ZephyrSky

RECLAMATION We rushed through youth The two of us In our headlong experimentation With cigarettes and sex – Not always in that order. We built so many monuments from moments, Certain of our immortality, Our invincible alliance, Never considering time’s cruel sport Of divergences and rust. From castle construction In sand and clouds, To midnight fevers, Hands held and gave; You were the lighthouse

Oh my god, that is everything! lol Hearing Sir David say "hashtag flip phone"... Life's complete. Side-note: that presenter is cute.

Watching his shows as a kid was one of the reasons I ended up studying zoology. Love his work and he comes across as such a lovely person as well. Much respect.

I'll third it. All the way! Jensen is annoyingly perfect. Hot, funny, charming, multi-talented... Hog all the best spots in the gene pool, why doesn't he just?

Thank you, AC. I was kind of going for moving from an initial state of lust to the realisation that there's more between them than a physical blowing off of, er, steam. But maybe that is too much to do in one poem. As soon as I completed it I thought it might actually work better if I expand it into a short story. I'll see if that goes anywhere. Thanks again for dropping me a review and being specific about what you liked and what irked you. That's what I need to hear.

TWO BOYS the last school bell echoes down the halls (with predictable jubilation from the manumitted slaves of algebra and syntax) and in two eleventh-grade boys there races a chemical domino cascade of lust down their veins the boys meet at the gate shake hands platonically with careful smiles betraying nothing but friendship; they begin to wind a path through the teeming press of bodies (the distance of friendship strictly managed) past the whirl of impromptu street corner

Here is where I collect my occasional attempts at poetry.

Cover me with blushes, why don't you? Thank you so much.

Thanks, asamvav111. Appreciate it.

Cool, Emi. Thanks again. I'm trying to get a story off the ground now. Got the outline more or less done, some scenes are ready and characters are waiting in the wings, now I just need to get through the first draft -- also known as Hell. We shall overcome...

I so appreciate the feedback and the kind remarks, AC and Eminent. Thank you very much.

Thanks, Parker.

Thank you, Ashi. Much appreciated.

I wish I could take a year off to do nothing but write. Anyone wish to provide a generous stipend? Now's the time to step forward. No, I scribble when I can but sometimes the muse shows up when you're at work or getting a root canal. Not convenient. And then when you have time, nothing happens. She's in New York somewhere, checking her accounts. (Yes, I lifted that line right out of a Tori Amos song. Unapologetically.)

Name's Louis. I've always wanted to write -- no, needed to -- and I've been a bookworm since I was 6. My mom used to have to frisk me for books before we left the house on the way to some family gathering / social event. I'd be the kid in the corner with the book being horribly antisocial. Parties, weddings, funerals, whatever. Other kids bored me. I wanted to hang out with the Hardy boys or Nancy Drew. So I knew I needed to learn how to do to others what those writers did to me. But it's hard to get some good stuff done when you work full time. I used to write more in my teens. Anyway, this is getting horribly off topic. Is this even allowed? I'll shut up for now. Looking forward to making my way through this thread and read everyone's poetry.

For sure. I don't think I've ever written a poem over a couple of days, though. If I can't do it in one sitting, it tends to go into the digital bottom drawer. Most of the poetry I write is in Afrikaans, my mother tongue but prose tends to be English with me, though. By the way, I love the Freddie quote in your signature, Mikiesboy. It's one of my favourites.

Good advice -- thanks for the share. Billy Collins, former Poet Laureate of the US and one of my favourite contemporary poets, once said that a poem should have a low occupancy: the poet should try to be alone with the reader. I try to keep that in mind and not drag in parents and aunties and the mailman. Unless he/she/they really must be there, of course. And then preferably just briefly. In general it's good to try for intimacy in poetry and that means not allowing a big cast to intrude. I also find that the poems I like best are the ones I write in one sitting. If the poem isn't going anywhere after an hour or so, I abandon it. I can't return to a poem the way I can with prose. The greatest experience is when you lose track of time and yourself and it's just the writing that happens. There's nothing but the pathway from brain to fingers to poem. You look up and two hours have slipped by unnoticed but you've got these neat little rows. Bliss.

soil

At Valkyrie's suggestion, two little poems I wrote: https://www.gayauthors.org/forums/blog/657/entry-16202-not-meant-to-be-free-verse/ https://www.gayauthors.org/forums/blog/657/entry-16201-contemplating-water-free-verse/

Thanks, Valkyrie. I'll do that.

INSTANT CHOCOLATE MOUSSE When you haven't got time for overnight setting in the fridge or you don't want to use raw eggs, this mousse is perfect. In fact, at all times, constraints or not, it is chocaliciously gorgeous. INGREDIENTS Serves: 4-6 150 grams mini marshmallows 50 grams soft butter 250 grams good dark chocolate (minimum 70% cocoa solids) chopped into small pieces 60 millilitres hot water (from a recently boiled kettle) 284 millilitres double cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract METHOD Put the marshmallows, butter, chocolate and water in a heavy-based saucepan. Put the saucepan on the hob, over heat, though keep it fairly gentle, to melt the contents, stirring every now and again. Remove from the heat. Meanwhile, whip the cream with the vanilla extract until thick, and then fold into the cooling chocolate mixture until you have a smooth, cohesive mixture. Pour or scrape into 4 glasses or ramekins, about 175ml / ¾ cup each in capacity, or 6 smaller (125ml / ½ cup) ones, and chill until you want to eat. The sooner the better! https://www.nigella.com/recipes/instant-chocolate-mousse

Thanks for the warm welcome, guys. And for the premature optimism. It's very kind. I'm a terrible procrastinator -- actually, no, I'm pretty good at it. Great. A professional, even. If they made procrastination a sport, I'd be able to procrastinate for my country. But I'll have something to start posting within the next couple of weeks.

NOT MEANT TO BE You wanted to talk about the night sky And the moonlight on the lake While he was swatting at a mosquito on his leg And wondering when you’d shift Your head heavy with poetry That was causing pins and needles in his arm

LOVED Liking Our Very Exciting Distractions POINT

lambs