Writing Articles

Pixellated People: Day 15 of National Poetry Month

Does technology bridge the divide between us? Does it inspire creativity or resist it? You be the judge.

Ode to Imagination: Day 14 of National Poetry Month

Perhaps conflict is a universal theme, not ony between humans but between the natural forces of the planet itself.

New Form – Quadrille Quaiku: Day 13 of National Poetry Month

Here’s a new form to try – and another of my poetry forms challenges met!

Many Definitions: Day 12 of National Poetry Month

It isn’t just words that carry many meanings.

Illustration (decorative) for today's poem.

Grump: Day 5 ½ of National Poetry Month

Apr 6, 2026 | Poetry, Writing

Illustration (decorative) a fanciful, artistic rendition of a volcanic crater suggested by Haleakala at sunrise showing both sunrise and the milky way galaxy and a blooming silversword and an observatory.

Energized: Day 5 of National Poetry Month

Apr 5, 2026 | Poetry, Writing

Illustration (decorative) a multicolored zebra stands in a patch of colorful wildflowers surrounded by sheep as a storm gathers on the horizon

Storm Front: Day 4 of National Poetry Month

Apr 4, 2026 | Poetry, Writing

Fair-weather friends, strange bedfellows, and homogeneity – that’s what’s on my mind today.

An idealistic woman carrying boulders in a net bag

Even Futile Arguments Can Inspire Poetry

Nov 18, 2025 | Poetry, Writing

Idealism can be a curse, but pessimism is probably worse. What can you do?

It's a horror show, all right. I tried to get "an ingenue crab-walking up dimly-lit stairs to creepy music" and got a little girl walking up creepy stairs next to a giant crab. Whatever. That's AI for ya. Doesn't always give you what you want, but sometimes gives you exactly what you need.

Jump Scare

Nov 17, 2025 | Poetry, Writing

How is it that we know the tropes – they are, by definition, cliché – and yet, they can still make us feel something like fear or anticipation?

A bully faces off with a scrappy little girl on the playground.

Not doing NaNoWriMo these days, but maybe I can write 30 poems in a month. Or not. One of these is inspired by Robert Brewer’s 11/1/25 prompt for the PAD challenge; the other is a form I was challenged to try by Barbara Ehrentreu.

For Once

Nov 4, 2025 | Poetry, Technical & How-To, Writing

November, New Beginnings

Nov 3, 2025 | Poetry, Travel, Writing

Illustration: bees on bluebonnets (AI rendered using original poem as the prompt)

Quintilla: Migrant

May 24, 2025 | Poetry, Writing

They are not here to harm us.

Popsicles? Damn, It’s Gonna Be a Long, Hot Summer

May 24, 2025 | Poetry, Writing

A man had to explain these “rules” to me.

A fake movie poster for "86 THIS!" and shows a crowd of happy people on a hill.

One is Never Enough

May 21, 2025 | Writing

From banned books to banned words, the vocabulary of the Resistance grows by the day.

A brook hidden in a tranquil wooded area, barely lit by sunshine. There's a moss-covered foot bridge over the water and a small waterfall in the distance.

New Poetry Form: The Scala Decima

May 20, 2025 | Invented Forms, Poetry, Writing

I’ve invented a new poetry form – come try it! (Or as I said to some fellow poets, earlier – come play test this!)

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