Tag: poetry

What if the Sun Vanished Now?

Published on by Stavyah VatsarahLeave a comment

POEM | VILLANELLE

What would transpire were the Sun to vanish, d’you know?
Think you and they and I would be after?
What might occur if the Moon hoed own row?

Time determines all the seasons that go.
Were the Sun now ceased, would Moon come this near?
What would transpire were the Sun to vanish, d’you know?

Change is constant; that the Sun sees below.
And the Moon, it’s said, results in strange fear.
What might occur if the Moon hoed own row?

Planets move around the Sun, they lay low;
And around which force the Sun goes is now clear.
What would transpire were the Sun to vanish, d’you know?

Prayers offered to the Moon make life glow;
D’you think there is something this Moon does bear?
What might occur if the Moon hoed own row?

Moon that’s featured on the night sky doesn’t grow,
But results in motions of the seas here.
What would transpire were the Sun to vanish, d’you know?
What might occur if the Moon hoed own row?

ALSO READ | Bygone

See that ‘C’?

Published on by B SudharsanLeave a comment

POEM

The letter ‘C’ is crystal clear; creates confusion, chaos, climax, and clutter!
Companions would be friends but wouldn’t conspicuously chatter.
If ‘c’ didn’t exist, you could never become a clever cycling country catcher,
Christy’s christened name could change; Casper would be called Dasper.

Your coming would surely cease, and ceasing would conveniently end.
You can’t do your household chores, nor can corruption be condemned!
If ‘c’ ceased, could Christian Bale climb, clouds collect, crowded clubs contend?
Forget China, countries might have to agree on a different name, can’t pretend.

Chubby children could go missing, for citrus fruits and cows would no more be.
Compassion could turn hypothetical; corrections won’t be done to a tee.
Companies, confidants, and the coronavirus won’t be confident, you see.
Anyway, creativity still exists, so chill and cheer me if you want; get carefree!

ALSO READ | Revere Your Guru

The Man Is Dead

Published on by B SudharsanLeave a comment

POEM

Occasion solemn,
The music tiresome;
Assembly sodden,
A spooky cooee.

A man, young, desi,
With covered breast says:
Am dead can you see?
My soul is soaring!

None hear him speaking;
Some chatter, cry, talk.
Many go mocking
The life he had led.

Abound accounts fed
To damage might his.
They’re tales that now tread
Amid yarns spun well.

But what’s heard most well:
Unholy sad knell.

ALSO READ | Bygone

She Felt Like ‘An Alien Dropped onto This Planet Without a Script’

Published on by B Sudharsan1 Comment

A diagnosis of autism and ADHD gave J M Shaw something she had spent a lifetime searching for: clarity

INTERVIEW

J M Shaw has been writing for most of her life. ‘What began as a childhood hobby evolved into a passion that, at times, borders on obsession,’ she says. ‘My collection of early works has filled journals and hard drives, all shaped by my personal observations and imagination,’ she adds. Everything, nonetheless, changed in 2019 when the writer was diagnosed with autism and ADHD. After a lifetime of confusion during which she felt like ‘an alien dropped onto this planet without a script’, she finally had some clarity. ‘It was then that I understood that my intense focus, emotional depth, and ability to live inside fictional worlds were not flaws but gifts of a neurodivergent mind. In many ways, my fantasy series mirrors my own arc: navigating society through the lens of autism, embracing my differences, and discovering where I belong.’

Building Worlds of Magic and Belonging

The resident of southern Alberta, Canada, says that although her novels are filled with fantasy and adventure, at their heart, they explore learning to trust, making difficult choices, accepting who you are, and finding a sense of belonging.

‘The Ascension, for instance, is a dark fantasy adventure centred on Callum Walker, a young man with magical abilities who is thrust into a deadly conflict involving arcane masters and a hidden realm of magic,’ she explains. ‘As enemies close in from every side, Callum must either accept his fate and use his power to save the secret realm, or walk away, saving himself while condemning an entire world to destruction.’

The Convergence continues Callum’s story as he seeks peace but is drawn back into the magical realm, where ‘an ancient evil is stirring’, forcing him to confront betrayal, loss, and impossible dangers. In The Fractured Veil, the barrier between humanity and the magical realm is damaged, leaving Callum determined to set things right, while Forsaken Souls follows Callum and Jax Foster as they travel deeper into the magical realm.

ALSO READ | Controlling the Controllables

Writing Without a Rigid Blueprint

Asked whether she is a pantser or a plotter, Shaw says she usually knows where a novel begins and ends, and roughly how to get there. ‘The rest is undecided,’ she reveals. ‘Beyond this loose plan, I usually have an overarching theme woven into my novels, typically in the form of a question. In fact, my Callum Walker series was prompted after asking myself, “What if fairy tales were more than stories, and monsters were flesh and blood?”‘

She adds that every story is built around an emotional core. ‘The overall tone of my fantasy adventure reflects our deeply human desire for acceptance and belonging, as expressed through Callum’s longing for friendship, family connections, and a place to call home. This process allows me the freedom to let my creative juices flow, and at times, the story feels as if it is writing itself while I am just along for the ride.’

ALSO READ | How Maria Jane Found Her Voice Through Fiction

Finding the Courage to Publish

Although she had written for most of her life, Shaw admits she was never brave enough to share her stories. ‘After being diagnosed with autism and ADHD in 2019, I wondered if writing was my special interest. My diagnosis gave me the courage to send my rough manuscript for The Ascension to an editor. To my relief, my editor saw potential in my story and encouraged me to publish.’

A wife and mother of two busy boys, Shaw says balancing family life and writing means making use of quiet moments. ‘Often, that means writing for only a few minutes at a time, but progress is still progress,’ she tells us.

The author is currently writing the fifth novel in the Callum Walker series. ‘The stakes are higher, and Callum is facing decisions that could change everything,’ she states. Alongside it, she is working on a dystopian novel blending elements of Robin Hood, Romeo and Juliet, and The Hunger Games, which she describes as gritty, emotionally charged, and exploring what happens when rebellion clashes with loyalty and love.

ALSO READ | ‘Don’t Write for Other People’

‘You Will Never Know Unless You Dare to Try’

For aspiring authors, Shaw has a simple message. ‘Not every story will succeed, but that does not mean they are worthless. Everything we write allows us to hone our skills and teaches us something about ourselves.’

She regrets only one thing. ‘I kept my work hidden for years… It was not until I finally published my first novel that I discovered my work had merit… As I look back, I regret only one thing: not sharing my work years sooner. It just goes to show that you will never know how far you can go or who you will reach unless you dare to try.’

Asked what she would change about the world, Shaw answers without hesitation: ‘The lack of understanding people often have toward those who think or experience life differently. As someone with autism and ADHD, I have seen firsthand how harmful assumptions can be when people are unwilling to listen or learn. I believe the world would be a much kinder place if more people approached one another with open-mindedness, empathy, and a genuine desire to understand perspectives beyond their own.’

DO READ | ‘There Can Never Be Too Many Stories in the World’

As I look back, I regret only one thing: not sharing my work years sooner. It just goes to show that you will never know how far you can go or who you will reach unless you dare to try.

~ J M Shaw

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How to Write a Villanelle?

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ALL ABOUT POETRY

Villanelles, also known as villanesques, have always fascinated us, and we’re pretty sure they always will. But what exactly is a villanelle? What qualifies a poem as a villanelle? And is it easy to write one? In this post, we’ll answer these questions and explore one of poetry’s most intriguing fixed verse forms.

Understanding the Term ‘Villanelle’

The English word villanelle is derived from the Italian villanella, meaning a rustic song or dance. In turn, villanella comes from villano, meaning a peasant. Originally, villanelles were imitations of peasant songs and did not follow any fixed poetic structure. Although the form was first developed by French poets and balladeers, most villanelles written today are in English. A villanelle is one of the best-known examples of fixed-verse poetry, the opposite of free verse.

Nineteen Lines, No Fixed Meter

Now that we know where the word villanelle comes from, let’s look at its defining characteristics. A villanelle is a short poem consisting of 19 lines. While these lines are generally concise, there is no prescribed length for each one. Likewise, there are no rules governing the number of syllables per line.

Although modern villanelles do not require a fixed meter, many nineteenth-century examples were written in trimeter. That said, tetrameter and pentameter have also been used successfully.

ALSO READ | Bygone

Form and Refrains

As we’ve seen, a villanelle consists of 19 lines arranged into six stanzas. The first five stanzas are tercets (three lines each), while the final stanza is a quatrain (four lines).

The hallmark of a villanelle is its use of repetition. The first line of the opening tercet is repeated as the final line of the second and fourth tercets and as the penultimate line of the concluding quatrain. Likewise, the third line of the opening tercet reappears as the final line of the third and fifth tercets before concluding the poem as the final line of the quatrain. Minor variations are acceptable, but the repeated lines should remain recognisably the same.

In other words, every villanelle contains two refrains. It may sound like a lot of rules—and it is—but these very constraints are what give the form its distinctive musicality and emotional power.

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Rhyme Scheme

Writing a villanelle is no easy feat. In addition to its strict pattern of repeated lines, it follows a tightly controlled rhyme scheme. Only two rhyme sounds are used throughout the poem. Each tercet follows the ABA rhyme scheme, while the concluding quatrain follows ABAA.

The rhyme-and-refrain pattern may be represented as follows:

A¹bA² / abA¹ / abA² / abA¹ / abA² / abA¹A²

Here, A and B represent the rhyme sounds, while A¹ and A² denote the two refrains. Both refrains rhyme with the A sound.

Summary

A villanelle is a carefully structured poem that:

  • does not necessarily follow a fixed meter
  • consists of 19 lines
  • contains two refrains and two rhyme sounds
  • follows the ABA rhyme scheme throughout, ending with ABAA in the quatrain
  • comprises five tercets followed by one quatrain

Must-Read Villanelles

If you’d like to explore the form further, here are a few classic villanelles:

ALSO READ | Ten Idioms Used in Daily Conversations

Seagulls, Ships, and the Sun

Published on by B SudharsanLeave a comment

POEM

A seagull he was then,
Soaring up in the clear sky.
His mates frolicking with him,
Looked at two ships nigh.

The Sun was shining when
To those ships he said buh-bye.
He saw them part their ways;
And just let out a sigh.

Passed away minutes ten,
Things went high and dry.
Water was all around though;
Sheer emptiness came by.

Clouds gathered again,
The Sun kept shining high.
Men went missing soon;
No idea how and why.

The ships now without men
Seemed eerie and awry.
The seagull soon heard a wren,
A wren that let out a cry.

A warrior who practised Zen,
Knew a tale hangs thereby.
So he took some coloured pens,
Drew this image after a try.

ALSO READ | Bygone

From Comedy Sketches to Creative Pursuits

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Drawing inspiration from history and personal experience, the Cyprus-based writer continues to pursue storytelling with unwavering dedication

INTERVIEW

Myron Edwards’ first real excursion into writing came during his twenties when he and a close friend began submitting comedy material to the BBC. ‘One of our comedy lines got picked up by The Two Ronnies, the most successful comedy duo on television at the time,’ the author tells Literary Harbinger. Encouraged by this breakthrough, the pair went on to write for radio and television programmes, an experience Myron describes as the true beginning of his creative journey.

An Epiphany in Cyprus

Now residing on the island of Cyprus, Myron traces his journey into book writing to a life-changing moment at Aphrodite’s Rock. ‘That began my journey; my books focus on the ancient and contemporary worlds,’ he explains, reflecting on how the historic landscape inspired his imagination. While the septuagenarian confirms that he is currently working on something new, he remains intentionally tight-lipped about the project, preferring to keep details under wraps for now.

Writing Through Discipline and Adversity

Myron reveals that his first book originally began as a screenplay before eventually evolving into a novel. ‘I used to write when inspiration was at its peak,’ he says. ‘But now I write four hours three times a week because of my dialysis treatment,’ he adds. Despite the physical challenges, the author continues to maintain a disciplined writing routine, explaining that his technique is to ‘think in pictures’, allowing scenes and ideas to unfold naturally as he writes.

ALSO READ | Controlling the Controllables

Literary Influences and Storytelling

Among the writers who have left a lasting impression on Myron are the great literary classics, particularly Charles Dickens. However, he singles out George MacDonald Fraser, creator of Flashman from Tom Brown’s School Days, as one of his greatest influences. ‘What is so unique about his books is the way he takes real facts and history and moulds them into each story,’ Myron remarks, praising Fraser’s seamless blending of historical truth and fiction.

From Copywriting to Authorship

For Myron, becoming an author was less a conscious decision and more a gradual progression from earlier creative pursuits. ‘After I had my comedy adventure, I continued writing, but in a different field, namely copywriting,’ he explains. While working for JWT in London as a travel manager, Myron was encouraged to apply for a copywriter’s position because of his BBC background, and within ten days of securing the role, he had already created his first television commercial.

Reflections on Retirement and Writing

Being retired and undergoing dialysis treatment three times a week, Myron admits that he currently has few hobbies beyond watching football. Still, he describes himself as an ‘unrecognised full-time writer’, a phrase that captures both his humour and enduring dedication to literature. Although he remains secretive about his current work, the author continues to approach writing with the same passion that has shaped his life for decades.

ALSO READ | ‘Don’t Think Literary Success Is Defined by Sales’

Advice for Aspiring Writers

Myron also offers candid advice to aspiring authors, emphasising the importance of commitment and perseverance. ‘Be prepared to sacrifice your private life, and once you start, make sure you finish it,’ he says, noting that too many writers abandon their manuscripts midway through the process. He further advises writers to seek agents who specialise in their chosen subject once a book is completed, stressing that determination and endurance are essential qualities for anyone serious about writing.

A Final Word on Sacrifice

Before signing off, Myron leaves aspiring writers with a final reflection on the realities of the creative life. ‘If you want to write, do it, but if you start, make sure you finish it because along the way you will have to make many sacrifices,’ he says. Pausing on the thought, he adds one final piece of wisdom: ‘So ask yourself whether it will be worth it.’

ENGAGE WITH LH | Click on the cover image of the book you wish to read and buy yourself a copy right off the bat!

‘I Follow My Dopamine With Writing’

Published on by B SudharsanLeave a comment

INTERVIEW

Author Randi-Lee Bowslaugh began writing long before the idea of publication took hold. ‘I have been writing for as long as I can remember,’ she says, opening up in an exclusive interaction with Literary Harbinger. Childhood for her was filled with writing plays and getting cousins to perform them. But writing took on a deeper role during adolescence. ‘As a teenager, I used writing as a coping strategy to deal with my depression,’ she shares, hinting at the emotional roots that continue to inform her work.

From Basement Pages to Published Books

Her journey into publishing began unexpectedly in 2017. While cleaning out a basement, she found poems written during her teenage years. ‘I thought they were pretty good,’ she recalls. Rather than letting them sit again, she decided to publish them, resulting in her first book, Thoughts of a Wanderer. The experience proved transformative. ‘After that first book came out, I was so excited and wanted to keep going,’ she tells us.

Her work, Good-bye Too Soon, released in May 2023, takes a deeply personal turn. The book deals with the death of her brother due to a drug overdose. It marks a shift toward non-fiction while retaining the emotional intensity that defines her voice.

Letting the Work Find Its Own Shape

When it comes to writing process, Randi-Lee does not adhere to rigid structures from the outset. ‘I usually start with the concept and let the book take me where it is meant to go,’ she explains. Once the direction becomes clearer, she develops a more defined structure.

She recalls working on Embracing Me, a book centred on mental health stigma. ‘I wasn’t 100% sure where it was going,’ she admits. ‘But halfway through, I knew exactly where it was heading.’ That moment of clarity led to outlining chapters and refining earlier sections to align with the emerging direction.

Writing on Impulse, Not Obligation

Unlike many writers who follow strict schedules, she prefers a more instinctive approach. ‘I follow my dopamine with writing,’ she says candidly. Writing happens when inspiration strikes. ‘When I force the writing, it always needs more edits than when I wait for the right time.’

This approach allows her to maintain a genuine connection with her work, even if it means moving through periods of writer’s block.

Life, Work and Everything In Between

Currently based in Ontario, Canada, Randi-Lee holds diplomas in Pre-Community Services and Community and Justice Services from Niagara College, along with further studies in psychology. Now 37, she describes herself as ‘loving life.’ Balancing writing with daily responsibilities comes naturally. She works part time, supports her child’s education, hosts interviews for her YouTube venture the ‘Write or Die Show’ and still finds time to write. Her hobbies include reading, spending time with family and animals and, until recently, kickboxing.

A typical day begins early. ‘I wake up around 7am when my puppy bugs me to go outside,’ she says. From breakfast and dog walks to conversations over coffee with her child, the day unfolds in a rhythm that dovetails domestic life with creative work.

On Becoming an Author and Staying One

Becoming an author was not initially a conscious ambition for Randi-Lee. ‘I always loved writing but never thought it would be my career,’ she admits. Yet looking back, she expresses no regrets about the path she has taken.

She continues to expand her body of work. Alongside Good-bye Too Soon, she is working on another children’s book in the ‘Woofie’ series, awaiting artwork before publication. With many ideas lined up, she remains hopeful about eventually becoming a full time author.

Advice, Perspective, Purpose

For aspiring writers struggling with motivation, her advice is simple and direct. ‘The more you do, the better you get. Not everything you write will grow huge but giving up means you will never do well.’

If given the power to change one thing in the world, her answer is immediate. The perception of mental health. Through both her writing and her YouTube platform, she aims to foster openness and dialogue. ‘The more we talk about it, the more impact we can make.’

She signs off with a message that reflects both her journey and her purpose. ‘Just remember to speak openly and honestly.’

The more you do, the better you get. Not everything you write will grow huge but giving up means you will never do well.

~ RANDI-LEE BOWSLAUGH

ENGAGE WITH LH | Click on the cover image of the book you wish to read and buy yourself a copy right off the bat!

Bygone

Published on by B Sudharsan2 Comments

POEM

Right here where tough deodars burgeoned for years
With blooming flower beds and brazened beasts,
I now behold concrete blocks with my peers
And swirls of dust rising upon tarred streets;
Devouring canned foods, wolfing salted beets,
We think about the time that has flown by
During which woods that proffered meaty sweets
Have got replaced by stores that sell baked pies.

The green carpet that graced our eyes back then
Is gone to a place I might not know of;
All we gaze upon is large crowds of men
That go about felling trembling trees off.
The grazing cattle are grazed, their skin’s doffed;
My soul yearns to inhale the air I’d known.
But frenzied fumes surround me, polluting the troughs
That back then abounded on each land mown.

Oh, yesterdays astounded, made our days
While the now makes us ponder bygone times.
I wish we’d soon discover brand new ways
To get back and live lives lived betimes.

‘Music Is Important to My Writing’

Published on by B Sudharsan2 Comments

INTERVIEW

Author Mark Everglade began writing as a child; he would often rewrite X-Men comics and what today people term fan fiction. Soon after turning ten, his tiny hands flurried across the typewriter, alternating Metallica and Schubert on the tape player, as each scene required a different tone and thus different music to accompany it. Speaking with Literary Harbinger, Mark said he began writing soundtracks to go with his stories. ‘The music and the writing fed off one another,’ he stated. Nonetheless, as technology began modernizing, the author became more intrigued by its possibilities, shortcomings, omens, and false promises and began exploring the cyberpunk works of Gibson, Stephenson, and others. Working a daytime job, Mark takes care of his family. Surprisingly, he has almost never watched TV; however, he may only see a movie or one TV show a year, preferring reading and the arts over watching television.

SPECIAL & EXCLUSIVE

No Cypher for This Cyberthriller

B Sudharsan: It is a pleasure having you with us, Mark. To begin with, please tell us about your published works. How did they happen? Furthermore, what is your latest book about?

Mark Everglade: I publish through two traditional publishers. My latest novel, Inertia, is about a young woman, Ash, and her father; they are trying to solve the global warming crisis in space. Hacking government servers, they uncover a conspiracy to alter the planet’s rotation to control its economy and cast half the world back into complete darkness. Ash’s life is in danger when she uncovers sensitive, classified data, so she must ask her father, Severum, for help. The trouble is that he does not know she exists, so while the book is a cyberthriller, it is also about their relationship.

B Sudharsan: Well, that does sound ‘thrilling’ to say the least. A lot of planning must have gone into writing the book, or… are you a plotter?

Mark Everglade: At first, I did not plot at all, but for every hour of planning, you save about 10 hours later on, so it is definitely worth doing a ten-hour outline.

‘Creativity Knows No Time or Place’

B Sudharsan: I cannot agree more. Do you derive inspiration from any authors? 

Mark Everglade: My favorite authors are Iain M. Banks, Charles Dickens, Haruki Murakami, and Catherynne Valente. All four understand culture and character and merge the two so that others can see the intersection with poetic prose.

B Sudharsan: Time I told you Murakami would remain one of my most favored writers. And that brings me to my next question: Do you, like the Japanese author, follow a rigorous schedule, or do you write when you feel the need to pen down your thoughts?

Mark Everglade: The creative process does not know your place or time and does not conform to your schedule. I make notes throughout the day; I am always writing a line here and there. Writing, therefore, is simply weaving those individual threads, those passing moments in life, together until a cohesive narrative emerges.

ENGAGE WITH LH | Click on the cover image of the book you wish to read and buy yourself a copy right off the bat!

Dealing With the In-Betweens

B Sudharsan: In that case, was becoming an author a conscious decision?

Mark Everglade: Yes. After the 9/11 incident in America, movies and books radically changed. Any publication with characters that were ‘shades of grey’ was immediately a failure. Americans wanted an absolute bad guy and an absolute good guy, so art adapted to its audience. Unfortunately, this ‘good guy bad guy’ mentality has become so strong and polarizing in our rhetoric that I decided we needed literature to unite and mobilize the masses from the ground up. So, I wrote books with characters who were all shades of grey from various walks of life, books like Song of Kitaba. Nowhere is the shade-of-grey protagonist more valued than in the dystopian subgenre of cyberpunk, where anti-heroes roam the pages.

B Sudharsan: Fascinating! How do you juggle writing and other tasks, by the way? What are your hobbies and interests besides writing?

Mark Everglade: I am primarily a musician, and music plays a key role in my writing. When I need to write with a certain rhythm, I turn on Red Hot Chili Peppers. When I need to write a lamentable scene, I turn on the indie metal band Soen. I actually named my first book, Hemispheres, after a Rush album.

B Sudharsan: Wow! Could you share a bit about your works in progress? Do you intend to become a full-fledged author?

Mark Everglade: I am working on the third and final novel in the Gliese Trilogy, tentatively named Hydrosphere. It will be released in three years and is similar to the Kevin Costner movie Waterworld but set in space with tons of cybernetic technology.

‘Authors Write Because They Must’

B Sudharsan: And is there anything you wish to tell the budding authors who lose motivation if a few of their works do not do well?

Mark Everglade: If you are doing this hobby for the money, then do not. Even the bestsellers who are hitting number one in numerous Amazon categories are not making even a month’s bills after paying advertising, retail, and royalty fees. If you write, do it for your own creative expression, with a message that will make the world a better place and inspire others. Authors write because they must; the act is a fountain of emotion and a labor of love.

B Sudharsan: If you could change one thing in this world, what would it be?

Mark Everglade: Inequality. For instance, at Disney World, a custodian would have to work 2,000 years to make as much as the C.E.O. made in one year. The level of poverty that so-called ‘first-world’ nations allow is a blight upon the potential of our species. The current system allows the wealthy to exist in a predatory relationship with people whose income is below the poverty threshold, exploiting them for their own ends.

If you write, do so for your own creative expression, with a message that makes the world a better place and inspires others. Authors write because they must; the act is a fountain of emotion and a labor of love.

MARK EVERGLADE