#vss365
defiance as affection
keeps ye at #arms length
by the science of deflection
drawing inner strength
ain't nobody blue like you
until ye look around
& as ye turn the screw
suddenly yer found
knowing our entire universe
is just rotting rancid meat trapped by bobcat's claw
traveling by hearse
#vss365
the calligrapher maps out lines
in pencil lead
before paying fines
he owes the dead
the vellum twitches
& reaches the brink
of the fringes removing stitches
while bleeding #ink
the calligrapher weeps
typographical errors speak
this one he keeps
to edit next week
youtu.be/87o1E6SUptY?...
Thanks, @jangoeswriting.bsky.social & @fizzytwizler.bsky.social!
Pt450 As with all things Indigenous, mats were assumed based on social order & sex assigned at birth. Gender identity & sexual orientation were an accepted spectrum, of course, like all of reality. The others—male & female—were simply cardinal balances on that spectrum, manipulated for order, for medicine. What was power, but ordering the chaos of the universe? So Indigenous people ordered their world with patterns & read those that existed without human intervention. Tuska & Adario slept on the south side of the cavern, Tuska taking the mat furthest from the entrance at the back of the cavern—the most protected space & best defensive position, the Micco seat. Adario took the one next to him to his southeast, though there were more than 10 others to choose from. Dawn, being of lesser rank than her clan brothers slept in the last upper path position on the due north. Sonoria slept in the warrior position to the north of the opening. Unfortunately, there was no #shortcut to I.T. It would take another week, at least, to reach the school. Dawn would stare at Sonoria’s #ink behind her ear until she got a chance to see if she had any elsewhere in more hidden places. Dawn suspected that Sonoria would make a move soon, maybe even tonight. Dawn had made up their mind to be welcoming. #vss365 #WIPSnips
What about older, more environmentally-friendly ways of sharing & cooperating? Is capitalism simply too impatient to utilize the spiritual technologies of our ancestors?
Thanks, @chrisandprose.bsky.social & @fizzytwizler.bsky.social!
There were really few things in the game that deserved the adult certification, but this was one of those instances that merited it.
Rory felt more than a little creeped out, easing Esme down the tight confines of the corridor, #hands reaching out to clutch at her. Bloody disembodied hands.
#vss365
Thanks, @jangoeswriting.bsky.social!
Pt449
They would sleep well tonight. Tomorrow, they would check in at the outpost early. Folks might be worried about them because of the storm. Then they would #arm themselves & venture into the outlands between here and I.T. #rampant with Mad Hatter tweakers & Zombie nitazeners.
#vss365 #WIPSnips
Thank you, @authorpjm.bsky.social, @jangoeswriting.bsky.social, & @chrisandprose.bsky.social, for the reposts!
Pt448
The place was so well supplied that soon after Adario & Sonoria joined them, they were all sitting around a low fire, each with a #mug of dry meat soup in their #hand. The storm roared above them, but they were secure deep in the belly of Elohi. Even the horse was calm.
#vss365 #WIPSnips
#vss365
I drew a line in the #sand
the tide crossed it without hesitation
so I left land
& got caught up in vegetation
all I heard was sirens sing
it brought me to my knees
to offer em a #ring
touched by the sentiment held within
they let me breathe
so I juked em in the gills with a fountain #pen
Thanks, @wordwitchlife.bsky.social!
Thank you!
Thank you, @jangoeswriting.bsky.social & @authorpjm.bsky.social!
Ridiculously proud of my first bulletin.
Pt447
Clay-colored #sand settled in low spots below Dawn’s mocs, but she would shake the sand of the beach & memories of Xalapa from her mind & move forward. Dawn emerged in a large chamber, complete with mats, blankets, & food & water jars. “Welcome to the #Forum,” Tuska beamed.
#vss365 #WIPSnips
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I mostly HATED living in Port Neches for part of my 5th grade year. It would about 10 more before I read a biography on Janet. My grandma loved her music, & inherited her love. One of my favs:
youtu.be/jjHw_FJySg4?...
#vss365
sometimes when Louisiana calls
it's more'n I can stand
I can tell by the #rings bouncin' off the walls
that another tragedy's at hand
they'll call
hang up
call again
hang up
then call again
I get it by then
don't always want to
but want to & does
ain't close kin
youtu.be/16mE4T225rQ?...
#BornBattleReady
#vss365
damn
I thought the word was CHANCE
must be some subliminal shit
that made me avoid bringin' CHOICES to the dance
but if u survive life's throes
u'll get a chance to live with all the choices u've made
& sometimes they'll superimpose
& #ring in ur ears like a silent parade
My swords & sorcery short story, ‘The First War’, has just gone live online and will be printed in the Winter 2026 edition of ‘The Literary Fantasy Magazine’.
I hope people will give it a look.
magazine.thearcanist.net/the-first-war
(1/3)🧵📚💙
how the mind loops
sleep is only a pause
to the endless
as I try to solve
an unfinished puzzle
fruitless are my thoughts
like trying to throw rings
onto bottles at a carnival
as if hope could overcome
a rigged game
the depth
of grief
occasionally I drop a coin
but I never hear a sound
#vss365
Thanks, @chrisandprose.bsky.social!
Thank you! You, too!
#Vss365
She was feeling an emotion never felt before.
From the tips of her toes to the bright glow of her halo; which was turning slowly, into a heavy invisible iron #ring.
It was love! He was love she realised!
As her wings began to crumble.
#Art Ariana Cherry artist & Poet
Brilliant world building on this, btw!
Thank you, @wordwitchlife.bsky.social & @fizzytwizler.bsky.social!
Thank you, @jangoeswriting.bsky.social!