CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

Getting over the covid booster and the flu took a bit longer than anticipated and it's taken me ten days to get back to 2022's Poetry Challenge. You will notice that the poem shown is a number out of a larger number, and that is because I'm sometimes writing more than one poem a day. The extract will always be taken from the first poem of the day so, without further ado, here is the entry from Day 1 of Streak 2 - today. This one was a garland cinquain focused on heroes: Poetry Challenge 2022 Streak 2: Day 1 Streak 1: 17 Days Poem 18/20 -  112 words First 10% (rounded down)   Day 1 ----------------------------- heroes we all walk tall   yet inside our hearts ... -----------------------------     To be published in: Yet Another 365 Days of Poetry  

This week’s verse moves from a science fiction poem about the dangers of an unauthorised planetary excursion to a fantasy verse about monsters and heroes. It is taken from Another 365 Days of Poetry , a collection of mixed-genre poetry released in 2019. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dangers in the Dark With carapaces shining and throwing torchlight back our nemesis revealed themselves a gleaming black on black And we knew then why the miners in all good sense had run knew why those brave folk shook and craved work in the sun for, suddenly, we did the same and our oaths we did regret for we had sworn to clear the mines and see all dangers met We had though it orcs or goblins or elves gone dark We had not anticipated multi-legged monsters to come hunting in the dark. We had thought bipedal, bows and arrows, ...

This week’s verse moves from a science fiction verse about a fortune hunter learning a well-deserved lesson, to a fantasy verse about commemorating heroes. It is taken from Another 365 Days of Poetry , a collection of mixed-genre poetry released in 2019. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Battle Ghosts Long lie the ghosts in the skies and the fields, Beneath clouds, stars and soil in the land they defended where long ago, in hard battle, their lives they did yield. They fought with their voices, with what they could wield They fought with the tools that for peace were intended Long lie the ghosts in the skies and the fields No one ran; they all stayed when the warning bells pealed Took up arms, kitchen tools, ploughs to swords were soon rendered, and long ago, in hard battle, their lives they did yield. They are memories, now, their fate is long-sealed ...

This week’s verse moves from a poem inspired by the global unity that grew out of the Je Suis Charlie terror attack of 2015, to a fantasy poem about an encounter with underground monsters. It is taken from 366 Days of Poetry , a collection of mixed-genre poetry released in 2016. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------   The Creepers in the Tunnels Knew The creepers in the tunnels knew from whence would come the travellers’ doom. They grew along the walls and watched, as the intruders set a fire and cooked what would be their final meal in the dark, where night concealed creatures of more subtlety than the creeper growing free along the arching walls that they had so carefully avoided, when they set up camp. The creepers in the tunnels knew the subtlety’s wherein they grew, and watched with plant’s delight as, from behind each stalactite, the weavers on their ...

This week’s verse moves from  a speculative verse about outliving our children to a a fantasy verse about one man protecting those we love. It is taken from 366 Days of Poetry , a collection of mixed-genre poetry released in 2016. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------   The Protector's Wish If you love me—then leave me. Save the others; save yourself, for I am beyond redemption. I am well beyond your help. I know you are beside me, but my blood it stains the snow, and you have no way to staunch it, no way to stop the flow, so, if you love me, then please leave me. Leave my sword, my dagger and bow, and I will give you time to flee, and to save the others I love so, for while you cannot save me, and I cannot save myself, I can help you get away, to reach shelter, and reach help. Tie the wound off tightly, love, and take our children and y...