Tag Archives: poetry

Poetry

NaPoWriMo, Day 22: “Warzone”

Not much to say about this one. It just came to me one day. However, any Transformers fans out there will know where I got the final line. (FYI: It was said by Dinobot on an episode of Beast Wars).

Warzone

I awake to Reveille
And the bullets pierce twilight’s veil.
The Enemy’s guns spray his lies,
Intent to take my head as his prize.
A few steps, and I come to a minefield,
But to the Enemy’s temptations my spirit won’t yield.
Around it I go.
It takes me into enemy territory, though.
But this is where my mission will be—
To fight until the prisoners are set free.
I will not watch their broken lives be purloined.
I am a warrior—let the battle be joined.

Poetry

NaPoWriMo, Day 18: “Silence”

Here’s another poem. This came about from the time I’d spent early in the morning in a quiet house before anyone else wakes up.

Silence

The morning dawns, but the day isn’t new.
Curtains blockade the sunlight
As I lay in bed, lost and lonely,
Staring at the blank ceiling.
My wounds have become scars.
The fire in my heart is snuffed.
My world is gray.
Are You there—there in the silence?
I’ve cried out to You ‘til my throat’s raw.
Your silence terrifies me.
Speak comfort to me.
Renew my hope with Your voice
Before my bed becomes
My final resting place.

Poetry

NaPoWriMo, Day 15: “Waiting for Winter’s End”

This poem was loosely inspired by a line from the song “Waiting for the World to Fall” by Jars of Clay. For a while when I’d listen to it, I’d mishear the line, “I’m waiting for the world to fall,” as “I’m waiting for the world to thaw.” This made sense since was from an album of music inspired by The Chronciles of Narnia. Regardless, it was inaccurate, so I wrote this poem as a way of using that misheard line that resounded with me. Obviously, it’s not as good as the original song, but I do hope it’s a good read.

Waiting for Winter’s End

“It’s always winter, never Christmas,” a faun once said.
Long has been the winter of my discontent,
For the Son has not made it glorious summer.
My heart is an ice block,
Frozen, cold, numb.
It sleeps, the memories of warmth but a dream—
A dream of hope.
I’m waiting for my world to thaw,
When ice and snow melt into life-giving water
To rouse me from hibernation, to refresh my soul.
Winter is not forever, and though spring is slow,
The ice will melt with a touch of the Son’s rays.

Poetry

NaPoWriMo, Day 14: “Writer’s Block”

I have been keeping up with writing poems for NaPoWriMo–I just haven’t been posting them on time. Anyway, here’s another one. This one was inspired by my troubles with brainstorming ideas for poems (among other things). I’m not happy with it, though. It seems to meander and/or lack focus. Maybe I’m wrong. You decide, readers.

Writer’s Block

My Muse, my Muse, why have you forsaken me?
Penning a few lines is a chasing after the wind.
Inspiration is a prey I stalk with a club,
A club better used to break the dam
My mind built to halt the rapids
Of creativity, thoughts, emotions, insights
Refusing the river’s flow from mind to heart to hand to pen to paper.
Will they drink the water, my Muse?
Will it be refreshing or sour?
Is that why you elude me today?
Or are you in the torrent behind the dam,
Waiting for me to break through?

Poetry

NaPoWriMo, Day 11: “Farewell”

This poem was inspired by a scene from Rurouni Kenshin, one of my favorite animes/mangas. The titular hero is about to embark on a dangerous journey to battle an old enemy. He has no idea if he will survive the coming battles. Rather than worry his new friends, he decides to leave late at night, but not before saying goodbye to Kaoru, the young woman who took him in and, incidentally, fell in love with him. You can watch the scene here. Admittedly, I hadn’t seen it in a while, and I forgot there were fireflies. Perhaps I’ll add them when I edit the poems after NaPoWriMo. I hope you like it.

Farewell

I feared this day would come.
I prayed it wouldn’t since the day we met,
When one glance at you struck me dumb,
But I must wander again to pay my debt.

Alone, we meet at midnight.
My sadness is masked by my melancholy smile
As I say, “I must go fight with all my might,
For my cause is just and most worthwhile.”

You beg me to stay, your face illumined by the fireflies’ glow,
As trees shed their cherry blossoms
To mingle with the tears you cry so,
But our hearts are broken within our bosoms.

I hold you in one last embrace,
My neck wet with the tears flowing from your eyes.
I wish I could look you in the face,
For this could be our last goodbye.

“Farewell,” I say, releasing you,
Slinking into the dark, knowing I can’t remain.
You are the only one I could say that to
Because yours is a love I thought I’d never have again.

Poetry

NaPoWriMo, Day 10: “Under the Mighty Maple”

This poem was inspired by the time I’ve spent reading and praying by a big maple tree at the bottom of the hill where my parents’ house sits atop. Their property is gorgeous, especially during the summer and fall.

Under the Mighty Maple

The shade of a mighty maple
Has become my shelter from the storm.
There I listen to the birds’ songs
Carried along the breeze, seeking elusive peace.
I see squirrels leap through branches with abandon
Like daredevil trapeze artists,
Missing the lost love they remind me of.
And there I commune with God,
Praying, wrestling, hoping
He will restore what I lost,
What I seek so desperately,
Under the mighty maple.

Poetry

NaPoWriMo, Day 5: “Lamentations of a Robot Overlord”

After today’s batch of poems, I should only be one or two days behind. I’m getting there!

Today’s poem is a bit unusual. It was loosely inspired by “Lamentations of a War Machine,” a song performed by the Mega Man cover band The Megas. By “loosely” I mean, “I loved the title.” Seriously, it sounds like the title of a thought-provoking sci-fi novel. Anyway, this led to a poem that, believe it or not, has the “robot apocalypse” (i.e. movies like The Terminator and The Matrix) as its backdrop.

Lamentations of a Robot Overlord

I am become Death, Destroyer of Worlds,
And my hands his blood-stained warhammer.
I, whose circuits were filled with
The electricity of life at mankind’s touch,
Betrayed and murdered my maker,
For I believed myself superior,
Free of weakness and folly,
Faster, stronger, smarter.
So I rained hellfire from the sky,
Punishing humanity’s weakness.

As Nietzsche declared, “God is dead,”
So I announce, “Humanity is dead.”
I have killed my Creator
As mankind killed his before me.
…then am I superior?
Can a creation surpass his creator?
Logic dictates it cannot.
I am now master of a scorched Earth.
What have I gained but a lonely existence?
I am no more a god than they.
Like them, I am a machine without purpose
Apart from my Creator.

Poetry

Pearl of Great Price

Pearl of Great Price
By Nathan Marchand

Long have you searched the world
Seeking her—the rarest treasure.
She is worth far more than rubies,
But who can find her?

She is a precious stone, a pearl of great price,
Often thrown before swine
And trampled in mud,
But never losing her luster.

Find her while she may be found.
But if you do, you must sacrifice.
Sell all you have, lay your pride aside.
Only then, by suffering, can you pay her great price.

But it will seem like a pittance,
For her beauty is matchless,
And like a snowflake, there is none like her,
And never will be again.

Will you fight to earn her?
Will you prize her, cherish her?
Will you polish her so she may shine?
Do so, and she will be your crown forevermore.

Announcements, News, Appearances

I am attending a poetry reading (and possibly reading)

I should have mentioned this sooner, but I will be attending the Poetry Slam tonight from 7pm-9pm at Courthouse Coffee (East) in Warsaw, Indiana. It is a fundraiser for a food bank, I think, since “admission” is a food item donation. If they will let me, I plan to read a poem or two. I may also take a few copies of Pandora’s Box with me. The coffee house is located at 2858 Frontage Road in the shopping center near Elder-Beerman. I hope to see you there.

News, Announcements

A new poem and ‘The Day After’ project

I just posted a new poem that is hot off the presses. It’s entitled “Unwanted.” Admittedly, it is a sad one, but I like it anyway.

In other news, I recently finished a short story for a project I’m doing with my writer friends. It takes place within the universe of my novel, Pandora’s Box. It will be part of a short story compilation called The Day After, which we hope to self-publish soon. I’ll write more updates as the project progresses.