Celebrating Poetry

"Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words."

-- Edgar Allan Poe

I must confess, out of all the various types of writing, poetry is my weakest, both in understanding and execution. Even my college professors marveled at the utter lack of connection I and my fellow English majors had with the genre, exclaiming we were, quite possibly, the worst poetry class within memory.

This is nothing to be proud of.

Life being how it is, my son is an excellent poet. He has even garnered a writing scholarship with his work. When I read it, I am amazed at his weaving of metaphors and phraseology, all of which is so very out of my realm.

"Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words"

 -- Robert Frost

Through him, however, my understanding of poetry has deepened, I am happy to report, although I still regard it as the most difficult of all writing to do well and am amazed and awed by those who possess that gift.

On this last day of National Poetry Month, I praise the bards among us, for you are the hearts and souls of the writing community.

Bees

By Tim Berner

Promiscuous lover,

I see you every season

With courts bow —

I shall sweep —

You flit around

As playful jester,

A heart sound,

Mind predetermined

In our dance

We shall sleep

Until next dawn

When you will leave

As your rapier

You sting,

So long subtle suitor

Who is your favorite poet? Why? Do you have a favorite poem?

Quotes courtesy of  http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_poetry3.html#zcWvx4Mwhf1uQeBK.99

Flash Fiction Fridays: Nothing More

Man on the Edge

By Karina Kantas

Images etched in his mind, memories too painful to remember yet too precious to forget. They’re not flashbacks, more like previews of a film, the film of his life.

He’s dancing with his wife, while his three-year-old son watches and laughs. One hand is on her petite waist, while the other folds into her soft hand. She laughs happily, as he swings her around.

The image fades and is replaced by a scene in their car. The radio is on and playing a popular Christmas song. Mother and child sing along together. She’s not driving fast, and both passengers are belted. Nevertheless, she breaks hard as she tries to avoid a cat that’s sitting in the middle of the road. The wheels spin on a small patch of black ice. She loses control of the car as it slides, and then spins wildly, stopping only when the oncoming HGV ploughs into the side. It tosses the car as though it was made of cardboard and the passengers merely paper cutouts. 

They died instantly, and although he never saw the accident, his memory gladly played his family’s last moments.

The image changes again. This time he sees himself standing beside the roulette wheel. A huge pile of chips sits on the unlucky number. The ball spins around the colourful wheel, silver flashes, as though laughing at him. The ball slows, deliberately taking its time before deciding which customer it would fortune.

Fortune did not smile on him that night.

Within a period of four months, he had lost everything. His depression caused his drinking, his drinking causing him to lose his job.

The man stared at the clear blue sky ahead. He took a deep breath and inhaled the cold, crisp air.

Things seem much clearer up here, he thought, as he took his final step.

“Man on the Edge” was originally published in 2007 at Smoke Box.

Karina Kantas is the author of five books: In Times of Violence, Huntress, Lawless Justice and Stone Cold, as well as the flash and short fiction collection Heads & Tales. Her inspirations are the author S.E.Hinton and the rock band Iron Maiden. She is also the owner and editor of http://www.urban-novels.com .

Flash Fiction: You Know You Want To

Flash Fiction Fridays will start up again in two days with a great piece by Karina Kantas.

In the meantime, I am looking for more pieces to fill in May and head into the summer. Anything goes for the next few months.

As always, send your 1,000-word or less stories to karen@karenberner.com. Put "Flash Fiction Fridays" in the subject line and include a short bio and links (bookseller, blog, website, etc.) with your story. You can submit pieces published elsewhere, just be sure to mention that in your email, so I can cite it properly.

Thanks!

I'm Back!

Hello, dear readers. How have you been?

This is an exciting time for me personally and professionally. We are getting ready for my eldest's high school graduation at the end of May, which I will write more about then. It is awards season for the seniors, and prom is just around the corner. Very nice.

My next book, Until My Soul Gets It Right, will be released next month as well. I will have more information within the next few weeks about the release date, blog party and fun giveaways, so stay tuned.

Also, I have added a sign-up form for my mailing list at the top right column. Please feel free to fill it out for all the latest Bibliophiles news. I promise not to spam you every week or sell your email addresses to anyone. Who needs that, right? The newsletter will go out quarterly, unless there is nothing to talk about, whereupon then it won't.

Some post topics coming up include National Poetry Month, new releases by our fantastic Flash Fiction Fridays contributors and some hopefully insightful bibliophilic essays by yours truly.

Have a great week and see you on Wednesday.

Break Time

Greetings,

I am going to take some time off of Bibliophilic Blather, so I can focus on the release of my second Bibliophiles novel, Until My Soul Gets It Right.

Bibliophilic Blather and Flash Fiction Fridays will return starting Monday, April 23.

Thanks for reading and being a part of our community. See you in a few weeks.

Regards,
Karen