Whether you have arrived here with intentionality or by sheer happenstance, I celebrate your arrival to my (both literal and figurative) domain. You now find yourself in the not-quite-hallowed halls of the grand repository of my nonsensical ramblings, thoughtful diatribes, and therapeutic musings.

My hope is for you to feel a sense of connection. If you find yourself relating to, or moved by, one of my pieces, please grace me with a comment or two to let me know how I am doing.

I implore thee, impart upon me thy words.

Like most artists, my cravings include caffeine, excessive wordplay, structure that I can both follow and ignore, and thoughtful feedback, which helps me to better understand the ways people connect with my writings.

Have an enjoyable stay.



~ elr

Poetry Favorites

Randomized [3] | My Personal Favorites
Hundreds of golden fireflies illuminate a night scene amongst tall grass in a thicket of trees. Photo taken in a forest in Thailand.
I walked out of the din, wandered into the yard. I never thought performing would be so damned hard. [continue] ...
: Acceptance, Change, Faith, Favorites, Fears, Growth, Inspiration, Introspection, Learning, Nature, Poems, Poet, Poetry, Strength, Struggle, Trust, Writing

Performance Anxiety (a poem)

A garden of purple, pink, and white sweet pea flowers beside a trellis, with a single red rose blooming among them.
The beauty of a rose, wrapped tight within the vines, upon my trellis waiting, just waiting for her time. Bursting open, petals stretch unto the light of day. Exploding colors all around, for Spring has come to stay. [continue] ...
: Change, Favorites, Growth, Inspiration, Introspection, Nature, Poems, Transgender, Transition

In silence she blooms (a poem)

A male arm, clothed in white, reaches out to point his index finger at you. The white-skinned hand has a plain, gold wedding ring on its ring finger.
Blame the speed limit for the ticket, the intersection when it's run, and the law for the crime. Blame the bullet for the war, the knife for the cut, and the stone for the corpse. [continue] ...
: Anaphoric, Change, Favorites, Introspection, Poems, Social Issues

Blame (an anaphoric poem)

Recent Poetry

Recent [3] | All Poetry
Red rose held gently by a pair of shiny metallic robotic hands/armor pieces, conveying a contrast between nature and machinery.
I was writing out words that rhyme with knight when I noticed a pattern and, for better or worse, went with it. [continue] ...
: Ego, Expectations, Fears, Humor, Poems, Pride, Social Issues, Strength, Truth, Writing

Aight? (a rhymefest)

Close-up of a human eye with a glossy, wet eyelid and dark lashes.
A short verse dedicated to loss. [continue] ...
: Change, Grief, Hurt, Lonely, Loss, Poems, Struggle, Uncertainty

Grief (a verse)

View from inside a curling blue ocean wave toward the distant shoreline
The tide has turned on evil men. Their reign of terror at its end. (the third in a series) [continue] ...
: Abuse, Change, Community, Grief, Hope, Inspiration, Loss, Poems, Politics, Religion, Social Issues, Strength, Struggle, Trauma, Trust

The Tide Has Turned (a poem)

Recent Articles

Recent [3] | All Articles | Top Articles
Person wearing a cream striped robe standing near calm water, hand resting at the side (no face shown).
I have seen too much to believe in them anymore. I have lost my faith. (417 words) [continue] ...
: Abuse, Acceptance, Articles, Change, Christian, Christianity, Expectations, Faith, Grief, Growth, Hope, Inspiration, Introspection, Learning, Loss, Love, Religion, Social Issues, Strength, Struggle, Trust

Faith Redefined (article)

Two stacked electronic keyboards on a wooden shelf against a red brick wall, with ship models and books on the shelves nearby.
Though my parents hadn’t encouraged me in the pursuit of my dreams, my friend showed that he believed in me, and that sometimes we may need to pivot. (1,436 words) [continue] ...
: Acceptance, Art, Articles, Change, Expectations, Fears, Growth, Hope, Inspiration, Introspection, Learning, Strength, Struggle, Writing

Set the Past Aside (article)

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I know the world is a scary place right now. I will not sugar coat that fact. (478 words) [continue] ...
: Acceptance, Art, Articles, Change, Expectations, Fears, Growth, Hope, Inspiration, Introspection, Learning, Strength, Struggle, Writing

Business advice for me, from me. (article)

Recent Thoughts

Recent [3] | All Thoughts
Collage of poetry-themed images arranged in a grid, framed by an ornate gold frame. Includes open books, a word cloud of poetry terms, and writing objects.
I did a search for an image to accompany my latest poem, and these were the results. [continue] ...
: Art, Books, Expectations, Inspiration, Introspection, Photo, Poet, Poetry, Social Issues, Struggle, Thoughts, Writing

Another Trope (thoughts)

Sad woman surrounded by people walking on a busy street.
Most of my life, I have been chasing approval. [continue] ...
: Art, Growth, Introspection, Learning, Nature, Thoughts, Writing

Chasing Approval (thoughts)

Today, I realized. (thoughts)
Just when I think I’m at a point where I’m okay and can finally start moving forward, someone casually or incendiarily hurls those three words, burning me to the core. [continue] ...
: Change, Drama, Family, Fears, Grief, Growth, Hurt, Introspection, Learning, Lonely, Loss, Social Issues, Struggle, Thoughts

Today, I realized. (thoughts)

Recent Stories

Recent [3] | All Stories | Shorts | Novellas
A man preparing to drive a white, painted finishing nail into a board with a hammer while his left hand supports the nail. A ladder, shop benches and tools are visible in the background.
In 1984, I decided to pierce my left ear. I did it myself with a bag of ice, a sterilized needle, and a bar of soap. (492 words) [read] ...
: Growth, Inspiration, Learning, Love, Short Stories, Stories, Struggle, Trust

The Earring

A bright red umbrella site alone on an aged European, wet, gray brick street. Overlay of pianist playing piano.
Pianist and Composer, Jason Fervento asked, "How does this song make you feel?" (107 words) [read] ...
: Change, Fiction, Learning, Loss, Love, Short Stories, Stories, Struggle, Trust, Vignette

I Stand Alone (a vignette)

A monochrome image of snow falling softly on a line of wood and cast-iron benches that line the sidewalk in a New York City park. In the background, old buildings stretch into the distance.
Sometimes the warmth we need comes from an unexpected place. A novella (10,025 words). [read] ...
: Drama, Fiction, Grief, Hope, LGBTQIA+, Loss, Novellas, Slice of Life, Stories, Struggle, Transgender

Cold

Topics

Randomized [3] | Search All Posts by Topic
Faded dandelion flowers in the foreground, with a blurry house in the background
Our final home, more than a house on a street. It was the place we could be you and me, together, forever. [continue] ...
: Change, Grief, Introspection, Loss, Love, Poems, Strength, Struggle, Transition

Forever Home (a poem)

The glow of a distant city beneath a desert sky full of stars.
i am the words i speak, i’m the things i do, i’m not how i look, or the things i accrue. you try to define me with the simplest of words but i’m far beyond that, though you think it absurd. [continue] ...
: Acceptance, Change, Family, Friendship, Growth, Hope, Intersex, Introspection, Learning, LGBTQIA+, Love, Nature, Poems, Poet, Poetry, Politics, Pride, Social Issues, Struggle, Transgender, Transition, Trust

Core (a poem)

A pink, stuffed bunny, with one ear bent backward at the halfway point, and a brown teddy bear, with a red ribbon around its neck, sit side by side on a wet road in pouring rain. The bear's arm is around the bunny's back, and its head is tilted toward the bunny, as if showing compassion and care.
there are days, seasons when i am by myself lost and overwhelmed [continue] ...
: Acceptance, Friendship, Grief, Hope, Inspiration, Introspection, Lonely, Love, Poems, Strength, Struggle, Trust

never (a poem)

 

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