CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

Last piece for the month - one that draws from Earth-folktales for inspiration, and then blends them with a little touch of science fiction, and just a little romance. Shiralee’s Song Shiralee sang to the stars flying among the trees. She sat on a tall rock overlooking the glade, singing until the stars clouded around, entwining their voices with hers. Their voices spread through the trees, but it was not enough. Shiralee changed the tune, honing it with urgency and offering it as a gift. The song rippled from the glade to the foothills, until the fey prince heard and stood at the base of her perch. “I came,” he said, and she descended. “Will you help?” “For a world where I can call your song at will? I will help.”

A final experiment with shapechangers and the didactic form, from the upcoming Another 366 Days of Poetry. The Seal Women Selkies Seal-skinned, sleek Shed their hides on beaches Loved and heart-breaking Skin-changers  

This nonsense blended science fiction and fantasy poem came from playing with words... while I thought about what practical use stories had.  What’s in a Tale? Jelly beans and juggernauts All dancing on a string Harpies fly the minuet And mermaids learn to sing Selkies shatter high notes Refusing to atone As minotaurs and bull men Butcher low notes with a moan Rockets fly the starlanes As if jet propulsion was a thing While starships catch the starwind On wide spread shimmer-wings. Of such images are stories made And sung with joy by bards To sink into our waking minds And haunt sleepers near and far.