Submissions by VeronikaB
POEMS AND SHORT STORIES
Poet Introduction
Writer of poetic prose (fiction and non-fiction) — Builder of a fantasy world — Traveller on the Heroic Journey — literary translator since 1984 — discovering my dormant poetic potential
NON-FICTION PROSE
Published
3rd Sep 2023 9:59pm
3rd Sep 2023 9:59pm
Word Diggers and Poachers
Digging for Wordroots
It may sound obscure, but studying words is not an uncommon hobby among wordnerds and philologists [from Greek philein = to love + logos = word – literally lovers of words]. (Not to be confused with logophiles = lovers of logos).
Some even make a career of it. Such outliers are called etymologists [from Greek etumos = true, genuine, factual, certain + logos = word]. They spend the best part of their days excavating and analysing the history of words to find their true origins.
Etymologists study the histories of words for all sorts of...
It may sound obscure, but studying words is not an uncommon hobby among wordnerds and philologists [from Greek philein = to love + logos = word – literally lovers of words]. (Not to be confused with logophiles = lovers of logos).
Some even make a career of it. Such outliers are called etymologists [from Greek etumos = true, genuine, factual, certain + logos = word]. They spend the best part of their days excavating and analysing the history of words to find their true origins.
Etymologists study the histories of words for all sorts of...
#PowerOfWords
175 reads
9 Comments
NON-FICTION PROSE
Published
23rd Aug 2023 6:25pm
23rd Aug 2023 6:25pm
The Wild Motherword
The Backstory of Knowledgetrees
Among all sacred trees of the world, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil has a unique reputation. She turned out to be perhaps the most prolific cultivar. Despite the fact that she produces the forbidden fruit, she’s managed to sow her seeds far and wide 〰 or did the taboo-factor give a boost to scattering those banned pips?
When the suckers of the Tree of Knowledge reached the Northwest of the Old World 〰 along with the shoots of her companion plant, the Tree of Life 〰 they usurped Yggdrasil and Irminsul and many...
Among all sacred trees of the world, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil has a unique reputation. She turned out to be perhaps the most prolific cultivar. Despite the fact that she produces the forbidden fruit, she’s managed to sow her seeds far and wide 〰 or did the taboo-factor give a boost to scattering those banned pips?
When the suckers of the Tree of Knowledge reached the Northwest of the Old World 〰 along with the shoots of her companion plant, the Tree of Life 〰 they usurped Yggdrasil and Irminsul and many...
#narrative
#PowerOfWords
217 reads
8 Comments
NON-FICTION PROSE
Published
22nd Aug 2023 7:37pm
22nd Aug 2023 7:37pm
Canvas
a brief history of the English word canvas, including what sailing, painting, and the American flag have in common with jeans and politics
When Christopher Columbus set sails in 1492 to discover a new route to India his ships were powered by wind and canvas. Renaissance artists of the same era painted their masterpieces on canvas. Canvas was still used by the Dutch masters Vincent Van Gogh and Rembrandt in the 17th century.
Betsy Ross wasn’t an artist. But in the biography of the word ‘canvas’ she has a unique place. Her name is remembered for sewing the first American...
When Christopher Columbus set sails in 1492 to discover a new route to India his ships were powered by wind and canvas. Renaissance artists of the same era painted their masterpieces on canvas. Canvas was still used by the Dutch masters Vincent Van Gogh and Rembrandt in the 17th century.
Betsy Ross wasn’t an artist. But in the biography of the word ‘canvas’ she has a unique place. Her name is remembered for sewing the first American...
#narrative
#PowerOfWords
#historical #nonfiction
#historical #nonfiction
162 reads
4 Comments
NON-FICTION PROSE
Published
16th Aug 2023 5:31pm
16th Aug 2023 5:31pm
new project Power of Words
https://www.symbiopaedia.com/
Dear fellow wordweavers,
this is a work in progress
a new project inspired by Symbiocene (see link on website)
would be lovely if you'd come and visit, give some feedback, make suggestions, watch us grow...
and perhaps even get involved.
ˇsoon more!
∞ with lots of love ∞
Veronika
Dear fellow wordweavers,
this is a work in progress
a new project inspired by Symbiocene (see link on website)
would be lovely if you'd come and visit, give some feedback, make suggestions, watch us grow...
and perhaps even get involved.
ˇsoon more!
∞ with lots of love ∞
Veronika
#PowerOfWords
159 reads
8 Comments
STORY POEM
Published
15th Apr 2021 10:42pm
15th Apr 2021 10:42pm
The Elfin Way
(A song by Poppy, accompanied on her fairy lute)
Beneath the trek to
Heaven and the highway to
Hell there is
The elfin way
Where no path leads
Catch it
Before dawn pales into light
Hold it
Where dusk snakes into dark
Follow no path
Where fairies dance and goblins grow their gold
We slither through wyld tangles
We vanish in wyrd mist
But you must
Feel wonder
Smell the sweet musk of awe
Taste enchantment on the tip
Of your tongue you must
For fear you will hear ...
Beneath the trek to
Heaven and the highway to
Hell there is
The elfin way
Where no path leads
Catch it
Before dawn pales into light
Hold it
Where dusk snakes into dark
Follow no path
Where fairies dance and goblins grow their gold
We slither through wyld tangles
We vanish in wyrd mist
But you must
Feel wonder
Smell the sweet musk of awe
Taste enchantment on the tip
Of your tongue you must
For fear you will hear ...
#LifeStruggles
#TruthOfLife
#philosophical
#fairies
#magic
827 reads
9 Comments
MISCELLANEOUS POEM
Published
17th Feb 2021 10:35pm
17th Feb 2021 10:35pm
Bethlehem's other Children
In the village of my childhood,
where apricot trees blossom
in February,
a sanctuary
celebrated with festive cheer
and happy children,
sugar plum fairies,
and Santa's elves,
there is a refuge,
a crčche for babies
rescued from garbage bins,
for many orphans the only home
they'll ever know,
just around the corner
from that famous crib
where a baby called Jesus
is said to be born,
and where women are
no longer allowed to walk
about on their own.
where apricot trees blossom
in February,
a sanctuary
celebrated with festive cheer
and happy children,
sugar plum fairies,
and Santa's elves,
there is a refuge,
a crčche for babies
rescued from garbage bins,
for many orphans the only home
they'll ever know,
just around the corner
from that famous crib
where a baby called Jesus
is said to be born,
and where women are
no longer allowed to walk
about on their own.
#children
#family
#war #memories
#war #memories
453 reads
10 Comments
OBSERVATIONAL POEM
Published
17th Feb 2021 9:25pm
17th Feb 2021 9:25pm
The End of the World (translation of 'Der Weltuntergang' by Franz Hohler)
(translation from German, Veronika Bond)
The end of the world,
ladies and gentlemen,
given what we know today,
will go something like this:
In the beginning, on a fairly small island in the South Pacific,
a beetle will vanish,
an unpleasant one, and
everyone will say,
That beetle’s gone, at last, thank God
the horrible itch it used to cause,
and it was always full of grot.
A little later, the inhabitants of this island will notice
that early in the morning
when the birds are singing
one voice is...
The end of the world,
ladies and gentlemen,
given what we know today,
will go something like this:
In the beginning, on a fairly small island in the South Pacific,
a beetle will vanish,
an unpleasant one, and
everyone will say,
That beetle’s gone, at last, thank God
the horrible itch it used to cause,
and it was always full of grot.
A little later, the inhabitants of this island will notice
that early in the morning
when the birds are singing
one voice is...
#environment
#pollution
#greed
1602 reads
6 Comments
STORY POEM
Published
23rd Aug 2020 9:58pm
23rd Aug 2020 9:58pm
The Secret Truth
Memoirs of a Fairytale Princess
I was born in a Palace,
a dream come true,
for my parents and fairy godmother.
From thereon, however, things went downhill.
Mama got sick, a difficult birth,
and Papa, with his power, wealth and all that,
would have given his crown, I was told.
Couldn’t save her though.
My mother died, I was nursed
by a maid, wish I knew her name.
Then the Queen took over,
became my new mum, can’t tell exactly when.
Didn’t see her much,
and anyway, she’s all I’ve ever known.
My...
I was born in a Palace,
a dream come true,
for my parents and fairy godmother.
From thereon, however, things went downhill.
Mama got sick, a difficult birth,
and Papa, with his power, wealth and all that,
would have given his crown, I was told.
Couldn’t save her though.
My mother died, I was nursed
by a maid, wish I knew her name.
Then the Queen took over,
became my new mum, can’t tell exactly when.
Didn’t see her much,
and anyway, she’s all I’ve ever known.
My...
#LifeStruggles
#narrative
#historical #tradition
#historical #tradition
631 reads
13 Comments
OBSERVATIONAL POEM
Published
22nd Aug 2020 4:04pm
22nd Aug 2020 4:04pm
The New Normal
and its confusing linguistic consequences
She says Hi at the checkout,
no idea who she is;
I like your mask, she says.
never been good with masks,
outside of Venice,
or a spa.
Did you make it yourself?
Struggling to match voice to eyebrows, I say,
There’s a seamstress in Oliveira,
the heart on my sleeve in a pickle.
How long does it take to forget
people’s faces?
How long for
the word face
to become obsolete?
Some day we may have to swap face for mask
in every sentence and phrase. ...
She says Hi at the checkout,
no idea who she is;
I like your mask, she says.
never been good with masks,
outside of Venice,
or a spa.
Did you make it yourself?
Struggling to match voice to eyebrows, I say,
There’s a seamstress in Oliveira,
the heart on my sleeve in a pickle.
How long does it take to forget
people’s faces?
How long for
the word face
to become obsolete?
Some day we may have to swap face for mask
in every sentence and phrase. ...
#LifeStruggles
#satirical
#honesty #PowerOfWords
#honesty #PowerOfWords
510 reads
18 Comments
OBSERVATIONAL POEM
Published
21st Aug 2020 11:54pm
21st Aug 2020 11:54pm
Questions of the Fire Dragon
and a cycle of emotions
The fire dragon dropped in
one evening after dinner,
the sky, way past sunset,
red, glowing, aflame,
she crashed into the garden
the other side of the drive
set trees ablaze
got us worried about gas bottles,
wood store, cedar car port,
wondering whether to leave or stay,
suitcases still unpacked
from our trip to Switzerland.
She crackled and spat,
What if fear
lives
inside yourself?
Do you believe any
thing
is yours to own?
Got us thinking of books and stuff, ...
The fire dragon dropped in
one evening after dinner,
the sky, way past sunset,
red, glowing, aflame,
she crashed into the garden
the other side of the drive
set trees ablaze
got us worried about gas bottles,
wood store, cedar car port,
wondering whether to leave or stay,
suitcases still unpacked
from our trip to Switzerland.
She crackled and spat,
What if fear
lives
inside yourself?
Do you believe any
thing
is yours to own?
Got us thinking of books and stuff, ...
#grief
#earth
#environment
#tragedy
#fear
440 reads
8 Comments
NON-FICTION PROSE
Published
20th Aug 2020 10:28pm
20th Aug 2020 10:28pm
Boho
a brief history of the English word boho, how it found a home in central Europe in the era of the Roman Empire, became homeless in Paris and London in the 19th century, and is currently gallivanting around luxury homes of the rich and famous
If you have seen the film Les Miserables you'll have caught a glimpse of what life was like in Paris for poor people in the 19th century. From this urban landscape a counter-culture was born. It became known as Bohemianism.
The French Bohemians were not poor people by birth. They weren’t ‘miserable’ because they had no choice....
If you have seen the film Les Miserables you'll have caught a glimpse of what life was like in Paris for poor people in the 19th century. From this urban landscape a counter-culture was born. It became known as Bohemianism.
The French Bohemians were not poor people by birth. They weren’t ‘miserable’ because they had no choice....
#narrative
#PowerOfWords
#historical
899 reads
8 Comments
SELF POEM
Published
20th Aug 2020 1:17pm
20th Aug 2020 1:17pm
Call To Adventure
when life called at my door
and I saw the Unicorn,
saddled and ready,
I knew it was time
to leave the old
wounds
some never heal
no matter how magic a cure.
Do
not
grant
habits,
trauma,
the past,
or a secret,
power over you
or your story,
she said,
don’t let them define
your present or future,
karma or life.
I watched the bars of my cage
fade into the shadows
of the espalier hedge
and through the lattice the dawn
golden and rose
as I straddled two...
and I saw the Unicorn,
saddled and ready,
I knew it was time
to leave the old
wounds
some never heal
no matter how magic a cure.
Do
not
grant
habits,
trauma,
the past,
or a secret,
power over you
or your story,
she said,
don’t let them define
your present or future,
karma or life.
I watched the bars of my cage
fade into the shadows
of the espalier hedge
and through the lattice the dawn
golden and rose
as I straddled two...
#courage
#fate
#travel #healing
#travel #healing
515 reads
14 Comments
DU Poetry : Submissions by VeronikaB
