Valkyrie

The old gods choose who they reveal themselves to, who then have the choice whether or not to believe the encounter.

They'd be the first to join the parsec high club

It's time to celebrate National Poetry Writing Month by releasing the first set of poems for the GA annual Poetry Anthology - Choices! It's always interesting to read the different takes on the anthology theme, and this year is no exception. Please show support for our site poets and anthology participants by reacting, commenting, or reviewing their poetry. Stay tuned next week for even more poems!

I was going to Rick Roll everyone, but that's too obvious of an earworm, so instead I will torture you with this Muppet masterpiece

Congratulations! Well-deserved!

Haha I must be tired too, because I read the same thing...

I am death to plants. I killed a cactus in a matter of two months. A CACTUS. I was told it was impossible to kill those things... I am better with outdoor plants, although it's been a long time since I've planted flowers. I used to plant herbs on my porch at my old apartment, but never managed to when I bought my house. Maybe I'll try again one of these days.

There's a little over a week to get submissions for the poetry anthology posted to the anthology forum. So there's still time to choose to participate and share your poetry with GA.

Would you like a regular temperature year round or do you like your seasons? I like the change in seasons, although I do prefer cooler temps. Summer is hell as I overheat by simply existing. Do you wear sunscreen regularly? If I'm out in the sun for any length of time it's a necessity. I react to the sun like a vampire does. Did you watch any TV or Movies yesterday? I've been binge-watching BBC murder dramas lately. I'm currently watching "Wire in the Blood". Do you own any old paperbacks or hard cover books still? Once I own a book, it's here for life. I have a LOT of books. Do you ever read them or are you a digital kind of person now? Sadly, I haven't been doing a ton of reading lately, but when I do it's both. What is the last book as on paper, did you read? A book on Stone Circles that I bought when I visited England.

I have good news if you're on the fence or thinking you don't have enough time to get something written for our annual poetry anthology! I've extended the deadline to April 6th, so you have an extra week to submit your poetry for inclusion in the anthology So, if you haven't started yet, there's still time.

Yesterday was the start of March Madness in the USA. For those unfamiliar with MM, it's a college basketball tournament that lasts foreeeevvvveeerrrrr. At least to non-sports people like me So, in honor of MM, I thought I'd feature some sports prompts. PT Prompt #331 You win a large amount of money on a sports bet. How do you spend it? PT Prompt #332 You've just moved across the country and join a local sports team. One of the members comes up to you and says, "Oh my God! I know you!". Tell the story from there. Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapter description or title to help readers who would like to search for specific prompts. Also, please remember that stories less than one thousand words must be posted as part of a collection. If you check the subgenre ‘prompt’ in your story tags, then people/readers can find everything here: https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/subgenre/prompt/

April is National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo), which is why we choose to feature our poetry anthology then. What is NaPoWriMo? It's a time to honor all things poetic and also to encourage people to give writing it a try. Like National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in November, there's a challenge to be attempted. Write thirty poems in thirty days. Several site members have tackled this challenge, and continue to do so. The goal isn't to write perfect poetry, but simply to get something on paper. There will be some gems and some duds, but completing the goal is quite the accomplishment. We have two and a half weeks left till the deadline to submit poems for the Choices anthology. Plenty of time to get writing and send in a submission. And then think about keeping the momentum going, and giving NaPoWriMo a go.

We read some Shakespeare in HS, but I honestly don't remember which ones. I read some of them on my own and especially liked his poetry. I remember my brother had an assignment to recite the "tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow" soliloquy and struggling with it. He was working on it with my mom and I strolled in and recited the whole thing, since I had read it so much I had it memorized. 👼My brother was not happy about it As far as the Ides of March, I think our resident otter is the one who needs to beware

It's available now in the anthology forum.

That's what happens when you ask me to add a gif

Bring it on

April is National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo), which is why we feature the poetry anthology then. The goal of NaPoWriMo is to write 30 poems in 30 days. I've completed this task several times, generally using daily poetry prompts. I thought I'd feature a couple of my favorite prompts to see what others come up with. Maybe it will be something to use in the anthology. PT Prompt #327: Write a series of short stanzas that personify adjectives or abstract nouns. For example: Patient smiles politely as Clueless prattles on. Fate locks eyes across the room, his sentence abandoned mid-thought. Expectation drums his fingers, disappointed he was not met. Wonder stares wide-eyed at Fate. Truth careens around the room like a drunkard, causing sobriety with each slam. PT Prompt #328: Write a poem made up of suggestions (real or absurd) for appropriate manners or behavior in specific situations. You might talk about being taught manners. Or you might simply entitle your poem “Manners” and go somewhere unexpected. Example: But in some countries, Not burping after a meal Is considered rude. Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapter description or title to help readers who would like to search for specific prompts. Also, please remember that stories less than one thousand words must be posted as part of a collection. If you check the subgenre ‘prompt’ in your story tags, then people/readers can find everything here: https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/subgenre/prompt/

Thanks for the reminder! I'll add them now.

There's a little over one month to go before our annual poetry anthology goes live, so it's time to check in and see how everyone is coming along. I have some ideas, but haven't put them to paper yet. Feel free to share a snippet or how many poems you've written or plan to write.

Welcome, Davide! I love capybaras too. They were always my favorite animal to see at the zoo. Authors need readers, and authors here love interacting with readers, so don't feel awkward. There are plenty of non-authors who participate in the forums too.

Thanks! I've written quite a bit of poetry, so I hope you enjoy.

Last week, we explored Haiku as an introduction to writing poetry. This week, I'd like to discuss free verse. Remember that poetry does not have to incorporate rhyming or meter or stick to a particular form. Free verse embraces that concept, which gives the writer virtually unlimited freedom to express their thoughts. Free verse does not follow any particular form or rhythm. It tends to follow natural speech patterns, but doesn't have to. I think of poetry as painting word pictures - it's the ultimate exercise of 'show vs tell'. It can tell a story or describe a moment in time, or be pretty much whatever you want it to be. Here is an example of a free verse poem I wrote for the 2023 Poetry Anthology - Exploration. Sandcastles I watch you sit cross-legged at the edge of the cliff, as white-capped waves resculpt what’s left of the beach. The route we walked just hours earlier, exploring and climbing crumbling shale precipices, submerged and inaccessible. Now sand and water collide, advancing and receding as one. New crevices create temporary ponds, blocking the path to the fallen tree serving as bridge between camp and water. The same bridge where you steadied me with firm hands, when my steps faltered. A sturdy log leading to the bright beach where we ran and laughed and sang songs around the campfire, Eventually realizing we were water and sand, a temporary structure waiting for high tide. Bright sunlight briefly peeked through the dark clouds, creating a halo around your auburn hair, contrasting the angry surf. In that moment, you were holy to me. Sacred, untouchable, a sandcastle slipping through my fingers. Now let's see what you guys come up with. Let me know if there are any particular forms of poetry that you'd like me to dive deeper into. And don't forget to RSVP to the poetry anthology event!

A lot of the US is experiencing record cold temps. In my area, we came close to equaling a fifty-year-old record for longest cold snap. I don't remember the last time we were above freezing, and temps in the 20sF felt like a heat wave this week. Sadly, it's going to get worse before it gets better. This weekend is on track to be the coldest temps yet, along with good ol' lake effect snow. Is it spring yet? Our local groundhog said it would be an early spring, but I don't believe him. Since Jack Frost is in his glory right now, let's go on vacation and flip him off as we head to warmer destinations. PT Prompt #323 Describe your dream vacation. Include all the wh- words - who, what, when, where, why. PT Prompt #324 Take the reader on a sensory journey without explicitly telling us where you are. Describe the sights, sounds, smell, tastes, etc. Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapter description or title to help readers who would like to search for specific prompts. Also, please remember that stories less than one thousand words must be posted as part of a collection. If you check the subgenre ‘prompt’ in your story tags, then people/readers can find everything here: https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/subgenre/prompt/

Yes, those are fun! I did an Acrostic poem with the individuals I work with once. I think it was for RAINBOW and I asked each of them to come up with a line. It came out really good. I'll try to find it.