http://securityhaiku.com

Feel free to browse the poetry selections (not to mention the great articles and fiction) and if you’re in the mood, why don’t you submit a few poems?

My recommendation: Send only your best work only and pay close attention to the submission guidelines.

Moderated by JeSais, an upcoming writer and marketing guru, this forum is a great way to learn about the craft of writing and meet other writers in the San Diego area. You don’t have to be located in San Diego to join.

Gary Gygax was a major influence for why I learned to read. When I was in the 6th grade, I stood in a bookstore staring at a strange book entitled “Monster Manual”. I picked it up and the first monster I turned to was the Trapper, with a picture of an off-balance fighter surprised to see the floor rising up to attack him. I was instantly hooked on AD&D. I still love it.

Dungeons and Dragons opened up a new way for geeks to socialize under the context of “gaming”. It tempted all but the most anti-social from their darkened hovels and into the light to spend time with others of their kind.

I’ll bet he and J.R.R. Tolkien are rolling up new characters right now. I’m ready to play back here on Earth. The Trapper is still my favorite monster. Let me tell you about the time my 3rd level thief pulled the lever of a magical machine and was transformed into a pseudo-dragon…

I was 45 minutes late and missed the whole thing! Well, almost. The air was cold but clear and I could see a storm coming from miles out from the Pacific. Rays of sun burst through the clouds lighting giant spotlights of ocean. Beautiful.

I looked all over for my fellow SPFers. I found out later they were down at the tidepools – too far to walk to from the monument to go check. I spent my time learning more about Cabrillo’s trip and the tidepools from some brief films in their auditorium.

The park closed at 5pm. My ride wasn’t there to pick me up. It’s three miles from the monument back to the gate. I had to walk in the rain…in the dark…through the Roscrans Veteran’s Cemetery. The road was dark – there are no street lamps on the path. The rows of bleached markers rose from the earth like whales’ teeth.

The walk was peaceful: The wind, the water, the sound of the ocean crashing far below. The view of the harbor lights while I walked gave me the feeling I was descending from the sky on a stairway of vapor into the city.

I loved every minute of it. Can’t wait for the next one! If you are speculative poet looking for like-minded folk in Southern California, be sure to drop a note and say hi. And consider joining the SPF.

A reading party for the anthology will take place on December 5th at the Dove Library in Carlsbad, CA. Contact the library for more details.

See you there!

“The Kelpie” describes the tragic life, death, and new life of a sad girl. “Horsemen” is my Mystic Nebulean take on one of my favorite of Earth’s natural phenomena.

These poems are some of my very oldest. Thanks to Terrie for helping me share them!

You can find both poems here.