#followingwinds

[stephenollis]

Stay above it all! Don't take on the water of the negativity around you. Sail on! #dailysolace #clearskies #followingwinds #friyay #motivateme (at Casa Del Ollis)

[followingwinds]

'Round tree, through field

Been too long since I wrote a poem, so I'm proud to present to you all: " 'Round tree, through field." The rhyme scheme is mimicking that of Robert Frost's in his poem: "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" which provided a lot of the inspiration for this piece. - - - - - - In morning new I left my home, for the dawn-lit mists I oft did roam, to wander here and there around, the countryside and fresh-tilled loam. ‘Neath bower green a path I found, from deep within the woods it wound. ‘Round tree, through field, past grazing deer, it swept and slipped along the ground. It did seem strange to find it here, I’d walked this wood many a year, and not did I recall this trail, yet here it sat before me clear. I followed it past hill and dale, through meadows filled with flowers pale. It curved and bent and wandered free, then came to rest in misty vale. Here then before me did I see, such a display of pageantry. A live oak stretching to the sky, unmatched in ancient majesty. Ne’er had such beauty graced my eye, as here, this noble king on high. And how sad would it be had I not seen it before my last goodbye?

[followingwinds]

I really enjoyed Jack the Giantslayer as a movie, but dang was there some good poetry thrown into the mix as well: "Fee fi fo fum, Ask not whence the thunder comes. Ask not where the herds have gone, nor why the birds have ceased their song. When coming home don't take too long, for monsters roam in Albion. For between heaven and Earth is a perilous place, home to an fearsome, giant race. Who hunger to conquer the mortals below, waiting for the seeds of revenge to grow." Abbreviated form of the poem in the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voUzsRO2MzE

[followingwinds]

Recently I suffered a bout of writer's block that was pretty nasty. I would force myself to write 4-5k words for a story, then convince myself it was terrible and not worth continuing. Luckily, I set those beginnings aside and now am finishing them. With one story undergoing final judging and another set to be sent to a major contest, I feel like I'm back in the saddle! Best part: I still have a ton of story ideas!

[followingwinds]

An older poem I wrote for fun about a year ago. Thought it would be worth a repost. I had fun writing it, I hope you have fun reading it!

Westerfall

Ancient walls of quarried stone, resist the wind which oft does moan, through the stables and empty hall, of the crumbling castle of Westerfall.

A once proud fortress, upon the ridge, guarding the surround with wall and bridge, now worn and weathered, with no one to mend, the damage from years of rain and wind.

Where safety was sought and wares were sold, and rulers fought other lords of old, sparrows now nest and rats command, ruined buildings, forgotten land.

Sun that once shined on armor and mail, illuminates nothing, not even the tale, of how a proud castle finished its days, sinking to obscurity, shadow, and haze.

Barren and lonesome, no one remains, to sing the castle's sorrows and pains, except the wind, which oft does moan, over solemn walls of quarried stone.

[followingwinds]

Sometimes you sit and try to write for days and nothing good comes of it. And then sometimes words just explode onto the page and all you have to do is ride the wave. Last night and tonight, after two weeks of nothing, I finally caught my wave. I’m getting into the meat of my next short story now and could not be more excited! All I have to say is get ready, Dystopia is coming!

[followingwinds]

Poetica Victorian on sale!

Next February two of my poems, "Dream from the Heart," and "Fall and Rise" will appear in the first print edition of Poetica Victorian: A Journal of Classical Poetry! If you're interested in ordering a copy, they have a pre-print sale going on now at their webstore! For all of the great Victorian poetry expected in this coming issue, this is a superb price! Here's the link to pre-order the issue on sale: http://www.poeticavictorian.org/#!store/c1rbt

[followingwinds]

Reddit Writing Prompts:

Reddit Writing Prompt: Tell a love story in five sentences that involves a plant. My submission:

As youths around its trunk we played, As teens so young we kissed in its shade. As adults 'neath its bower vows we made, And now, in death, among its roots we're laid.