“Change”
Trying to change your skin just so you can fit in.
Shedding away the past; leave it in a heap on the floor,
Because different doesn’t come from dressing up and hoping. Continue reading “Villanelle – Change – SD”
Tag: poem
Haiku Sunday – Porcupine
“Porcupine”
Curled up tight, poised barbs
Prick the hands trying to soothe
Your porcupine heart.
Steve D
Author’s Note: This haiku was inspired by the phrase “porcupine heart”, which I actually said in a real conversation. (I sometimes speak in metaphor and prose — what of it?) Now I’m curious whom among you can throw some intriguing words, phrases, metaphors, analogies, etc. at me to use as inspiration for a future haiku? After all, I can’t write about the weather and things I can see from my back door forever.
Comment below an idea you want me to try to jam into a haiku. If you like, I’ll give you a shout-out and a link to your website in the haiku post. Challenge me!
Haiku Sunday – Onion
“Onion”
Peel back the layers,
Exposing the inner core-
And now I’m crying.
Steve D
Haiku Sunday – Fingers
“Fingers”
Bare branches splay out
Grasping for her warm breath, like
Skeleton fingers.
Steve D
Haiku Sunday – Blade
“Blade”
Icy blades sweep through,
Deflected by heavy shields,
Warding their chill touch.
Steve D
Haiku Sunday – Squirrel
“Squirrel”
Child me used to name
The squirrels who romped near my house
And envy their play.
Steve D
Haiku Sunday – Plains
“Plains”
Winds bow tall grasses
Over shallow riverbanks,
Their whispers unheard.
Steve D
Haiku Sunday NaNo Edition – Aston
“Aston”
Long-faced child of war-
Soft hazel eyes search the trees
Knowing not for what.
Author’s Note: Aston is the other protagonist (along with Jaed) for my novel, “Aston and Jaed”. Aston looks much like an ethnic Felding; fair skin, hazel eyes, light brown hair, and a tall, lean build. A young man of 19, Aston grew up in the shadow of the Second Clan War, in which his father was killed when Aston was only twelve. Aston has a strong sense of duty for his family, but he also cares for Jaed deeply. He must reconcile his past in order to become the honorable man he wants to be.
Haiku Sunday NaNo Edition – Tattoo
“Tattoo”
Layers of green blood,
Windswept lines twisting, curling,
Stains of history
Author’s Note: I love tattoos. I only have one myself, mostly because of cost, but I also love the history of tattoos across the world. Many cultures use tattoos to tell the histories of their people, their families. Tattoos play varying roles for many of the cultures of Ur’Dan. For Feldings, tattoos are traditionally used as a coming-of-age symbol, a mark earned by the bearer and recognized by their comrades, especially warriors. Felding tattoos are made up of swirling lines of dark green ink, beginning at the wrist and sweeping up the arm. The higher the tattoos go, the more respected the warrior is, and the more likely their names will be remembered.
Steve D
Haiku Sunday NaNo Edition: Jaed
“Jaed”
Gold-flecked emeralds –
Bright stars under night’s blackness,
Her wild, loving gaze.
Author’s note: Jaed is one of the two protagonists in my story, a young woman who cares deeply for the few people close to her. Eyes are the first thing I notice about a person. A striking pair of eyes can freeze me — think Olivia Wilde. In the earliest notes for this story, when I had nothing more than an image of two young lovers trying to find themselves, the first details I developed were the dazzling color of Jaed’s eyes: bright emerald-green with flecks of yellow-gold. Green, hazel, and brown eyes and blonde-brown hair are common among Feldings. Jaed’s night-black hair is not, nor her bronze-tinted skin tone. Aston has light brown hair and hazel eyes. It’s remarkable how many cultural/ethnic details you can develop just from designing two characters.
Steve D
