I write. I write a lot of poems and romance novels, and I normally only finish the poems.
My most recent poetry and prose-related creations can be found here on my blog, under the
poetry page.
The following poems are dated November 6th and 7th, 2010. They're one of my first writings that were successful, resonating with a larger, more varied audience. "Her Name Is..." won third place in the Chautauqua poetry contest, Youth Division grade 9. Such an accomplishment for me at that age. ^^ The poem entered was tweaked a bit; several more creative adjectives and nouns were decided upon...but I can't open Microsoft Word on this computer so I only have the very raw originals.
Her Name Is...
My hands are chapped
And she's not going away
I wonder why I'm stacked
With all this stuff today
She's standing right outside the door
But I won't let her in, not yet
Her clean white hair nearly touching the floor
And her eyes a clear gray
A fur coat is draped over her shoulders
And a pair of white boots on her feet
She causes me to unwillingly shiver
As she reaches to knock with hands pale and petite
I must open up, eventually
But right now I cower in a corner of my room
The leaves have fallen from every tree
She is unwilling to stop and whispers of my doom
So I pull on an extra hoodie (or two)
And come down the steps slowly
I say "Please be kind to me, and I'll do so to you"
As I wrap my arms around myself closely
I undo the latch, but as the door swings open
And silver light spills across my face
Simply a bluster of cold wind billows in
And I sigh with relief and shut the door with haste
Winter won't be bad this year
As she only stopped by for a minute
I see there is nothing to fear
For Winter's chill was only for a bit.
~
His Name Is...
Bursting with color
I can't believe what he brings me
Baskets of wishes
And the possibilities that be
He greets me with a smile
He is one of my best friends
And holds out his hand for a while
Till the bright daylight ends
His sweater is tied
Around his middle
His t-shirt is tie-died
Red and stained a little
His hair is the color of fire
His eyes a playful green
I know my situation is dire
For his motifs cannot be seen
Taps on my window, never my door
Though I know he'll eventually go
The running and hiking will not be a bore
I'll muse upon it when the wind does blow
The coldest wind sweeps in from the West
Sending snow in, and chills up my spine
The sprite from before who seemed like the best
No longer lingers in this life of mine
I wonder, where has he gone?
The happy and bright
Fun-loving, carefree, thoughtful one
Fading from sunset into night
So while I stand in the cold and freeze
No longer a gentle nip,
The moment he does seize
To whisper of Autumn, just a bit
And even though the leaves are gone
Crunching under my boot-clad feet
He still manages to whistle a light song
And I am so glad we were able to meet
I also write novels...here are two excerpts- one from my most recent summer project, working title being 'What Goes Up Must Come Down'. Set in the modern-day United States, it follows the romance of a part-Korean writer from Fairfax, Virginia named Mina Cole-Kwon.
The second is from my NaNoWriMo 2011, working title 'Valentijn Janson's Chronicles of the Southern Continent'. Here is a long, unedited synopsis...written when I was lacking a few hours of sleep and a lot of sanity. >.<
If there were two points that the rest of the world would use to describe the Southern Continent, they would be 'extensive, rich history' and 'scarred by frequent, long, cruel wars'. But in the past ten years, the countries of the Southern Continent have begun to prove at least half of this statement wrong.
No major wars have taken place in many a year, and relations between the many small countries have been much better than in the past. It seems like many have learned the benefits of peace and understand one another. That is, until the friendly trading country of Exaenashan is rocked with news that their king, Enrai, has been killed. Rumors have it that he was assassinated by one of the Grenian nobles who are always thirsty for more land, money, and blood, but before these can escalate any further, Lukas, the king's own cousin, takes the throne. New rumors surface about Lukas; a maimed seventeen year old boy who has spent many of his days in his father's gardens or libraries, and rarely any time studying to be a monarch. Many claim he's far too young to be king at all, and some have even more mixed opinions that he was in contact with the Grenian who killed Enrai.
But the trouble in Exaenshan doesn't just effect the people within the borders. Countries as far north as Daron-Tith and Sarojn are concerned that they will not be able to trade with the Exaenashan's, and countries as far south as Montejn and Ceallan are talking that war will come between Exaenashan and Grenan; and if Grenan conquers, they will be next.
Even the small, southernmost country of Belgay is experiencing a little tumult and worry over the circumstances, and young Valentijn Janson can testify that not only is his country confused, but he is, too. There is nothing he would like better than for it all to be settled and done with, and for him to get back to his books. At certain points it almost seems as if world matters have nothing to do with him, as he is only an 18 year old Kashihan and has no business being involved. But his continent, his country, his goals and his ways as a person will affect the way he lives the rest of his life and deals with other people. Some he can control, others he cannot. But will he make the decision to better the things he can, and put up with the ones he can't, or will he simply try his hardest to remain disconnected and unconcerned for the rest of his life?`
Ready for excerpts?
She adjusted her purse strap uncomfortably as she entered through the
large glass doors of the huge building Kibum had texted her
directions to. Mina had discovered after arriving that it was both
the singer's joint agency and a large company that worked in the
field of electronics, all linked with more businesses in South Korea.
She made a mental note that she could speak in her native tongue with
these people.
Mina did a short review of her outfit. She hoped she didn't look
cheap, but she wasn't sure what cheap meant in the Kibum dictionary,
considering he was a multimillion dollar Hallyu star. She had never
really been a fan of his music; maybe a few songs here and there, but
by this time she didn't really listen to K-pop anymore. He's a
weird guy, that's for sure. He only gave me directions to the
building, and conveniently forgot to tell me which floor he'd be on.
Spotting a receptionist desk off to her left, Mina headed over.
Noting how her tennis shoes squeeked on the clean, white vinyl
flooring, she winced.
“Um, excuse me...”
The pretty woman with the jet black hair and soft hazel eyes looked
up at her, “Yes, how may I help you?”
“Ummm...I'm here to see Mr. Jay Lee. Where is his office?”
The lady smiled.
“Straight ahead, there are some elevators. Go to the sixth floor.
You should enter into a hall. Turn right. His office is three doors
down on the left.”
Mina smiled, gave her thanks, and started to follow the woman's
directions. The whole entrance room was becoming somewhat crowded as
people got off work and headed home, and she found herself shoved
into the corner of the elevator as she rode up.
She was surprised to find no one got out of or on to the elevator when she
reached the sixth floor. Instead, the area was almost
completely silent. Glancing in the doors as she walked down the hall,
she found the offices were all empty.
I guess they've already gone home.
At least, she hoped that was the case and she wasn't about to go
walking into the office of some weird psycho who required the entire
floor to be void of all people except himself.
You're too creative, Mina...tone down the writer in you and tap
into the practical, street-wise young woman already...Shaking her
head and trying to think sensibly, she continued walking. The third
door was just ahead. Knocking softly, she was greeted by the same
male voice from earlier,
“Come in.”
Turning the knob, she stepped into the room and immediately, out of
habit, scanned the area.
It was small and quiet. The walls were the stark white that the
entire company seemed to be painted in, the furniture was a dark oak,
and several paces to her immediate right, up against the far wall,
was Mr. Lee's desk, computer, and, he himself.
She took the first couple of steps, and then stopped when he looked
up at her.
His face was young, but his features were sharp. His dark,
almond-shaped eyes were soft, reserved, and kind. In that instant,
Mina put together the bad businessman on the phone with the youthful,
sweet face before her. She decided that he appeared more like someone
who should be teaching kindergartners or running a mission in a
small, third-world country than the guy behind the secretary's desk
at a big, rat-race company.
“Oh, it's you. Please sit down. Sorry I didn't come to the door. I
didn't realize-”
“It's...it's okay.” She managed to splutter out, taking a seat
and hoping he hadn't recognized her wide-eyed staring.
“No, really. So...what do you think of the city? Or have you been
to New York before?”
So he's chatty, too...
“Actually, this is my first time here. So I'm trying to get to
know where everything is...to no avail.”
He smiled,
“Don't worry. You'll get used to it. Plus, Key will probably
attempt to steal all your time while you're here. He's a bit odd...”
Mina blinked.
“Really? I hadn't noticed.” she answered sarcastically. Mr. Lee
grinned, looking down at his hands to hide the highly amused look
that flashed through his eyes. It didn't work, and Mina smiled.
“Seriously, though, how odd does he get?”
“He does things that I cannot comprehend...some of his decisions
seem irrational. His ways of going about something can also be rather
strange.”
“I see. He told me you were brothers?”
Mr. Lee's smile slipped for an instant, and though it was replaced in a mere moment, his body language remained standoffish.
“Yes, we are.”
“So you know each other well, then...” Mina caught his changed
expression and quickly tried to avoid the subject, “alright, for
what reason did you want to meet me?” she queried in a brighter
tone.
“Ah, actually, I had several reasons. The first is to make sure
your accommodations are satisfactory.”
“They are.”
“Good. The second was to make sure you know where you'll be
performing. I told your mother; has she passed the info on to you
yet?”
“Yes, she has.”
“Okay, and the third is a bit more far-fetched. So,” he stood
up, heading over towards one of the bookshelves and looking over the
volumes of encyclopedias, as if he was actually reading the titles.
Mina figured he was just nervous, which made her all the more
suspicious of his final, 'far-fetched' favor.
“What?”
“Don't meet with my brother in public. He likes you a lot. He's
going to be discussing the party with you in a bit; figuring out what
he wants, what you want, and trying to meet in the middle. But there
will be some fans who will swarm to watch you guys if you're caught
out in public. It'll be a scandal by tomorrow morning, and Mr. Kim
doesn't want that happening.”
“Really? Then...why don't we just always meet here, in your
office?”
“You'd do that?” He turned to her, looking surprised, “gosh,
I'm relieved. I was worried you'd be put out.”
“Not really; I'm glad you warned me because I didn't think about
it.”
“...thank you. I get off the hook now.” He chuckled softly, but
there wasn't much amusement in his voice. Mina pursed her lips. He
seemed friendly enough, but when she looked into his eyes, she could
tell something was missing...a spark of some sort of life that had
been drained out of him and hadn't fully come back yet.
“Hello!”
Kibum made Mina jump with his sudden entry.
“Kibum...” Mr. Lee murmured, turning around.
“Hi, hyung. How was your day?”
“It went...well...” He broke off what he was saying, sentence
trailing away as Kibum suddenly directed his attention to Mina again.
“Mina, I see you're here. Ready to go?”
Go? Where? This wasn't in the plan!
“Actually, Kibum, we decided it would be better for you to stay
here.” Mr. Lee interjected.
“What? But I was going to get her dinner and show her around.”
Kibum replied shortly Mina could tell he wasn't the type to be told
what to do. His vivid, sharp dark brown eyes held an air of
superiority, curiosity, and refine that couldn't be compared with Mr.
Lee's subdued expressions of worry and tiredness.
“I...I can order takeout? Will that be okay?” The latter replied
carefully.
Kibum puffed out his cheeks in mild frustration, but nodded in
approval.
“Yeah, seems fine.”
***
Valentijn opened his eyes
slowly. Things seemed foggy for a minute before he began to focus
properly. Reaching his hands out of the covers, he rubbed the sleep
from his eyes, and suddenly realized where he was. Glancing around,
he saw that though the other side of the bed had obviously been slept
upon, Kadri was no where to be seen. Sitting up with a groan, he
chanced a look outside. It appeared to be midday.
Leaping out of bed in a rush,
Valentijn fumbled for his belt and boots. As he finished fastening
the last strap of his left boot, he skipped across the wood floor,
and out the door.
Inns in Ceallan were built much
the same way as inns in Montejn; much like the dormitories of
barracks. Many small rooms, about eight feet in length and six feet
in width, with one or two straw mattresses, and a washstand. As
Valentijn rushed down the hallway, he noticed there were three doors
on each side, but had no time to pay more attention to his
surroundings. Going down the stairs two at a time, he reached the
bottom floor. Casting a look around the open room, he saw a few
travelers on the wall benches in the corner, but not one resembled
Kadri or Riagan. Deciding to go ahead and enter the room, he made his
way over to the bar and to his relief he spotted the other two men.
Riagan was engaged in a conversation with the bar tender. It looked
like he was talking about Kadri. Kadri was wolfing down what appeared
to be the first of three sandwiches, muttering corrections and
replies to Riagan's comments around his full cheeks. Riagan spotted
Valentijn first, as Kadri was absorbed in trying to eat and clear his
reputation with the bartender at the same time.
“Ho, Valentijn! Good
afternoon to you. You slept a looooong time.” Riagan announced,
grinning with mischief.
“And how long did you two
sleep for? I don't remember you getting up.”
“About three hoursh.” Kadri
replied through cheeks that resembled a chipmunk.
“Ehhh...I slept about five.”
Riagan replied.
Valentijn sighed.
“What is it?” The auburn
asked, his almond-shaped, dark brown eyes meeting Valentijn's.
“Nothing...I guess I'll be
getting my bags together, then. We can't wait around here for long.”
Valentijn turned to walk away,
but Kadri called out.
“Wait, Valentijn!”
Valentijn turned.
“Yes?”
“I left something up in the
room. I'll come along with you.”
You swallowed that food
fast. Valentijn thought as he decided it was probably unavoidable
and let the boy follow him. Taking light, soft steps up into the
hall, Valentijn was almost sure Kadri wasn't even there, but when he
turned to look behind him once, he saw the bent, blonde head, and the
careful, gloved hand against the wall, feeling his way up the steps.
Shrugging, Valentijn turned his head back around, and soon they found
themselves in their room.
It was silent for a few
moments, Valentijn immediately going for his bags and paying Kadri no
notice until he realized the youth had not moved from the doorway.
Careful, but curious, Valentijn snuck a look up at Kadri and found
the boy's cocoa brown eyes studying him fervently.
“Ummm...you're staring at me.
Did I say weird things in my sleep last night or something?”
“No...” Kadri replied,
slightly distant. “You did kick me once, but that's not exactly
what I was staring at you for. I was just curious as to how you think
you're going to keep from being beaten up by the natives here.”
“Eh?” Valentijn was now
thoroughly confused. In fact, he was beginning to think after all his
years of studying he still had issues in the knowledge department.
“So you don't know?”
“Apparently, Mr. Mysteriously
Vague, I do not. Considering it involves my being beaten up, I think
I should.”
Kadri laughed.
“Sorry, sorry...” Kadri
slowly leaned back, and though he tried to do it fluidly and
casually, Valentijn noticed the unease as he shut the door. Most
particularly, he noticed how the soft brown eyes darted about the
room, landing on every corner. He's checking for escape
routes...just in case.
Kadri's tone was even quieter
than usual as he spoke. “...the Ceallan...they don't like you
Kashihan's too much. Especially the ones here, near the southern
border. Trust me, I know, I spent the first eight years of my life
living here. Kashihan are the most hated race. Even on the school
playground, a Ceallan will pretend to be a Grenan as the enemy, but
they never pretend to be Kashihan.”
Valentijn did a double take.
“So, you mean...they'd notice
I was a Kashihan upon first sight?”
“Well...I did. Something
about your mannerisms, and your accent, of course. I can't really
explain why, but it's best to be safe rather than sorry, isn't it?”
Valentijn sighed. Kadri didn't
appear to be very good at explaining himself; it was always 'I just
felt it' or 'I can't explain, I just did it'. “And what are you
thinking of doing about this problem?”
“That we continue traveling
on this road, but at night. I don't know what you're traveling for,
or where you're traveling to, but we might as well. If not for safety
measures, the road is less busy at night anyways, and there aren't as
many guards on this Ceallani road right now.”
Valentijn nodded reluctantly.
Though Kadri seemed easily distracted, Valentijn trusted Kadri's
knowledge of Ceallan,“Sounds fine to me. I guess you don't want me
to go out, then?”
“No, not really...” Kadri
brought his shoulders up a little, nearly wincing, as if he were
afraid Valentijn would haul off and hit him if he said something too
commandeering.
“Okay. Sounds fine to me,”
he replied. Kadri relaxed a little.
As Valentijn stood and Kadri
went to open the door, the younger paused.
“What is it?”
“Well...I was just thinking
how strange it is that you seem so willing to trust me. Even when
it's like this. Do you think I'm harmless?” Kadri questioned in
accented Kashin, his abrupt thought pattern still evident in a
different language.
“No, I know you have
something up your sleeve...somewhere. But I'm not going to go
worrying about it when I have my own tricks and twists.” Valentijn
replied in Mish.
Kadri chuckled, twisting the
knob and swinging open the wooden door as he did. “Kashihan always
have something up their sleeves. Though they might be changing
recently...there are still things about them that are a complete
mystery to me.”
Valentijn smiled as he watched
Kadri go. When the kid was serious for a few minutes, Valentijn found
he actually sort-of liked him.
Alright, there we have it! (be proud of yourselves, my very few readers-you have forced me to edit one of my favorite parts of Valentijn's Chronicles! -_-)
-Argentia
