Seeking Artist for the Ballad of the Emerald Bard

The one thing my blog lacks, and I know it lacks this more than anything else, is photos and pictures.  I get a decent amount of traffic and I’m very proud and humbled by how much I do get, but there’s no telling how much more I’d get if I spent a bit more time and tossed in some pictures.  So, I’ve decided to go out of my way to attempt to add a bit of life to at least part of the blog.

Recently I’ve started a campaign to get some artist renditions of the Ballad of the Emerald Bard’s main character, Deeya, drawn.  Its actually quite daunting looking at artist’s work and then seeing how much they would do a piece of art for.

(poem) - The First Test of Love: Wedding Planning

There’s nothing like
The stress of a wedding
Plotting and planning
Along with all the double checking

It makes one want to scream
With all their might
Waking from a dream
In the middle of the night


I know
Because I have been there
I’d do it again in a heartbeat
And marry Lisa anywhere

But thankfully
We are done with our nuptials
And are just enjoying watching
Other people’s wedding battles

I swear weddings are bad on purpose
To put couples through big stress
To see if they can handle
The bride worrying about her dress

If they can get past that
Then they can get past most anything
It’s the first time a couple is truly tested
Before they put on each other’s ring


Before they spend life together
They have to survive each other
And only a few can do so
Without becoming a strangler

The best that I can ever say
Is to enjoy your beautiful wedding day
Because it only comes once
At least, if you do it the right way

So cheers to you and yours
Cheers to love conquering all
We gather here this day
To witness the union of those in the hall

Because they survived
The planning of their wedding
We rejoice their love
May it be everlasting.

--Dan

--Want more Poetry?  Check out my Poetry Collection Page!

Spices are the Flavor of Life

I honestly can’t imagine a world with spices.  Known now, in the internet cute cat world, as ‘flavors’ food is pretty crappy without them.  Its amazing how for granted we take spices now, considering entire empires rose and fell because of the spice trade.

Spices go way back in human history, and have become such an integral part of every day life.  They are even mentioned a few times in the Bible, of all books.  Oddly though, I think of all the fantasy stories I’ve read, and they don’t really get too much into spices....  A shame.  Fantasy and Sci/Fi have really drawn a new connotation for the word ‘spice.’  In Star Wars and Dune ‘spice is a form of drug.

Watching the Weather

There has always been something beautiful about nature.  I’ve known so since I was a child.  I would sit on my grandmother’s porch and watch the storms roll in, and be happy as a lark.  There was a form of serenity as you’d watch them off on the horizon.

I’ll always remember the first time I saw a tornado, was standing out in the front yard with my mom.  We looked to the east and saw the big shadow kind of pass behind all the rain so far off on the horizon.  The destruction was rather unparalleled afterwards, but it was an experience I know I’ll never forget.

(poem) - A Strength in True Love

There comes a time
When all men die
But sometimes first
They live the lie.

There is something fanciful
About living life
No matter how much
You go through strife


There will always be
A lie down deep
That prevents you
From getting sleep

Pain will set in
If you let it start
And all your friends
Will faithfully depart

Alone
Trapped in a mine
Alone
Within your own mind

I’ve watched it tear
The strong apart
The weak
Simply do not have the heart


To do what I did
I did it right
I trusted my spouse
Without a fight

I believed in her
She believed in me
And somewhere along the way
Her and I merged into We.

I made a choice
Where some simply cannot
To love her dearly
Until I rot

Yet being buried
Is a long way off
And at men’s typical weakness
Doth I scoff

I enjoy being hers
In every way
Knowing that my love
Will never sway

There is a strength in that
I have found
That most never do
They do nothing but cheat at the sound

Of winter coming
And old age drawing near
I accept its coming
With my love I hold so dear.

--Dan

--Want more Poetry?  Check out my Poetry Collection Page!