The Not-So Austen Bookclub discussion

Lucinda wrote: "My entry for April...





Breaking Dawn

A battle that can’t be won is fruitless in all design or intent,
And yet tenacity compels me to steadfast resolve_
That I will not fall without grace or..."

Your poems are always so lovely to read! :) :D

@Isabelle: Such a beautifully constructed poem!! You should be very proud of your wordsmith abilities :)

Awesome poem

Thank you Isabelle :)

Your poem was so unique! I love seeing the variety of poems that people write.

tHEY'RE always to wonderful

The winner for April is Isabelle! Your prize will be sent ASAP :)

This month is a little different. Instead of a word to include/a quote to embed, you will be given a quote for inspiration.

You are allowed to include parts of the quote in your poem if you wish, BUT it is mainly to be used as the inspiration for your piece. In other words, in order for you to be eligible for the prize, readers of your poem must be able to see that it ties in with the quote/relates to it in some manner. Whether that be:
- The subject matter
- The theme/tone of the piece
- The title
- (Or more than one/all of the above)

The inspiration for May is:
'That no man lives for ever;
That dead men rise up never;
That even the weariest river
Winds somewhere safe to sea.' (From 'The Garden of Proserpine' by A. C. Swinburne (1866))

The winner will receive an ebook copy of Sweet Reckoning by Wendy Higgins.


The best of luck to everyone & I'm looking forward to reading all of your entries!! <3

First off, that is such a neat poem!!
And secondly, an excellent and interesting prompt! I can't wait to see everyone's poems!

Booknut wrote: "The winner for April is Isabelle! Your prize will be sent ASAP :)

This month is a little different. Instead of a word to include/a quote to embed, you will be given a quote for inspiration.

You ..."


Thanks so much Booknut! :) :D

Ooh ... this month's prompt is very intriguing. :)

Congrats Isabelle!

This new challenge is really tough :) Mmmmm...lots to think about.

Last day for entries!

I know no one wrote anything for May, but might we have a new prompt for July?

Sure!

The inspiration for July is:

Falling

AND/OR

The colour red

I'm looking forward to reading some brilliant entries! The winner for July gets an ebook copy of Armageddon Outta Here by Derek Landy.

Hey guys! Sorry for not being active the past couple of months. Had exams. But I'm back now! Can we enter for both themes? Two poems?

His love shines like a thousand rays.
They tell the story of how deeply he fell for her.
The fire igniting between them, orange, yellow, and red, mostly red.
And how they melded, two bodies, one soul.
How he unlaced her from the net that was her life.
She was free. Like red is white. Like white shows a hint of red.
In the centre of a bright light, the red heat is always evident.
It lingers, waiting to portray yet another emotion.

Red. It shows the intensity of the passion between them.
Like the red blood, trapped in our body.
The pressure boils, and as the bubbles pop, the red returns.
Pop, pop, pop. With each change, it sparks and extinguishes.
Each time, preparing it's next move. What to ignite?
The heat. It smothers them, unable to tell the difference.
Where does one begin and the other end?
That's what red does. It awakens desire.

But then the red fades, returning with its brother red.
Anger, fury and rage. Red rage.
Dragging them apart, it pulls at their heart, mocking.
It breathes an element of betrayal. Fiery.
And his hatred consumes it all.
The battered, crisp grass. It's tips turning red from his heat.
And the pressure in his red fingertips, as he points the gun.
The grey bullet, now outlined in red, meets her heart, draining.

The splatter of blood, staining the green grass.
It forms a mixture of scenes. All red.
The side bricks, ingrained with the red liquid.
As it flows further in, softly, in its thickness.
The hole in her heart, red, defined with a darker shade.
Two lovers, and their desires, their passion, smudged in red.
They didn't make red. Red always existed on its own.
It's what it does. Claim. Red is everything.

Booknut wrote: "Sure!

The inspiration for July is:

Falling

AND/OR

The colour red

I'm looking forward to reading some brilliant entries! The winner for July gets an ebook copy of Armageddon Outta Here by Derek..."

Sounds good!

Shaila wrote: "Hey guys! Sorry for not being active the past couple of months. Had exams. But I'm back now! Can we enter for both themes? Two poems?"

You sure can :)

Hi:) I am new to this group, I do love writing short stories and poems, but am not very good, but I will give it a shot anyway. I am just trying to make everything rhyme and make sense. Hope you guys like it.

Here, my poem on the topic Falling.

All the time I've waited
The years that went wasted
You said you'd be back
But this house stood cold as my heart cracks
Poems and stories of happy endings
Were just falsehoods at your bending
All those trickery of thee
Were merely tools to trap me
Oh your empty words
Chained me up like those pretty birds
In such gilded cages
Forever alone as I age
Will all your endless lies
Fool me till I die
Every night to sleep I cry
I really did try
To escape, forget and be free
But with clipped wings I can't flee
Never again will I fly
For my heart had long bled dry
Now with your cover blown
People told me I should have known
To know better than play with fire
If I had listened
My tears wouldn't have glistened
To catch my breath
Before I catch my death
For you are death, you are fire
Just another pitiless liar
All the plaguing curses
I don’t know which is worse
Your constant absence
Or your brainwashing lessons
So though you made my life a living hell
Obediently here I dwell
To wait
Remember, coming back is never too late
For I believe, like you, in happily ever after
To be loved and feel laughter
All those years, you, I've loved
But loving a never-return man, my life is rough
I should have answered to my calling
And I wouldn't be here falling
Falling so deep and hard
No one to accompany, no one to guard
For a useless, loveless man
A wayward man who ran
Away from this land
This abandonment I can’t comprehend
My heart has gone shattered
And the broken pieces scattered
Never again be found
Buried away deep underground
Will I again be whole
Or always a wandering soul
Yet i still believe in you
And waiting for your 'I love you too'
So I continued to stumble
And down I tumble
Plunging so fast
The falling shall last
Falling
Sprawling
Never stalling
Down
And down
Till i suffocate and drown
Unless you still have a heart
To come back and keep me from falling apart
The descend is sleazy
But the ascend shall not be easy
I will fall and wait
Wishing you'll change my fate

Jasmee wrote: "Hi:) I am new to this group, I do love writing short stories and poems, but am not very good, but I will give it a shot anyway. I am just trying to make everything rhyme and make sense. Hope you gu..."

Jasmee, that was amazing! I mean this with all sincerity - I was utterly captivated by your poem. I could visualise every line :)

Booknut wrote: "Jasmee wrote: "Hi:) I am new to this group, I do love writing short stories and poems, but am not very good, but I will give it a shot anyway. I am just trying to make everything rhyme and make sen..."
Thank you very much, Booknut, now I have more confidence to try out the other topics. I am glad that you like it:)

Jasmee - amazing poem!

Lucinda wrote: "Jasmee - amazing poem!"
Thank you, Lucinda.

Jasmee wrote: "Hi:) I am new to this group, I do love writing short stories and poems, but am not very good, but I will give it a shot anyway. I am just trying to make everything rhyme and make sense. Hope you gu..."

Awesome poem

Jasmee wrote: "Hi:) I am new to this group, I do love writing short stories and poems, but am not very good, but I will give it a shot anyway. I am just trying to make everything rhyme and make sense. Hope you gu..."

Oh my gosh, that was amazing. Seriously, no words of mine will do justice to how much I loved your poem. Kudos :)

Thank you everyone for your compliments and support.

For the RED theme:


There’s blood on your hands
Scarlet
Crimson
But no black on your soul
Ruby
Vermillion
Lower your weapon
Garnet
Carnelian
You know you’re forgiven

Really good!

Brilliant as usual, Elevetha!

Truly amazing.

Results will be released tomorrow!

The winning poem for the theme 'Falling' is Jasmee's poem!

And the winning poem for the theme 'Red' is Shaila's!

Congratulations girls & thanks to everyone who gave last month's theme a go! It's always a treat to see such talent & to read so many brilliantly crafted pieces :)

The prizes will be sent ASAP - most likely sometime tomorrow, when I'm free.

The theme/s for August are:

Rose in bloom
AND/OR
Illusion

Can't wait to read this month's entries!

The winner of August's comp will receive an ebook copy of their choice. Either:
- Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead
OR
- Shatter Me: The Complete Collection (Including Novellas) by Tahereh Mafi

Congrats!!

August themes are very interesting :)

Thank you!

Hi everyone:) It had taken me almost an hour trying to decide of the topic, because Rose in Bloom and Illusion both seemed such amazing and interesting topics. I am really glad that I managed to finish it quick because I will be on a trip very soon. So I don't really know if I managed to keep up my standards. But really, thank you everyone, for the supports and praises that you've all given to me, they meant a lot.

So here's my shot on the topic Illusion, hope you guys will like it. :)

I have fallen in love too deep
Because I would now stumble and trip
For this love I had paid the cost
Yet now all is lost
How can I ever pull back out
When you are the one soul that I can’t live without
I just wanted to breathe
Yet you’re the air that I loathe and seethe
Deprived from the vitals of my life
How can I ever be alive?
You said you won’t leave
Yet I am left here alone to grieve
You have broken all the promises
I don’t know any more if you’re my beloved or nemesis
For all the years I waited, I ceased to belief
Only intent on seeking a way out for final relief
There are all these wounds that I tried to heal
Yet heartbreaks made me numb, I can no longer feel
Useless attempts at those deep scars
Healing them are like counting stars
Impossible and in vain
In the end it just caused me more pain than gain
Then one day you just wandered back
Seeming oblivious to the havoc you've wrecked
Though I had once lost all hope
With you back I can no longer bring myself to mope
My spirit soared
My heart no longer sore
As with needles and threads
I had sewn back together my broken heart shreds
I am unable to feel the agony
For you are my antidote, my remedy
And our love were such strong and fierce
I hardly felt the needles' pierce
Like a long-gone piece of puzzle fitted in
Two aching souls connecting deep within
A happy ending rewritten
Two hearts in love and smitten
I could taste our love of bittersweet
But our bond is one stronger than concrete
Yet fate was believed to be merciless
Marking our love worthless
Poking at our weakness
And leaving us tired and powerless
That’s why people warned me that you weren't back for real
In our love there’d always be a third wheel
Yet I shall never doubt
For you’re what my whole world’s about
And I belief that when our love is rough
We are brave and tough enough
Until just the other day
That day my sky turned unusually grey
Up there the thunder rumbled
And down my tears tumbled
For I saw you ran away
No matter how I begged you to stay
You went to that wrenched woman
Leaving me to cry my eyes swollen
I see your love for her in your eyes
The same spark that ours had long died
And for all those I have sacrificed
Is this how I will be justified?
By endless anguish and hurt is how I am repaid
As I slowly fall apart and fade
My stomach churns and my heart twists
As I began to cease to exist
My advantages had all been taken
And I am left here old and forsaken
A rose that had been a little late to bloom
Missed the chance and filled now with gloom
That’s why alone in that cool air
Must I alone fend and fare
Our love had been my undoing
Or was it the affair that you were pursuing
But all I know as I turned into dust
Is that I had lost my trust
For this cruel world
As your falsehood unfurled
With my last ragged moan
I knew I should have known
That once a heart is no longer for me to hold
Some secrets are best kept untold
As most times the truth breaks
And hurt you like impaling sticks
I should have run
Before I came undone
Our love had been so real
When we had sealed our life-long deal
With marriage and wedding rings
That had chained me down and clipped my wings
Fooled time after time again
I had not known then
Why you always hid behind that fathomless mask
Was it for answers that went unanswered when not asked?
And were all those lovely words and sweet dances
Only to put me into trances
So you can walk free
To be with her away from me
So I have always been this foolish marionette
And you silent silhouette
One that didn't know of the puppeteer’s power
One that could always only slink behind and cower
Was it all a seamless disguise
Of your masterful design
Or was it another beautiful illusion
That had given me all these impressions
But it had all seemed so real
That I could almost touch and feel
It was like two world’s collision
Or a heartfelt confession
Shocking
Yet mocking
But all these realizations
Can only cause me more depressions
For it is all too late
When one’s heart is blackened with hate

This is Great

Love it!

Awesome

Why thanks to you all :)

Gosh!! what a fab entry

Quick notice: prizes for July have been sent :)

Here is my entry for the theme of Illusion, hope you guys like it :)

So Long By Zahraa

A cold wind breathed through the snow-topped trees,
the stumps covered with a thick layer of icy frost.
I stumbled and I suffered a fall as I made my way on that dark, freezing winter day.

The light, feather-like snowflakes caressed my skin as they sunk to the ground in synchronization.
A stick snapped in the near distance and I gathered my dress and ran using any remaining energy I had, who was this stranger?

I stopped in my tracks as I felt hot, breath on my neck, Perspiring with fear as my heart took a tumble and my breath hitched.
Yellow eyes began to appear, dotted among the shrubs and roses surrounding the clearing I had unconsciously found myself in.

I was spellbound...Surrounded by a wolf and his hungry, merciless pack, eyes targeting me, filled with utter desire, glistening like jewels in bright sunlight.
I darted my eyes to find a way to escape, but I knew I was trapped
I reluctantly waited... impatiently for time to elapse.
I waited and waited ‘till my feet were begging me to retire.
I half-heartedly slumped down onto the cold snow-covered ground and wished for the ground to eat me up.
This was useless I was as helpless as a puppy on a tight lead.
My shoulders were tense and I couldn’t move a muscle,
my body was refusing to obey my simple orders.
I sucked in a quick breath as a sharp jolt of pain sliced through me,like a butcher’s knife, cutting up a piece of fresh meat.
It was then that I felt the trees caving in on me
but alas I was mistaken the trees stood exactly where they always had…It was something else.

Nausea overwhelmed me,
the moment I saw blood trickle down my neck.
My blood pooling on the snow at my feet.
Seemingly almost black against the pure white of the snow
The canine species slowly encircled me,
snouts jutting out, ready to inhale the life out of me, sniffing the scent of human blood that they'd waited for...
So long

Lucinda wrote: "Gosh!! what a fab entry"

Thank you Lucinda, I am glad that you like it.

Booknut wrote: "Quick notice: prizes for July have been sent :)"

Thanks, Booknut. I am able to receive it, will be reading it soon.

So Long is beautiful! You have a real knack for writing poetry, Zahraa :)

Booknut wrote: "So Long is beautiful! You have a real knack for writing poetry, Zahraa :)"

Awwwww :)Thanks so much Booknut.

Awesome

:)

Jasmee - wow that was spectacular!

Zahraa - wow that was an outstanding piece of poetry. Loved it!

Here is my entry for the theme "rose in bloom". Hope you enjoy :)


~Rose in Bloom~ by Xandra

Please open up
Let me see what you hide
Your beauty is budding, nearly ready to thrive

Open up, let me see
The beauty that lies
Inside your closed petals, behind prying eyes

I will not hurt you,
I'll handle you with care
Your thorns are may be sharp, but I'll always be there

You're slowly unfurling
Giving me a glance
I'll bloom for you too, if you'll just give me a chance

I had loved you, right from the start
You'll be a rose in bloom
Forever in my heart

*grabs a tissue box* That's beautiful, Xandra!