SherTenn

A poem I wrote a few years ago comes to mind.. 

* Waiting *

I look in your eyes.. your soul and yes..
I know for what you wait..
To go to that place you cannot reach.

Your eyes plead.. and you whisper 'please'..
and I wait..

Tears fill your eyes.. and I wait..
Your body shudders.. breaking the chains, the fear..
and you whisper  'Master.. please.. Master..'

I touch you.. your body responds..  then is engulfed.

Now your head rests on my chest.. and you sleep softly.
and I wait..

Been awhile since I was last on.. so to update:

* I finally got out of a non-D/s and rather destructive, 'relationship'.  Nuff' said. [added 6/13/11:  Yep.. all relationships require the consent of both parties.. ]

* For the last six months I've been recovering  from pancreatitis.. Shoulda had that Gall Bladder out years ago.. but it's gone now.  So is my belly-button.

Now, skating on such ice tends to set many things in their true perspective.. so overall it's been a very positive experience..

I dunno what changed, exactly..  I didn't 'find God' or anything.  but I have re-discovered that the world is beautiful.. and so are the people inb it.  I've had glimpses of that thru my life, but now it's a constant.

It may sound prosaic.. but it's amazing (to me) how truly beautiful are the gold and red leaves of a tree in late Fall when the Sun hits them.  In a breeze, they shimmer like a school of tropical fish..:-)

Oh.. and I'm looking forward to a couple new enthusiasms..  water-colors and cooking.

Not sure how to end this entry..  to some, it will sound sorta ho-hum.   To those who understand, it may bring a soft smile.. Suffice it to say - life is good.

Just finished re-re-reading Book 2 of the Gor series.. and was moved to write a story..:
A Tale of a Silver Mask

The city of Tharna was now once again led by the True Taxtrix, Lara..  No longer did the men of Tharna labor in the silver mines, never seeing sun or moon.  No longer was the birthday of the Tatrix celebrated in the mines with poor wine and stale cakes..  No longer did silver masks allow the females of Tharna their safety. and well did oonah know this.. for oonah.. her silver mask now gone.. knelt on the hot sands of an arena .. the arena of the Amusements of Tharna.

She heard her fate.. that she had six months to find a Free Companion.. until then, she would be fed at the public eatery.. A month later found oonah eating with other former silver-masks.. though oonah sat by herself. Hearing laughter, she turned.. and saw a group at the next table.. one was pointing at her.. oonah recognized doona.. and knew why doona laughed.. doona was quite pretty. oonah was.. not. *

oonah held back her tears.. Were they not also of the women who wore the same silver masks..? Then oonah understood.. that behind the silver mask, she had been alone.. as had each of the others.. *

The months went by. oonah listened with wonder to those girls who returned for a last visit to the public eatery.. they spoke of their new Masters. Some still free girls asked if Masters were not cruel.. and those with Masters assured them most solemnly that their Masters were, indeed, very cruel.. and then burst out giggling..

This puzzled oonah.. but mattered little, for she knew no man would ever take her as a Free Companion..or even enslave her.. for even *she* knew that all men wanted was a pretty face.                                                                                                           Now it was the end of the sixth month. oonah had tried to ask several men. Some merely shook their head and turned away. Some had laughed at her. But none had bound her wrists with the yellow cords the men of Tharna now carried.. and of course none accepted a Free Companion.                                                                              In the last anh of the last day.. oonah sat in the darkness, softly crying. She could not blame the men, even those who had been, unknowingly, very cruel.. It was then that oonah sensed someone standing in front of her, a man.. though she could not see him. Did it matter if she could see him..? No. She spoke..                                           "Master.. i was a silver mask.. would you have me as your Free Companion..?" She heard no answer.. as the silence lengthened.  Something inside oonah finally broke. She held out crossed wrists and she whispered..                                                                    'Master.. a girl begs you.. to make her your slave.." *

After interminable seconds, she felt her wrists bound.. and herself being pulled up to stand. The man turned, and led her thru the darkened streets to a small house. Lighting a lamp, he turned to her..                                                                                     oonah was at first dismayed.. for she looked upon a seemingly old man.. toothless.. bent.. She shuddered.. This was her Master..? Then she caught herself.. for what else did she deserve..? *

She looked at the yellow cords.. and something in her healed, if ever so slightly. she knelt before Him with lowered head, and whispered.. "thank you, Master.. i am .. untrained.. but.. i will try to please you, my Master.." *

His hand lifted her face, and He gazed into her tear-filled eyes. oonah gazed into His face but found no expression there. It was as if it was made of rock.. something without feelings. Suddenly oonah realized what His face reminded her of.. a mask.. a silver mask. *

Another six months passed. The city of Tharna prepared to celebrate the day Lara had regained her throne.. and the men, and women, of Tharna had regained something also.

In the bustling market, a happy slave girl made purchases for her Master.. tho she was puzzled by what she was to buy.. She came to the wine seller she often purchased from..

"Ho..! oonah..! you lovely wench..!", cried the wine seller upon spotting her approach. She returned his smile warmly, saying "Master Klorus..! My Master bids me to buy a jerkin of your poorest Kal-da.. that is what He said.. your poorest" *

The puzzlement on oonah's face was apparent.. but Klorus merely nodded, and gave her a bottle from under his shelf. 'tell your Master there is no charge.. that it has.. already been paid.. in silver" oonah was mystified, but nooded.."i will, Master Klorus.."

oonah then bought some cakes, made with honey and sesame seeds. These too puzzled her, for normally they were not made, but the baker had said 'ah.. yes.. made them especially for your Master" And again, the baker would take no payment. *

oonah hurried to her Master and showed Him the purchases, telling Him what the merchants had said.. and returned the pouch of coins He had given her. Her Master looked, and nodded.                                                                                              That night, oonah knelt by Her Master.. and served the Kal-da. Her Master bade her taste it first.. she did so.. and puckered. The wine was not anything like she remembered as wine. Yet,, her Master drank it with seeming pleasure..                                             oonah next served the cakes (she had arranged then on a silver platter in what she hoped was a pleasing pattern) Again, Her Master bade her taste one.. She took a bite.. or tried to.. "Master..?! Ohhh.. these cakes are stale and hard..! Yet the baker said they were baked especially for you..! i do not understand, Master.."                                    Her Master just smiled softly.. and dipped the cake into the wine until it was soft enough for His gums to chew. oonah looked in wonder as she watched Her Master eat the cakes with seeming pleasure.                                                                                              A little later, her Master went outside and sat, leaning against the wall of the house. oonah joined Him, snuggling into His arm.. They sat in the quiet darkness.. oonah could not see His face, but could feel His breathing.. and His arm around her. She recalled another dark night.. and a tear rolled down her cheek. Soon, a moon of Gor came up. She felt her Master shift slightly, to look up at it. She heard her Master quietly say 'How beautiful, the light of the moons..'                                                                           oonah looked up.. she saw nothing special.. just a moon of Gor.. As she lay there she was startled.. a warm drop of water had fallen on her cheek.. yet.. the sky was clear of clouds. oonah wiped it away and thought no more of it..

oonah, a slavegirl of Tharna, snuggled deeper into the warmth of her Master..       Hmm..? Oh.. Yes.. I suppose that oonah *did* eventually start to wonder how rain could come from a clear sky.. But if she ever did.. that I cannot say. If she did.. perhaps she might also wonder about another thing that had puzzled her.. the broken piece of chain that her Master had as their Homestone.                                                                  And yes, of course..! With each passing year, oonah became more lovely. For she was a slavegirl.. and wished to please her Master. and even *she* knew that all men wanted was a pretty face.                                                                                                   And of doona the pretty..? Her fate I leave to your imagination..:-)

--- And to those unfamiliar with the world of Gor and the books of John Norman..

I only say that I have found them useful as well as entertaining..

Finally able to get into the chatrooms via IRC.. It's a very different experience than reading profiles..:-)

While in many ways one is more exposed.. the immediacy of it is very useful in judging if someone is 'compatible' (a term that sounds - and is - rather clinical..). And.. the chatting is fun.. the exchanges are often hilarious..:-)

One also meets some very smart people.. always a plus. If you're new to it.. it can be confusing and frustrating.. but it is well worth the effort..

"Trust me" on that..:-)

Thanks to ss for the topic..:-) Can a D/s relationship exist without an s & m component...??? I would answer with a resounding 'yes..!'.
Consider 'owning' a fine musical instrument.. for example, a Gibson** guitar.
First, one really should have some skill before acquiring it. Then we can play it,
learning this individual guitar's fine points. We treasure it, both for its craftsmanship.. and the music it allows use to make. We take pride in it.. and feel lucky to have it.
What we do *not* do is carve our initials into it.. We do not abuse it.
We do not let it too near heat, or other damaging environments.
We sure as *hell* do not tighten the strings just to see if we can break it.
An exact analogy.>? No.. of course not.
Conversely , consider that a S/m relationship can exist without a sexual part..
A true sadist does not care who his/her victim is.. In a sado-masochistic relationship.. again, my opinion only.. one has to *enjoy* inflicting pain, or recieving it.
That seems an obvious statement - but consider.. if you care for the partner.. why hurt them..? I don't really get it. I suppose there are those that do, and there may be something to it. But not for me.
Does that mean I do not enjoy control..? Nope..:-)
But gosh.. if I'm not 'strong enough' to beat the crap out of you, how can I 'punish' you..? There are several ways.. but they all boil down to denying you my attention. I leave it to the ladies to decide which they would rather face.. a serious caning, or my being disappointed in them, and banishing them from my sight (after explaining why I was disappointed, of course.. and setting a time limit)*1
And the ultimate reason a1 relationship need not contain a S/m part..?
It better not.. since I'm not one to inflict pain, and I certainly look forward to a D/s relationship..! :-)
** or, I am informed, a Martin.. I don't play - just used it an an example.

*1 Perhaps this needs some explanation.  It is not something done lightly.  As an example of what I mean.. you are sent to a dark closet (assuming you're not claustrophobic).. for one hour..  with an explanation of *why*.  This gives you a chance to think..

[and myself a chance to ponder.. and feel the absence of you, for even this small time..]