My Assorted Writings
"That is not dead which can eternal lie,
And with strange aeons even death may die."
The Necronomicon
Abdul Al-hazred
(from H.P. Lovecraft's "Call of Cthulhu")
Ok, folks, it is quite true. I am a writer in the true sense of the word, I suppose. I say this simply because what I hold dear, and what I enjoy most, is creating literature (no, not web-sites!!!). I dip my pen and write...when the powers that be see fit to entrust me with a certain work. I am a writer of fiction and poetry, as well as song lyrics. Which do I enjoy most? That's something I could never or would never answer.
Now, a little background. I've been writing poetry for most of my life...jeez that's scary!! But, my most satisfying works have come within the past few years, since that is when I...descended?...into the abyss of my true soul. In that time, I have won a fiction contest at my high school with a short-story (scroll down), having an excerpt from that and two poems published in the school literary magazine. That was the beginning. I had been writing short-stories for a few years, but with "The Savior" I felt that I had truly arrived into the rhythm of writing. That same year (last year, actually), I had my first poem published in a large collection, followed by a second in a forthcoming anthology. I am currently working to find a market for my short novel, and I just found out that I am going to have two more of my poems published in a forthcoming anthology and one in the well renowned web-zine Nightscapes. So, that's my story (or one of them), and I hope you enjoy what I've done. I have just recently converted the stuff here (most of it) to HTML for your viewing pleasure and ease. Just click on the title and be carried away ever so briskly...
REMEMBER: All of these ARE copyrighted, so please respect my rights. Authorial integrity means a great deal to those of us that write, and abusing this would be wrong, both morally and legally. So, that said....
FICTION:
- An Assortment of Short Stories
Stories on all sorts of horrible subjects, ranging from a monster in a closet to a black magician whose about to meet his demonic end (a very Lovecraftian story, I think). These date all the way back to when I was but a wee 13 years old...
The first story of mine that met with success. Won a writing contest judged by professional writers in my high school. Small potatoes, yes, but very nice nonetheless. Deals with a man's descent into Hell and the end of the universe. Just revised and beefed up 06/19/98 for entry into contest...check it out!
My magnum opus to date. This is my short novel, appx. 38k words in length. It uses the characters of Sumero-Babylonian mythology, and in this sense kind of fits in with the Cthulhu Mythos vein started by the great man Lovecraft. I'm no where near that point of talent, but it's a humble beginning. It's an interesting story nonetheless, dealing with hatred, vengeance, bloodshed, love, death, and humankind's utter destruction (of course!). Also uses a Gnostic deity in the role many ascribe to Christian Jehovah...but that is another motif you'll just have to check out! Hence the title...
This one is very recent and actually short, I promise, and it's pretty interesting. It's about a whistle that times the death of people in a small town. But, of course, there's something deeper to it as well. This one also has had the wonderful privilege to be included in the bi-annual Virginia Tech Literary Magazine Silhouette, truly an honor. So, give 'er a read and see what you think!
This here is inspired by the Aleister Crowley poem "The Wizard Way," and I think it came out really well. It's pretty dark, tragic, and I guess overall pretty cool. At least worth the time to read, I'd say (but, I'm partial...he he he).
Too those that know me, this might as well be an autobiography-to-come. It's about a guy who escapes society to the backwoods of Maine, leaving behind a high paying job and a wife. The wife finds out where he is, nine years later, and goes to find him. Unfortunately, at the same time, he's preparing for a showdown with a government raid he thinks is coming. It's very suspenseful...give 'er a read.
NON-FICTION:
(In chronological order)
One of my better poems, I think. This puppy was published in not only my H.S. Literary Magazine, but in the National Library of Poetry's 1997 Anthology Through the Looking Glass and, I recently found out, in the Iliad Press' forthcoming Anthology Pathways, as well as winning Honorable Mention in their Winter '97 Awards! Very rewarding for me to have it published and, apparently, well received by those who read it. Deals with, obviously, the Fall of man from his Eden, wherever that may be. But, is it or was it all real, or just a dream?
This is an interesting one. A lot of people like it, since it's funny but it catches you by surprise at the end. It's kind of a, "Ha, ha, ha....oh, man!" thing. This was published in my H.S. and is being published in the forthcoming National Library of Poetry Anthology for 1998.
This one I'm still debating on as to my opinion of it. It's not too bad, I guess, but it's not my favorite at all. It's along the same lines as "...And Eden Perished", basically a whole Blake tangent that I went on. But, it has it's good points, and a totally whacked-out, original meter and rhyme scheme! It's not as bad as modern poets (i.e. free-form, picture-poems, etc.) but it's out there. Haven't done much with this one.
This is my favorite poem by far. I really like the evocative language I was able to muster up, which is essential in poetry. It's funny, but the whole idea came up from a flyer I was making for my radio show...strange but true! This is also being published in the Iliad Press Anthology Pathways coming out soon. Hopefully, this one'll win me some $$$ as well! Though, I don't know how into morbid, depressing stuff those types of judges are. Not much, by other stuff I've seen!
Yes, yes, yes. I've delved into the pit of squalor that is love poems. Everyone has, so I make no excuses. It was the day after V-day, and love was in the air, I guess. Too bad I had no one to give it to, but what the hell?!?! It's pretty good, I guess. Nice and romantic and crap. It'll be, probably, one of the ONLY love poems you'll see from me. And don't expect to see it much!
This one is a dark one. It's in the "Cthulhu Mythos" vein for you Lovecraft fans out there. This 'un is a hymn to the Ancient Ones, the race of great Cthulhu and Azathoth. It's very apocalyptic, morbid, and all that stuff. So, if you're in a dark mood, check it out, and also check it out on the E-zine Nightscapes!!!
Ok, this one came from Nowhere (he he...). This is for all you familiar with Magick, Crowley, Thelema, etc... It is written in kind of an epic style, which is a stretch for me, and it's not precisely constructed (syllables, rhyme, etc.), which is also different. It's kind of cool, though, and loaded with symbolism. If you can take it, I'll owe you a cookie!
This one is for those who've ventured up to the great Sea in the Tree of Life. Or, if you just like depressing stuff, then you'll get the idea. But, there's more to it than meets the eye (suprise, suprise!). Read it and decide for yourself. Note: I recently went back and revised this one, fixing the rhythm and setting the meter and all that stuff. It's much better, both for that reason and for the changes I made in imagery. I have to say that this is the only poem of mine that actually affects me when I read it!
My first shot at a Shakespearean Sonnet, though it's not in perfect form. I think it turned out pretty cool, but whatever...lots of word-play in this one. If you don't know, "dark matter" is the stuff that some astronomers believe makes up what we can't see in the universe. It's only "detected" by its effects on galaxies and stuff, since it's dark and therefore invisible. Watch the "Nothing" idea, though...it may be more than what it seems.
Any Thelemites in the vicinity? Well, you should get this one...or if not, just read it and play with the imagery. Either way, it works, though it's pretty "initiated." But, let your imagination judge. Obviously, I'm finding iambic tetrameter and trimeter extremely useful...and for you Crowley fans, you'll know how much he loved tetrameter. Anyway, read it and see what you think.
This is a close-to-home poem, not that the rest aren't, but you get my drift. It's also lauding the great William Blake, my personal favorite poet and psychotic visionary. And if you've noticed, I do a lot with the Hermit idea, but what can I say...it's me. Also, the epigram from the Bible is not meant to be ironic, in case you were wondering.
I composed this poem quicker than any of my others by far, and I'm really happy with how it turned out. It's got a double meaning to it...it's about the goddess Nuit, of course, but it's also about my friend's Siamese cat...named Nuit, strangely enough! Anyway, she's a beauty, and the name fits perfectly. That's all I needed for inspiration.
This was written after reading the account of Jesus' doubt about God's "divine plan" in the Gospels. It really caught my attention. Extending it to myself a bit, since I was feeling testy at the time, I played around with Chaucer's "rhyme royale" and came up with this. I think it's one of my more mature works, though the form was difficult and often umfortable. But, I'm pretty happy with it, I guess.
A Faceless God
by
Rebecca Gallant
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