H is for Here (There be Dragons)

Here, There be Dragons.

I've talked a lot about this book in past blogs; I will keep this short then. Here, There be Dragons written by James A. Owen is a fantastical story of high adventure, magic, literature, and heroes.

You're probably thinking that is like any fantasy book currently on the shelves of your nearest bookseller. Yeah, it may be, but what does Here, There be Dragons have that those books don't?!?!?!

Badgers!

Yes, badgers. First it was Tummeler; his story is heavily in Here, There. He is an aspiring Scholar and a pretty nifty driver (although you might want to buckle up if he drives). He goes into publishing to create the greatest tool ever, (no not Google, but a Little Whatsit) and is my favourite character outside of Samaranth, but that is for another time. Tummeler comes to the aid of John, Charles, and Jack the new Caretakers of the Imaginarium Geographica, as he knows a thing or two about the Archipelago of Dreams and those who live there and blueberry muffins. Oh,and there are more badgers in other later books.

Here, There is also about triumph over the forces of evil (does that sounds menacing enough?), let's try triumph over all things dark and brooding. Yeah, I like that! I think I should write book descriptions, right? Okay, off topic, I know. I just really enjoy Here, There be Dragons with all of its surprises and mysteries, but also it is a solid story; fully engaging and entertaining.

Now for a poem about the adventures of said Caretakers. Enjoy!

Indigo Winter

It started on a stormy night

when three men meet to find death;

adventure is waiting for them

in a man buried under scarves.

When three men meet to find death,

a dragon ship transport awaits to bring

a man buried under scarves

for a quest is called from one greater.

A dragon ship transport awaits to bring

the three Scholars to the isle forgotten

for a quest is called from one greater

and a book of maps they might chase.

The three Scholars to the isle forgotten;

to meet the Cossair, the Pirate Queen, and Badger;

and a book of maps they might chase

to discover who this king of winter might be.

ATo meet the Cossair, the Pirate Queen, and Badger

aboard the dragon ship of Indigo

to discover who this king of winter might be

and are charged the quest of the Archipelago.

Aboard the dragon ship of Indigo 

adventure is waiting for them

and are charged the quest of the Archipelago;

it started on a stormy night.

Calligrams and Quadrilews!!

Today's prompt is to write a visual poem (calligrams). Basically you make a picture with words that also is a poem. While a rather daunting concept I took up the mantle and brain stormed a few ideas. My favourite doodle is of a river. I thought it would be the easiest of the shapes and this is free form, I just needed to not think so hard. When I put too much thought into my words they never want to come out properly. Words are like water, flowing.

River Doodle

River's Spring

Moving waters rush past
                           in the winter's
                                             thaw
                                                    as Spring fights
                                                             to break
                                                       free.
                         The world is waking up
                Under the guise of
a sleepy Old Man
not wanting
to wake.
   Slow to wake, yet I see there is green underneath
                                                               and maybe a hope
                                                                             as  Robin's hop
                                                                                         across lawns
                                                                                                   and
                                                                                 Sparrow's sing
                                                     in rhythm with River's torrential voice
                                                rising with each new April Shower.
                                    The Crocuses,
                                The Blue Jays,
           The warmer days ahead
brings
new
and
refreshing
      possibilities.


H is for Hecate

I am in the mood for some poetry. So, for my A to Z Challenge I am going to try a new form. So, Dear
Readers you get two poems for the price of one. A little back story Hecate is a Greek goddess, the Crone of the triple goddess -  The Maiden (Persephone), The Mother (Demeter), and the Crone (Hecate). There a a number of different names across the various pantheons of deities. I tend to favour the Greek/Roman. Hecate is also considered the goddess of magic, sorcery, and necromancy. Sometimes she is perceived as a fortune teller. I decided to play with this aspect of her persona.

I used a Quadrilew. It is a four versed poem, although it can be written longer, following a specific rhyme and patterned verse. A little challenging, but I do kinda like it. I hope you do too, Dear Readers.

Hecate's Vision

She is the old Crone

harbinger of wisdom.

She is not alone

magic is her anthem.

Harbinger of wisdom--

one of the triple

within her own harem,

Truly can be artful.

She is not alone

so she, with sisters three--

Her trinity known

for all the world to see.

Magic is her anthem

weave a spell for ye

read your fortune, Madame

know your choice fairly. 

Also, I need to update my ROW80. A Round of Words in 80 Days is a blog challenge that allows you to set your goals and report on them. It is a Blog Hop! Come in for a visit; stay for tea!

This is a quick update as my Round 2 is pretty packed and starting off slowly. Not necessarily bad mind you, Dear Readers. I just need to be mindful of my free time and work things accordingly. Thus, the goals...

This Week:

    *Reading: I am 68 page into The Dragon and the George (Gordon R. Dickson). It is one I started reading a few years ago, but never finished. Imagine an English/History professor who has astral projected into a dragon's body to rescue his fiancee. Pretty fun so far!

    *Writing: what with NaPoWriMo and Blogging from A to Z going on this month, I am guaranteed to write daily. I did managed to write a bit a little more today with an extra poem.

    *Theatre Stuffs: prepping for The Lake Country Players, 3rd annual 24 Hour Theatre - Tribond Edition this Saturday, rehearsing 4 days this week for Zombie Prom, and trying to find some time to work my songs.

That is really it for today (and Wednesday). I will be more concise and diligent by Sunday as my rehearsal schedules for the two shows (Zombie Prom and Aesop's Foibles) return to twice weekly for the month of April and 24 Hour Theatre will be over. If you are in the Twin Tiers come over to the Old Havana Courthouse Theatre and watch 6 newly birthed show being performed for the first time. Show is at 7:00 pm and tickets are $5.00/general admission. 

AROW80, Letter H, musical poetry fest!

It's Happenstance I am combining my blogs again, because I am just a touch rushed for time today. I don't want to hurry these things along. Today is H, and there are some loverly H words: Heckle, Huckleberry Hound, Hesperides (Grecian Goddess (es) of the Golden Apples, daughter (s) to Atlas), Hermes, Hippogriff, Honey, Hefty, and Horus.

As I am a lover of Grecian/Roman myths, so today I will speak of the Hesperides-sometimes a single maiden, or a group of sisters-born from Atlas, the bearer of the world. He is the god that carries the earth upon his shoulders. His daughter(s) guard the tree with the golden apples. One of Hercules labours includes retrieving some of the golden apples of the Hesperides. He asked help of Atlas, if he (Hercules would bare the world while Atlas retrieve the apples for Hercules. Hercules then borne the world upon his shoulders, in a twist of irony, Atlas was free and not going to return to his post, willingly. Atlas was going to let Hercules continue to bear the world. But then, Hercules intelligence and wit, Atlas once again borne the world upon his back. The trick was to ask Atlas to take the world so Hercules may get a cushion to world the world upon his shoulders. Then off he (Hercules) took off with the golden apples.

Now, today's poetry prompt is to right a poem using 5 random songs. I picked up my mp3 player and selected shuffle and listened to the first 5 songs: "Eleanor Rigby" by the Beatles, "Electricity is in My Soul" by Steam Powered Giraffe, "Empire" by Dar Williams, "England" by Great Big Sea, and "English Tea" by Paul McCartney. I can use these titles and songs in any way shape or form. I guess, here go nothing...

Electricity and the English

The echoes of the musical beats,
it's like electricity coursing through my veins,
it's tickles and make me laugh.

When I feel as lonely, as all of the lonely people do,
I will go and make a cup of English Tea.
It's not only for Sunday Mornings.

I sit upon the sprawling Empire
of my porch, watching the rain come down,
criss-crossing my field of visions.

Making my eyes foggy with tears
at the thought of the distance between you and me,
so far from me, Oh Mother England!

But, I am alive within my own world,
with a electric pulse, the evidence of my life
that I will not be buried with only my name.

I shall request Faerie Cakes to be baked,
upon my death and the whole of the Empire
shall celebrate everything that I was.

For though I may die within this life,
I will not submit what my life has been forged
upon the stormy seas of my mind.

My ancestors were strong folk, upon which
they traveled across the great oceanic divide
to make their own upon these sands.

It's that blood, that flows with me
that grant me my strength to push forward
into the great wilds of the world.

4:15 pm

This is inspired, partly, because of the loss that has permeate my life in the last few months; David's grandfather, our close friend Jane, and our kitty, Winkin. Do Not Go Gently into That Good Night! As the good Dylan Thomas once wrote. So, dear Readers, I hope you find strength with these words. Music be the food to feed out souls and to calm our fears. I am all calm, now. I can see the way clearer after this past week. Life is good, if flawed. I can see that, but am all the more determined to make it full of awesome.

 

Also, Dear Readers, I must update you on my A Round of Words check-in. I finished 24 Hour Theatre and am very proud of my writers, directors, and actors. You guys own it, you killed it! The audience loved you! And I love you! Tempest opens in a week and a half and improv is getting in full swing. There hasn't been much to update since Monday, but a clearer head and my steady output of my writing challenge is coming along.

 

My dedication is renewed and I am ready to make the rest of this month so awesome. The amuse is alive and awake. Great Thalia, Melpomene, Calliope, Erato, and Euterpe hear my call!!

I leave you,  Dear Readers with the songs from my miasma poem (my own title). There are some nice songs here, all from the E part of the alphabet. Have a great rest of the week,  Love each other, because life is short as there is only so much time. Give you husband, wife, mother, father, daughter, son, best friend, cat, dog, pet rock, theatre friends, everyone a hug. Tell them you love them and remember them fondly if they leave (whether just moving or they past on). Life too short, but also too full of amazing things to past any of it by.

If you want something challenging, you, Dear Readers should write a miasma poem. If you do leave me a comment about what songs you end up writing a poem about.

Remember, also to check out you friendly neighbourhood Blog Hop!