Feywriter

New website announcement!

noreply@blogger.com (feywriter) — Fri, 22 May 2020 21:14:00 +0000

I realize I haven't posted here about my new website!

Briarbook Lane is home to authors Mary W. Jensen and Elizabeth Wilcox, sisters in life and story. An enchanted escape, with book reviews, writer tools, and a fairy tale book club.

This is a new blog start for me. The website hosts three blogs: my new blog "Mary's Expression", Liz's blog "Elizabeth's Musings", and "Enchanted Garden" which is our fairy tale book club. We will be posting our thoughts on our first book club title, "Mirror Mirror" by Gregory Maguire, on June 2 and invite you to read along!

I'd love it if you came over and followed us there.

Books I Read in 2018

noreply@blogger.com (feywriter) — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 17:46:00 +0000

The Goal

Last year my main reading goal wasn't for types or numbers, but simply to track what I read. I bought a cute reading tracker (on Etsy) I printed out. I ended up doing two sheets, one for shorter works and one for more standard books. My main sheet didn't fill out, but I had to print off a second one for shorter works. Read a lot more graphic novels than I expected.

Books Read 2018

Here was my breakdown

Graphic Novels: 38
Picture Books: 25
JE (early readers): 8 (all Owl Diaries, super cute series)
JF (Junior Fiction): 2
Nonfiction: 5 adult, 4 junior
Adult and YF novels (didn't designate between them): 26
Story Collection: 1
Poetry books (from children, to chapbook, to full collection): 17

A total of 126 books!

I read 20 books for work.
10 books with husband or son.
1 audio book.

I also did a summer reading bingo with my son.

New and Unexpected

The book that I was most surprised to enjoy was "A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amore Towles. The description had me thinking it would be a long slow read. Never would have even picked it up if not for my book club. Ended up quickly being immersed into the book and its characters, its philosophy.

A new favorite poet is Atticus. I quickly devoured both his books: "The Dark Between Stars" and "Love Her Wild." Resonating poetry, and gorgeous accompanying black and white photography.

Some other standout books:

Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix (horror)
Come Sundown by Nora Roberts (romantic suspense)
A Song for Quiet by Cassandra Khaw (horror, Lovecraftian)
Level Up Your Life by Steve Kamb (self-help)
The Beauty (graphic novel series)
Explorer (graphic novel series, anthologies)
Hidden City: Poems of Urban Wildlife (children's poetry)
Marcy and the Riddle of the Sphinx (picture book)

What did you read last year?

My Experience with "Diet Right for Your Personality Type"

noreply@blogger.com (feywriter) — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 16:45:00 +0000

The Book

I started a 4 week diet plan in mid October, so I would end just before the holidays. The book that got me started was one I saw on display at the library and checked out: "Diet Right for Your Personality Type" by Jen Widerstrom.

She breaks everyone down into 5 types.

The Organized Doer
The Swinger
The Rebel
The Everyday Hero
The Never-Ever

I'm not going into the differences, but here's a great article that does so: Jen Widerstrom Explains Why Weight Loss Tips Aren't Working For You

I'd tried changing my diet before, but always struggled. What I liked about Jen's plan is that she tailors it to your individual personality type to increase chance of success. I took the quiz, and my results fell where I expected: The Never-Ever. My own worst enemy, gives up easily, fear based thinking. This resonated so much with me that I was more inclined to give her diet a shot. Another thing I liked is that her plan isn't about carbs bad, fish good, or anything. More veggies, yes; less boxed and processed goods. Better plate ratios and portions. Listen to your body, how it reacts to different foods, and drink more water. Also about changing your diet long-term, setting you up for continued success after the structured 4 weeks are over.

My Experience

The initial cost was really high, buying packages of things like quinoa, bone broth, teas, bulk items that I didn't have on hand. My first week the fridge was overflowing with produce. I was surprised how well much of it held up though, and I did buy less on the later weeks. I also had to get a blender, larger teacups, soup mugs to-go, and a thermos for the sipping broth. But I considered it an investment in my health. I made a Pinterest board for the items I ended up getting.

Now, ideally any diet would include an exercise plan. Jen does include workouts, but I focused on the diet rather than the exercise. I did some exercise, but most of my physical activity was just from work. I do have an active job as a library shelver, and I walk and bus. So it's not like I was stuck at a desk all month. I do know I could have lost more weight if I was more active on my days off.

I lost 7 pounds, half of that in the first week. More importantly, I felt a difference physically and mentally. I was less sluggish, took less naps, was able to focus on tasks, even was more creative, feeling more inclined and able to work on my writing projects.

What didn't work for me

I had to adjust some of the recipes, as most of the portions were too big for me. Some I reduced by about a third, others I completely cut in half. I also had to make some substitutions for things out of season or that I couldn't find in my area, or were too expensive (I'm looking at you halibut).

I learned I am allergic to chamomile tea (cousin to ragweed). I really don't like fish, no matter how it is cooked. And brand makes a difference. I have gotten used to Fage greek yogurt, but one bite of an Oikos and I gagged.

What did work

I liked having everything planned, and going to plan my own lunches better so I don't throw something unhealthy together. If have a plan, and stick to it, I'm less likely to eat out or binge on unhealthy snacks.

I ramped up my water drinking. Seemed like a lot starting out, but got used to it as weeks went on. Now sweets are less appealing (still good, just can't eat as much), and fast food / oily food doesn't taste as good. Still working on cutting back soda, but trying to drink more lower calorie options like Mtn Dew Ice or Kickstart.

My family was supportive. I couldn't have done it without them. They tried some of the meals with me, and made separate meals the other nights (so many dishes). They were willing to taste most everything. We all cut back on sweets.

Moving Forward

We may not have liked all of the recipes, but did keep some to add to our new rotation. Eating healthy can taste good and wasn't as expensive as we feared. We are making changes moving forward, cutting out boxed meals, and moving to more healthy options. And coming up with a rotating meal plan to make planning and shopping easier.

My new goal is to continue eating healthier, and start exercising more consistently on my days off.

Staying with the healthy theme, for my birthday last month my husband bought me a Fitbit. I like being able to track how much walking I actually do, and the reminders to get moving. Default goal is 10,000 steps but that felt too high to start with, so I'm aiming for 5,000.

What choices will you make today to be healthier?

Lifelines Returns

noreply@blogger.com (feywriter) — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 17:14:00 +0000

Hi Again!

It's been a while since I posted, but I plan to get this blogging thing going again.

I do have some news since I was last here. Lifelines, the poetry collection put together by my group The Poetic Muselings, is back in print and newly available in digital form.

Link to Lifelines print book.
Link to Lifelines for Kindle.

Here's our lovely new cover, photo by group member Michele Graf.

Lifelines New Cover

Suggest a Purchase

If you can't afford a book but still want to read it, remember to use your library. Library purchases still support authors. Most libraries have a way to request a purchase. Here's what the form looks like on the Salt Lake County Library site.

If you don't know how to request a purchase for your library, simply ask the librarian. They are there to help you. You can get info from the Amazon listing on the ISBN, publication date, publisher, etc. Support both your authors and your local library.

Anticipation for April

noreply@blogger.com (feywriter) — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 17:22:00 +0000

Tomorrow begins a new month. But it’s not just any month, it’s April! What does that mean? National Poetry Month. April is prolific with prompts, and I always write an abundance of new poems.

In addition to taking on the challenge of writing a poem a day, I am taking the upcoming course How Writers Write Poetry. It’s a free online 7 week poetry course. Since the start date got delayed, the entrants have been invited to submit poems on the theme of “anticipation”. Here’s one of mine:

Skyward

The air is heavy,
clouds rich with moisture,
the world on hold, waiting…

I tip my head to the sky
and breathe in the fresh breeze--
nearly taste the rain.

Branches stretch,
unfurling leaves and blossoms,
eager for a taste of their own.

How will you be celebrating National Poetry Month? Need some ideas?

30 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month
Poetic Asides Poem-A-Day (PAD) Challenge
30 Day Poetry Challenge
NaPoWriMo

Poetry News

noreply@blogger.com (feywriter) — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 22:03:00 +0000

I was recently interviewed by Margaret Fieland about Chiaroscuro and writing. She asked some great questions about the process behind compiling and publishing Chiaroscuro, as well as how I balance fantasy and poetry. Go leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of my book.

The Poetic Muselings are having a summer poetry challenge. We challenged each other to see who could write (and post) the most new poems between July 15 and Sept 1. Come join in the fun.

Today I wrote my first poem for the challenge. (I am behind!) Since my son was sitting nearby, I asked him for a topic. He chose dinosaurs, as that’s our theme for this week. We’ve picked out themes for each week of summer, to help with activity ideas. So, in honor of dinosaur week and my son, I wrote the following poem. This poem/song also got us up and moving to do the Stego Stomp. So I’d call it a success: a new poem, collaboration with my son, and exercise! Stomp along.

Stego Stomp

Come into the stomping ground
Best party to be found

DJ Rex will never fail
Every dino shake your tail

Through the valley we will romp
Time for the Stego Stomp

Clap your plates to the beat
Move all four of your feet

Stomp left, then stomp right
Jump up with all your might

Nose to the ground, tail in the air,
Wave that thing like you don't care

Spin around, then grab a snack
(Making sure to watch your back)

Blast out a mighty roar
You are a dinosaur!

As a bonus for you, I took a picture of part of my rough draft notes and doodles. When I mentioned DJ Rex, my son pointed out that due to his short arms a t-rex would spin with his nose.

A Poem and a Prompt

noreply@blogger.com (feywriter) — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 15:40:00 +0000

Whether just starting as a poet, or well-experienced, you can learn by imitation. Choose a poem by another poet, classic or modern, and write a poem in the same style. There's a few ways you could approach this:

Write a poem as a direct response to the subject.
Write your own poem inspired by the topic.
Follow the poetry form only.

Here's an example of one of my early poems. I personalized Emily Dickinson's "This is My Letter to the World." I kept it in a similar style, and thought: What would I say to the world?

My Letter to the World

What do I have to say to the world
That all but deserted me?
Would anyone listen to a single soul
Through the unheard art of poetry?

Although surrounded by others,
Wanting my voice to be heard,
I’m often isolated
For no one will hear my words.

Can I make a difference in someone’s life,
As others did in mine?
Will anyone read the simple words
That I wrote in my spare time?

I may be a shy, quiet person
But I have a message of my own;
Won’t someone come and discover
The soul within my poems.

The message of my poem remains true today. I want my voice, my poems, to be heard. Which is why I am giving away a free copy of my new poetry book, Chiaroscuro. One week left to enter. Go here to the blog post with the Rafflecopter giveaway.

I'd love it if you shared your own poem based on the prompt.

Chiaroscuro Book Give-a-Way!

noreply@blogger.com (feywriter) — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 13:44:00 +0000

This is your chance to win a copy of Chiaroscuro.

CHIAROSCURO is a poetry book about the contrast and balance between light and dark. It’s a journey through a crumbling world that leaves a gritty taste. It shines light on the edge of awareness where dark magic wars with childish innocence.

These poems range from internal conflict to worldwide war to creatures of myth, but all follow the themes of finding havens of light in dark days, persisting despite the odds. The light is only brighter for the darkness that surrounds it.

Winner will receive a PDF copy of Chiaroscuro. This is my first Rafflecopter giveaway. If it goes well, I'll do another! Enter below. Ask if you have any questions.

If you happen to already have a copy (thank you!), you can still enter and gift it to a friend.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It’s a Brand New May

noreply@blogger.com (feywriter) — Mon, 05 May 2014 17:19:00 +0000

April is over. I challenged myself to write one new poem a day, and 26 blog posts for the AtoZ challenge. I’m happy to say that now only did I succeed, I blew it out of the water. This was my most successful poetry month. Last year I had the same poetry goal. My numbers:

Blog posts: 26

poems written: 41 (last year 19)

words of poetry written: 2512 (last year 1332)

What would I do different?

I didn’t spend much time visiting other bloggers doing the A to Z challenge. Next year I’ll interact more. I did find a few new blogs to follow, and hopefully got a few friends in return.

My own favorite posts:

C is for Chiaroscuro
F is for Fairies and Fudge
I is for Imagination
Q is for Quotes
R is for Rain
U is for Unique

Fellow bloggers who participated:

Sylvia Van Bruggen: Writer, Artist, Play Instigator
Writing Off the Edge
Untethered Realms
Writing in Wonderland

Thank you to everyone who visited, left comments, and gave support. I couldn’t have done this on my own.

Now What?

My goal is to transfer that productivity to my fiction. I’m going to keep it quite doable this month, and match my poetry. So 2500 words added to my novels.

As for blogging, I’m going to blog once a week, with updates on my poetry and fiction, as well as life in general. I hope you stay with me.

April was also a great month, as my first ever poetry book was published April 23. Chiaroscuro is available directly from SynergEbooks, and on Amazon.com and B&N.com.

Z is for Zero Hour

noreply@blogger.com (feywriter) — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 20:08:00 +0000

As today is the last of the A to Z challenge, and also the final day of poetry month, I wrote a poem about an ending. But this isn't "The End". Expect me back here blogging about once a week. It won't be all poetry all the time. I'll expand back to include other topics such as fantasy, books, and life. I hope you've enjoyed this month's journey. I'll do a recap next week.

Fate

Five doomed us—

A council of greed

turned to the dark arts

in their attempts to cheat death,

but only gods can grant immortality.

Foresight could have saved us…

the oracle's visions

blinded by gold,

she bought a ship

and left us to our fates.

Thrice the waves came,

each more deadly than the last…

slammed through walls,

flooded streets,

pushed us to the heart of our island.

Too little, too late,

a sacrifice was chosen

to appease the scorned gods:

I was merely a child

thrown into volcano's maw

One last desperate prayer,

I cried out in terror

as I fell to certain doom:

this wasn't my fault,

wasn't my fate!

Zero hour had come…

Hades embraced me,

blessed my sacrifice;

I arose a phoenix,
reborn as Atlantis crumbled.

Phoenix Press (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Y is for Youth

noreply@blogger.com (feywriter) — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 18:39:00 +0000

The child has a special gift, seeing the world with different eyes. Too many of us grow up and stop believing.

The Child's Gift

Mama,

can you smell?

my teddy bathed in wildflowers

Mama,

can you feel?

this rock has a heartbeat

Mama,

can you hear?

the flap of dragonwings

Mama,

can you see?

the fairy sitting in the tree

Mama,

can you taste?

there's magic in my lemonade

Mama,

did you know?
an angel watches over me

X is for eXtras

noreply@blogger.com (feywriter) — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 14:29:00 +0000

In Scott Westerfeld's Extras, each person has their own news feed. But with so many feeds, not everyone will get noticed. Even in today's world, anyone can have a blog, a Facebook page. It can be easy to feel lost in the crowd, unnoticed, merely an extra. Even before blogs, when I was first writing poetry in high school and trying to get published, I penned this poem about wanting to be heard:

My Letter to the World

What do I have to say to the world

That all but deserted me?

Would anyone listen to a single soul

Through the unheard art of poetry?

Although surrounded by others,

Wanting my voice to be heard,

I’m often isolated

For no one will hear my words.

Can I make a difference in someone’s life,

As others did in mine?

Will anyone read the simple words

That I wrote in my spare time?

I may be a shy, quiet person

But I have a message of my own;

Won’t someone come and discover

The soul within my poems.

Once I had the word Extra stuck in my head while planning this post, there's one other thing that kept coming to mind. "Extra! Extra! Read all about it." More news trying to get attention, the newsies selling their papers on the streets. So here's my new poem on topic:

Extra Extra!

sellin' news

on the streets

tryin' to stand out in the crowd

to be heard o'er the noise

weighin' the need for food,

a roof overhead,

against standin' up

for what's right

just one boy, one voice,

the big man won't hear,

but one becomes legion--

united we change the world

If you haven't seen it, the movie Newsies follows these boys, in their struggle to stand up to the presses. And since Newsies is a musical, I simply must include a song.

P.S. If you haven't yet read Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series, check it out. Awesome YA dystopian series. My husband and I bought the whole set after being unable to put down the sample chapters. So compelling.

W is for Walt Whitman

noreply@blogger.com (feywriter) — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 17:49:00 +0000

Whitman is my favorite classic poet.

Walt Whitman was born May 31, 1819. He was the second of nine children, four of whom were disabled. At age eleven he was pulled out of school to help support his family. At age twelve he began to learn the printing business and was mainly self-taught. His collection of poems Leaves of Grass, which he began working on in 1848, was so unusual in form and content that no commercial publisher would publish it. In 1855 he published his first collection, consisting of twelve poems, at his own expense. His editing job was the only way he kept himself afloat.

Despite his rough upbringing in poverty, Whitman took his experiences and used them to give a foundation to his writing. He could not know and truly appreciate the wonders of life without first experiencing the grime. And that he did. Whitman was a writer that the average worker could relate to. Because of his experiences, his poetry speaks to us all.

And we listen because he knows what it is to live. He has begged in the gutters with the worst of us, and he has soared through the heavens with the best.

Excerpt from Song of the Rolling Earth

A song of the rolling earth, and of words according,
Were you thinking that those were the words, those upright lines?
those curves, angles, dots?
No, those are not the words, the substantial words are in the
ground and sea,
They are in the air, they are in you.

Were you thinking that those were the words, those delicious sounds
out of your friends' mouths?
No, the real words are more delicious than they.

"Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and mothers of families. ... reexamine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem."

~ Walt Whitman

V is for Villanelle

noreply@blogger.com (feywriter) — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 22:43:00 +0000

The Villanelle is a structured poetry form. This may intimidate some, but I find it a fun form to work with. It has two refrains (repeated phrases) that alternate throughout the poem. I like the musical quality of the Villanelle, and that the refrains are more subtle in their repetition.

The Villanelle below is one I wrote during last year's poetry month.

If you want to read my very first Villanelle, it's actually the sample poem for Chiaroscuro. I also wrote one earlier this month, featured in my rain post.

The Author

A goddess, many worlds do I create
to fill with danger, passion, magic, flight,
with words alone manipulating fate.

A lonely princess on a grand estate,
a dragon in his lair just out of sight,
a goddess, many worlds do I create.

Each character is given a strong trait
then thrown into some unforgiving plight;
with words alone manipulating fate

When countless suitors seek to procreate,
the dragon takes them out with just a bite.
A goddess, many worlds do I create

A hero uses wit to then debate
and keeps the dragon occupied all night,
with words alone manipulating fate.

The dragon tricked to eat some poisoned bait
the princess freed to her own tale rewrite.
A goddess, many worlds do I create,
with words alone manipulating fate.

I found the trick with the Villanelle is to write your final couplet first. Then work the rest of the poem around it. And before you start, come up with a good list of words that rhyme with lines A and B, as it's just the two end rhymes throughout the whole poem. You need to make sure there's enough potential before diving in and running out of workable words halfway through.

And to get a better visual for how I write a Villanelle, here's my initial notes for the above poem:

AbA/abA/abA/abA/abA/abAA

[Capital A's are the refrain, lowercase are rhyming words.]

(7 a's, 7 b's)

a – create, bait, date, eight, fate, ate, rate, wait, trait, berate, debate, deflate, restate, state, soul mate, estate, procreate

b – flight, light, site, sight, white, night, plight, right, height, trite, quite, bite, ignite, knight, rewrite

A goddess, many worlds do I create

With words alone manipulating fate

A A goddess, many worlds do I create

b to fill with danger, passion, magic, flight.

A With words alone manipulating fate

a A lonely princess on a grand estate

b a dragon in his lair just out of sight

A A goddess, many worlds do I create

a Each character is given a strong trait

b then thrown into some unforgiving plight

A With words alone manipulating fate

a When countless suitors seek to procreate

b the dragon takes them out with just a bite

A A goddess, many worlds do I create

a A hero uses wit to then debate

b and keeps the dragon occupied all night

A With words alone manipulating fate

a the dragon tricked to eat some poisoned bait

b the princess free to her story rewrite

A A goddess, many worlds do I create

A With words alone manipulating fate

I went with iambic pentameter (10 syllables) for this one, whereas Downpour follows the refrain and rhyme scheme, but not the meter.

Have you ever tried to write a Villanelle? I'd love to read it.

U is for Unique

noreply@blogger.com (feywriter) — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 18:21:00 +0000

I came across this again in my notes. It’s something I wrote a few years ago, but still applies today.

I was going through the same phase of: any other writer could tell this story better. Then I remembered my conclusion when I put myself down as a bad parent.

Even though I'm not the best mom, I don't want anyone else raising my kid, because I know him best.

As a writer, my characters deserve the same. I may not be the best writer, but I know my story and characters and no one can tell their story the way I can.

One of my favorite fantasy authors, Patrick Rothfuss, responded to a commenter who wished they could write like him. I wrote this verbatim into my bliss book so I’d always have a reminder when I start comparing myself to other authors.

“I’ll never be able to write a book like The Last Unicorn. I wish I could, but I know I can’t.

You can’t write the sort of story I write. Only I can.

We all have our own style. Our own way. Our own something we need to say.

If you want to write like me, you’re bound to fail. What you want to do is write your story, but do it brilliantly. Do it so well that it shines.

But it takes time. And revision. And depression. And work. And then more work…

I’ve been there. I know what you’re talking about.”

We are all unique. We each have a story to tell. Whether we tell that through our blogs, or poetry, or fiction, or in a different medium such as film or art. We can all contribute to the world. When we stop contributing, we do the world a disservice.

Keep on Going on

You are you.
No one can replace you;
No one can love
the way you do.

You're not just one star
in the universe;
You are someone's sun--
They would be adrift
if your light went out.

Don't give up your dreams—
your success, your creations, your journey,
may change someone else's life.

Keep on going on.

There is darkness in my background, but I have embraced this. I didn’t give up on myself, or my dream. I am happy to announce that the book shaped from that darkness, Chiaroscuro, is now published. It is available for purchase as a digital book from SynergEbooks, my wonderful publisher. And will soon be available for Kindle and Nook.

This is my first published collection of my own poetry. So I am very excited to release it to the world.

T is for Tree

noreply@blogger.com (feywriter) — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 18:26:00 +0000

Urban Willow (Photo credit: Ian Sane)

Sanctuary

The world can be a crazy place,

big crowds may be ordinary

but make me crave some breathing space

to sit beneath my willow tree.

Escape is not one time of year,

the brisk air of February

means many layers of cashmere

to sit beneath my willow tree.

Don't think me lonely under here,

my daydreams are legendary;

dragons, fairies, and elves appear

to sit beneath my willow tree.

If you're ever feeling slighted,

in need of a sanctuary,

know you are always invited
to sit beneath my willow tree.

S is for Snow

noreply@blogger.com (feywriter) — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 18:59:00 +0000

Yesterday was rain, today we’ve moved on to snow. Today’s poem is a Musette about childhood.

Winter Fun

Flakes fall…
Let's go have a
snow brawl.

Snowstorm—
sip some cocoa,
get warm.

Next day,
we are snowed in—
more play!

R is for Rain

noreply@blogger.com (feywriter) — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 20:05:00 +0000

I seem to be writing a lot of rain this month. I love the rain. The sound, the smell, the touch. I’m going to start out with an oldie but favorite. The second poem was my villanelle about the weather for day nine. And the last is an Elfje I wrote today.

Reflections

Red sneakers exchanged for red galoshes,
I wander in the hungry rain.
The green clouds in the stormy sky
Light the lazy edge of the sidewalk
And my dog a dusty wolf
Stalks the myriad puddles,
Hesitating when he finds himself
In the depths of their dim waters.
But I, in my new galoshes,
Lose myself in the worn rain.

Downpour
I look out at the rain,
a raging thunderstorm
transforming the terrain.

Run to catch my train…
huddle on the platform;
I look out at the rain--

the lightning is insane,
a light dance in freeform
transforming the terrain.

The train pulls up to its domain--
I clamber on, glad to get warm;
I look out at the rain,

forehead pressed on windowpane
I watch the waters swarm,
transforming the terrain.

At least it's not a hurricane.
Soon we'll reach my dorm.
I look out at the rain
transforming the terrain.

Spring
raindrop
hits pavement
one becomes many
storm clears the air
breathe

Note: "Reflections" is a poem from Chiaroscuro, coming soon.

Q is for Quotes

noreply@blogger.com (feywriter) — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 01:52:00 +0000

I’d like to share with you some quotes that really echo how I feel about poetry.

What is poetry?

“Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words.”
--Edgar Allan Poe

"Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance."
--Carl Sandburg

Who is the poet?

“A poet is, before anything else, a person who is passionately in love with language.”
--W. H. Auden

Poets don’t publish for the recognition or the money. We do it because we want to connect with the world, with other people. To share human experience and emotion.

"Publishing a volume of verse is like dropping a rose-petal down the Grand Canyon and waiting for the echo."
--Don Marquis
“Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood.”
--T.S. Eliot

"Poetry is a language in which man explores his own amazement."
--Christopher Fry

And, above all else:

"Musicians must make music, artists must paint, poets must write if they are to be ultimately at peace with themselves.
What humans can be, they must be. They must be true to their own nature." --Abraham Maslow

I am a Poet
A genius in disguise
Forms flow from my fingertips
Words and phrases grow within me
Waiting for ripeness
That moment when I write them
And another poem is born

P is for Paradise

noreply@blogger.com (feywriter) — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 18:55:00 +0000

Two views of paradise today. This first poem is my new one, written for the NaPoWriMo prompt for a ruba’i poem, mixed with the Poetic Asides prompt for a weather poem.

Paradise

tide laps at my toes
washing away my woes
the sky a clean slate
for me to daydream prose

This second poem is an older one, but still rings very true. This is the place I go when I close my eyes, needing sanctuary.

My Quiet Place

A meadow on the hill,
Filled with hues of green;
A gentle slope
Perfect to roll down.
A scent of green, of
Bees humming through the glade;
The sky a blue
So true it sings.
In this meadow lies a cottage--
Simple, yet elegant it stands;
Myriad windows light every room,
Dust fairies dancing in the sun.
A warm breeze fills the air
Bringing scents of fresh cut grass,
Of lilacs, blossoms, roses
Climbing up the walls.
Nothing can harm me here.

What’s your idea of paradise?

O is for Observer

noreply@blogger.com (feywriter) — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 20:52:00 +0000

oak (Photo credit: mindfulness)

Unrequited

Hidden in oak tree's shadow,
I lean forward…
gripping the branch with clawed feet.
He leaves the inn. Laughing,
a toss of burnished hair;
in excitement I almost lose my balance,
flap my wings to steady myself.
He looks up.
I pull back from his piercing green gaze,
burrow my head in my shoulder.
He must not see me.
His footsteps distance, and I
dare to peek again.
A pretty young thing leans
out a window to catch his eye;
I hiss at her, but his attention
already moved on
to assist a woman into her carriage;
she is no beauty, wrinkled as I.
Breath rushes out in surprise.
Perhaps...
in my hesitation, I almost lose him,
over rooftops I fly
skittering across tiles
to perch on a ledge.
I crane to see but he enters a shop;
I yearn to follow, to speak to him,
but shudder at the sight he would see.
I retreat to the oak,
settle my crooked back into the hollow,
wrap tattered, filthy wings around ungainly breasts,
and dip my head, that my oily hair
covers my haggard visage.
How would a prince such as he
see past looks to love this harpy?

N is for Night

noreply@blogger.com (feywriter) — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 15:59:00 +0000

Fun fact: This quote from my Mom is about me.

I did have one night owl child who still does better at night than in the morning. I tried everything - she just couldn't get to sleep. I eventually gave up and allowed her to stay awake and play quietly (Fisher Price Little People was generally her game of choice )- rule was she had to play very quietly so as not to disturb the rest of the family who actually wanted to sleep...when she got tired she climbed into bed on her own. When she started going to public school and couldn't sleep in, things had to change, but she was a little more willing to understand and cooperate by then.

I can’t stay up as late as I used to, but I am still a night owl. Mornings make me sluggish. I tend to get a lot of ideas in bed trying to sleep, when my creative mind refuses to shut off.

Two very different night poems for you today. These were written earlier this month.

This first poem was written from NaPoWriMo’s prompt to write a rhyming charm poem.

Charm of Night

I ask for sweet dreams
with the birth of this charm
flower of buckwheat
protects me from harm

feather of owl
to watch as I sleep
sprinkled with moondust
to make my dreams deep

amethyst stone
will calm the mind
then strips of willow
will this charm bind.

This second poem was for day 13’s prompt on Poetic Asides. The prompt was to write an animal poem, and as a bonus challenge to make it a sestina. I wrote about a creature of the night with an animalistic nature.

The Reign of the Night

Brothers walking in the rain,
our destination nowhere;
afraid to prove
what we already knew --
that our string of lies
wouldn't get us through the night.

We find a barn late in the night,
shelter from the soaking rain…
but danger in the shadow lies,
tooth and claw tear us where
lifeblood flows, I know
this the end will prove .

We die and rise the same, and prove
ourselves creatures of the night--
a taste for blood I hadn't known,
the cravings I try to rein;
my brother finds a dame from somewhere,
paints her as a whore, but I sense lies.

I sense her heartbeat where she lies;
I turn away, my honor to prove
and make one little room, an everywhere
within to contain night;
I will not let it reign,
I must keep saying no.

My brother insists, he knows
resisting is a lie,
with our new life we can reign,
to our debtors prove
we will rule the night;
we can go anywhere.

It is a strange world where
my brother is the one to know ,
the one to lead the night;
I will see where his path lies,
let him be the one to prove
that he can take the reins.

I fall into where the darkness lies,
abandon humanity I know would not approve,
surrender myself to night's reign.

M is for Moon

noreply@blogger.com (feywriter) — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 21:24:00 +0000

Moon (Photo credit: Moyan_Brenn (back soon, sorry for not commenting))

Lunar Pull

The moon begins to dance--
Tides swoon for its romance.

Essence Poem, by Mary W. Jensen

L is for Library

noreply@blogger.com (feywriter) — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 22:52:00 +0000

This week is National Library Week. Last year, I created a book spine poem from books at my local library. The poem represents what the library means to me.

Brink of Chaos
The Great Escape
Gateways
Haven

I could spend all day in a library. After my senior year of high school I spent the summer working at a library as a page. I confess, I wasn’t the best employee. I was too distracted by the books. It’s not the most efficient to stop and flip the pages of a book while shelving. I’d love to work in a library again. I truly do love the atmosphere.

In honor of both library week and poetry month, I have written another poem.

My Second Home

The library was my first love
perfect for a book-a-holic,
no budget could sustain my obsession.

A sacred space filled with treasures;
fingers trail on book spines…
so many choices
each one a new adventure--
Do I read an author tried and true?
or experience something new?

Some days I come
not for the books
but the atmosphere.

Sit back in an armchair
wrapped in hushed air,
soak in the rich love of words
infused between these walls,
let it inspire me…
flow through my fingertips
to fill the pages of my notebook.

K is for Key

noreply@blogger.com (feywriter) — Sun, 13 Apr 2014 00:44:00 +0000

I love keys. So it is no wonder that is the 'K' word I gravitated to today.

Puerta de entrada al pasado / Entrance door to the past (Photo credit: NeoGaboX)

The Key's Mystery

The key itself is simple

rusted iron on woven cord

without its lock

it is nothing

It may open a chest

left hidden by pirates

or unlock a gate

to an alien world

Perhaps it locks

a mermaid's diary

or the chains that bind

a wolf at full moon

It could be the key

to a dungeon cell

or the way to unlock

a damsel's heart

Most likely it matched

a plain house door

but until the lock is found

it holds everything to me