IWSG: A Case of Bad Poetry

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I have a confession to make. Lately, I've been writing poetry. Really, really bad poetry and I can't stop. 

I'll sit in front of my manuscript, get a couple lines of editing done, and before I can stop myself, I've clicked the 'new document' button and I'm churning out poetic vomit. Actually, let me rephrase that: rhyming poetic vomit--the worst kind. 

Why, oh why, is my brain doing this to me. I'm a gawd awful poet, and that's not false modesty, it's fact. 

But...

If I'm being painfully honest, it kinda feels good getting the verse out. It's crap, of that I have no doubt, (see I'm doing it again) but I'm ok with that. I'm writing something I'd never show anyone and knowing that releases me of insecurities and the fear of disappointing. Even better, it's led to a steady trickle of words. And you know what? I'm--dare I say it--enjoying this exercise. Even the dark and depressing, angsty stuff is fun to get out on paper. It reminds me of when I first started writing. A time before the blog, before I wanted to get published, before letting in all these insecurities . . . back when I was just a girl who happened to be writing a story. That's all. I've missed that girl, but I think I've found her again, at least part of her when I write poetry. So I think I'm going to stop fighting it, and just let the bad rhyming flow and see where this takes me. The rest can wait and I'm ok with that. Really. I'm ok.

Halloween Poem

There is a 

night 

that is such a 

fright 

when the moon is 

big and bright

When the undead 

groan

and witches 

roam 

jack o' lanterns are 

alive

and monsters have fingers

one less than 

five

Then all of a sudden 

all is gone

vanished with the dawn 

and not a soul will be in 

sight 

not even a bat in 

flight

Not until that dreaded 

night

when the moon is 

big and bright 

not until 

Halloween 

night! 

by E. Fallson, 1988

********************

I know this poem doesn't have any kind of real structure, among other things, but I wrote this when I was in grade school so be gentle :P. 

To all celebrating Halloween, 

be safe and hope you have a good one! 

V for Velvet Ant

Fun Facts:

1) Despite the resemblance to ants, the name velvet ant is a misnomer. These insects are not ants they are wasps.

2) The females are wingless and the males, who tend to be larger than the females, have wings. In addition, the females possess a painful stinging apparatus.

Here is another flash fiction piece (~ 350 wc). It's very different from what I usually write. I wanted to have a go at a fable-type piece and use at least one V word in each sentence. You'll notice a few spots with sad attempts at poetic verse (remember my anti-poetry curse from a few posts back). Anyway, most will cringe at this but whatever, I wanted to try something new (I'm stubborn that way (;   ). When I was done, I read it to my little ones and they had a ton of questions for me lol. But we had fun and they even seemed to enjoy it, which works for me!

And yes, in some spots I took some "artistic" liberties with the wording.... :P

----

A very long time ago, a vindictive queen ruled the velvet ant kingdom.

Her name was Queen Viddica. She had the most beautiful violet colored wings and everyday she would demand her people venerate her beauty above all else. And everyday Queen Viddica became more and more consumed by vanity and her reflection.

 

“I am Queen Viddica bow down on one knee,

You’ll never find another as voluptuous as me.”

And everyday the villagers would kneel out of fear of her majesty’s volatile nature.  Until one day, a visitor came.  He was an old, tired, vagabond who had lost his vision long ago, and would not kneel like the rest.

 “Kneel before me!” voiced the Queen, visibly annoyed at the old vagabond.

To this he replied, “Queen Viddica have pity on my old and tired knees, I lack the vigor and strength I once had in my youth.”

But vanity had consumed all traces of kindness within the Queen and her soul was vexed.



  
If he would not kneel like the rest, then he would have to be vanquished. She could not let a vagabond veer the villager’s obedience.   

So she took him on a long voyage to the ends of the Earth. And when they arrived to the vast emptiness, she dropped him on the ground and viciously left him to die.

"Beware young Queen, your beauty blinds you more than my eyes blind I, a storm is approaching, it is not safe for you to fly,” warned the vagabond.

 

Except the Queen had already vanished into the clouds, flying higher and higher claiming mighty victory.

But the vagabond’s words proved true and a violent storm grew. And suddenly, the Queen was struck by vertical lightning. Down she fell, plummeting to the ground, a vision of vengeance sent from the heavens above.

 When she awoke, Queen Viddica cried out in sorrow. Her wings had vanished, her beauty was gone.

And that is the tale of the velvet ant queen who can sometimes be seen today, wandering the Earth, wingless and melancholic, gazing vicariously at  butterflies and longing for wings she once had. 

 

-----

F for Fireflies

Fun Facts: This was so hard to condense. I wanted to write so much on the subject but I’m using my superpowers to restrain myself. It's not easy.

1) Fireflies, sometimes called lightning bugs, are neither flies nor bugs. They are in fact, beetles belonging to the order Coleoptera. But of course you already knew that since you’ve been following dutifully and clearly recall my C post. Right. 

2) Fireflies use a chemical reaction called bioluminescence to produce a "cold light" (a light that produces no infrared or ultraviolet frequencies). The light is emitted from the tip of the abdomen and is used to attract mates or prey.

3) Each species has a different flash code to attract the right mate. The males flies around flashing their butts off and the females watch from the ground. If she likes what she sees, she'll flash back and the male will fly down for some sweet, light-up-my-life beetle love. However, there is a species of firefly where the females mimic the flash codes of another male species to lure them from the skies.  When the duped male comes within range, she jumps on him and he becomes dinner! Flash burger with lightning ale and chips on the side. (You can tell it's late because I'm getting a little goofy).

No flash fiction for today. Instead, you get awful rhyming words ridiculously put together in terrible form. Enjoy, but you probably won't.

---

Poetry.

I really enjoy poetry, especially rhyming verse.

I'm terrible at poetry, it's an anti-poetry curse.

I try real hard to break the spell,

So here goes nothing,

my firefly poem called What The Hell?

What The Hell?

You flashed me once,

shame on you.

You flashed me twice,

Shame on me.

You flashed me thrice,

And my head was served on a bed of rice!

What the Hell?

----

Okay I'm not that mean and have something to get the bad taste out of your mouth after subjecting you to above dribble: Fireflies from Owl City's debut single. Enjoy  :)

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