Lust - The Nights Refuge.

Stars that drips from slender hips
Holding the moon, cradling the sun

Such promise
Such desire

Oh what man would not be inspired?

Divine madness - a worth avatar

Come in, dive deep.
Yet what safe harbor shall you keep?

Simply Tired - The City of the Lost

Beloved
darling of my soul
fire that speaks with primal cords

He who I cry out to across the skies
behold the emptiness that belies my eyes
the rattling inside my soul
the vacuum of sorrow that has taken hold

Tis the pain that drips from slender hips
pale flesh that draws the wicked flame
yet why is it none even utter my name?

Who yearns to speak?
who yearns to need?

Such sorrows I wept...
Dust on fragile scar kissed feet.

The wind rises and I must flee
into another world if needs be.

Sick of Men

Sitting here in a yearning game

sick of men
with no faith

seekers, not of love

Simply drawn to my light,
bashing, lazing within my sight,

Tired, lonely

Dare I change my mind?
Raising up, casting off

Ignoring the plight,
sorrow, and sighs

I dream of worth men,

Whose yearning, churning
is for me..

Nothing more, Nothing less.

In to this night I trend,
Spreading fire and light

Dare I look upon my own sight?

The Running Writer's Contact info - Update September, 2009

Justin Travis Howard
Email- Jthoward84@gmail.com
Cell- 619 379 7317

Travel Column - Examiner.Com
http://www.examiner.com/x-1784-San-Diego-Gay-Travel-Examiner

Fashion Column - Today.Com
http://fashion...ista411.today.com/

Co-Write / Culture - American Chronicle
http://www.americanchronicle.com

Life and Times of a Smart Blonde - Winter '09

Crete, Greece - Traditional Finish


China Town, San Francisco - Oldest Taoist Temple in North America!


Kress, Los Angeles - Boys will be Boys!


Kress Club, Los Angeles - Quan Kin Everywhere!


Crete, Greece - Refreshing Coffee'


Crete, Greece - Kayak Guide Evan

Eileithyian Cave Narrative -

Visions / Reflections-

It is amazing what a sore bottom will bring to mind and what inspiration it can provide. In this case I am talking about the sore bottom I got from the long drive over unpaved roads in Crete from Heraklion to the Eileithyian Cave.

Part of being a Blonde in my book means at key moments I 'Forget to plan ahead'. In this case it involves the planning on how to get to Eileithyian Cave with my Aunt, whom I was traveling with. Happening to speak a little Greek, she arranged a day-of car rental (as this trip beings a spur of the moment kind) in largest Cretan port-city of Heraklion to get there, but trying to find a place that had a car available to rent last minute was turning into its own adventure.

Involving us attempting to find a rental place that had an automatic available to rent, which in Heraklion can get one sent from rental place to rental place. We did in the end land at a rental place in which Greek chanting filled the air as incense wafted lazily about on its slow moving notes.With a bit of luck and lots of hand waving my Aunt managed to secure us a car for the trip.

The Road There...

My poor blessed Aunt was trying to figure out how to drive a tiny stick-shift car around on a barely paved two lane roads that would have the size of a large alley in the US. Meanwhile I was hanging onto the door handle for dear life, telling her urgently "Left foot on the clutch, right foot on the gas" almost like an Eastern Mantra with my eyes closed hoping we would not be hit by some crazed Greek driver.

I ended bouncing up and down in the passenger sit due to the lovely condition of the road, trying to read a road map of Crete the size of a twin bed, in English translated Greek, having none of the English words match the English road signs.

"Is Heraklion spelled I-r-a-k-l-i-o-n or how is sounds?!?"

As I read the map it became clear that there were no major freeways on a island twice the size of Rhode Island going in the direct we were headed. We were stuck taking what I lovely call 'Back Country Roads' which on Crete means lightly or not paved at all.

1 1/2 hour of 'being lost' driving, I thought map indicted there was a nice paved path out the cliff face, which held the Cave. Ohh No, the modern Greeks don't hold to the California ideals on roads. Doing a bit of off-roading got us to where we could park at the base of the Cliff.

Standing for a moment staring up a rocky cliff face that looked like it would give the local goats a run for their money, when my Aunt declaring to world at large that only sure fire way up to the Cave happened to be straight up!

Filled with the need to docuement this expandision for future use, I set the camera on a rock and took a photo of myself. The priceless expression my face seems to say many things, but mainly a tired impishness.

Ancient Women Walk Here-

The thoughts coursing through my min were of a wonderment and curiosity at how women in the last stages of pregnancy six thousand years ago in ancient Minoan times could have made it up that rocky hillside to give birth in this sacred spot, when it was giving me, a youth in his early 20's trouble lead to a bit of soul searching.

Trying to have a Zen moment in which to commune with those ancient amazing women. I decided to just sit for a while and enjoy the view it offered of the local area.

"Afraid of the Dark, are we?"

After having given the local shrubs an in-depth inspection, I was wondering why my Aunt was just standing out in front of the Cave Entrance.

Scampering off my rocky perch to stand beside Aunty, there appeared to be a huge iron grill blocking the way into the cave itself. Diving into my messanger bag for my ever-handy guidebook, which after a consult revieled we had to go to locate village and find the caretaker and beg the key to open and see the Cave, itself.

All we could do was stand at the entrance and stare into the cave, and wonder what lies within its depths. Pondering at the course this little adventure taken; at things like how a Blonde American could do all the things that I done that day. Being able to conquer a language barrier in regards to a map that would have stumped most travelers. Walking the course of a most ancient pilgrimage, one inwhich the women of ancient times had taken up a steep path to give birth in a place of sacredness, in a place that was close to Earth Mother.

Replaying this Memory brings together thoughts of persistence, stubborn determination, and personally reminds me when things get rough and one gets a sore bottom, one can overcome with help from family and a little forethought, not to mention a wee bit of luck.

Here Come The Goats!

To end on a humorous note, right as my Aunt and I were about to leave the hollow, we heard a very strange barking. Perched about the rim of the hallow were 10 black and white goat heads staring curiously down at us. Appearing dazed myself, they turned as a unit acting and left like we were nothing of interesting.

Being curious about how they got there, I climbed up over the hallow's rim for a better look.

As my head cleared the rocky rim, the Blonde light went on! Not a mere dozen feet from where we had parked the rental, was a broad goat trail of a level nature and apparently smooth too. Being a Blonde all my life I quickly admitted my past mistake to the world at large with an extremely loud sigh (earning me many a glare from the passing goats at having disturbed their grassy meal).

Helping my Aunt up and over the rocky rim, we went and did the smart thing of taking the goat path back to the rental, trying deseparatly to avoid the tiny pelts of goat poo that littered the path.

Driving back we discovered also the 'correct' route back which lead to a large paved road which took us all the way back into the city. Not alot of talking took place on the ride back as we were both lost to our own thoughts..

**I have been back to Crete since this little outing, and love every minute I have the pleasure to be on that Island, Birth Place of Zeus**

Freedom's Path -

Dancing through darkness,
My feet seeing only light.

My face turns, Freedom's Avatar.
~Justin Howard Spring '09

During Classical Antiquity in Ancient Greece during the final stages of Christianity becoming the state religion of Rome, a pagan writer wrote something to the effect - "As men kill their Father's the Gods, and turn their backs on their Mother's the Goddesses, the Goddess Freedom saw her Divine Brother Justice brutality slain at the hands of humanity, so she turned her face into darkness and withdrew her divine graces from humanity. So where slaves once had hope, now they had none and their cries filled the darkness."

Do you walk Freedom's path through darkness, blazing a trail of light for others to follow? Or are you lost awaiting rescue?