Poetry Of RH Fay

I didn't know if I should put this here or in the off-topic ramblings section, but since this is a "personal announcement", I figured I would put it here.

A while back I received an invitation from the editor/horror writer Jodi Lee asking me to submit a poem for a special hush-hush project she was working on, The New Bedlam Project e-zine.

Well, being quite excited and flattered that she thought highly enough of my work to send me such an invitation, I worked hard at coming up with something appropriate. It took a bit of effort, and I didn't get the poem sent off until a couple of days before the deadline, but I felt that the end product justified the extra work. It seems that I was right.

I just received word tonight that Jodi is quite pleased with the poem I sent, and she is going to include it in the premier issue of The New Bedlam Project. Actually, she literally said "wow". It seems that the poem in question blew her away.

It's nice when things work out that way, especially since none of my poetry was nominated for a Rhysling this year. The many little accolades I've been receiving lately almost make up for missing out on the one big one.

Yup, here is the right place Richard and congrats on this project! Never ceases to amaze me at how far your wings are spreading. Onwards and upwards, mate

My Personal Perspective

By Richard H. Fay

Resident of this turning planet
I'm merely a fellow earthling
Traveller in my own time
A liver of life

One small dreaming thing
I dwell in a wide world
Full of possibility
Full of hope

A few of my thoughts may last
After I've long turned to dust
Or they may simply pass
Like the wind

Opinions and preferences
Annoyances and peeves
In the end mean
Very little

Labelled father and husband
Keeper of dreams
Writer of words
Friend

I'm but a slight passing ripple
In a vast churning ocean
Of humanity
After all

(March 2009)

Copyright 2009 Richard H. Fay

It's certainly nice when editors come asking for your work, versus sending out unsolicited material. And this isn't the only invite I've received lately; another editor asked me to submit to an "invite-only" poetry anthology. When I was worried that I might not have any new material for her (she wanted four to six poems per poet), she said she would rather use reprints than nothing at all. In the end, I sent her four reprints and two previously unpublished pieces. Now I'm anxiously awaiting word back.

Yo, man! Welcome back!

Now we're all gathering again. Nice...

*Goes back to sleep*

Ooh I love this poem!! I can so relate to it. Thank you for posting it Richard.

RH, I am so proud of you! Writing has been your passion and the fruits of your labor have certainly paid off. Your artwork is also to be commended.

I think this may have been the last poem I posted on the old forums, so I figured it was a good one to re-post here. The sentiment applies so well to so much that I figured it was worth repeating.

Thanks, all!

Night Star wrote:

RH, I am so proud of you! Writing has been your passion and the fruits of your labor have certainly paid off. Your artwork is also to be commended.

Interestingly enough, a fellow poet recently commented that he thought I considered myself more of an artist than a poet. I felt that was an odd statement, and far from the truth of the matter.

Lately, I may be concentrating more on my art than my poetry because the art pays better (more money per piece as well as steadier payments), but I still find myself writing poems every now and again. Poetry is in my blood; it's a part of my soul.

It seems to me that I am equally part poet and part artist. I don't think one outweighs the other.

Very much so

Way to go RH

Thanks!

Your avatar is your art right? Love it!

Yes, I decided to go with my standard "azure" lion, as used on my web site. It originally started out as a charge on my shield logo.

Awesome!

stirring bracken
lithe shadows dance
red caps flash

Copyright 2009 Richard H. Fay

Oh my god, this is the first one I didn't understand. LOL
Red caps flashing are what?

I was worried this would happen with this piece. It may be too obscure.

The red caps are meant to refer to the fair folk, since traditional lore often depicts them as wearing red hats. However, I realised it could also refer to red capped mushrooms like fly agaric. It could be the viewer is either catching a glimpse of fairies dancing beneath the bracken fronds, or simply toadstools growing alongside the ferns.

Here you will find the poetry of our very own RH Fay.

River of Life

by Richard H. Fay

Drift
- Down the river of life
Sail
- Its turbulent waters
Glide
- 'Round the rocks in its course
Birth
- Death
Love
- Hate
Lost
- Blind in the muddy swell
Ride
- The ship of dreams and hopes
Slide
- Souls dragged along the stream
Embrace them all
- For they're all
Part of the
- Flow

(Copyright 1993 Richard H. Fay)

***

The above poem dates back at least sixteen years. It was written while I still bore my step-father's last name, and was published in the early nineties under that name in one of those questionable contest-related anthologies. Even though it may have had a rather shady publication history (I don't even count it as an "official" publication), I still think it a worthy work. I figured it was high time to resurrect this poem, dig it out of the "trunk", and let it once again see the light. At the very least, it is an interesting insight into my early attempts at poetry composition.

boiling seas
maelstrom splinters ships
angry titan

(February 2009)

Copyright 2009 Richard H. Fay

Richard, this is so beautiful and one of my very favorites.
The first poem I meant. We must have been posting at the same time.

Northern Perks

sweet maple syrup
drizzled over steaming flapjacks
on a chilly spring morn

swimming in a forest stream
shaded by tall basswood trees
on a humid summer day

sweeping hilly vistas
painted bright scarlet and gold
on an autumn afternoon

sweetheart snuggled close
seated before the roaring fire
on a cold winter's eve

(December 2008)

Copyright 2008 Richard H. Fay