Newbie Furry Poetry

[Dexter, you know, the fox]

I'm posting this because I was kind of surprised at doing so well in the Furry Poetry Contest. There were a lot of others submitted that I really liked. But WhiteShepherd's comment of the surreality of the poem got to me. What I submitted was written two days after I realized I was a fur (Just in January, but an eternity nonetheless) and it really did feel surreal. So I'm submitting another poem I wrote about that time. It's not as good IMHO as my other, but it speaks to me in the same way. Let me know what you think about it.

Call of the Wild

Come here, come here, come wolf and bear,
Come on lion and lamb
Come raise your cup and toast the night
Then sip and drain the dram
Leap on in and dance with us
Beyond the dusk of day
Within the circle of our friends
Who’ve found the furry way
With fang and paw and ear and tail
Whose white tips catch the light
We find each other waiting here
In full view of the night
We’ll chase the sun and nip the moon
That hides above the trees
And lie down in the shady glen
Where starshine sets us free
And when we’ve played and preyed tonight
With those who know us well
We’ll wake again in worlds of men
At the sound of morning’s bell
So dream with me dear fox, dear hound
For in darkness we are born
From nature’s womb in slumber’s swoon
Beyond our human form

[WhiteShepherd]

Wow!  Reminds me a little of Shakespears fantasy world.  The frolic and mirth. I like the poem a lot! '>

  WhiteShepherd

[DrakonianDanceR]

Quote (Dexter, you know, the fox @ Mar. 20 2003, 3:03 am)

Call of the Wild Come here, come here, come wolf and bear, Come on lion and lamb Come raise your cup and toast the night Then sip and drain the dram Leap on in and dance with us Beyond the dusk of day Within the circle of our friends Who’ve found the furry way With fang and paw and ear and tail Whose white tips catch the light We find each other waiting here In full view of the night We’ll chase the sun and nip the moon That hides above the trees And lie down in the shady glen Where starshine sets us free And when we’ve played and preyed tonight With those who know us well We’ll wake again in worlds of men At the sound of morning’s bell So dream with me dear fox, dear hound For in darkness we are born From nature’s womb in slumber’s swoon Beyond our human form

I've quoted your poem in this post, as there seems to be odd parts of code, or keystrokes that aren't displaying properly for me.  I could still guess what the words were anyway, and so I can read your poem.  I like it.  Although I cannot have the same feelings and thoughts on it as you can, Mr. You Know, The Fox - I do still have some ideas and feelings portrayed from it that I can see, or feel.  Care to offer any tips on writing poetry?  You seem to be quite good.

[Bear Paw]

  Darn that's good I think I should be taking lessons of you. You have the talent to go far if you can write like this. I liked it. It reminded me allot of some of the times I had when I was role-playing with friends. DrakonianDancer you can write poetry everyones, got the soule of a poet you're just haveing troulble connecting with it ( like haveing the wrong jumper connection's on a peice of hardware) you just gotta play around until you hit a topic you feel is right n the words will start roleing out you'll see. You'll be producing stuff like this in no time.

[Kada-Ru]

(claps wing tips together) That is really good, Dexter!

If you have more, please show?

You could also apply here on Furtopia for your own webpage to place all your poetry. It is still art!  '>

[Dexter, you know, the fox]

First off, those odd characters are supposed to be apostrophes. I guess they reverted to ACSII or something when I posted. Thatll teach me to preview before I post.

As for any tips, the hardest part is finding something to write about. Thinking about furry is a good inspiration and I have been much more prolific since I realized this side of myself. I should also admit that I write poetry by cheating. I start off thinking about what I want to say and finding rhyming words or phrases for each stanza. I fill in the rest with almost random words that make the syllable rhythm work. Then comes about a dozen rewrites where I try to make it sound good and add some colorful language. I write a fair amount of free verse to practice that. BSing my way through English papers in high school doesnt hurt either. Usually once I get started, the words really do start to flow. Of course, I dont write well all the time. I have tons of poems I started and never finished because I just wasnt in the zone so to speak. Hows that for a swelled head?

I dont know if I like the idea of putting my poems on a web page. I still cant believe theyre really good enough. And I prefer that my poems have a temporal quality. My poems reflect my thoughts and I dont want a lot of them hanging around when I evolve if that makes any sense. I do still keep copies on my computer, but I file them away until I want them back. But thanks for all the praise. I'll post more hereabouts. But please use this topic to post your own if you want.

[Bear Paw]

Quote (Dexter, you know, the fox @ Mar. 21 2003, 2:13 am)

First off, those odd characters are supposed to be apostrophes. I guess they reverted to ACSII or something when I posted. Thatll teach me to preview before I post. As for any tips, the hardest part is finding something to write about. Thinking about furry is a good inspiration and I have been much more prolific since I realized this side of myself. I should also admit that I write poetry by cheating. I start off thinking about what I want to say and finding rhyming words or phrases for each stanza. I fill in the rest with almost random words that make the syllable rhythm work. Then comes about a dozen rewrites where I try to make it sound good and add some colorful language. I write a fair amount of free verse to practice that. BSing my way through English papers in high school doesnt hurt either. Usually once I get started, the words really do start to flow. Of course, I dont write well all the time. I have tons of poems I started and never finished because I just wasnt in the zone so to speak. Hows that for a swelled head? I dont know if I like the idea of putting my poems on a web page. I still cant believe theyre really good enough. And I prefer that my poems have a temporal quality. My poems reflect my thoughts and I dont want a lot of them hanging around when I evolve if that makes any sense. I do still keep copies on my computer, but I file them away until I want them back. But thanks for all the praise. I'll post more hereabouts. But please use this topic to post your own if you want.

Quote

. I should also admit that I write poetry by cheating. I start off thinking about what I want to say and finding rhyming words or phrases for each stanza. I fill in the rest with almost random words that make the syllable rhythm work

I thought everyone did that, it's how i work.

Quote

I still cant believe theyre really good enough

Don't think like that I know of ALLOT of good talented people who come down on them selves and there work. Youre better than you think  '>   As for a temproal feel to your work I find that intresting and can see you're point. But also you're work may be of help to those that feel the same. All in all keep at it I would love to see more of you'rework here

[Dexter, you know, the fox]

I guess I'll have to learn to take a compliment better. Thank you for the good words Bear Paw. And also thanks to Kada-Ru, DraconianDanceR, White Shepherd, and the rest. Plus you all get hugs *hugs* cause I said so.

[Bear Paw]

Nothing to learn as said humbleness of ones work is a sign of a good artist, Usualy. '>

[DrakonianDanceR]

Me again.  I was just wondering if you were willing to share any more of your poetry with us.  Also, as far as I can see, you don't have a website.  Have your thought about applying to Furtopia for some webspace?  Or perhaps your own forum if you wish.  Either way, I know I'd like to hear more of your work, as well as get to know your methods, and also your feelings, as that is where true poetry comes from.  See you soon.

[Dexter, you know, the fox]

After numerous requests, I am posting another poem here. I wrote it specifically for all of you who are reading this thread. I've noticed that my poems tend toward the highly metaphorical. I think this is more a reflection of how I think poetry should sound - at least my poetry - more than of metaphysical ideas about furriness. But without further ado, here is

Foxfire

On winter day it scorched my mind
And bound me to my will
It stole the frost upon my eyes
And banished winters chill
It seared in me the cross I bear
So now it bears me through
With razor blade in foxfire made
It sliced my heart in two.

The foxfire flame found me at last
Though in truth I found it first
And leapt from earth to feel its touch
And quench a burning thirst
It entered me through pre-made gates
With locks I left unchained
For other gates were since sealed tight
In the castle I once reigned
Now by this way I knew would come
The fire I had sought
To melt the ice and turn the wheel
In engines I had wrought
And come it did, the foxfire flame
And raced the pre-known way
It torched the doors I had once built
To keep such flames at bay
It blazed through forests I had roamed
When hiding from the sun
It knew my body for its own
And forged from two the one.

The scars I keep upon my mind
To seal foxfire to me
For foxfire burned the walls I built
In destruction I was free.

[Kada-Ru]

Another great poem, Dexter! Keep them coming!

[Bear Paw]

Keep it up Dexter, your poetry is great I find it stimulates the old grey matter nicely. More more i say it's nice to bask in the warm glow of good poetry like this     .

[DrakonianDanceR]

@ Mr. you know, the fox - on the poem "Foxfire".

I enjoyed reading this very much.  I found it quite clever how it works as a poem on its own, but also takes on quite a special meaning, knowing what it is.  I also like how you described discovering your furiness as a fire.  This fire burning and melting things, meaning how the animal spirit you found had overcome your previous conceptions of life.  I believe this point it restated on the final lines, "For foxfire burned the walls I built.  In destruction I was free."  At least that's how I read it, anyway.

Great work on your poetry, Mr. you know, the fox.  I look forward to reading more from you in the future.

[Dexter, you know, the fox]

@ Mr. DanceR - on your thoughts

Thanks for the comments on the poetry. I really liked the idea of using fire as a symbol of destructive change and rebirth. While I don't really see furriness as being too destructive, I wanted to express the need to break down old barriers - by force if necessary. I kind of felt that some of my own walls were too high for even myself to bring down. That's why I implied that I left some of the gates unchained. To my suprise, the fire that I hoped to direct and use took on its own life and overcame my desire of directed transformation. Of course, it all came out better than I could have planned.

I am also thinking on using rain as an element of change. It doesn't have the destructive element, but it seems more spiritual. The washing and the flood imagery are not the strongest feelings I have about furriness, but they are present and I want to express them. I'm taking a lot more time with this poem because I want to get the feeling right.

[Bear Paw]

Thought about the use of tempest and storm changing to the calm after or even befor the storm ?. The feeling of being lost in the rageing chaotic storm of life and then finding a calm oasis in which to rest. Sorry im just a little board this week and thought I would just lob ideas at people for fun.  '>

[DrakonianDanceR]

@ Mr. you know, the fox:  Rain can work in different ways.  It can softly fall, making one reflect more.  It can also floods, and be destructive, causing a sometimes more negative, yet powerful feeling.  It can work in many ways, and you can use that to express similar, yet differing feelings.  My thoughts on it, anyway.

@ Bear Paw:  Yes, that's another example that could be used.  And it is always good to throw ideas round, so to speak.  If people didn't, then I feel we'd be a lot less knowledgable of other ideas.  We should always look from another view.

[Dexter, you know, the fox]

Well, despite my best efforts, my rain poem is not coming out as planned. It's either a six page epic or a skipping record. So in the meantime, I am posting this poem I wrote in frustration. It's more graphic than I've posted before, but I hope you enjoy it.

Lone Hunter

I catch the scent and run beside
The leaders of the pack
The prey now feels I follow it
And dares not to look back
Past tree and mound my course is true
My paws are each set sure
By wild night I hunt for food
And hunger is my lure
The prey is swift and darts away
In shadow flash ahead
My sharp eyes see it running now
And soon earth will run red
It tires quick, I'm gaining ground
And gaining that ground fast
A lightning leap and fatal snap
Lets earthbound spirit pass
It worked me well as well it should
And I have earned my due
For I'll be sick and old one day
And meet my hunter too
I tear the skin and lap the blood
And gulp down what I find
For to survive I'll hunt again
Across the forest trails behind.

[Kada-Ru]

That was really nice! I felt I could actually 'see' it happening as I was reading it. A really great job, Dexter!

[DrakonianDanceR]

@ Mr. you know, the fox - on the poem "Lone Hunter".

Good imagary used in this poem.  As Kada said, I could see in my mind, exactly what was happening.  Also, I wish you well for your rain poem.  Good work ]B=8)

[Bear Paw]

Nicley writen as said befor the imadge just jumps to mind. As for the rain poem I can only leand the old writer's-block sledge hammer if it's of any use  '>  you'll crack it sooner or later it will come to ya.

[Nobunaga]

great stuff dex, especially the hunter, i love it, its clear and concise and leaves no question, yeah its a little graphic but so's life when you think about. looking forward to seeing more from ya, keep up the good work.

[Dexter, you know, the fox]

This one is for you Nobunaga. You're an inspiration and a great poet.

Early Morning Blues

I did not want to wake up
Before the crack of dawn
I did not want to get dressed
Or put these tight shoes on
I did not want to go out
With a family looking grim
I did not want to ride off
While dawning still was dim
I did not want to go through
Those church doors now so small
I did not want to see the sun
From the spacious stained glass hall
I did not want to sit down
On the last pew in the row
I did not want my gut to rumble
When everyone sang so low
I did not want to get up
And stand in with them in line
I did not want to start this day
Without a grandfather who seemed just fine
I did not want the sun to rise
While he was lying there
I did not want to walk away
Or breathe this damned day’s air
I did not want to close my eyes
When they buried him that day
But the sun was bright and the tears came down
When my grandpa went away

[Nobunaga]

wow, thats all i can say is wow, i think everybodies had an experience like that and you put it in to words beutifully, im honored to have helped inspire such great work, keep it up dex.