Calm After the Storm

I lie awake
and remember it all—
the anger,
the venom,
the frustration,
the call

To do what I must—
confront one friend
to protect the other.

Save us from
a pain,
a fall,
a scraped knee
outside the walls

In the dirt streets
where dust kicked up—
and I don’t hate you

Not yet—
let us first
seek out reason.

But perhaps soon will come the time
to leave,
to flee,
to seek outside,
to study.

May we find peace,
and until then,
I wait,
I sleep.

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With the release of every chapter of Below the Land, I will be posting a companion poem.  This is the poem related to the Chapter 2.

A Joyful Existence

Home, where everything is as it should be,
Where nothing is as it was,
My soul longing for an action,
A distraction from the restlessness.

As the water is joined by the blue,
I find something new in the ways
Of life boiling to the surface of
A joyful existence here and now.

May it all be kept in order underneath,
Though new tragedies and turns come,
And life brandishes forth from the unknown,
Making hay about settling down.

Let this be a happy turn for you,
An excellent page in the study
Of all these good things we admire,
In the quilted streets we know and love.

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With the release of every chapter of Below the Land, I will be posting a companion poem.  This is the poem related to the Chapter 1.

When Moon Blocks out Sun

The grass moves like a mystery
In the shadow within shadow,
Where we ran to the field
To watch beauty roam.

And the way wind blows
I would never have guessed
That fire and glass
Would grip my heart with such violence,
As the hour turns dark
And then light again in time.

The fear we share
Is never enough and never will be,
For though we cry out
And inflame our doubts,
I will care for you forever,
Even when the sun goes out.

__________________________
With the release of every chapter of Below the Land, I will be posting a companion poem.  This is the poem related to the Prologue.

Below the Land Release Date - May 24th!

Cover art by Abby Castillo

Hey folks!  I have some news.  My latest book, Below the Land, will begin its serialized release on Tuesday, May 24th on a site called JukePop Serials.  Links and further details will be provided as soon as they are available.

Following the release of the Prologue on the 24th, new chapters will be posted every Tuesday and Friday.  I look forward to sharing this story with you!

Below the Land is the first book in a new Universe Adventures series.  It's a fantasy adventure story that follows Sorel, who is faced with dealing with some unexpected--and unwanted--talents that seem to bring her more pain than ability.  Meanwhile, in the town of Hearthon, Paran and his sister must decide between maintaining their family business and chasing the dreams and adventures that await them in other lands!

And throughout it all, a mysterious word and a prophecy keeps being spoken in hushed and fearful tones:

“Born when moon blocks out sun

Known to almost none

One who seeks no crown

Only a Changer can heal the scar at Quake Town.”