Hello again! It's been a while since I've written an update. However, I did post some poetry. With the response I have gotten from this, I'm thinking that I may try to post a poem once a week. I feel that this would be a good challenge for myself to constantly create new poems or to revisit old ones to see how they could be improved. Also, it means that you guys will be able to read some of my work rather than just read what I write about my work.

     In addition to writing new poems, I have been writing short stories for a class. I don't remember if I've said this before but I always felt that short stories were my weakest writing form. I hated writing them because they never turned out as well as anything I wrote in another form (such as novel attempts or poems). As a result, I was nervous about taking a class on short story writing. On one hand, I wanted to challenge my writing abilities and branch out so that I could get better at this form. On the other hand, I really thought that my short stories would end up being like injured birds that are in stable condition but have no hope for improvement. Luckily, it seems like my fears have been proven wrong. I don't know if it is the pressure that writing in an academic setting causes or if it is the results of the other writing classes I had but, so far, the work I turn in is some of the best writing I've ever done (which is good to hear since this is the time when I'm using my new skills to rewrite my novel).

     But what's really awesome is that I'm enjoying short story writing! I never thought I'd be able to say that but I am so glad that I can. For me, short story writing yields itself greatly to ideas that I want to write but I have failed to turn into a novel. For example, I was recently reminded of one such story that I had tried to make into a novel but I couldn't get past a certain amount of pages. However, since short stories can only be so long, I reworked my idea and focused on one particular scene that could get everything I wanted to say in a novel in this story. And it worked! I am so happy with how it turned out.

     In addition to the progress I've made with short story writing itself, I am finally starting to get emotions across! You see, before I started studying writing in college, my stories were disturbing but there was no emotional connection to the characters or the situation. As a result, there was always some kind of disconnect that kept someone from being immersed in the world I created. However, with the short story I mentioned above, the main character's emotions were more relatable! I am so proud of that!

     I hope that you are all doing well as the leaves change colors and begin their descent into the heart of fall.

An Ode to Pumpkin

A friend I could never leave

Wasted away before my eyes

And her eyes dimmed and tired

I remember when we met

Fear had chased me as You

Ran to catch up to me

You finding me to be the one

I never had to fear

The monsters of the dark

As You always slept

Right beside me

You were the one I could

Turn to when the words scarred

And the reality I lived

Was too much to take

You were the one who

Could make my sickness

Fade away

And the pain diminish

You were named

Pumpkin the Second

After one who was just as kind

Though You are the only Pumpkin I’ve known

No matter what change

Came my way You

Were the constant

That I knew wouldn’t change

Now I know

Your time is closing in

A sentence that

Death must carry

And though I’m older

And I know You aren’t immortal,

I thought that we’d

Have more years together

To think I can’t be there

To say goodbye

To think that I’ll never

Touch Your soft fur again

To think I’ll never hear

Your quiet voice

Or Your loud purrs

Or watch You play in the water

To think these things

Makes my eyes run rivers

And my heart shriek

As much as my mind

So let this be my farewell

For I know You’ll move on

To a place where cancer can’t

Hurt You anymore

My closest friend

My darling sister

I’ve loved You with all my heart

Since You caught it all those years ago

My beautiful girl

My pretty kitty

You brought me joy when

I needed it most

I will miss Your kindness

Every day that I live

And I will never forget

All of the time we had

So goodbye my dear one

Your ancestors are awaiting You

In the heaven that exists

Only for creatures like You

I know You’ll stay with me

And that You love me too

So this is just goodbye

Until I can see You again

At the Low Point

My mind has been shrouded

In some kind of fog,

Making words seem foreign

And beyond my comprehension.

Someone has given my eyes

Permission to slack off,

Making the bricks dance,

And the words twirl on the page.

My equilibrium traveled off,

Leaving me to lurch and jump

In some strange dance,

That makes me nearly fall when I stand.

Someone stole my strength

And has left me with quivering limbs,

And a strong desire to never

Leave the safety of my bed.

My nerves have heightened their senses,

Showing me all of the places where

Something is going wrong,

Screaming at me to fix it, but I don’t know.

A shadow has been cast

Over my thoughts to keep me

Feeling like this is what I will

Always find when I think I’m on track.

Don’t leave me alone

In this place where I no longer am me

And where I can’t rely on myself

Because the trust that was left has fled.

Leave me alone.

I don’t want to be seen here.

I don’t want to be known as this,

For this isn’t me.