Author: Mangus Khan

The thing that was supposed to be easy, but it’s not!

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Describe a decision you made in the past that helped you learn or grow.

A few months back, I was talked into something; if I had thought about I would have never done it. However, my lady has a way of getting me to do whatever. She simply shows me her elbows, and I’m putty.

She wanted me to increase my online presence. “It will be easy,” “Tweet a couple of things – make a couple of posts,” she said. Like I ordered a pizza with pineapples on one side or a cheeseburger with extra cheese. Though I was filled with skepticism, I relented. This time she gave me that enchanting gaze she used to get to kill a spider when we first met. Still putty. So I upped my Twitter game, regaining the followers I lost. I know this process is ridiculously simple, but it was only the beginning.

At the end of February, I breathed life into my blog and shifted things around on other sites. I discovered I needed to learn about marketing, SEO, trends, and all other things I didn’t believe mattered when working on a blog. As I researched blogging, most of the articles weren’t about writing. I found this to be odd, especially since some research was provided by writers.

This week marks just over sixty days of consistent blogging. I learned so much in the last 48 hours, not to mention the last 60 days. I can’t wait to see what adventures are in store. I’m having a wonderful time writing and growing as a writer and content creator. Man, it is hard work, yet very rewarding.

This has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Thank you, everyone, for reading!

Thanks, babe, for the nudge.

Images courtesy of Leroy Skalstad, Gerd Altmann. and webvilla from Pixabay . Collage by Mangus Khan

Sounding my poetic yelp!

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How do you use social media?

Lost within the traps of my mind
Crazy, because I placed them
to protect me from the madness

running from trap to trap
like, I’m hooked on pain
my screams melodic

Every line I write
another attempt to release
the pain coursing through me

SO…

I write the blues
because I lived them
facing the everlasting memories

Don’t think less of me
if all I can do is sit here and cry
without you, who am I supposed to me

My words come from my soul
of all the things I do wrong
this is the only thing you can’t deny

Do you remember me,
like I remember you?

The night you came to me
back when we were just friends
back when all we were was an unspoken desire

By the state of you
I had no idea where you had been
I had no idea what you needed

You leaned into me and started to cry
My love could comfort you
all you had to do was let me try

in Frustration

I silently scream

Now, I sound my poetic yelp!

~thank you for reading~

Sleep

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POETRY

Can sleep wipe away the strain of the day?

Take away the pain
Press restart and start anew

Fantasy and Reality are interchangeable
neither one lasting
it seems…

Price check on Rolaids
There’s a spill on aisle 14
Paper or plastic?
Did you double bag?
Price on planter’s honey roasted

Wait…

Wait…

I need more sleep

~thank you for reading~

Polite

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POETRY

I’ve become painfully aware
of something

All this time
I thought
I knew
I believed

I was hilarious

NOPE
I’m not

People were laughing
by God

All this time
People laughing
Were just being

Polite

the bucket list

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What place in the world do you never want to visit? Why?

To me, this is a loaded question. Like there is just one place on this Earth, you would like to avoid. As if you randomly hear of a place and automatically decide never to travel there ever. Since I have traveled a great deal in my life, the question could be, where in the world you never want to visit again.

However, since that isn’t the question, I suppose I should act right and answer the question straight. HA! Anyone, who knows me, knows as an absolute certainty, except on the rarest occasions, I will not answer a writing prompt straight. Today is no exception.

So, here we are without any further preamble. I humbly present …

~the bucket list~

Places with strange names:

  • Topeka, Kansas – I don’t have a solid reason for this one other than I don’t like how they feel when I form them in my mouth. I’m saying aloud over and over right now. Just to make sure it wasn’t a strange occurrence that happens. Yep, I’m certain; still not happening.
  • Bone Gap Illinois – I’m unsure if this place still exists. It might have changed its name. As a child, we read the phone book. You read it right, “reading the phone book” presented hours of fun making fun of the strange names of people, companies, and towns. Who names their town that?
  • Jim Falls, Wisconsin – I stay away from this town simply because when I think of “Jim Falls,” “Where ?” Immediately pops into my mind. Then, ENTER the RABBIT HOLE. Then a seemingly endless list of questions forms in my head. “How is he?”, “What happened?”, “Has anyone fall-proofed his house?”Must I continue, or do you get the point?
  • Slidell, Louisiana – I knew a woman from there once. Yeaaahhh…NO!

Places that may have Cannibalism in their history:

Normally, this would be a thing, but I was planning a vacation with my lady, and she had a list of disqualifiers. Cannibalism was on the list. I can’t say this request is completely unreasonable. I’m a big guy. I have concerns. With a little googling, these names stuck out to me.

  • Cambodia
  • Liberia
  • Congo

Places with a large monkey population:

While you are shaking your head at my response. You know you heard of Planet of the Apes, both versions; don’t play with me. Monkeys like to throw things at people. I’ve been a person who enjoyed things being thrown at them. I know me; I don’t do animal cruelty. So, it’s just best I stay away. These places stood out.

  • Costa Rica
  • Brazil
  • Thailand

There you have it, my Top 3 of my bucket list of places not to go to ever.

There’s a Reason

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POETRY – INTROSPECTIVE

Every drop of a tear
There’s a reason
Whether you accept it
or understand it

Doesn’t Matter!

There’s a reason

Here’s the rub
The one who from
The tear falls

May not
Know or understand
Why?

But there’s a reason.

lifestyle

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POETRY – HUMOR

I put a whole lot of effort into
releasing the pain in my heart.
It was supposed to

Sooothe

me

I need to curb my addiction
Google is not a lifestyle

Disappointment

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POETRY – DAY 14 – NATIONAL POETRY MONTH

I know I turned out
to be a disappointment
I never intended to be

It’s a long list …

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What book could you read over and over again?

Several books fall into this category. For me, the requirements to reread a book are simple, but they seem to evolve each time I read it. It’s almost like the book in question casts a spell on me, or a post-hypnotic suggestion is cleverly placed within the crevasses of my mind. Whereby I become the book’s slave, hopelessly doing its bidding. Despite the throws of my addiction, I’ve narrowed the list to only a few, but I’ll try to speak about one. Please be mindful that I did say try in case I fail at this endeavor.

So, the book I can and have read on multiple occasions is “The Green Mile” by Stephen King. This book isn’t the only book I have read multiple times and would read again without provocation, but it isn’t my favorite in this category. However, I have several reasons why I reread this book, but I will only list the main ones.

What draws me to The Green Mile is the idea this could actually happen. To me, King outdid himself in telling this story. Its structure and style is some of his best work. The themes tackled in this novel moved me. Some are subtle, while others slap you in the face. Lastly, I think this novel is just damn good. If I said I read this novel five times, it would be low.

Who Won?

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POETRY – DAY 9 NATIONAL POETRY MONTH

I wake up sweaty and sour
Out of breath, like I’ve been fighting
in my sleep

I have…
with myself

I wonder who won?

Relevant

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POETRY – DAY 6 NATIONAL POETRY MONTH

I only ever wanted to be one thing.
Just one.

I never wanted to be rich
I never wanted to be famous

None of the standards to define us.
None of that really mattered to me

I only wanted one thing
Just one

to be
Relevant

Thank you for reading

Mango – Papaya

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POETRY – COMFORT & GRACE

I shudder from the warmth of my soul’s smile
The image of your beauty, permanently etched upon my mantle, 
The collision of your beauty (Inner & outer) emits a glow 
A glow with the radiance that will melt a Himalayan snow 

A sight:

never forgotten …

truly majestic…

I sigh from the comfort and security of your embrace 
A cleansing exhale with the contentment of knowing that I’m home 

In this moment, I know what it is like to be held 
In this moment, I know what it is like to be loved 

My soul screams these words 
Yet, my lips remain still 
Nay tremor, nor whisper 

I remain in the comfort of the way things are 
Instead of braving what could be 
I remain comfortable in the warmth of my fear.

Taken for Granted

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POETRY – LIFE LESSONS

There wasn’t a sound,
but the silence echoed.

I didn’t want believe it
how could she?

But the walls were bare
and halls empty

My regret not worth a dime
aloofness my crime
didn’t mean for this rhyme

it just kinda happened

Just kinda happened …

me

Taking her for granted.

Thank you for reading!

Musings — Dirty Sci-Fi Buddha

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I’ve concluded that arguing with negativity-oriented people–those who use creativity and rationale to consistently redirect focus back onto negativity–is a waste of time. Nothing you say or do will be good enough; the best you can do is temporarily quiet them with tangible results. Even then, they’ll eventually find a way to rationalize your efforts […]

Musings — Dirty Sci-Fi Buddha

Twilight, just before the dawn

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The leather of my gloves crinkles 
as I tighten the reins 
My steeds trot becomes a gallop
We begin traveling through time …

through space …

arriving at a place unfamiliar 
Yet, it felt so safe …

Shimmering through the shadows
I’m drawn to a presence…
My heart begins to pound as I see you laying there
behind a veil of lace ….

Resting so peaceful… so full of grace …
I remove my cloak and armor 
I sit down in a chair beside the bed
Closing my eyes, drifting into your dreams 

There we make beautiful, passionate love 
in the twilight, just before dawn …

Welcome to Madness

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I am known as Mangus Khan. My life has been a turning page in a dime store novel. Nothing steadily grabbing your attention, but enough to keep you interested. Writing for me, is one of those gifts the Master gives, during the time he is putting together the pieces that make you. Like anything in life, talent is never enough. We must work hard at developing the gifts we have been bestowed. This means that we must dig deep; past our fear, past our doubts, and become the best at whatever we are meant to be. Does this mean that you are the next Ellison, Hemingway, Mosley, Morrison, or Angelou just waiting to be discovered? Perhaps you are? Who really knows? However, we can never be discovered by leaving our work, on the pages of closed binding.

Each word, every sentence, and each verse of The Memoirs of Madness, are exactly like that for me. It never was meant to entertain you, but if it has, rock on. It was never meant to captivate you, but if it did, hold on; we just got started. It is simply my heart and soul on a page for all to see. It is an expression of my thoughts, my fears, and my secrets. In its pages, I tell the story of those who cannot speak, or don’t know how. I never imagined through telling their stories, I would wind up telling my own. I am just a simple man with a pen, who writes the Memoirs of Madness.