'twas the watch before Christmas, and all through the ship
Not a creature was stirring; there was only the blip
Of the life support indicator hung on the rail
Against the dire chance all our systems would fail.
The crew were all tucked up in cryosleep berths
Frostily dreaming of a long-distant Earth
And Debs (the watch Chief) and I on the bridge
Were just starting in on the beer in the fridge
When from the prox alarm arose such a clatter
I sprang from my seat to see what was the matter.
To the computers I flew like a flash
Quickly rebooting the one that had crashed.
Not far off, just a few thousand kay,
The monitors showed me in flickering grey,
Fuzzy and small on the old infra screen,
The weirdest spaceship that I'd ever seen.
At a substantial fraction of lightspeed it raced -
Where could it have come from? Where was its base?
Clearer and clearer the oddly shaped frame,
And the comms unit crackled to life as it came.
"Now Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen!
To the lateral airlock! To the top of the hull!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
Debs leapt to the helm and I to defence,
Raised the shields to full, mouth dry, stomach tense.
She toggled the radio but heard no reply,
As the alien ship loomed large in our sky.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the hull
A tapping and clawing like a knock or a call.
As I sucked in my breath and Debs ran for the guns,
In from the airlock he came with a jump.
He wore a red spacesuit, trimmed round in white.
He'd pulled off his helmet and was breathing all right.
In fact he looked human, right down to the beard,
But we didn't trust the way he appeared.
His eyes twinkled oddly, his dimples were strange.
His cheeks were too red and his nose was inflamed.
He was smiling a deeply untrustworthy grin,
And his snow white beard looked out of place on his chin.
He set down his vac-sack right there on the deck,
And undid the seal that fastened the neck.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Made Debs shudder, and filled me with dread.
He spoke not a word but went straight to his work.
He emptied the sack on the floor with a jerk.
And while Debs and I stood, mouths open, and stared,
He laid out wrapped presents for everyone there.
The pile of gifts grew rapidly higher.
One for each crewmember sleeping in cryo.
And, last of all, one for Debs, one for me
(I think mine was beer, from what I could see).
Then he sprang to the airlock and dialled himself through,
And the alien ship disappeared from our view.
But I heard his transmission as he flew out of sight
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"
Jan
26th
Him (poem I wrote during my first year at uni)
By palegirl
To see someone who stuns the eyes,
Is a rare experience indeed.
An instant addiction, like no other,
The desire to know them, a ferocious need.
Long, black hair, lavish and soft,
Ivory skin, as pale as bone.
Tall and lean but muscular and strong,
He radiates power though he’s brooding and alone.
Dark clothes, a long, black coat,
Strong male features, sadness in his face.
His brow is furrowed; he’s deep in thought,
His fingers twitch, he starts to pace.
Suddenly he turns, I catch his eye,
He touches his lip with his tongue.
With a smile full of promise, a tease’s expression,
The wind picks up and the man is gone.
Is a rare experience indeed.
An instant addiction, like no other,
The desire to know them, a ferocious need.
Long, black hair, lavish and soft,
Ivory skin, as pale as bone.
Tall and lean but muscular and strong,
He radiates power though he’s brooding and alone.
Dark clothes, a long, black coat,
Strong male features, sadness in his face.
His brow is furrowed; he’s deep in thought,
His fingers twitch, he starts to pace.
Suddenly he turns, I catch his eye,
He touches his lip with his tongue.
With a smile full of promise, a tease’s expression,
The wind picks up and the man is gone.
Jan
25th
TheRapist (poem)
By palegirl
I began stalking her three weeks ago.
Followed her through the park,
Making sure she arrived home safely.
I watched her in the dark.
I told myself it was just this once.
An aberration not to be repeated
Lest she find out and is frightened away.
But my will is gone, I’ve been defeated.
I was obsessed with her, had been for months.
Thoughts of her filled every waking hour
And then she haunted me in all my dreams,
Holding me captive with her nameless power.
I had already crossed the ethical line
When I agreed to see her again.
I knew what lay in my heart for her,
But did not care that it’d bring me pain.
I can watch her for hours now,
Outside her window, I hide in darkness.
I watch her prepare and cook her dinner
It’s all completely and utterly harmless.
I take note of the foods she likes,
And tends to cook with the most,
So that when she finally falls for me,
I can act like her perfect host.
I’m seeing her tonight at our usual time
I look forward to it so much
Because she’s mine for a whole hour,
Close enough to touch.
It’s not just lust I feel for her,
I love her, heart and soul.
I’ll do all I can to help her,
Because that’s my job, my role.
She arrives on time, she‘s rarely late,
And settles down in my comfy chair.
Her green eyes are sad and tired today
And there are tangles in her long, dark hair.
The skin beneath her eyes looks bruised
Like she hasn’t slept in some time.
Her skin is as pale as I’ve ever seen it,
She’s beautiful, sublime.
She begins to speak and I lose myself
In all that she is. I’m never prepared.
She tells me how she’s been feeling this week,
That she’s paranoid, lost and scared.
Fearful of a terrible unknown threat.
Lurking in the night.
She swore she heard someone creeping around.
Now she can’t turn out the light.
Then the hour is over, she has to leave
And I ache as I say good bye
I tell her not to be afraid
I don‘t want her to cry.
There’s no one watching her through her windows
At night when she‘s alone.
Those noises she heard are simply the wind,
No one is sneaking around her home.
She need not feel scared to undress or shower,
And hide behind the wall.
No one can see her naked body,
There’s nobody looking at all.
She smiles at me and says thank you
For being there for her.
I nod and say you’re welcome,
As that familiar feeling stirs.
I get to her home as soon as I can
And settle outside to observe.
I feel the tension strum through my body,
As I prepare and gather my nerve.
I’m ready now, I know it’s time.
It’s deadly quiet, twelve o’clock.
I have to have her, make her mine,
I silently break her window lock.
Followed her through the park,
Making sure she arrived home safely.
I watched her in the dark.
I told myself it was just this once.
An aberration not to be repeated
Lest she find out and is frightened away.
But my will is gone, I’ve been defeated.
I was obsessed with her, had been for months.
Thoughts of her filled every waking hour
And then she haunted me in all my dreams,
Holding me captive with her nameless power.
I had already crossed the ethical line
When I agreed to see her again.
I knew what lay in my heart for her,
But did not care that it’d bring me pain.
I can watch her for hours now,
Outside her window, I hide in darkness.
I watch her prepare and cook her dinner
It’s all completely and utterly harmless.
I take note of the foods she likes,
And tends to cook with the most,
So that when she finally falls for me,
I can act like her perfect host.
I’m seeing her tonight at our usual time
I look forward to it so much
Because she’s mine for a whole hour,
Close enough to touch.
It’s not just lust I feel for her,
I love her, heart and soul.
I’ll do all I can to help her,
Because that’s my job, my role.
She arrives on time, she‘s rarely late,
And settles down in my comfy chair.
Her green eyes are sad and tired today
And there are tangles in her long, dark hair.
The skin beneath her eyes looks bruised
Like she hasn’t slept in some time.
Her skin is as pale as I’ve ever seen it,
She’s beautiful, sublime.
She begins to speak and I lose myself
In all that she is. I’m never prepared.
She tells me how she’s been feeling this week,
That she’s paranoid, lost and scared.
Fearful of a terrible unknown threat.
Lurking in the night.
She swore she heard someone creeping around.
Now she can’t turn out the light.
Then the hour is over, she has to leave
And I ache as I say good bye
I tell her not to be afraid
I don‘t want her to cry.
There’s no one watching her through her windows
At night when she‘s alone.
Those noises she heard are simply the wind,
No one is sneaking around her home.
She need not feel scared to undress or shower,
And hide behind the wall.
No one can see her naked body,
There’s nobody looking at all.
She smiles at me and says thank you
For being there for her.
I nod and say you’re welcome,
As that familiar feeling stirs.
I get to her home as soon as I can
And settle outside to observe.
I feel the tension strum through my body,
As I prepare and gather my nerve.
I’m ready now, I know it’s time.
It’s deadly quiet, twelve o’clock.
I have to have her, make her mine,
I silently break her window lock.
Dec
29th
The Principles of Life
By CyaneThe Principles of Life
by Jaana [aka Cyane]
"I was across the island,
Walking through waterfalls."
"One more dream keep my hand
Guide me into the ocean."
"An old memory
Relieved my past.
Guard me into my journey."
"I summon the newborn cascades
I see my own future
Flowing through their waves."
"One world falls
Into the darkened bottom of the ocean.
Another arose from the crescent auroras
Slowly gave me the knowledge the principles of life."
Dec
29th
The Fallen Hero
By CyaneThe Fallen Hero
by Jaana [aka Cyane]
“Winter has come for her,
The cold froze her senses,
Rope the Heavens,
And smashed the Hell's flames.”
“The night keeps a hold on her frail breath,
Taking away the warmth she's longing for,
The life chains are at the edge of loss,
Slipping into Charon's arms.”
“She's crying abandoned,
Into the hands of frozen gods,
Swearing that one day
She will conquer her foes again.”
“A last tear broke free from her eye,
Begging the time to tell her tale,
A tale of lost memories, slashing a destiny,
A follower of the fallen but a hero of the ground.”
Dec
29th
Lovelorn
By CyaneLovelorn
by Jaana [aka Cyane]
“A memory beyond the dark scales
Follow him through his shades.
Gates of the past
Help him to find the lonely child.”
“His golden eyes are watching,
Waiting for her to awake.
The lore of love touched his mind,
Her beauty laid hold of his breath.”
“Once more,
Hoping to reborn amidst the deep waterfalls.
His cold lips touched hers,
Betrayed her innocence and stole her radiance.”
“Darkness fell over the girl's heart,and heave her into his arms,
A last tale she spoke, pure as snow and strong as gales:
'-I am the poet of the sky, but the writer of the fire.'
'-You are my Lovelorn.'”
Dec
28th
Winterland by Jaana
By CyaneWinterland
by Jaana [aka Cyane] - 2011
“I remember standing,
At the river's edge
Watching the snowfall
Slowly carried by the water's surge.”
“I take a step into the land of winter,
Walk through its iced rocks
And follow the sweet piano melody,
Which carried me into the time's lorn.”
“I alone cross the waterways,
Longing for a reason of life,
Hear the wolves howl
And sail by the river's waves.”
“The Nightingale blessed me
With a new name,
A newborn came along,
While the old me fell into the cradle of dreams.”
Dec
23rd
'Twas the Watch Before Christmas
By Sun Kitten
I wrote this earlier this month after having enjoyed ten days or so
of the Interzone Advent Calendar. I had submitted a different
story, but this was substituted instead because it was
actually Christmassy. So I thought I'd put it here as well, while
the season's still appropriate, in the hope that it might raise a
few smiles :)
Nov
3rd
Honeysuckle Trace - The following poem was composed on the group Aspiring Writers...what do you think it means?
By VanessaHoneysuckle Trace
A gaping hole is all I see, where lately honeysuckle spread.
A sweet smell with a memory, intoxicated with dread
The light is fading and the shadows call
The dark invading, colours pall.
Is it really time to make that call? and put sanity on the line.
I pause, the calm before the squall.
But, I cannot hide forever – not this time. Could I ever?
My delusions are fading. Can I sever their intrusions, degrading?
A voice makes me turn and shudder.
He speaks softly, but I recognise his stutter
Another chance - is it worth a go?
"The honeysuckle - all cut down?" The answer a resounding no.
"But - I saw the gap. And why the frown?"
He reaches out to dry a tear.
Familiar scent, warm embrace - let me forget the place...
My honeysuckle mind erase - Memories lost without a trace
Composed by: Kate7, Islander8, Panther & Tony
Oct
12th
CHARADES
By MarkR
a writer's site suggested
poems on the theme of games. Don't know where this came from in
response:
CHARADES
CHARADES
The worldwide economy
My tries at gastronomy
A husband’s autonomy
These things make me laugh
Katie Price an ‘author’
For richer, for poorer
The badger cull slaughter!
These twitch my moustache
This week’s ‘half-price’ offers
No funds in Church coffers
‘No change mate’ to proffer
The truth is bypassed
My no choccy diet
I’ll not have a fry up
A cake? Oh I’ll try it
I’m weak, diff’rent class
Political parties
You call that ‘thing’ arty
‘A-plus’ level smarties
You’re up your own arse
Of green belt protection
Female sense of direction
Non-fattening confection
The details are sparse
No racist hostility
Full social mobility
Deser-ved nobility
These lies are so harsh
My sense of well being
The logic I’m fleeing
The love that I’m seeing
This world of Charades
Sep
10th
Mothers - in - law probably not what you would expect from me.
By NoodledoodleI reckon we all have or had issues with mother's in law. Sheila, my mother in law was a gift to the world, so genuinely kind and people like that are a rarity. She was taken from us too soon - her birthday is this month - a lover of her garden, this is for my husband who never really had a chance to grieve
After you’re gone
The sun don’t shine
The grass don’t grow, put back the mower, there’s nothing to mow
The birds don’t sing
The wind don’t blow, no runner beans trailing from sticks in a row
After you’re gone
The clouds don’t form
The rain don’t fall, no need for umbrellas, leave ‘em in the hall
The trees don’t shed
Autumn has stalled, not one prickly chestnut, however small.
After you’re gone
The frosts don’t come
No wind from the coast, no Season’s Greeting and no Christmas roast
A New Year dawns
No Champagne to boast, there is no joy in this place to toast.
After you’re gone
My world don’t turn; but nothing can stop the love that burns.
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