Merelas

Oooh! Claps his hands quickly like a little child ExtrEEEEMely well done, if you as me. I really liked this work. I have to say that I agree with both Peredhil and Regel in that the first two stanzas were the most moving for me, although the entire piece was beautiful. I'm afraid I'm not in a smart enough (i.e. energized enough ) state to put the amount of thought and suggestions that Peredhil's "Uneducated" (give me a break, lol) critique provided, however I did notice one thing... what was it... *goes back, re-reads* Oh! Third stanza, fourth line: I would change the word "said" to "made" if it were me, but I think it's just a matter of personal preference. I don't know. Maybe it works there, I'm a bit tired, lol, but again, great job! I hope to see more of your work really soon, and keep going!

Happy, happy, happy Birthday! I hope that it found you in good spirits and even better health! We're so glad you're with us at the pen!

Wow... these really appeal to the five senses... as you obviously intended. I like very much, and I hope to see more of your work soon!

It was my pleasure. Like I said, I really liked it.

Yeah, I liked it also. Nice work, and hopefully we'll be able to KEEP those promises we make to ourselves

First off, I really like this! It's a feeling I think a lot of people are familliar with, and you express it so well! I felt like I could really identify with the author throughout, and it gave me a good feeling when I was done with it! My favorite stanza: It's just so familliar. It displays those feelings of self-doubt and even possibly self-disgust with your own heart. In these situations, it's important to remember, "The heart has reasons which reason does not know." I also really, really enjoyed the last line especially. It gave it a very finished feeling, both to the issue at hand and the poem. It was a really well done poem. However, I did notice some places where it seemed you tried to stick to your format, and cut out words, making it a little confusing. A few examples of this: and: Perhaps in the second example, a "the" in between 'of' and 'mind' would help... or, if you had meant it to be something else, another word would work better. In the first example, I get the feeling that you meant to say "There's no denial," but had to switch it to hold to the rhyme scheme. If that's the case, you could insert a dash between "denial", and "there's", however it still sounds a little bit choppy to me. The only other thing I noticed that could be done to revise it was that the rhyme scheme was a little bit sketchy in this stanza: You had appeared to be using an ABAB scheme throughout, and in this stanza, you used both the same words for the 'A's, and the rhyme for the 'B's was a little bit off. It's ok to stretch sometimes, and I think this one is probably ok, it's just a personal preference. Reading it again, I still think it's really good! Well done, and I hope to read more of your poetry soon!

Merelas points, tapping is index finger on the scrolls before him... This is good. This is good.

The second one is chilling... I found my eyes getting wider and wider as I read... it is definately infused with talent... The first is also rather good. The form is different, and I like the way you vary the rhyme scheme and stanza length. The only thing I would note about the "happy poem" is that it seemd a little quick to end, if you ask me. It left me with an unfinished feeling, but perhaps that's just me. They were both excellent. I was really amazed at the second one... the conformity of it to rhyme scheme and stanza/foot length in it fit this poem better than it would have the first. Well done, and I hope to see more!

Welcome back! Hope you're here to stay!

Ahh, that's sweet. As I read it, I tried to hear the rhythym that was intended, but I'm afraid it's just not the same reading it as hearing it. It's still beautiful, no matter what tempo you put to it. Well done!

This is awesome! Beautifully written, to be quite honest. I like the way you broke the rhyme scheme with the last line... it really adds emphasis. Good work!

Who could follow a reply like Peredhil's? Bah. I'll give a go at the impossible. I really liked your work. It was filled with emotion, and it really drew me in until I was gobbling up the words, and had read it too fast and missed the substance. I had to read it again, and force myself to go slowly... this is really good. My favorite stanza: Too many troubles to work out a useful solution So many days seem to mimic the days before This life is a Labryinth with out a resolution I give so much of myself, yet I still come up short So many days feel like there's no progress. I can't tell you how many days I feel like I'm stuck in limbo, between going on and falling back. Those, my friend, are the days ice cream was invented for. Tosses Tattered a spoon So... there's my two bits.

A Writer's Prayer With my pen, I humbly pray That I might write for You today. For though the pen brings joy and peace, It also brings tasks I must complete. And if I should abuse it now, I pray the Lord-enforce my vow. If I should write of love and grace, I pray my heart to be well placed. If I should write of sorrow or hate, I pray my faith would not abate. I want to use my gifts for you, And display your light in all I do. And so I make this solemn vow: That I have served, and will serve now. ~Amen~

Oooh! I really, really liked this a lot. I so wish that I could've been there to hear it with the rhythym and acompaniment that it deserves... dang! It's so good, and I bet it was better with the music and the flow of other stuff. Good stuff, Falcon!

Happy birthday to both of you! May your added year find you wiser, happier, and with more stuff!

Happy Belated Birthday! I hope you have the best day of the year!

My powers are exhausted for this night. I can offer you no further help. May the Lady Nature send you her blessing in my stead. "That is not good," Merelas whispered, as he continued to circle the outside of the circle of mages. he was bleeding, and had nothing to bandage it with. Ghouls and other undead were climbing up to the roof in force now. Seeing one of them approach the circle, Merelas summoned the fire, and it came to him, readily. Focusing his energies onto the intruder, it quickly burst into flame, and the fires consumed it almost immediately. Mine, however, are not. Fire-elf, I am not powerless to help you in this fight. I give to you the power of leadership-- but before you may lead others, you must first learn to govern yourself. Control your temper, control your mind, control your soul. Know thyself-- fight on! Merelas found himself with skills that he had never known suddenly, and he quickly put them to use. More and more undead were fighting their way over the roof, and Merelas was doing his best to keep them away from the circle. Charging at one group, he hurled his sword into one of the zombies, striking him in the throat, and sending him gurgling to the ground. Quickly, he launched himself into the air, planting both feet into the chest of another zombie, and sending him off of the roof, tumbling to the ground below. "Brillemire, to me!" he called, and the sword burst into flame, before zooming upward in an arc where Merelas could take hold of it. Quickly, he brought it down behind him and forward, and a jet of liquid flame shot forward out of it, which quickly incinerated a ghoul that had been flying towards him. Bringing his hands together, with the sword pointed upward, he closed his eyes. The eternal fire burns in me... let the flames of my ancestors spring to my aid! Flames circled him in a ring, now, as he opened his eyes. Briefly, he smiled... Sheathing his sword at his back, he began to deal out the fires he had summoned, concentrating on the area around the mage-circle. Darkness always shies from light... let my flames set wrongs to right. The fire burned.

I'm really not older than you, so this advice may be unwelcome. I have been truly gifted with a wise family, especially my grandfather, and he gives me advice all the time, so I'll share just one piece of that with you now: Always learn. Hunger for knowledge, because it truly is power. In every situation, every second of every day, there is something that can be learned from the moment. Do it. Take it. Use it. Learn it. And then, once you do, share it with others. But only people who care about you-- the rest be damned He said the last part, he's a funny guy. I hope that helps.

Happy Birthday, Madoka! I hope you have a wonderful day!

Well. This is a very interesting question. I don't think I've replied to many of these before. I always force myself to make three very specific resolutions every year, and so I suppose I'll just share them with all of you. First, I'm resolving to keep a journal and write in it at least once a week, and to share that with no one. Second, I'm resolving to achieve at least a 3.8 for the second semester (Hopefully! ) Third, I'm resolving to successfully witness the gospel to as many people as I can. I know this one isn't very specific, but I really don't want to put a quota on it, because that just seems harmful, and if I fill it, I'll always be nervous about it again, and then I'll be like, "Well, I made my resolution, I've done my work for the year!" so I don't think I'm going to make this one as specific. So those are mine!

I would say that this is going to be a very weird post, but I have seen previous posts that I believe will top it… some of them mine, in fact. This is not a work, per se. It is merely a musing… thoughts, if you will, on writing, and writers. At least, that is how it will start. I have no idea where it will go from there. I might write about ambition, and I might write about death. Who knows? When a writer is given a pen, who knows where the story will go? Sometimes the writer knows. Sometimes they do not. The case is different, I believe, for every individual. Most times, I do not. Very seldom do I start a project with all ends and possibilities predetermined. It is said that, “A writer must be master over the world they create.” If this is so, I am a very poor master. Because I am finding (if I may be so bold as to call myself a writer… I am not sure the title is deserved, but for the sake of argument, we shall say that I am), that it is more the other way around. I do not control the world—the world controls me. The words compel me… they are the reason that I write, and the reason that I will always (no matter where I end up in life) write. Another reason that I do not fancy myself a writer immediately—the way I go about it. I find myself trying to incorporate big words (such as incorporate… I almost deleted it when I saw that I had used one there, deliberately) to show of my fancy vocabulary. I find myself striving to find newer words, ones that others haven’t used yet, and shove them into the work, even when it isn’t necessary. Especially when it isn’t necessary. Is this wrong? I wonder, briefly, and I’ll continue after I think about an answer. In some cases I believe it is… but in some cases, it isn’t. A writer must love words—it goes with the territory, like it or not. But then again… words should not be abused. I firmly believe that “The pen is mightier than the sword,” and that words have the power to destroy a person. Someone who is talented enough with them could drive a person insane, I believe. And where are wars decided? Where do they begin? With words, in the Senate, or the equivalent of it in other nations. Or the United Nations. We are a society that has come to depend on words to survive. And when you take away the words… that is something that has gone very wrong. God help the man who no longer has words to speak in his own defense, and God pity the soul who has brought said man to this state. But this was not meant to be about me. It was meant to be about writers in general. I have a theory about writers. I know that it is not true for all, or even possibly most writers… but I believe that deep down, inside each person who is glued to a pen or a keyboard or a pencil and paper, each one holds the same dream. And that dream is this: to leave behind a legacy. Each writer wants to create a world in which they can escape, and others can escape, and know who granted them this privilege. To be able to inspire someone so that they stop as they read. So that they stop, and think “This person is amazing. How can anyone write with such beauty, such passion, such attention to detail?” And then they read on, because they hunger for more of the words that you, the writer, have written… that you have blended together to create sentences, paragraphs, pages, stories… inspirations. Because when you share something like that, you share a person. Even if you don’t think you’re in the story you’re writing, you are in it. In fact, you are the story. It is your story. And then, by your good graces, you give it to someone else. Cherish your words. Cherish the words you share with others… but guard them. This is not how I envisioned this piece to end… but then… Who, in all the world, knows where the writer’s story goes?

I understood approximately 55% of what Orlan said, but everyone else seems to be throwing in thanks, so I will too! In fact, I think an applause to all the Elders is necessary. I don't realize how much you all actually do for the Pen, and thus, its members, I think. So, thank you for all that we see, but even more for all that we don't.

Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday! Merelas tosses some confetti, before running out again

Yay for Salinye! I'm so happy for you about the house! Congratulations, dear! And no worries. Like you said, priorities! I'm afraid I've been quite sporadic lately too, and probably will be at least until the end of Christmas break So, happy holidays, everyone, and I hope your Chirstmas was as enjoyable as mine, if not more so!

OOC: Hmm... I suppose I should go ahead and post... however, Katzaniel, if you're not ready for other people to start posting yet (for story development reasons) go ahead and PM me or post in the green room and I'll delete/edit blank this post. IC: "What?!" Ealizah called out. She looked at the screen before her, and held the headset closer, listening harder, just to be sure that she had not misheard Erando. "Do we have confirmation of this?" she questioned, quickly preparing herself to leave her home, where she had been relaxing on a day off. There will no doubt be an emergency council meeting, she thought to herself, as she listened to the rest of the report. As Minister of Diplomacy, Ealizah really hadn't had many responsibilities. It had been a merely traditional post-a government "Cushion Job", so to speak. Not anymore. "Yes, Erando... yes, I'll be in right away. I'm leaving now. I'll be there soon." she said, made a gesture, and Erando's image winked out of the screen. Quickly, she removed the headset, and dashed out the door. Hailing the nearest shuttle, she climbed aboard, and asked for the driver to take her to Capitol Hall. She was there shortly, and went inside. Seeing Erando, she walked briskly over to him, and began interrogating him. "When did this happen?" she asked, and waited for a response.