poetry
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Day 11: Small, Behind the Poem
“Small” is a poem about celebrating victories even when they feel insignificant. This is a struggle for me, so this poem serves as a reminder to recognize those steps that lead into something greater. It is important to encourage ourselves. By cheering ourselves on, we enable ourselves to take more of those small steps toward…
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Day 10: Rays, Behind the Poem
“Rays” is a poem about reflection. In my youth, I was a very different person. This can be seen in my book “Lurid Lyrics” by comparing the poems to one another. Though they are largely mixed together, it is not difficult to form some semblance of a timeline. In fact, I was a somewhat cruel…
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Day 9: Magic, Behind the Poem
“Magic” was inspired by the question of whether one is an “early bird” or a “night owl.” It has long been trained into us to believe that it is better to rise early, that those who stay up late are somehow irresponsible or lazy. This is both wrong and harmful. In truth, we each have…
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Day 8: Migrate, Behind the Poem
The idea for “Migrate” occurred to me at a tiny, local concert. It doesn’t matter what I thought of the band’s performance as a whole, but from it came the spark of an idea. The lyrics brought to mind the image of an open ocean, and on it, I imagined a single white feather. From…
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Day 7: To Write a Book, Behind the Poem
“To Write a Book” is a poem based on a backhanded compliment that I have witnessed several times, though never yet directed at me. Though the words at face value sound encouraging, they hold venom in the form of the idea that the writing of the book was only important to the writer. This is…
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Day 6: Tea Leaves, Behind the Poem
Tea leaves are said to reveal messages from the universe in the form of images. Too often, I see people, most new to the practice, asking for help from others to decipher what the images are and what they mean. This defeats the purpose. These images are meant for our eyes and our interpretation alone. …
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Day 5: Garden, Behind the Poem
I chose “Garden” for Easter, another Christian holiday based on a pagan one (Ostara, which was March 20), because it showcases new growth and wildlife, for better or worse. Taken at face value, this really is a poem about my garden. Most of my precious plants died as seedlings last year, and the tomato plants…
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Day 4: 2,000 Words, Behind the Poem
I flirt with the idea of writing a solid 2,000 words every day from time to time. Although I have found that it is not sustainable for me, the occasional week or two of frantic writing has paid off. Meanwhile, I keep my socials running, letting people know that I am active and occasionally sharing…
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Day 3: Inspiration, Behind the Poem
This poem is about embracing inspiration and taking advantage of it when it strikes. Too often, I have had a moment of inspiration resulting in an absolutely brilliant idea, and I have abandoned it to time and just let it slip away. “Inspiration” tells us to hold onto these tricky, short-lived moments. We must retain…
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Day 2: Rejection, Behind the Poem
In 2017, I published two books of poetry: “Tempestas Spei” and “Lurid Lyrics.” They are very different from one another, and I am proud of both works. Yet, they have gained little traction. I have been writing my adult fantasy trilogy for twenty years. Twenty years! And yet, it still is not published. Sometimes I…