A Journey Backwards

I’ve always loved poetry, as far back as I can remember. I’ve also always loved to write it, even though it is trickier finding publishers who want to publish it these days. I suppose that baffles me. To each their own, I guess.

Before focusing my poetry on horror-themed topics, I wrote for myself. As a coping mechanism. Therapy. Catharsis. To exorcise my personal demons. While I cannot say any of them are particularly ‘horrific’, they all certainly qualify as dark.

Ultimately, I would still love to compile a collection of these poems. The trick would be finding a publisher to take them on. These are my babies. I was finding my voice when they came to me. One might say they are guilty pleasures, but they are mine, and I hope one day to see them in print. After all, not all monsters are so obvious.

Here is an oldie. Wrote this one in 2005. An experimental form…

 

Hallowed, Hollowed

Guess you could say I’m carving out a niche for myself. Of myself. Leaving behind the scant pieces of entrails and heart blossoms and looking to gray up anything red and vivacious. Think limestone statues. Marble would be too beautiful. How would I look, do you think? If I work quickly enough, maybe I can freeze the tears in place before they escape off my cheeks and disappear into green seas below my fluted Corinthian pedestal.

If I stand here long enough… still enough… will you begin to see through me?

As the last trace of pink transcends into cold porous rock, I fix my long lost blues upon you and wait. Holding my breath; oh wait, my lungs are slate. Searching stoically for any sign of recognition. Any sign that your hands can still press into me traces of our fist fueled fire. Mouth sealed shut, no uttered relents, no defeatist pleas. I wasn’t carved to care. Now I know I can beat you any day in a staring contest.

You flinch first, you lose… finally, I win!

I have chosen my spot wisely, facing an expansive glass of reflective movement. Erect, but never proud, my back does not bend anymore. A missing backbone will do that to you. Now that you know where to find me… now that you know where I’m planted… you can be sure to never stumble across my venue. Never trip upon my unmovable effigy and leave scarlet signatures in my asphalt epidermis. Only after the beating invader ceases its heartless protests. Be sure to miss the final betrayal as I yellow and shrivel into some aesthetically pleasant blossomed reminder. A marker by the water under Apollo’s coldest glare.

The heart is always the last to go, Clytie…   

 

©2005 Jezzy Wolfe

 

You Will Want These…

Preorders are still available for my debut poetry collection, MONSTRUM POETICA.

Why preorder? All preorders include a personally signed bookplate at no additional charge, and ship out automatically upon the release date. It includes an introduction by New York Times Bestselling Author Jonathan Maberry, and features cover art by the wicked Steven Archer. Those are rather nice incentives.

MONSTRUM is my homage to the terrors that have haunted us as long as we can remember. Those mysterious bumps in the dark, the eyes that we know are watching us, even when we turn and find no one. The chills that creep up our spines and the screams building in our throats. It’s a love letter, you might say, to that which thrills us. I truly hope you enjoy my little creation.

You can preorder MONSTRUM directly from the publisher, Raw Dog Screaming Press, or at any of the major online booksellers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. After September 2nd, it will no longer be a preorder, so don’t wait too long if you want that special bookplate!

IN OTHER NEWS:

Smart Rhino Publications has released it’s third installment in their Assassin series, ASININE ASSASSINS. With 24 stories featuring utterly ridiculous and fantastical assassins, this is sure to entertain, if not tickle your funny bone. Wanna laugh at completely inept and unexpected mercenaries? Well, here you go!

And one of those just may be a gang of hired hitmen otters. Just saying. That might be one of those 24 stories. Killer otters. Because the deadliest killer might also be the cutest.

But don’t take my word for it. Pick up a copy for yourself, and see. You won’t be disappointed. Smart Rhino always delivers a good time.

Pick up your copy of ASININE ASSASSINS HERE!