made such an ally.  He is also a man of his word.  If it were possible he would be a knight.  But, he will always be associated with the Traveler and all the dishonor that goes along with that association.  He will never be knighted.  This also adds to his hatred of the man who had both destroyed him as well as given him everything he has.  It is late and they have made camp near the river that Cecily would be crossing.  They would make a fresh attack in the morning after resting for the night.  

When Cecily came across the river she could smell the camp fire.  As she drew closer she could hear the men talking.  She could barely make out the name Nathan, as the men talked.  Could it be him?  She wondered.  She walked in that direction trying to be very quiet in case it was thieves.  One of the men sitting a bit away from the others heard her trample the leaves as she stepped.  He quietly snuck up on her and grabbed her from behind.  She screamed.  At once Nathan knew the voice.  “Cecily!” he cried out and he and the other jumped to their feet.  He ran to her and was upon them in seconds.  He took her in his arms consoling her.  At last she was safe.  “I’ll never come back to this place she sobbed into his arms.  Never again,” she repeated.  Nathan guided her back to the fire.  She was wet and shaking from the river as well as being grabbed.  “Please forgive my sentry,” Simon pleads.  He could not have known it was you in the woods.  Please accept my apology,” he adds.  Nathan tells her about meeting Simon on his return to the maze.  He tells her how gracious Simon had been.  Simon breaks in, “Tomorrow we will celebrate at my castle.  We have achieved our goal and a celebration it will be.  Now warm yourself and get your rest.  My men and I shall protect you and see you safely home,” Simon declares.  Cecily sits close to the fire and clings to Nathans side.  She begins to feel safer as she holds onto him.  Nathan also decides not to return.  It is far too dangerous for Cecily.  He will seal the room shut.  What would happen if Walter found his way into the room and found them motionless on the floor.  It would damage him for certain.  

In the morning they return to Simon’s home.  Simon orders a feats to be made for Nathan and Cecily.  This was the stuff of the storytellers.  This tale would be told again and again.  Some of the men displayed their prowess in swordsmanship.  Others shot at the targets with the bow.  It was a time of great happiness.  Nathan and Cecily had a good time with their new friend.  But, now it was time to be going.  They thanked Simon for all he had done for them.  When they left they walked away with their hearts filled with happiness that they were together again.  As they walked out of the sight of the others they disappeared into the nothingness that is between the world they called home and the one they called the maze.

 

Get a Free Copy

Jorin is available as a free download from 2-9 through 2-10

All other books are just $1.

http://www.amazon.com/Jorin-The-Maze-ebook/dp/B00B66LL00/

A little about the series- The Maze

The Maze is a series of short books I am writing.  They are about of all things, a maze.  But it is a maze like no other.  To get into this maze you have to drink a special potion.  Once you get inside your life may never be the same.  There are some who have taken up permanent residence.

The titles for the books are:

The Maze
Nathan's Adventure
Pepin
Jorin

I am currently working on a follow up called The Traveler.

Go over to amazon and check them out.
http://www.amazon.com/Jorin-The-Maze-ebook/dp/B00B66LL00/

Jorin is finally here

Jorin is finally here.  It has been a long time getting this book ready for publication.  There is a great deal of information in it that will explain much of what has already happened in the previous books.