NEWS WITH A BITE
Inspired by The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart
Across an ocean beach of blue,
Her PTSD whistle bangs the tune against a lighthouse dull
Her past reflects
It’s synged
It’s bruised
Stiffen up you DUMB backbone
she repeats and repeats and repeats and repeats and repeats
Of all the years that float adrift
Of that which is already blown to bits
A Mariners call into the dead black night
Pain aloft
Her whine, her song
Stand near the flame
Don’t blow the torch
Words can’t remain
in this hollow tomb.
Elise Krentzel is a bestselling memoirist, narrative nonfiction author, and narrative IP architect whose work bridges personal story, cultural history, and global perspective. She is the author of Under My Skin – Drama, Trauma & Rock ’n’ Roll and the forthcoming Hydra: The Human Atlas, the first in a place-based series exploring identity, memory, and transformation. A former Tokyo Bureau Chief for Billboard Magazine, Elise has reported internationally on art, music, culture, food, and travel for decades. She now collaborates with high-level professionals and creatives as a ghostwriter and book coach, shaping memoir, leadership, and nonfiction projects built for serious publication — and potential adaptation. After 25 years abroad across five countries, she is based in Austin, Texas. Find her at https://elisekrentzel.com, FB: @OfficiallyElise, Instagram: @elisekrentzel, LI: linkedin.com/in/elisekrentzel.