Seven Books that I Have Loved (or that Has Influenced Me)

So, a while back on Facebook, I was tagged in a challenge to post a cover of a book that I either loved or that influenced me in some way for seven days in a row--with no explanation.  Then I thought, "I'm long winded.  Let me explain."  Also, I kind of forgot to finish the seven days.  So, here I am now, posting those same covers, but now with explanations.  I hope everyone enjoys.

1. Goosebumps: Monster Blood

I like creepy things.  Not necessarily outright scary things, but I definitely love things that give most people the creeps.  This was the start of that--at least, as far as I can remember.  Also, this was the first chapter book I ever read that was offhandedly suggested to me by a stranger (a librarian).  I didn't have to read it for school and my mom didn't suggest it.  Someone who didn't know me at all pointed me in this direction.  This led to me reading every single Goosebumps book I could get a hold of--including one that gave me a paranoia about making sure fires are completely out.  I remember not being able to put this down as it wound down to its conclusion.  This was the first book that excited me.  For that, it's very important.


2. Wishbone Classics: The Odyssey

This one seems a little silly.  First, allow me to explain to people who only ever saw these books in stores but never picked one up: this wasn't exactly like the popular PBS show.  Wishbone didn't play the lead role in this book.  No, this was just a... child-safe version of Homer's The Odyssey with small cartoons of Wishbone (the dog pictured, in case you don't know) making quips about what was happening on the page.  So, this was the very first time I ever read The Odyssey, which is the tale of Odysseus trying to get home to Ithaca after the Trojan War.  I love Greek Mythology, and thanks to starting here, I have read the Odyssey--in more grown up versions--several times over the years... I'm probably gonna say that I read it once a year for at least five to seven years in a row.  This dog is what started my love of Greek myths.


3. Silver Moon, Bloody Bullets: An Anthology of Werewolf Tails

Okay, so I'm a little biased  here, but the answer to why I chose this book is simple.  This anthology--published by PillHillPress and sadly no longer in print--contained the first short story I ever published.  It was a piece called "The In Crowd."  I remember thinking, as I emailed it in to the submissions call, that there was no way anyone would want to read the piece of crap I had just written.  (Sounds like I was down on my writing, right?  Nope.  It just has a lot of action in it, and I always doubt my ability to convincingly write action sequences.)  Much to my joy and surprise, it was accepted.  Also, if you've made it this far in reading this post, I'm thinking about podficcing an original piece of mine and posting here as one of my regularly scheduled posts.  Let me know what you think about that, dear reader.


4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I really struggled with this one.  Because I love this whole damn series.  I do.  I mean, yeah, there's a few that I haven't read in a little while... but honestly, I was torn between this one and The Half-Blood Prince.  I adored both of those.  And HBP was probably my overall favorite in the series (and I know, everyone else is either Order of the Phoenix or Prisoner of Azkaban).  But I had to go with this one because... it had all the answers.  Everything I had pondered and theorized about (two of which I was 100% right about, btw) was wrapped up in here.  Also, I had much more emotion during this.  Not only because it was the end of an era, but also because it's just really sad what happens in that last 100 or so pages.  Ah... I love it.


5. Queen of the Damned

I read The Vampire Chronicles largely out of order.  And, honestly, I can't remember how far along I was before I picked up and read this, the third one in the series.  I know I wasn't far.  I had just seen the (God-awful) movie (and loved it at the time).  I loved the soundtrack from the film (which still holds up).  So, naturally, I decided to read the book.  This book... was so good I can't even watch the film (which gets just about everything wrong).  To this day, whenever someone asks me about The Vampire Chronicles, I make it a point to mention how this one is a favorite.  My favorite character in the entire series is--most obviously--Lestat.  However, the story of the creation of the vampires was so compelling that Lestat's parts during this telling (it's told in multiple points of view) were aggravating.  For the first--and only--time in the Chronicles, I didn't get two pieces of crap what Lestat had to say.  I wanted the story of the Queen and the red-haired witches who could commune with the dead.  Still my favorite today, but in case anyone wanted to know, the first book in the New Chronicles of the Vampire series in which Rice continues her Chronicles mirrors this one in its writing style in all the best ways.



6. Sherlock Holmes

Okay, this one is a bit of a cheat.  I grew up watching a lot of different versions of Sherlock because my mom was a huge mystery buff.  When it was time to read a short story or two in school, I was no stranger to the detective that lived at 221B Baker Street.  I've read a ton of short stories--my favorite being "The Adventure of the Speckled Band."  I've read the story where Sherlock "dies."  I've read the one where he comes back.  But, out of the five (it is five, right... *quickly Googles*) no, sorry, four... Well, this makes me feel better.  Out of the four Sherlock Holmes novels, I've read two.  A Study in Scarlet (the first) and Hound of the Baskervilles (the most popular).  I liked Study better, honestly.  Sherlock isn't in Hound a whole lot--at least, not through Watson's point of view.  I fully intend to acquire and read the other two novels.  But this has greatly influenced me... I love characters of Sherlock's type, and although I don't overly claim "mystery" as a favorite genre... I do like to read one occasionally.



7. Batman: No Man's Land

*laughs loudly*  I know, you must think I'm nuts.  I've included literary classics on this list--as well as new literary favorites.  I've listed childhood favorites because of their influence on me as a person.  So what the hell is this book doing here?  Firstly, I'm a die-hard Batman fan.  Like, no joke.  Moreso, I'm a die-hard Joker fan.  This is the novelization of the game-changing graphic novel series of the same name.  And, honestly, back when I read it, it was probably the best book I had read that year.  Well written with a crazy compelling story.  That story, btw, is that Gotham City has been hit with a ginormous earthquake, reducing most of it to rubble.  Arkham Asylum has been cracked open, and chaos reigns as crooks and crazies run the streets.  People are advised to evacuate because, instead of sending help to the city, the government blows the bridges to the island-bound city and declares it a No Man's Land.  There's so many story lines here, but they all blend perfectly.  And the ending... oh, that ending.  If you've read the comics, then you know what I'm talking about, even without this novel.  But when I think of great Batman novels... this one is tops.



So, that's it.  Seven books that I either loved or that influenced me.  What books do you love?  Let me know.  As always, see you next Thursday!

Organizing a Writing Calendar

This is still not the original blog I wanted to do tonight.  I haven't gone through my massive pile of books yet, as life has gotten in the way time-wise.  (I covered that in my last post, did I not?)  As such, tonight, we'll just have a quickie post, as this writer has actually got to get some writing done.  Tonight, I'm going to talk to you about something that has always been immensely helpful to me, in any form its taken over the years--a writing calendar.

Birthday gift made of awesomeness

My calendars take either one of two forms: a Word chart or my "everything" notebook as pictured above.  And, honestly, there's very little difference between the two, save for one being typed and the other being handwritten.  Well... there's a touch more of a difference.  First, though, let me cover what a writing calendar even is.  Simply put, it's my list of writing projects coupled with dates they need to be completed by.  It doesn't sound like that big of a deal, but, guys, you have no idea how much it helps.  It makes something that can be fairly abstract become very concrete, which also serves the purpose of making it feel more attainable. 

There's no hard and fast rule about how to set one up either.  Whatever works for you.  When I do one on Word--which is usually a collection more of short story deadlines than a collection of all my writing projects--I usually include the publisher's name, a little section describing the publisher's requirements, a box that I mark whether I actually submitted anything or not, the date it's due, and what it pays.  And it's made just using the table function standard on any Word doc.  My written one is just a touch different.

Please excuse my handwriting

My written one much more on a list format.  Also, it's more under my control, rather than some publisher's.  On it, I simply take into account all the things I want to accomplish within a certain period of time--like, say, quarterly for the year.  Then, using what I know about when each finished product is due, I organize it all into dates I want things done.  Some things on this list will be items that have no set due date, which is where this version of the writing calendar is more controllable.  I, as of now, have... 3 projects, I believe, with solid dates on them.  However, I have 3 more that I want to work on at least starting before the end of the year.  Now, I have to gather all my data--the solid dates, what each individual project will require of me, real-life obligations--and use it to form my calendar.  While it's as simple as that, it is also quite frustrating, at least for me.  Yes, it gives me more control, but I am a notorious procrastinator.  I am more than aware that these are dates I've given me, and not given to me by someone else.  So, on this list, it's easier for me to be like, "Ehh... we'll scootch this on down later in the month..."  That's something to watch for, as it is something that I have to be aware of.

And that's it for tonight.  Short, sweet, to the point.  I recommend a calendar--which can also include steps in your process, like "have outline done by 15th" or something like that.  It really helps keep you on track and getting stuff done.  Got any other suggestions?  I'd love to hear them.  Until then, see you next Thursday!

Writing: The Game of Hurry Up and Wait

Originally, I had a different subject in mind for tonight's blog post.  However, I realized that that one would be better suited to next week's topic, given that I have to do a little digging through some books for it (literally).  So, look out for the discussion on a massive book haul I received next Thursday.  As for tonight's post, I'd thought I'd cover something that I sometimes have had to put some really great thought into: what do I do when I've got works submitted but haven't  heard back yet?

Now, don't mistake me here.  I don't mean the situation where I submitted a short story like three years ago to a publisher who promised like a three month response rate and still haven't heard back.  No, what I mean is, what to do in a situation where you know you'll have a long wait.  In my case, I currently have a novel, novella, and a short story out in the void.  Now, the short story is a situation where I'm waiting a little longer than expected, but it has been semi-regularly updated with proper explanations so that's fine.  But novels and novellas?  Whew.  Those waits are the worst.  Shortest response I think I've ever heard suggested on a novel is six months... while novellas are around the same, sometimes a tad shorter.  Just depends on the publisher's general workload.  So, your baby (babies) are out in the world, and you're waiting on either some really great or really disappointing news.  What do you do in the meantime? 

The answer is quite simple.  You write.  "But," you might say, "what if I am just too anxious over waiting on this news?  What if my next planned project was the sequel to said novel or novella?"  Well, then to you I say, "Still write."  Now life can get in the way of your passion and dream of writing, especially if you are working a regular 9 to 5 and generally have a family.  But that doesn't mean that you're done.  Writing is never done.  Never.  I'm sure you've all heard the advice, "Write everyday.   Get something on that page."  And that's great advice that doesn't change no matter what's going on... but I would amend it.  I would said, "Write everyday IF YOU CAN." 

I don't mean "if the muse allows."  No.  The muse is too mercurial for you to make a living that way.  I mean if life allows.  I have only stopped at my computer this week like three times for something writing related because my oldest--as I mentioned here in my last post--just started school.  It took some adjusting.  So, in that regard, one of the things you can do while you wait to hear back on your babies--and take the time to remind your loved ones what your face looks like--is just to prioritize.  Make a list.  Write down everything writing related you need to accomplish--and, like I do to make sure I properly drive myself insane, write down life-wise stuff too.  It's important to gather and know your thoughts before putting those words down, I think.  Lists make my brain focus on not only tasks at hand, but those in the very near future. 

Actual picture of one of my muses.  I swear, I'm not the cause for this reaction (this time).

You could also take this time to work on some old trunk stories to sell.  (Trunk stories are stories that are so old and outdated that you've packed them away for later, if that wasn't clear.)  I have two (possibly three) stories that I want to take out and polish in order to sell them to someone else.  So, those suckers are on my to-do list.  Getting started in writing is just as much about quantity sometimes as it is quality.  But one should never be sacrificed for the other.  Really.  I mean this.  Don't sacrifice quality.  Ever.

I am also writing on a for-fun project that is due to be finished by... sometime in October, I believe.  It's not gonna get me paid, but it will help me focus on areas of my writing that could use some improvement.  Also, some ideas from this project might get reborn in the future into something I could sell.  I have no plans as such now, but who knows?  It's happened to me before. 

Reading is also important.  Reading is as important to writing as actually writing words is, in my opinion.  If you don't read, then you tend to forgot how to use the words.  Using the words is important.  It's literally all that writing is.  So catch up on a novel or two while you wait. 

Picture of the last book I finished.  Dude, I so recommend this book series.

There's also this great free thing in November called NaNoWriMo--National Novel Writing Month.  I can't talk about this thing enough.  50,000 words in 30 days.  It is the best kind of rat race, and the community found on the site is truly great.  I haven't had any luck with online NaNo groups outside of their site, but seriously, check out the forums.  Everyone's stressed, writing, and freaking out.  Together.  Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  The rule is--which, no one is gonna like come and knee-cap you if you break this (we're all on the honor system)--you don't start writing those 50,000 words until 12:01am of November 1st.  Last day to reach 50,000 and have it count is November 30th 11:59pm.  When it is a tad closer to time, I'll share my personal stories on here for the years that I won so that maybe it'll help someone out there feel the same wonderful sense of accomplishment that I have.   But, my point now is that prepping for NaNo is something that can start right now while you wait.

I also won (hit 50k) in 2014 and 2016 but can't find the banners.

Perhaps this is another rambling blog, but my overall point is this:  if you aren't writing, you should be.  You should be busy.  I find that the busier I am, the more I write.  It's insane, but true.  Don't just idly sit and wait for that rejection (or acceptance).  Don't put all your eggs in that basket.  Write.  Stay busy and the wait will be easier for you.  Start that damn sequel too.  Even if you get rejected by one publisher, doesn't mean that you'll get rejected by all.  You might get a million "no's", but it only takes one "yes."  That's all I've got to say on the subject.  I'm off to do some writing while I wait.  See you all next Thursday!

My Top 5 Children's Books (Plus One Bonus)

My son started Kindergarten this past Tuesday, and it made me think of all the children's books I've acquired for him/read to him.  I, of course, have the classics--like Seuss.  In fact, in just glancing over at my bookshelf, I see that I have more Seuss than even I realized.  But as much as I love Green Eggs and Ham and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, I realized that freakin' everybody knows those books.  Even if they don't have kids, they grew up with those gems.  I also realized that the books I have had the most fun reading to my boys were not actually the Seuss books.  They were books I had stumbled upon while looking for specific topics--you'll get this later on my list here.   So, without further ado, here are my top 5 favorite books I've read to my kids (whether they got them at the time or not), and a bonus book.

1. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

 This one is a pretty popular one too, I think.  It's basically there just to teach your kids colors--and maybe a few animals along the way.  But it has a nice flow to the reading that makes it almost feel like you're singing a little song as you go.  My oldest got this book as a Christmas gift a few years ago, and I think he asked me to read it to him like five or six times in a row.  It's cute but very simple.  The youngest of children would love this one.

2. If You Give a Moose a Muffin

This author has written a ton of these.  I can't even remember which one was the first one.  I have another one on my shelf as well, If You Give a Dog a Donut.  But I went with this one for a couple of reasons.  One, I feel like the follow-through on this one was a lot more fun.  (These books do a pretty good job of playing with teaching your kid the idea of cause and effect.)  Two, the moose in this book is just freakin' adorable.  I mean, at one point, he/she is wearing a red sweater, and it is just too damn cute.  I used to think that moose were the ugliest creatures on Earth, but I have slowly been coming around to the so-ugly-they're-cute side.

3. Julius, The Baby of the World

Okay, so I first read this book when I worked in a library.  I was supposed to be straightening the shelves, but I was told of this book--and that I had to read it.  This book is absolutely perfect if you are going from one child to two.  The story is cute and heartwarming.  The heroine's mother has a little baby boy--Julius--and everyone dotes and fawns over his cuteness.  She's jealous.  Obviously.  I don't want to give away the ending, but let's just say... She gets over it.  But it's the way that it happens in this book that makes it so great.  And really funny.  Though, full disclosure, when I read this to my oldest when I was expecting my youngest, I cried.

4. Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich

 

 It's a book of poetry about monsters--the classic ones, like Frankenstein, Dracula, the Wolfman, etc.--for kids.  Though, I have to admit there are poems in this book that, as a fan of the classic Universal-type monsters, I laughed out loud at as an adult.  This might be for an older audience, since I bought this book--and the next one on the list--for my kids when they were young.  They were kind of "eh" about it.  I need to pull it out and give it another try now that they are a little more aware of the characters.  It's hilarious and very clever.

5. Frankenstein Takes the Cake

Okay, maybe having the sequel to the above book as number five is kind of a cheat.  But, honestly, I loved this one more than the first one--and that's saying something.  It's another book of poetry--some written in comic and blog form--about monsters.  This time, it is more centered around the idea of the wedding of Frankenstein and his Bride.  The monsters are joined by the likes of the Headless Horseman, Edgar Allan Poe, and The Phantom of the Opera.  Poe's sections--along with a rather salty Raven--are my favorites.  They read in the same cadence as Poe's actual poem The Raven, and are downright hilarious with the little additions of the Raven putting in his two cents.  Also on that list of favorites, the Haikus (those are Japanese poems of three lines in which the first contains five syllables, the second has seven, and the last has five) are about Godzilla and the monsters associated with that character.  Another one that my kids weren't crazy about at first, but I will definitely  have to drag out and try again now that they are older.

Bonus Book

The Spider and the Fly

Why is this a bonus and not a fave?  Two reasons.  One, I've never read it to my kids.  Two, I don't own it.  This was one of those I read while I was supposed to be straightening library shelves.  As if the classic poem wasn't spooky enough, the art added to this book--while gorgeous--makes it creepy on a whole new level.  Like, almost serial killer level.  It's kind of done in a 1920s film style--as I'm sure you can tell from the pic--and while it's made clear to the reader through the ghosts (yes, ghosts) of flies past, it also comes off as a little... seductive?  Like, this Spider is definitely trying to play it off like he wants to romance this fly.  This might be one I acquire soon, but I'm uncertain--honestly--of how my oldest would handle it.  I loved it, already knowing the poem.  Seeing it imagined in this way definitely breathed fresh life into the words.

And that's it, my top 5 favorite children's books--plus one bonus.  Got any favorites out there that you think people might not know as widely?  Let me know, because while there are a couple on my "to acquire" list, I'm always looking for more!

10 Poems You've Probably Read (And Should Re-read)

... Otherwise known as, 10 of My Favorite Poems.  I feel like poetry is given a bum rap sometimes.  I personally hate writing it, but I do love reading it.  It's amazing what all can be said in so few words.  Well, few words for some poems... Looking at you, Tennyson.  Also, the links to all poems will be in the title by the number, so click to read.  But, since this is probably going to be a long post, here are 10 of my favorite poems that I encourage you to read--and not because a teacher is making you for a grade.

1. The Raven

Let's get an obvious one out of the way first.  Yes, I highly recommend Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" for a read.  The imagery and feeling in this one is no joke--not to mention that slight creep-factor that makes it a perfect Halloween read.  A poem about a man deep into sadness and grieving for his lost love, Lenore, while a raven comes to mock him of a truth he already knows all too well.  Come on, who wouldn't want to read that?  Even The Simpsons used it for their very first Treehouse of Horror.  (And it's quite good too.  Don't believe me?  Watch the vid I linked.)

2. The Tyger

"The Tyger" by William Blake is a longtime favorite of mine.  I can still do the opening stanza from memory.  "Tyger, tyger burning bright / in the forests of the night / what immortal hand or eye / dare frame thy fearful symmetry"  I didn't look that up.  Which means the punctuation might be wrong--and I'm not talking about the /.  That's how you quote poetry.  Anyhow, I have loved this poem from the very first moment I read it.  Something about the flow of it, the dramatic flare of it.   It comes from the era of the Romantic poets (which might not think what you think it does).  The Romantics thought that the closest one could get to God was to be in nature, so a lot of their poetry tended to lean in that direction.  Funnily, I always thought of a line from V for Vendetta when it came to that definition, "God is in the rain."   Unrelated.  I also had a teacher that said that this was the beginning of certain theories that perhaps God didn't create all the animals.  This is taken mostly from the line, "Did he who made the lamb, make thee?"  And if you just simply don't have time to read this one, Tangerine Dream sang the poem.  It's very lovely.  Check that vid out too.

3. The Sick Rose

Another one by Romantic poet, William Blake.  This one is short, sweet, and to the point.  But, for a short piece (only eight lines long) it packs a lot of beautiful things in... as well as a sinking feeling of dread.  I was never made to study this one.  I stumbled upon it in a textbook, not too far away from "Tyger" and read it on my own.  I always wondered why my teachers never bothered to include it.  After all, I had been made to study much shorter poems than this.  My own idea of its meaning, just doing nothing but having read it, would be the corruption of innocence.  Yeah... quick warning, not a lot of these poems are happy. 

4. The Lady of Shalott 

Remember up top when I made that crack about Tennyson?  Yeah, this one--by Alfred, Lord Tennyson--is not a shorty.  It's not his longest poem, by any means, but it has its length.  But it's for good reason.  This one is about a woman cursed to stay up in a tower and weave magical images she sees in a mirror.  Also, this is a poem that is heavily steeped in Arthurian legend... especially since Sir Lancelot is even in it.  Long to read, but very satisfying, as it is shorter than most Arthurian stories... but you still get a whole tale in this one.  Also, another one that was sang, this time by Loreena McKennitt.

5. The River-Merchant's Wife: A Letter

This one is actually by Li Po, but this exact translation was done by Ezra Pound.  The story of two children arranged into marriage, who fall in love eventually, only to have the husband leave for work to possibly never return.  I gotta be honest, when this one was first assigned to me (I got my Bachelor's in English, can't you tell?) I had never heard of this.  I had heard of Ezra Pound, but not this particular poem.  It's beautiful.  I know I'm saying that a lot, but this one really is.  I quote a pair of lines out of it whenever I can because I was just struck--from that first reading to now--by the power of them.  "I desired my dust to be mingled with yours / forever and forever, and forever"  Isn't that lovely?  Isn't that the deepest love?  She never wants to be away from him, even in death.  Sadly, though, this is a letter she is writing while he is away on dangerous waters.  So... yeah... but still, lovely.

6. My Last Duchess 

This MF-er here.  Ooh.  This is by Robert Browning, but it is told from the point of view of the Duke, who is showing around a visitor--a representative--through his art gallery.  The slyness in this one.  This one will kindle a quiet fury in you.  It may take a couple of readings.  I'll spoil you and tell you why you should be angry.  The Duke is showing this man about, and he stops when he comes to a painting of a beautiful woman.  "That's my last duchess painted on the wall"  That's the first line.  And you're like, "Okay..."  Then, the very next part, "looking as if she were alive."  So it compels you to read on... like, maybe you should be sad he lost his wife.  NOPE.  Jackass had her killed because she "smiled" at too many guys.  He implies, yes, that she was unfaithful, but Browning does such a great job in letting us, the reader, know that she was never true.  But the Duke had her killed anyway.  Oh, and the real kicker?  The guy he's showing around represents the father of a man who is negotiating with the Duke to get his daughter married off to him.  Oh, it's like watching a good drama. 

7. Because I could not stop for Death

 Ah, Emily Dickinson.  What a wonderful recluse/poet.  You know, I was picked in high school to appear in an article--or something--about students and their favorite poets.  My teacher at the time picked this one out for me--since I was in high school, and while I loved reading, I didn't know crap about poetry.  The photographer that was there to take a picture of us and our printed out poems saw the title of mine, and said something to the effect of, "Oh, that sounds deep and hard to understand."  I replied--because I have been awkward my ENTIRE life, "Not really."  I had no idea what I was talking about.  I had read the damn thing while walking to the lobby.  But you know what?  I now stand by those words. Doesn't make this poem any less great.  The idea is simple, no one gets to tell Death to wait a minute.  If you're busy, then, well, you know what?  He'll come pick you up.  There's a good deal more imagery to it, very much dealing with the idea of life after death and the idea of what's left behind.  But it's not one that I feel many would have to puzzle over.

8. Taking Off Emily Dickinson's Clothes

Why, yes, I did deliberately place this one here.  Why do you ask?  This is the first of the total three contemporary poets that I have on this list.  This is by Billy Collins.  First of all, before you read this one, familiarize yourself with Emily Dickinson.  Her life and her style of writing.  She's super famous, shouldn't take you long.  I, sadly, when I had to read this aloud to a bunch of my fellow English students, had to explain the funny bits.  Excuse me, but wasn't I in an ENGLISH LIT class?  But no, I'm not bitter.  Anyhow, this one tells the story of the nameless protagonist--presumably the poet--getting ready to have an, ahem, intimate evening with Ms. Dickinson.  But never fear, this one is clean.  It's all very tongue-in-cheek humor, and after this depressing list, it's great for a laugh.

9. Homage to my Hips 

Another contemporary, this one is by Lucille Clifton.  A very empowering poem for a woman to read.  Simply, this poem is about the power her hips--and thus, her body--has.  I would quote my favorite lines from this one, but I don't want to spoil it.  They are the very last ones, and they just make you wanna shout, "Hell yeah!"  If you are ever feeling down about yourself or your body, read this one.  It'll do you good.

10. The Torn-Up Road 

This one is by Richard Siken, and I'll throw a couple of warnings up for the more sensitive among us.  Firstly, this poem may be describing a sexual encounter.  Secondly, the only place I could find the whole text of it was on a Livejournal that dedicates the poem to Sam/Dean from Supernatural--a relationship I don't support as they are brothers (ew).  But this is not only the last poem on my list, but the last of the contemporaries.  I stumbled upon this one because of a wallpaper I saw on Deviantart--that I thought was pretty--had a quote from it on the piece.  The quote, incidentally, is my favorite from the poem.  "I want to tell you this story without having to be in it:"  The more I read this poem, the darker it gets.  And yes, it most certainly describes a sexual encounter... between two men.  I'm pretty sure.  I'm no expert, but yeah.  But it's powerful and strong, and some of the lines hit right at home for anyone who has ever had a rough relationship--perhaps not abusive, but rough.  Or has even just had a rough time in an otherwise good relationship.  But this one is not for the kids.

And that's it, my 10 favorite poems.  Most of these of quotes I think of almost daily--which should say something.  I encourage you to read them, think them over, and use them as jumping off points to find new poetry.  Also, if one of your favorite poems didn't make the list, tell me what it is.  I'd love to read them, and read why they're your favorite.  See you all next week.