Micah Park Biffle

A Summer Bird's Winter Perch   I watch this lonely bird chirp upon a slopping branch. Its feet wrapped firmly around the thin finger of bark. As I watch, I commiserate its position. Sitting there, alone, singing with no others to listen. Speaking I assume, to itself.   Maybe contemplating its unfortunate circumstance. For the rest had already left for the winter. If I am not mistaken it was only a few days ago that I watched a flurry of birds dart by. Their wings flapping against the brisk wind collectively. Not a single one appeared worried of their journey.   Their shadows crawled quickly across the empty streets during a fall evening. I watched them pass by like a feather floating down stream. I couldn't help but wonder, how long must they fly? What winds must they fight, what elements must they battle against? All must be against them as is every moment in time is against us all?   Yet they fly forth to the heat of earth. Dependent upon their surviva...

No Remedy Love   Upon my horse I ride, I ride through the dense woods of Willows Path. Past the tombs of the Barely family and through the trails of Hallows Peak. Treacherous be this ride but everything depends upon it. My wife is deathly ill and winter is at the cusp of the mountains.   Soon we shall be blanketed by snow up to our thighs. Winds so unforgiving will rush upon the valley like a cold plague. The hairs upon your body will freeze beneath the falling rains if so you dare to walk bare into the wild.   So I ride, I ride with determination and fear at my back. I ride with my eyes adjusted to the stars and my heart to faith. It has been two days and the doctor is only another days ride. How frightful be this Christmas eve.   Unfortunate be this day, a day of deathly tribulation. But I will not give up on my love. I will not let her soft voice be taken by ill will of sickness. I refuse with my boiling chest of grit to allow the suffering of my ...

A Mars Conspiracy  "Pluto six, this is Core 1, do you copy?" "Core 1, this is Pluto Six, we copy, over." "Great, you are coming up on the approach to land on Mars, please check all systems for safe landing, over." "Roger Core 1, we are checking systems, break..........Systems are clear and ready for landing. We are set to land in ten minutes, over." "Pluto Six, we copy good on system check. Please refrain from any radio chatter till you are three minutes out and we shall guide you from there over. "Roger Core 1, radio silence till three minutes, radio silence in, three, two, one, out." We were approaching Mars, there were six of us. All with our own set mission, mine, to scout the surrounding hundred miles of our landing zone in search of water and/or soils that may give us opportunity to grow plants. We were all excited, ready to explore a planet untouched by man. There had been five other missions prior to ...

A Risky Book "Open the book!" Misha says as Soush holds it in his hands. His light silver hair reflects the burning flame of the candle as Misha excitedly holds it over Soush's head. "Quickly, quickly, open it before mother gets home!" Misha wiggling her excited body as a drop of candle wax lands on the cover of the book. Soush pulls the book away as soon as the wax lands on it. "Look what you did...keep the candle away or you'll ruin the book." Misha pulls the candle away quickly as her face falls with unexpected disappointment in herself. But pulling it away quickly, more candle wax drops from the melting stick of wax. Some even splashes onto the ground and onto the surrounding books that are sprawled out on the floor. Soush, see's what Misha has done. He stands up in haste, drops the book on the ground. His eyes glare upon Misha as he attempts to grasp the candle. But Misha resists, she pulls the candle away from Soush as he fig...

Father and Son,  The Hunting of Beasts  It's early morning, before the sun has even touched the horizon. Humid mist covers the jungle floors like blankets of clouds. You can't see what's beneath it, so you must keep to the known path if you wish not to be bitten by anything poisonous.   As I walk down the path beside my father, I rub my eyes with the hand that is free. Adjusting to the glare of our torch. The moonlight is gently falling through the cracks of the canopy. Its soft cool glow always warms my heart.    I look around as I walk and see the trees that sprout hundreds of feet high. I wonder what it would be like to live up there? So many creatures and animals have their own world above the ground. Most never even touch the earth.  Carrying my bag on my back I shrug my body to keep it from sliding. My father, the man that he is, his size allows him no struggle as he carries his bag. Shrugging mine, he looks to me and says, "...

A Spy and His Love I hear her screaming from the other side of the door. Everything in my body is fighting to get to her, to keep her alive. Even if that means the sacrifice of my own life. My adrenaline exceeding what I have ever felt before. This moment is clear, smooth, with what my intent shall be. My mind indulged in rage, but my heart concealed in the allegiance to my love. I bear all this upon myself, it never should have came to this. Everything was perfect; perfect, till my simple slip up. I got carried away in the comfort of our life and never saw it coming. I should have, for the information of my last mission was never exposed to me upon completion. Whether the enemy was deceased or not, was never disclosed formally to me. I was in such a rush to walk away I was blind sided by lies. My own in command had fell into some hot water with the enemy. For what ever selfish reason, they saw the only way out, the only way to tie up all the ends, was to get rid of me. ...