OctPoWriMo: Journey's End

How has your journey been for you? Have you discovered new ways to write poetry? Were you able to dive deeper into the words and uncovered new/old truths?

It always is different. I find that when I let go, I get more of what I want out of a poem, a story, or life as I
know it. I tried every prompt, in some capacity. I explored new poetic forms. I tried free verse. I found a love for free verse, letting go of structure, yet still holding onto that ability to tell a story (or try to). I wasn't always successful with what I wanted, but tried. I experimented with rhyme and mimickry of  other poets. I had a good time and will be back next year. There are things I want to try to perfect before next year. Dear Readers, expect much more poetry to surface between now and NaPoWriMo in April 2016.

Enjoy!

For my musketeers and poet peeps...

OctPoWriMo the month long poetry challenge. 31 poems in 31 days. Come see what everyone else is writing aty the Blog Hop.

Word Prompts: trip, expedition, excursion, trek, voyage, cruise, ride, drive, jaunt

Sentence Starters: 
The journey isn't ending...
exploring my depths...

From MorgueFile

~~~~~~

It is the journey

that somehow people will fear

it is what I love

~~~~~~

The adventure

is what is waiting

the journey

a path

a trail

destiny unfolding.

I relish the expedition

seeking out new challenges

new words to play with

upon my fingers

at the keyboard I type,

into the lands known

and unknown.

Upon the ship I sail,

Captain at the helm

and you as my first mate

hold tight before we capsize.

Upon the elephant to ride,

thundering through the jungle

dense and deep.

A quick jaunt to Baker Street,

perhaps with the Tardis meet

some rhyme 

and reason

we travel together

to Paralon and back again,

more adventures to be had.

Even at journey's end,

it is only the beginning.

OctPoWriMo: Senses

Maybe it is the 2 hour nap I took this morning, after the furnace guys came to measure the house. I was tried Tardis Hum coming from my computer. Its my favourite sound to write to. I think it syncs up to my algorithms and keeps me mellow. Anyway, I set to writing the second to last poem for OctPoWriMo 2015.
and I think not getting good quality sleep the last two/three nights.  So now with the nap behind me and the coffee in front I can settle into my work. There is

Funny, while I feel glad to be winding down as I wrote, a sadness overcame me. I guess yesterday's prompt is still with me. And since tomorrow is Halloween I was feeling in the spirit. Something made me want to write a Halloween poem, but then something else wanted to write a poem in the style of Edgar Allan Poe.

I did not settle.

I wrote both.

Happy Halloween ~AND~ Blessed Samhain!!!

Poetry Prompt: Your prompt today is to write a poem that incorporates each of the senses (Or I guess if you want, focus in on one of them?) Free for all on the form, but go one by one with see, feel, smell, hear, and taste. Tell me a story or tell me a memory. Really put the reader into that fleeting moment of life so that in every way those words are alive. Let them be the truth of the moment.

Sight, Smell, Hearing, Touch, and Taste

Word Prompts:  Present, Icy, Embers, Moonlight

Sentence prompts: Then it hit me like...
The breeze came through the window...
I love...
Into the puddle...

Poetic Prompt: Pleiades and Trolaan

Trip of Treating

Within silver moonlight,

I can see and hear sounds

of ghosts and goblins 'round.

Smell of wetted leaves, I

touch the velvet folds of 

my cloak imagining

the hot cup of cocoa

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once Upon a Midnight...

Through the window, open wide it stood--

black night I see and where spirits roam.

Hear the hoot owl cry across inky velvet wood

and feel cold within the confines of my home.

Hasten now to bring fire to life--

have you flint and tinder to strike a spark.

Heavenly is the scent of sulfur rife,

haven's here inside while outside it is stark.

Advantage here we have here today--

and on this night when lurking monsters near

allow me one moment here to stay

awhile as we prepare against the dread night, Dear.

Do not let your fears take to flight,

Darling, now to give you rest,

determined to make this night,

Drink my love and taste this twice hot chocolate blessed.

OctPoWriMo is a month long challenge, 31 poems in 31 days. Beware and enter the Blog Hop at your own risk.

I found these whilst looking for something Halloweenie to post. Poe is one of my favourite poet and writer of all times. Enjoy these adaptations and my own poem, Dear Readers:

OctPoWriMo: Beginnings or Endings

Poetry Prompt: Endings. Beginnings.

Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end. ~Seneca

OctPoWriMo a month long challenge, write 31 poems in 31 days. Come and visit with others, see what they are writing. Blog Hop.

Poetic Form: A Quatern . A French form in the vein of a Kyrielle Sonnet, but not necessarily using iambic meter or rhyme.

Beginning or Ending

Why does an ending mark sadness

when so much more adventure waits.

The path disappearing around

and into the distance sojourned.

Its time to make a change, Dear One--

Why does an ending mark sadness

when set you are to climb mountains

but find valleys that bar your way.

Marching to the Great Wide Open,

but it begs you the question asked--

Why does an ending mark sadness

when all you want to do is laugh?

Beginnings are journeys as much

as Endings are the possible

starts or finishes that you seek--

Why does an ending mark sadness?

Much Progress

Today is a mass of hysteria and confusion as I sort out everything I need to do. Bear with me, Dear Readers. I am trying to get caught up on stuff, so this is getting posted on the late side.

This Week:
      *Reading: making slow work of Inkheart (Cornelia Funke). It a good novel and I need to soak it in. I have forgotten much of it since my last read of it.
      *Writing: wrote my OctPoWriMo poems daily (about 100 words each), Tuesday Writing Blitz (700+ words), Wednesday Writing Blitz (713 words), ROW80 post (863 words), and some NaNoWriMo prep work (its coming too fast).
      *Editing: Didn't get to editing Tuesday, but managed to get about an hour on some edits tonight. I wrote this so out of order that getting these edits and re-writes into the script is really going to take a while. But on the upside I feel I am getting a clearer story out of The Real Road Trip. Its becoming a stronger story. I have chapters now, but they feel more like sections while I sort this story out. We will see after I finish with this re-write draft.
      *Theatre Stuffs: scanned the my script (so I can print of a Lighting and Sound Technical Script tomorrow). Making sing-up sheets for make-up, and help for box office and parental guard duty. Typed up stage notes for Act 1. Much more to come....less than three weeks now!
      *House Tending: got plumber to fix leaky pipe in basement, getting a quote on a new furnace (joys of home ownership) as it appears that the furnace is shot, keeping up with laundry. Most of the dishes are now done.
      *Social Media: spending tine on Twitter, visiting 4 blogs daily from ROW80 and OctPoWriMo (at 4 for each since Sunday), and keeping up with my sponsor duties.

This (upcoming) Week:
       *Reading: continue reading Inkheart, read Murder Comes Ashore (Julie Anne Lindsey), and start Mrs. McGinty's Body (Agatha Christie). Update my Goodreads Reading Challenge.
       *Writing: write daily, at least 300 words. Hoping to make this happen in the latter part of the week this week. Spend a little time getting character sketches done and finish a mock outline for Modern Muses for NaNoWriMo, because that starts on Sunday.
       *Editing: Spend 1 day between now and Sunday editing The Real Road Trip for an hour.
       *Blogging: post Thursday.
       *Social Media:  4 blogs daily, sponsor duties, spend time on Twitter.
       *Theatre Stuffs: report.
       *House Tending: report.

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a blog challenge that knows you have a life. Come and see what the other ROW80-ers are writing about at the Blog Hop.

HOw are your goals coming? Who is doing NaNoWriMo? Ready for November?

So much stuff and now time for a little WIPpet Wednesday!

The creation of K.L. Schwengel, where writers post a bit of their WIP on Wednesday to a Blog Hop (CLICK HERE) to visit the other WIPpeteers. By using today's date you share a snippet and give a little background on the piece. Today is 10/28 so lets do 2 + 8 = 10 paragraphs from the beginning of Modern Muses (working title). Here we meet Thalos and what was doing at the top of the novel and a little bit of Teri.

A man bounced a tennis ball against the ground as he heard shouts from the field. “That’s fifteen – love, mate.” The guy on the further end of the courts called to his partner. 

“Okay, my serve then,” and he reach up just in time to miss the ball and as he ran to catch it his laces which were now loose and sprawled out across the court. He did a tuck and roll, but still managed to bang his head on the fence.

“You okay mate?” his friend called.

“Yeah, just cracked my head that’s all.” Everyone else on the nearby courts eyes the event unfolding, some even chuckle a bit, but most turned back to what they were doing when the young man slowly stood up.

They were supposed to laugh, Thalos thought. Why didn’t they? He thought it was funny.

What people didn’t see was that the man, Thalos was laughing and moving his pointer finger as the young man had skidded into the concrete, dropping his racket as the ball went out of bounds and bumping his head. Thalos wiped tears of mirth from his eyes, “Oh that’s good…” as he mentally checked off points about the young man’s fall.

“I thought you were in charge of inspiring the lighter side of poetry, comedy, and mirth.”

“I am,” said Thalos who now stood, dropping the tennis ball into his draw string bag. “I am just sitting here minding my own business. Doing some research for one of my…um, charges.”

“Right….Thalos. You think I was born yesterday.” The voice belonged to a short and thin girl, who looked much younger than Thalos. She was certainly clean in appearance. “You’re a bum, Talo.”

He hated that nickname. It made him think of candle, “What’s it to you, Teri?” Thalos said ignoring Teri and walking past a girl who was wearing black yoga pants and a purple spaghetti strap top with some brand name store across her meager chest.

OctPoWriMo: Whirlpool Video and Trekking

Today, Morgan Dragonwillow pulled out the challenge of recording yourself reading your favourite poem. I just recorded my voice for last's years OctPoWriMo audio challenege. This year is about stepping outside of my comfort zone.  I know many folks on the interwebs from Twitter, Facebook to Google +; or ROW80 to theOctPoWriMo/NaPoWriMo, especially my fellow musketeers, and also just from networking online with writers, poets, and people. So, I know some of their faces, fewer I know their voices. I like this challenge, because I get to know you as a person with your face and voice. I am taking a chance, I hope you will join me.

I could have picked any of hundreds of poems from high school or college, maybe something last year. I could have picked a really old and terrible poem, or one of my best. Nope and yup! I wanted to share my poem in my own voice and one from this year's OctPoWriMo, as I as written some of my best poem (only 2 were below my REALLY EFFIN' HIGH standards.

Ballads: I wasn't should I would like writing one, but by the time I type the last line, I was pretty much in love with the form. This poem is dedicated to Jesi (Athos), Rod (Aramis), and Lizzi (Dartagnen). I hope you three enjoy my voice and my live action face; and Dear Readers I also hope you enjoy the poem.

A finer point to mention. Morgan also posted this challenge and I am not one to skimp on a challenge. I used my favourite form, the Pantoum.


Word Prompts: confident, positive, pessimistic, sanguine, inauspicious, buoyant

from MorgueFile

Trekking Adveture

The sunshine dawning

even through the rain clouds

Are you confident enough

to sustain through the mire.

Even through the rain

when the pessimism reigns enough

to sustain through the mire

you still must tread.

When the pessimism reigns enough

and you are sure that you cannot

you still must tread

because you know you can.

And you are sure tht you cannot, 

the little voice stills sings

because you know you can

the strength lies within you.

The little voice still sings

a melody that is hard to kill

the strength lies within you

to make the trek through.

A melody that is hard to kill

when you make that choice

to make it through

doing what must be done.

When you make that choice

are you confident enough

to make it through

the sunshine dawning.

OctPoWriMo is a month long poetry challenge. you write 31 poems in 31 days. Come in a visit, see what everyone else is writing too at the Blog Hop.

OctPoWriMo: Why Happy Ending Did you Write

I wrote about the stories, the ending, the tales that make me most happy to read them. Don't get me wrong, I love the standards of the Faerie, and fairytales. But there is something about taking it in a different direction that makes it better, sometimes. That got me thinking. Today's poem is a little more rambly, but It makes one think a little about what we perceive and what we want in our happy endings.

So, how do you write a Happy Ending, Dear Reader?

OctPoWriMo a month long poetry challenge. Write a poem a day for 31 days. Use the daily prompt or write your own. I took the idea and ran with it. Come and read what the others are writing about at the Blog Hop! Enjoy and Happy Reading, dear Readers!!

Photos from MorgueFile

What Happy Ending Did you Write?

Once upon a time...
When the hero rides upon the steed
or the ingenue gets the prince
or the villain properly vanquish--
these are what make up happy endings, right?

What is it you see?

What of
the roan steed within the stable
who,
because her coat,
not nearly glossy enough to be seen,
whilst the white stallion,
looking strong and powerful
yet parched and weary
chosen time and again.

Why pick beauty over strength?

A hero hast not be of royal blood
to save the day,
nor to win thy fair maid's hand,
to be crowned victor,
saving the day
the ending cannot be just what is written.

Upon a steed of white he rides out of the darken glades,
Riding to a happy ending to meet his only love
in a hail of heavenly choruses will they kiss.

Somewhere there is the fool,
who only just wishes,
for once to get the girl.
Maybe,
a chance to snuggle on the couch
whilst watching yon Netflix.

Doesn't mean throwing passion to the wind equals sex?

A sword fight, clash of steel on steel in the royal throne room
with all there to watch as the villain, moustashe twirling dives at the hero
thirsty for blood and honouring a hail of heavenly choruses.

Maybe there is a girl,
with love to give to another
who cannot be hers
bound by promises to others,
yet a love remains
bound in emotional passion.

Are these stories then wrong?

What I want in a story
what I want to be--
I want happy to mean that after all the time on the road
dusty and dirty,
foot sore and hungry,
that maybe the hero
can be with the one they love bound in a rapture of Doctor Who and cheesecake.

Or--

A happy filled with hot cocoa
and a dozen books
and maybe about three weeks to myself.


Or--

With death tasting on my lips,
of relationships burned away,
birdsong in my ears as doors close,
sunshine on your face as you say goodbye.

Would you be okay with that? Would I?

Breaking the status quo
of faerie tales,
and heroes,
dragon battles,
and adventure.

Would you still love that? Love me?

If I re-wrote the stories to be where--

I die,
but having you in my arms
as the last breath leaves my lips--
a veritable happy ending.

Or--

I live
and not have you be mine
while another can claim you as theirs.

Or--

Is the ending best when the truth lies around you
like a cloak of the warmest wool,
flower of the most beautiful colour,
the truths telling you to be brave,
the hurts that make you stronger,
the friend making it out alive,
the Protagonist getting the job done
the Antagonist serving their time.

The happiness of endings--
those spoken with truth
either for good or ill.

OctPoWriMo: When will it Rain

Poetry Prompt: Loop Poem. I did one of these not too long ago for a prompt. am just a little bit excited to be trying it again. Its a great form to write in stream of consciousness. At least this of was very easy to write. the picture provided a bit of fodder for the poem and someone else filled in the gaps. Shhh, that's the secret! :-) I feel really good about this poem and i hope you enjoy reading it, Dear Readers.

From Morgan~
How to Loop 101: There are no restrictions on meter or syllables or rhyme schemes (YAY!). BUT we have a few rules!

Take the last word of a line. Skip a line. Use that word as the first word of that line. I know, sounds harder than it is, so basically take the last word of the FIRST line and use it as the first word of the THIRD line. Take the last word of the SECOND line and use it as the first word of the FORTH line. Last word of the THIRD line is the first word of the FIFTH line. And it keeps going on and on like that. Some people do it by stanzas. There is also a variation where there's no skipping and the last word of the line simply becomes the first word of the next line. Simpler, but personally I think it's a LOT harder. Got it? Sounds fun right!

Word Prompts: Cycle, Transparent, Petrichor- the scent of rain on dry earth , Rarity

When Will it Rain

When all the days seem to blur together

by Beverly Tan

thinking about you

together, by my side standing--

you the picture of lovely

standing a rarity under the 

lovely sapphire skies.

The memory of the rain once

Skies are still clear

once there was rain is the desert.

Clear of everything, but raw emotion

desert lands parched, but for love.

Emotion quenches my thirst

Love makes me thirsty.

Thirst for your lips upon mine,

Thirsty I am

Mine waiting for yours

Am waiting under the sun

Yours is the only one I desire

Sun glinting off your hair

Desire, yearning

Hair smelling of Petrichor

yearning for the moment of 

petrichor, when of the rain soaked bodies 

of heat pressing together and

Bodies intertwined

and thirst no more we will .

OctPoWriMo the month long poetry challenge and makes to think outside the box, at least it does for me. Come and visit with the others and see what they have been up to at the Blog Hop.

OctPoWriMo: Childhood Favourite

It's that time again, Sunday check-in. I'm writing this while gelling to Meatloaf and writing incredibly strange flash fiction. It's what I do, but anyway, how did my latter week plans go. You wanna know? Well, Dear Reader, check it out.

This Week:
     *Reading: about a 1/5 of the way through Inkheart (Cornelia Funke). Been focusing on this one more this week. I have an Agatha Christie novel in my purse Mrs. McGinty's Body, but haven't started reading it yet and there's Murder Comes Ashore (Julie Anne Lindsey) to finish.
     *Writing: have written a poem a day for OctPoWriMo since Wednesday (about 100 words per post), wrote this ROW8 post ( 521words), and a blitz this afternoon (768 words). I wrote 4 days out of the 7 of the week (not counting the poem, which would have meant I wrote all 7 days then).
     *Social Media: visited 4 site daily (ROW80), about 3 to 4 (OctPoWri), and 2 so far for WIPpet Wednesday. Visited my sponsor duties.
     *House tending: vacuumed the upstairs and finished the laundry.

This (upcoming) Week:
     *Reading: continue with Inkheart and finally finish Murder Comes a Shore.
     *Writing: write daily, at least 300 words, include my OctPoWriMo and writing blitzes.
     *Editing: spend at least and hour Tuesday and Wednesday.
     *Blogging: I miss this COMPLETELY this past week. Back to posting Tuesday and Thursday.
     *Social Media: twitter time and visiting at least 4 blogs daily from ROW80, WIPpet Wednesday, OctPoWriMo.

A Round of Words in 80 Days is the challenge that knows you have a life. Come and see what everyone else is writing about or up to at the Blog Hop.

Now, for OctPoWriMo poem of the day. Today's prompt is to write a poem about a favourite childhood toy, blanket, pillow, something from your childhood. I couldn't pick a specific item, but instead took the idea of a favourite toy in the eyes of a child. I played with a couple of forms. Enjoy, Dear Readers!!

Naani is one of Indian's most popular Telugu poems. Naani means an expression of one and all. It consists of 4 lines, the total lines consists of 20 to 25 syllables.

My Favourite Toy

It is the whole world,

or maybe a universe

with worn fur, stained,

and a missing eye.

Haiku: 5/7/5

Bedtime companion

sidekick on far adventures

still missing an eye

Triolet is a poetic form consisting of only 8 lines. Within a Triolet, the 1st, 4th, and 7th lines repeat, and the 2nd and 8th lines do as well. The rhyme scheme is simple: ABaAabAB, capital letters representing the repeated lines. Written is iambic tetrameter.

Guardian

For when I am afraid, you be

the only one that I can trust--

a fearsome protector, guarding me

For when I am afraid, you be

my protection from what I see

from my blanket tower where just

For when I am afraid, you be

the only one that I can trust.

OctPoWriMo is a month long poetry challenge. A poem a day for 31 days. Come and see what the others are writing about at the Blog Hop.

 

OctPoWriMo: Fantasy Tale

Today was the perfect prompt for me, enter the fantasy and enter the meter. I have been enjoying playing with meter. Morgan's poem Blind is not only a stellar and awesome piece of poetry, but it has given me today's poem. 

I love a good adventure, and mediaeval clothing, and the possibilities. Usual there is one trip to a Ren. Faire a year. This poem I based on my friend Sara, with whom I have had many adventures. She is the lady in the tower, the maiden to bestow honour upon, and the friend to travel with to faraway places. We would make great Doctor companions together. So tonight is a little bit of that childhood fantasy, epic adventure, and joyous love of pretty words.

This is Sara

Poetry Prompt: Search through the photos at Morgue  File until you find one that sparks a story poem for you.

Not Sara, just inspiration

Word Prompts: Imaginary, tale, adventure, drama, fantasy

Fantasy Tale

Imagine if

For a moment

A lady fair

A castle great

Ride away to

Adventure that

Can only be

Created by me.

OctPoWriMo is a 31 days poetry challenge. Come and visit the Blog Hop and see what my fellow poets are writing.

OctPoWriMo: To Feel as a Writer

Yūgen is a Japanese word pertaining to a profound awareness of the universe which evokes feelings that are inexplicably deep and too mysterious for words.

Word Prompts: Seascape, Harmony, Galactic

From MorgueFile

To Feel as a Writer

Remember,

this is how it feels...

Upon the galactic seaside,

where the universe rolls away

and the sea gulls glide

upon celestial breezes

the seascape is real.

That's quite the picture

I can image,

while sitting on the deck 

of the largest space cruise liner

ever built,

sipping Martian Martinis.

It's not hard to picture

images such as these,

as writer

it is an exercise in the everyday

Far too many people would call it 

daydreaming,

I would not.

For me its planning.

Something about being connected,

have an extra sense,

not like ESP,

although that could come in handy

when I play the lottery tonight.

When you are in harmony

with the universe.

In the whole of the whole,

all of the universe,

what a writer sees

can make up a universe.

So crucial

to find a balance

with the scared

with the profane

in a dance as elegant of the creation of everything.

Its what a writer feels

when they feel the right world

universe,

Yūgen.

OctPoWriMo is a 31 day poetry challenge. Come a visit the Blog Hop and see what the others are writing about, maybe even join in.

OctPoWriMo: Tell Me a Truth

Poetry Prompt: Two Lies and a Truth? from Tamara Woods.Write a poem using two lies and a truth. You can go where the wind takes you on this one, whether over the top or straight down the line.


Poetic Form: Monotetra
Line 1: 8 syllables; A1
Line 2: 8 syllables; A2
Line 3: 8 syllables; A3
Line 4: 4 syllables, repeated; A4, A4

OctoPoWriMo is a month long poetry challenge. Come in and see what everyone is writing about.

Tell Me a Truth

Do I live up in castle's view?

That I have touched the sun, I flew?

Maybe an actor with my cue,?

Which one is true? Which one is true? 

All TEH Things Wednesday

This Week:
       *Reading: finished Dead Before Dark (Wendy Corsi Staub). A very engaging story, but I was a little Inkheart (Cornelia Funke).
disappointed in the ending. It felt rushed and a little anti-climatic. Over all was a fun read though. Focusing now on
       *Writing: wrote  Monday (500+ words), Tuesday (616 words), and my ROW80 post (628 words). Also, I have written my daily poems for OctPoWriMo (about 100+ words per post).
       *Editing: spend an hour Tuesday and Wednesday on The Real Road Trip. I have about 4 chapters set . Finding the story better now. Still its like playing giant word Tetris . It's coming, albeit slowly, but it's coming. This why I need to plot more and pants less.
       *NaNoWriMo Prep: started breaking down my scenes (have 6 currently) and made a character list for Modern Muses.
       *Theatre Stuffs: sending out regular week in review emails, wrote my bios for the Golden Age of Radio Show and The Music Man. Bought a first aid kit and the glow in the dark spike tape will be delivered tomorrow. Still need a box for my stage manager stuff.
        *House tending: dishes and laundry done. Discovered a leaking pipe in the basement, just above the hot water tank. The joys of home owning and being an adult. That call will happen tomorrow to get someone to fix it. Decorated for Halloween.
        Social Media: 4 blogs daily (ROW80 and OctPoWriMo makes 8). I got most of that since Sunday and Visit at least 2 WIPpet Wednesday, as I miss that this past week. Visit my sponsor duties. Sponsor post has been submitted, will be live in November. I skipped #writestuff tweet chat to focus on the editing.

Been a good week, except I have been feeling distant. I think because I have a lot going on and my brain gets focus on one thing, and ALL TEH OTHERS get pushed to the back burner. Still, it's been a good week over all.

This (upcoming) Week:
      *Reading : continue with Inkheart and start another Agatha Christie mystery.
      *Writing: write daily, at least 300 words.
      *Blogging: post something Thursday.
      *Theatre Stuffs: report.
      *Social Media: 4 blog daily and sponsor duties.
      *House tending: carve/paint pumpkins. Bake Halloween goodies.

A Round of Words in 80 Days, the blog challenge that knows you have a life. Come and visit the Blog Hop and see what everyone is writing about, working on, or involved in.



• What are you currently reading? Inkheart (Cornelia Funke)
• What did you recently finish reading? Dead Before Dark (Wendy Corsi Staub)
• What do you think you’ll read next? Mrs. McGinty's Body (Agatha Christie) or The Faerie Path (Frewin Jones)

Today is also WIPpet Wednesday, the brain-child of K.L. Schwengel, the chief cook and bottle washer and flying monkey trainer. By using today's date I will share a bit of my WIP (working title) Modern Muses. Today's snippet is right after last week's, continuing with Teri's adventures in the dark. WIPpet math 21st day, 2 +1 = 3 +1 = 4 paragraphs.

Check out the Blog Hop to visit the other WIPpeteers and see what they are writing.

“Yes?” she said tentatively as she began to look around the darkness of wherever she was.

“I thought so. Nothing makes sense here, I should know,” the voice said, sounding neither male nor female, but was calming. Teri tried to relax some, inhaling and exhaling slowly, not sure if she was breathing or pretending to. “I know you are lost. You encountered one of them didn’t you?” Teri felt warmth surround her shoulder, or what she thought her shoulders were.

“Them?”

“So you really don’t know, then?” The voice grew closer and Teri was sure that her shoulders were real. There was pained that arched across her shoulder blades.

OctPoWriMo: Whirlpool

Poetry Prompt: In honor of my week of feeling overwhelmed, I challenge you to write into your feelings of overwhelm; when you feel it, how you feel it, what happens when you feel it, and what you do about it.

Word Prompts: swamp, submerge, engulf, bury, deluge, flood, inundate

Poetic Form: Ballad

This has to be one of the harder new forms that I have tackled. I visit shadow poetry often and this one I have looked at repeatedly. Usually I just continue on. I am glad that Morgan made me try it. It has rhyme and meter and together HOO BOY!! But the topic was perfect. I have felt overwhelm and ready to pack it in, so I am more than confidant that I can managed this poem. I hope you enjoy it Dear Readers, also I hope it doesn't stress you out it is is too accurate.

OctPoWriMo is a month long poetry challenge, 31 poems in 31 days. Come and see what everyone has been writing at the Blog Hop.

From MorgueFile

Whirlpool

Its like a whirling of the wind

spinning around your head

and at once masking all that veils,

a deluge to be bled.

A monster that resides within

starting to claw without

to distract you from the daily

twirling dance of the doubt.

Its like a whirling of the wind

spinning around your head

and at once masking all that veils,

a deluge to be bled.

Upon your feet you stand erect

while the mental demons 

who have awoken with the storm

begin now to hasten.

Its like a whirling of the wind

spinning around your head

and at once masking all that veils,

a deluge to be bled.

Their dance engulfs you in a pit

where the flood levels rise

moments before you were alive

only to ask the whys.

Its like a whirling of the wind

spinning around your head

and at once masking all that veils,

a deluge to be bled.

You, in darkness when the storm falls

feeling sometimes swamped and 

at a loss for a breath

that you have swallowed sand. 

Its like a whirling of the wind

spinning around your head

and at once masking all that veils,

a deluge to be bled.

Afterward, there is nothing left

just alone and afraid

as the dancing storm is finished

and all you feel is frayed. 

OctPoWriMo: Love of...

Today's Prompts: Love Poetry.

Word Prompts: fondness, tenderness, warmth, intimacy, attachment, endearment

From MorgueFile

What a concept? What a things that is asked of? Do that realize how trite the idea is?

Maybe we need to write more love poetry, about the things that make us happy. Maybe with a little more love in the world, then the bad wouldn't feel so bad? A nice thought, Dear Readers. I am not always for the love poetry in the normal "How do I Love Thee..." kind of way. All poetry is valid and I enjoying read pretty much all types of poetry, including love poetry. Having taken part in OctPoWriMo two years in a row now I have learned a thing are two about the prompts and the poems. The secret? There's two. One is that you never have to write about today's prompt, ever. And there is two, if given a prompt that to want to try, or challenge yourself, think A LOT outside the box.

So, Dear Readers, that is what i do. I wrote outside the box, so  much so that I wrote two different poems using two different poetic styles about what I love. The Rictameter and the Loop Poem feature a theme, not quite the same thing each time, but similar.

Go and visit the others at OctPoWriMo!

Enjoy!

Love in Sight

Quiet,

I sit here in

silence, here where only 

whispers speak, as I wait for mine.

Patiently upon this bench I now sit

for the return of my beloved one.

We can travel worlds together

arms holding to pages

ink stained fingers

Quiet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Passionate Words

Words create warmth

warmth of spirit

spirit suddenly alive

alive with passion.

Like a lover's touch

touch my heart

heart is breaking

breaking apart without.

An intimacy built

built with words

words that define

define the known world.

That after a moment

moment to catch one's breath

breath in and out

out of the moment.

Great is their power

power is a control

control is what happens

happens after the words are said

After all is said

said to me these endearments

endearments that I say

say, they are  powerful.

Yet written within these tomes

tomes long ago preserved

preserved by the guardians

guardians of words and meaning.

Teachers are some

some are Librarians

Librarians, they stand watch

watch as I write.

The final chapter penned

penned are the tender thoughts

thoughts that I've made real

real are the books upon the shelves.

OctPoWriMo: Dear John Poem

Today's Prompt: a Dear "John" Poem.

Today's short and sweet, i have a bit too much accomplished between day job and night job (Music Man), so enjoy, Dear Readers.

OctoPoWriMo is a 31 day, month long poetry challenge. Come and visit with us!

A Fast Letter:

Dear Burger King,
I remember your chicken tenders in the eighties, what happened?

Dear McDonald's,
It's not you, it's me. Well, maybe it is just a bit you. You kinda ruined
chicken for me. Thanks, but no thanks.

Dear Arby's,
Never trust curly fries. They always harbour homestyle frie or two.

Dear Wendy's,
I tried to resist, but your Frosty's are sooooo good.

OctPoWriMo: My Hero (and my progress, sort of)

Somewhere between Wednesday and Sunday I missed something. I wrote my daily dose of OctPoWriMo and plans to write, I did. Thursday was a lot of Work right in Rehearsal, and then Friday was a big blur. Yesterday was my unplugged day. So, yeah, I feel less than productive, but usually after I type my check-in I feel better. Maybe today is the case. So, Dear Readers how did I measure up?

Oh, and I was introduced to American Horror Story this weekend by my beautiful friend, Kaylara. She is named (actually adapted from) after a dragon rider (Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern) and this makes my happy.

This Week:

     *Social Media: I didn't. I admit that I went visiting my blogs and sponsor duties today. But, you see when I read a blog post I want to be fully engaged and leave a incite and a positive response. so, this morning I went to my 4 dailies and my sponsor duties. I feel better. No point in wasting my negativity by not being productive, so I a, ultra productive and begin the week on a firmer footing.

      *Reading: been working my way through Dead Before Dark (Wendy Corsi Staub) a little every morning and at lunch. I also spent about 90 minutes yesterday morning reading. It is a very detailed story, so I want to be able to soak it all up. I have been slowly working on Inkheart (Cornelia Funke), only about 3 chapters in. I realized I have forgotten a number of this from the first time I read it. It's like reading it for the first time, but I am enjoying it as much as I did the first time. Definitely looking forward to watching the movie adaptation after reading the book (even if it is terrible).

      *Writing: written mostly poetry since Wednesday (about 100 - 150 words per post). A little less than my daily minimum, but I am pleased with my poetic output thus far. This week is going to be much better.

      *House tending: laundry, trash out to curb, and some dishes (still have a few more. Mostly coffee cups).

      *Theatre Stuffs: glow in the dark spike tape is ordered, rehearsals are going well (scheduling is good better), getting sponsors, waiting on the confirmation for the interview date for one of the local TV stations. 

Not bad, I missed a couple of big goals. I did not get to editing this week, nor did I post anything on Thursday. I think I need to post on Friday's instead of Thursday. I have more time on Friday's. Thursday is a rehearsal night and the last one was a long one. It is going to continue to be long as we approach tech week in two weeks! I will live, it's a fresh week, going make it count.

This (upcoming) Week:

      *Reading: finish Dead Before Dark, make progress on Inkheart. BTW, I am at 37 books out of 50 for the year's reading challenge.

      *Writing: write daily, at least 300 words. Write OctPoWriMo, and something else of my choice this week. Work on plotting (and outline) Modern Muses for NaNoWriMo.

      *Editing: devote two to three hours Tuesday to editing some of The Real Road Trip.

      *Blogging: post a poem on Tuesday, separate from the OctPoWriMo post.

      *Theatre Stuffs: report. Start set drawings and notes for crew.

      *Anything Else....

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a blog challenge that knows you have a life. Come and visit us at the Blog Hop, and see what everyone else is up to.

What goals are you making a lot of progress on? What goals are falling to the back burner? What TV shows (if any) have to recently discovered?

Time for poetry....

Today's Prompt: What if one of your ordinary house hold objects had a secret? Lead a double life? 

What would a pen do if it was a superhero. I am taking today's prompt and running with it. The thought occurred to me that maybe our pens, and even pencils might have a double life. Saving the day, rescuing the girl, slaying the monster? What would it be like?

Okay, I've gone a little silly on this one, but seriously it was fun to write. Enjoy, Dear Readers?

From MorgueFile

My Hero

My pen,

she sits all innocent like

lying on the table

acting like I don't know.

She has a little secret,

and never's told a soul

about what she does when no one looking.

You see she's a superhero

betcha you didn't see that coming

right?

My pen is a superhero,

how do I know?

Well, ever see when the damsels in distress,

or the Antagonist has the upper hand,

or maybe when all is lost?

Have you even wondered how the day is saved?

It's my little pen.

My little ball point, BIC, blue inked pen,

she jumps into the air

when the darkness has fallen

and we are sleeping safe in our beds.

She takes to the air

flying fast as Superman, around the world

in a blast of magic 

and ink.

To the trouble she arrives,

not barely batting an eyelash,

as she set to work

writing a scene,

Where the hero arrives

maybe on a white ostrich,

is that even right?

Where the Antagonist is foiled

by a pen light at the right time.

Are you sure that's right?

Maybe there is a twist

and then she start anew with the plot.

My pen is mightier than the sword,

even when she writes about sword play.

Quick as any,

I am writing this down

when I can write her--

My hero,

 a happy ending too.

OctPoWriMo is a 31 day poetry challenge where you a challenged to write a poem a day, using your own wit and maybe a writing prompt or two. Come and see what the others have been up to.

OctPoWriMo: Careless Release

“Dance, when you're broken open. Dance, if you've torn the bandage off. Dance in the middle of the fighting. Dance in your blood. Dance when you're perfectly free.” ― Rumi

Poetry Prompt:
What stage are you at in the above quote? Are you dancing?
Write for ten minutes asking yourself the previous questions.

Word Prompts: Free, Middle, Bandage

Poetry Type: Cascade
I created a poem for this poetry type for the last A to Z challenge. I enjoyed playing with it and I hope you do as well.

So this is a short entry, as I has been all over today and then some. My sinuses has kicked in and with the complete entrance to Autumn (or Winter as it may be). The headache I had is gone, but now I have to fly to Who Night with the gang. When I found today's prompt, I was a little afraid I couldn't do it in a scant 30 minutes before leaving. Anyway, Dear Readers, the chord was struck. Dance equals Healing. I find a good dance to some Meatloaf or Savage Garden has healed me. And it also reminded me of Morgan's prompt earlier in the month about dancing and then writing. I did not dance, but I found a rhythm in there anyway. Hsve you danced to heal yourself? What songs have made you feel better by dancing to them? Have you written about it? That and the cascade proved to be soooooo much easier and a lot of fun to write. I think I will be trying this again. Enjoy, Dear Readers!

Careless Release

When you hear the music

are you one to dance

ecstatic and joyful?

A primitive beat

lacing the blood that pumps through our veins

when you hear the music.

Like a bandaged limb has healed

with the proper treatment

are you the one to dance

to heal a broken heart,

beats the steady beat 

ecstatic and joyful.

A cure that most doctors will not prescribe,

yet I can say that when handed my fate

A primitive beat

suddenly burst forth

and my feet pound upon the earthy loam,

lacing the blood that pumps through our veins.

And I can again feel 

that the world simply turns

when you hear the music.

OctPoWriMo the month long poetry challenge. Come and visit us and reads what everyone else is writing.

OctPoWriMo: Sailor's Dreams

Today's Poetry Prompt: The paradelle. Invented to be a parody (hence the name) to villanelles by US Poet Laureate Billy Collins. There, that's your history lesson for the day! Go visit Shadow Poetry for examples.


The Design is simple:
Stanza 1: 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 4
Stanza 2: 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8
Stanza 3: 9, 9, 10, 10, 11, 12
Stanza 4: 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

Word prompts: Parallel, Dimension , Shipwreck , Delicious

Sentence prompts: 
O' stormy sea...
Sounding with a crunch...
In her shadow...

Come and visit OctPoWriMo and see what everyone is writing.

Photo courtesy of Beverly Tan

Sailor's Dreams

What if it was all in her head

What if it was all in her head

The delicious dream of sailing on the stormy seas

The delicious dream of sailing on the stormy seas

The dream of sailing in her head, what if

on the stormy seas, it was all delicious.

As she lays supine amongst the daisies

As she lays supine amongst the daisies

In another dimension, dreaming of sailor's stories

In another dimension, dreaming of sailor's stories

She lays supine as in another dimension dreaming,

sailor's stories of amongst the daisies.

There is a shipwreck riding fast against the waves

There is a shipwreck riding fast against the waves

At the mercy of her own wild imagination's creation

At the mercy of her own wild imagination's creation

Against the waves, there riding of her own imagination

a mercy is fast at the shipwreck's creation. 

At a shipwreck of her own creation, riding the waves--

wild's imagination is sailing on the stormy seas.

In another dream of sailor's stories all in her head,

as amongst the supine mercy there was it,

the fast dreaming of delicious daisies.

What if she lays against the dimension?