Half moons die as the everlasting cascade hits them, only to be reborn again, and die again; a never ending cycle. What was once clear is now green, marking the end of it’s purity. A pink blush peeks out from below the water. Her sister decided to stay home. It’s alright, she said hello this morning, I just wasn’t awake to hear. The tallest is dying. I know, because that once soft skin is not wrinkled and getting worse fast. Poor dear.

The foolish daimyos, dressed in all their gaudy gold finery, are now nowhere to be seen. Sleeping, I suspect… That is, if they even sleep. When awake, they do nothing but wander aimlessly and greedily eat the food that the ones that tend to the land provide.

Light shines upon this haven, even though the sun has set. Off in the distance, a great beast roars and growls with no regards to those with sensitive ears. This beast thinks that he is a god, but, really, he’s nothing but a dumb brute.

Some local tribes are feuding. Stupid, I think, since they are both ruled by the same daimyo… Oh well.

I look forward again to the newest village. The beast’s growls have finally stopped for the night. The waterfall continues to slither down the “rocks”. I vaguely wonder if all pretty things are as synthetic as this… One side of the horizon is stubbornly clutching at the light blue, whilst the other has submitted to the navy. The great castle is in disarray, but no worries. It’s also in the middle of a great revival. Of course, these are just the things I see to the front and side of me. Behind me, ceremonial wedding blossoms are withering. Once proud warriors have been defeated and now are being eaten alive.

Some impertinent fools have fallen into the daimyo’s pond. They can’t swim. I don’t intend to save them. They fell in; they can get themselves out.

…I grow tired of this fairy tale world. I suspect I’ve grown too old to stay as long as I used to… So, I return to my front yard. My front yard, with the fake pond full of lilies and goldfish and drowning bugs. My front yard, with my brother’s noisy truck not too far away, and the cacti growing and taking over... The nameless clusters of flowers that my cousin and I used to use as bridal bouquets in our pretend weddings, and the many different colored roses, which are all currently overwhelmed with aphids. My house, which needs a new paint job like nobody’s business…

My home.