CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

This week’s verse moves from a science fiction piece about how stories can hold the secrets to the future, to a fantasy verse about lost love and revenge. It is taken from 366 Days of Poetry , a collection of mixed-genre poetry released in 2016. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------   My Heart Lies in Pieces My heart lies in pieces, shards and dust on the floor, shattered, not broken, can’t be whole anymore. I will pick up the shards, though my fingers will bleed. The dust blows away, now, and can’t be retrieved. Why are you crying? ’T is not your heart that’s broke, not your heart’s been shattered, not your vengeance bespoke. ’T is not your tears have dried, nor your fingers have bled, not your blade will stain the forest deeps red. Stow all your tears, now. Stow away all your wails. We leave in the hour, while we can follow ...

This week’s short story takes us from one woman's search for a war hero on a distant war-torn world to a science fiction tale of love and family against the backdrop of a long-fought war. Welcome to Jalaya .   Separated by duty, and reunited by the same Michael has helped the villagers survive the invasion for ten years. This year, he cannot. Cut off from escape, their only hope of salvation is to return to the village, and pray. Returning to the village means returning to his fiancé, forced by a secret family tradition to remain, when duty called him to leave. But reunions will have to wait. First they have to bring their people home. Jalaya is available as a stand-alone, novella-length short story at the following links: https://www.amazon.com/Jalaya-CM-Simpson-ebook/dp/B0084RX4FO/ . You can also find Kristine Kathryn Rusch's latest free short story over on her blog: kriswrites.com . Why don't you go and check it out?