Micropoetry - May + June 2023

Yes, you read the post title correctly - this is the Micropoetry wrap-up for May and June.

Yes, you are correct - it is August.

Why am I so late with this? 

A combination of 'haven't got around to it,' and 'just plain forgot.' (Sorry! 😅 )

The first one is written in my accent/dialect, because that's the way it was rattling around my head, so that's the way it got posted.

...It was the only way to stop it from going round and round in my head, OK?

I don't think it's that incomprehensible but then... it's also how I talk. So... *shrugs*

(And yes, I do say 'aye' to mean 'yes' sometimes in regular conversation. Many people here do. #NowYaKnow)

Here we are then, May and June's micropoetry:

As always, for those using screen-readers, the poetry will be in the alt-text of the graphics with / marks for line-spaces.

Month In Review(s) - July 2023

Warning: this post briefly discusses Depression

July. Ugh.

Well... let's look at the positives.

Once again, nobody in my life - either human or animal - died, almost died, or had a life-changing diagnosis.

Which is a low bar for a win, but that's the bar that I have - so it's a win.

Nerd Church - And Yet

 

Honestly, I have no idea. This is one of those posts that just kind of... happened. 😅

General Content Warning for... I don't know. The state of the world? You'll see.

It can feel like you're shouting at the clouds, with the world burning down all around you.

...Who made the world this way, do you know?

Because all we're doing is fighting within systems in systems in systems - and all it does is benefit those few at the top, who've always been well off.

The only division that should matter is between love and hate - and there is a right answer (hint: it's not hate.)

I don't understand how the world can be so beautiful and wonderful and yet...

And yet.

Friday Fics Fix - Nah, They Gay

 

'The crew stared at him, and at Lucius behind him who was gesturing emphatically at the leather pants.'

This fic made me laugh - and I think we could all do with that, yeah?

(Well, it's what we're getting!)

Comics Wrap-Up - Chaos In The Best Possible Way

It's Thursday, July is swiftly fading, let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Nerd Church - Watching Tennis With Depression

 

Warning: As you probably figured out from the title, this post discusses Depression.

Disclaimer Time: I'm not any kind of medical, psychological, or mental health professional. These are my own experiences - nothing more, nothing less.

I love watching tennis.

Like I love it.

It's the one sport that I've followed regularly and consistently since I was a kid.

And for a British kid, there's nothing bigger in tennis than the Wimbledon Championships.

Friday Fics Fix - Solid SamBucky

 

Warning: this post briefly discusses PTSD/mental health problems

'The storm begins while Sam is away. Which means that Bucky is left to fend for himself in their empty apartment...'

 

We all need some solid SamBucky emotional/mental-health-based Hurt/Comfort every now and then, right?

...I mean.

We all know it's true.

Comics Wrap-Up - Those Pesky Mortals

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It's Thursday, life is hard sometimes, this is Dora Reads, so let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Nerd Church - The Nebulousness Of Self-Care (Or 'What Do I Need?!')

Warning: Vague discussions of mental health issues

Disclaimer Time: I am not any sort of psychological, medical, or healthcare professional. I am a chick with an internet connection: nothing more, nothing less.

Does anyone else find it hard to figure out what sort of self-care they need?

Because it's not all bubble baths and scented candles 

- in fact I have to be careful with bubble baths in case my skin allergies freak out, and I don't like lighting candles anywhere near the cats because that's just an accident waiting to happen...

And apart from all that, the consumerist, one-size-fits-all, version of self-care does not, in fact, fit all.

Friday Fics Fix - Quite Frankly Batpoop OFMD Vibes

 

'“I think I’m gonna faint now,” Stede says. He nods to himself. “Yes, I think that’s it for me for a while.”'

 

Are we all recovered from the shock of AO3 going down earlier in the week? Yes? Good.

I really wish there was more than one fanfiction site with AO3's usability, range, and download feature. But I suppose that would be greedy. 😘😅

(Fandom notes:

AO3 = Archive Of Our Own - the biggest and probably most widely used fanfiction site.)

So, with AO3 safely returned to its rightful place on the interwebs, I have some Our Flag Means Death (OFMD) fanfiction for ya!

(It's been like... 3 weeks since I last rec'd OFMD. #Restraint.)

Comics Wrap-Up - Yellow. Costume.

 

It's Thursday, I am tired, let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness, right here on Dora Reads.

Nerd Church - Short Story: New Money

This was first published by me in the Medium publication Promptly Written.

This is the first story I wrote which featured a character called Anna Sinclair - to date, I've written three stories about her, and given her her own Medium list titled 'Snapshots of Anna Sinclair.' (She won't leave me alone, so I've given in and accepted it.)

Content Warning: one potential drug reference. (Yes, I said ‘potential’ — it’s a little ambiguous, even to me 😅)

New Money

Image by André Santana AndreMS from Pixabay

Friday Fics Fix - Five Hargreeves Is Ruminating, OK?

 

'Viktor’s book was informative. But there are still things Five now understands himself not knowing.'

I haven't rec'd a The Umbrella Academy (TUA) fic in a while.

But I've still been reading some, obviously.

So, yeah, this week's offering for your humble perusal (lol) is a TUA fic.

Comics Wrap-Up - The World Needs Samuel L Jackson Trying To Figure Out If Something's Cake

 

It's Thursday, we're apparently in July already, let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Month In Review(s) - June 2023

June was too damned hot.

I hate the heat - I'm not built for it.

Ugh. It sucks.

Also, the mountain fires are apparently releasing heavy metals, like lead, from the vegetation, due to Wales' past status as lightly smouldering industrial wasteland.

It's potentially getting into the water supply. Fun times.

...On the plus side, maybe the English won't want our water now. (No, I'm not explaining that one - Google 'Wales water exports,' and once you've done that, Google 'Tryweryn'.)

Nerd Church - Internet Pitchforks: The Cases of Elisa Lam and Nicola Bulley

 

Warning: this post discusses sensitive topics, including but not limited to - missing people, unexplained death, accidental death and drowning, murder, internet harrassment, mental health problems

Links may also contain distressing content.

Disclaimer time: I am not any sort of scientific, legal, sociological, or psychological expert. I'm a chick with an internet connection.

Friday Fics Fix - Clint Barton Has No Coffee

 

'The coffee is gone.

"No," Clint whispers, staring at the counter where he left it. "What the... is it... coffee burglar?"'

I would like the record (there's a record, right? Sure, let's say there's a record,) to show that I'm not actually a big fan of time-loop tropes.

...Which you wouldn't think, given how often I rec. them, but there we are!

(All of which is to say that this week's fic is a time-loop fic.)

Comics Wrap-Up - In The Current World

 

It's Thursday, I'm tired, let's get some of that good ole comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Poetry: Answers

This poem was originally published by me in the Medium publication The Brain Is A Noodle, for the writing prompt 'unreliable narrator'

Answers

'Everything I've done
I've done for you
I move the stars for no-one'

- David Bowie, Within You (Labyrinth Soundtrack)

Image by Brigitte Werner from Pixabay

Friday Fics Fix - He's A Pirate, Why Is This Happening?

'“No, I draw other things, too,” Lucius hissed. He snatched the book back from Ed and flipped through the pages before turning it back around. “Here’s you and Captain Stede, see?”

“Ah well, thanks for leaving my clothes on, mate,” Ed said absentmindedly, staring down at the sketch.'

We all know I'm Gay pirate trash, right? OK, glad we could all agree.

So... this is Our Flag Means Death (OFMD) - because I am Gay pirate trash.

And, deep down, aren't we all a little bit Gay pirate trash? 💃😅

(You don't have to answer that - I'm tired and it's hot as hell here, I'm possibly making zero sense, but I will push on regardless! See? Dedication, right there. 😅 I have no idea what I'm saying any more, so this is gonna be fun!)

Comics Wrap-Up - It Needed Some Serious Art Done To It

 

It's Thursday, it's too damn hot here, let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Friday Fics Fix - Magic Moments With Sam and Bucky: A Rec List

When you read as much fanfiction as I do, you start to notice things.

Things like... there are a lot of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (TFATWS) fics which have weird magical aspects.

Or at least... there are a lot of them amongst the ones that I read 😅

So I figured I'd spoil you all and give ya a nice little rec-list of TFATWS magic-related fics.

...They're all either SamBucky, or a hair's-width from it, so, y'know. Bigots need not apply - our boys are Bi.

(...It's too hot here, I think my brain may have melted 😅 )

(Fandom notes:

SamBucky aka WinterFalcon etc. is a romantic and/or sexual relationship between Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson.)

As always, please check the original rec'ing post, the fic tags, or both - preferrably both - for Content Warnings.

Comics Wrap-Up - I Love The Knight-Dude

It's Thursday, it's too damn hot here, let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Month In Review(s) - May 2023

May was hard. May was very hard.

But that's actually an improvement as far as 2023 goes, for me.

No-one in my life - including both pets and humans - died, nearly died, or had a life-changing diagnosis, so it's all good.

And, unlike last year, I did not catch Covid, so we're calling it a win.

(I need the win, OK? I'm so tired.)

Friday Fics Fix - Argh, The Angst In This One!

 

'Ed feels something in his chest, something resembling fondness. He doesn’t know why, he doesn’t even know this guy’s name. And yet, Ed had spent the better part of the last few days thinking of the rich man crying in the rage room, making up stories in his head to justify his presence, his anger, his sadness.'

I mean... it was only a matter of time until I rec'd a novel-length Our Flag Means Death (OFMD) fic.

I am trash. We know this, and we love it (...hopefully.) 😅😈😎

If you haven't watched OFMD yet... Gay pirates and Taika Waititi as Blackbeard. #JustSaying.

Comics Wrap-Up - Especially Heartening

It's Thursday, I'm tired, let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Friday Fics Fix - There Was Magic Involved and Something Went A Little Weird

'green and gold: in my defense, stark, i actually didn’t mean to

green and gold: there was no malicious intent in this'

 

I love this fic, it's so random.

It's written entirely in chat/text messages, and I literally laughed more than once.

I mean, Iron-dad and Spider-kid with some fluffy FrostIron tossed in for the hell of it?

Hell yes!

Comics Wrap-Up - Aesthetic Hang-Ups

It's Thursday, somehow it's June, let's get some of that awesome superhero-y comics-y goodness!

Nerd Church - Is This A Book Blog, Though?

 

...aka she's back on that existential crisis train again.

Is Dora Reads a book blog?

I mean, yes. But...

Is it, though?

Certainly, I've been calling it a book blog for the past 8+ years, but that doesn't automatically make it one, does it?

I write very few posts which actually, actively, talk about books.

My last review was some time last year, (a mini-review of Klara and the Sun, which you can see here, if you're interested - gotta get that self-promo in!) and I rarely write book lists or discussions.

(For the record, I always intend to write more reviews, and even more lists and discussions, but life has this knack of getting in the way... 😅)

Comics Wrap-Up - What You Do With That Information Is Up To You

 

It's Thursday, this is Dora Reads, so we should probably get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Nerd Church - Is 1.5 Still Alive?

Warning: this post may have a negative affect on people who experience Climate Anxiety

As part of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, the world made a commitment to stopping the rate at which the world was warming at 1.5C by the end of the Century.

...Which was always going to be a big ask, because, sadly: people.

People and capitalism and governments and big oil and all of that.

Comics Wrap-Up - Yes, The One With George Clooney

It's Thursday, I'm tired, this is Dora Reads - let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Nerd Church - Short Story: Crystal Clarity

 

This story was originally published in the Promptly Written publication on Medium by yours truly, in response to the prompt 'Either dream or reality' from editor Ravyne Hawke.

Crystal Clarity

Image by meineresterampe from Pixabay 

He stepped out onto the crystal deck. Unable — unwilling — to look through the refracted layers of light beneath his feet.

It seemed so fantastical. A miracle of modern craftsmanship and engineering, they called it. He hated it.

Layers of quartz and glass melded into one another to create this sturdy viewing platform, over the crater. It didn’t seem real. And yet… it was strong beneath him. Physical.

He wouldn’t look down, through the surface, the prism, the light. Instead he looked across at the crater itself, ragged, raw, a bleeding wound on the landscape.

They told him the platform was very beautiful — stark contrast, they said, with the catastrophe it looked out upon. But he kept his eyes resolutely ahead, away from the glimpses of sublime achievement beneath him.

Beauty had no place here — not like this. No matter how much the tourists clicked and clacked across the quartz and crystal, oohing and ahing, he would not look down.

He wondered how many of them had even taken a videogram or a panoramiograph of the real attraction — the reason the platform was even here: the ugly crater which once held so many hopes, dreams, lives. None of them seemed to care.

They’ll tell people they visited this place. Not quite the truth.

If you enjoyed this story, please consider buying me a coffee here.

Whatcha think?

Talk to me! 😊💬

You can follow me on Twitter @CeeDoraReads, on Pinterest, and on Dora Reads @ BlogLovin. For more ways to support me, check out the Support Me page

Previous Short Stories on Dora Reads:

• Nerd Church - Short Story: The Midday Sun

• Nerd Church - Short Story: A Broken Princess

Sharing and commenting is a welcome boost to my fragile writer's ego! 😅

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Month In Review(s) - April 2023

Have I mentioned that 2023 hates me?

Because 2023 hates me.

I'm having the worst year. And that's saying something.

Comics Wrap-Up - Giving Off Original Power Rangers Vibes All Around

 

It's Thursday, this is Dora Reads, let's get some comics-y and/or superhero-y goodness!

Nerd Church - The Writer Diaries: I Just Wanna Write Something Beautiful

(Warning: this post briefly discusses Depression)

'Well I wanted something better man

I wished for something new
And I wanted something beautiful
And wish for something true'

- The Foo Fighters, Wheels 

Comics Wrap-Up - The Few Brain Cells Which Might Be Present Go Right Out The Window

 

It's Thursday, it's May, this is Dora Reads, and Comics Wrap-Up is back!

Nerd Church - Basic Levels of Niceness

(Warning: this blogpost discusses low self-worth and mental health problems. It also briefly discusses toxic/abusive friendships.)

"Oh My God! You remembered!" 

She's holding the chocolate orange, still partly covered by reindeer wrapping paper, like it's the most beautiful thing she's ever seen.

"Yeah?" - of course I did, she and our friend spent a good half an hour a month or so back discussing how sad it was that no-one ever gets them chocolate oranges, how much they love chocolate oranges, and that they hadn't had chocolate oranges in forever. 

So, when I was buying their Christmas presents, I bought a couple of chocolate oranges. No brainer; no biggy.

"You're so sweet!"

...Am I?

Friday Fics Fix - I Want The Queer Pirates, So You're All Getting The Queer Pirates

 

'Bonnet looks at him questioningly. “Concussion?”

“Truth serum.”

"Ah, that'd do it..."'

Somehow this month I've ended up rec'ing only The Umbrella Academy (TUA) and Our Flag Means Death (OFMD) fics.

I did have a blogging-related existential crisis when I realised that I was gonna end up rec'ing an OFMD fic again (only the cool people have sub-labels of existential crises, OK?) - but then I decided I didn't care.

Nerd Church - It's Bannau Brycheiniog, Deal With It

In the spirit of friendship with our English neighbours, before we start I would like to wish you all a Happy St. George's Day! (Which is today - 23rd April)

You wouldn't think that a Welsh location having a Welsh place name would be controversial, but here we are...

Wales is full of mountains.

Like, there's so many mountains that most of the time we don't even notice they're mountains, let alone know what they're called. Most of them contain the scars of human industry and/or habitation.

But there are a few mountain ranges - a few national parks, in fact - that aren't untouched by humans, or even untouched by industry, but have kept enough of their own character, and enough tether to the natural world, to be classified as 'wild.'

Like Y Bannau Brycheiniog.

Friday Fics Fix - Not Incompatible With A World In Which Buttons Exists

'...Lucius shrugs. “Yeah, well, you weren’t ever unclear on that being a likely scenario. Also, like, we’re pirates?”

Izzy opens his mouth, then snaps it shut. The logic, simple as it is, is flawless.'

This is an Our Flag Means Death (OFMD) crack fic -

- in so much as you can get a crack fic for this show, given that if the actual canon were written by a fan creator, it would most definitely be classed as a crack fic.

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, OFMD is also known as The Gay Pirate Show - because it has gay pirates. 

...And Taika Waititi, y'know, in case you needed more incentive. 😅😉

Nerd Church - Short Story: The Midday Sun

 

I have a bunch of stories from Medium that I was thinking about posting here once a month-ish, because why not? (Possibly gonna regret asking that! 😅)

This story was originally published by yours truly in the Promptly Written publication on Medium, for the following prompt, set by Ravyne Hawke:

‘Write a ‘moody’ piece around the following:

— a monumental decision
— confusion
— a fork in the road’

The Midday Sun

Image by Ruben from Pixabay 

Friday Fics Fix - Sometimes Things Just Happen That Way

 

'So, for twelve years, all Klaus and Ben had was each other.'

I don't know what it is about this fic...

I can think of dozens of fics just like it, and yet... it stands out.

Sometimes things just happen that way, I guess.

Month In Review(s) - March 2023

 

March 2023 was like the rest of 2023 so far - it effing sucked.

This year is really going down as one of my least favourites atm, and I've got some bad years on record, y'know? *sighs*

Anyhow, a good neighbour - a neighbour who'd been my neighbour since I was a toddler - passed away suddenly.

They were always there, y'know? They came to my brother's wedding and everything.

So that, on top of everything else I've been dealing with this year, was pretty damned horrible.

Nerd Church - The Writer Diaries: When the Words Won't Go Where They're Supposed To

 

You know when you're trying to write something specific, but things just won't quite click?

Like, the thing you're trying to say refuses to come together - you might get close, but you won't get there. You can't quite manage to get the concept across, to communicate what it is you're trying to communicate.

Like... you can feel the thing, lurking in a corner of your brain, trying to free itself. But it just can't quite make that leap.

...That's one of the most irritating feelings you can have when writing.

Or at least, that's what it feels like to me.

There's a special kind of frustration - as a writer - when the words WON'T GO WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO!

Friday Fics Fix - Random and Slightly Absurd

 

'“We need to go to the park. There’s a wizard there: it’s his fault.” It is hard to know if Ben intends this to be helpful.'

I'm pretty sure there's time loop fanfiction for every fandom.

And ironically, despite being not that into time loops (aside from Happy Death Day, of course,) I keep reading time loop fics (over and over and... 😅)

(If you want to check out some SamBucky in a time loop, check this post out here. You're welcome.)

Nerd Church - The Black Phone: The Film Adaptation of A Horror Masterpiece

 

The Black Phone is one of my favourite short stories of all time, from one of my favourite authors of all time, Joe Hill.

I've read the collection 20th Century Ghosts (where The Black Phone appears,) more times than it's truly a good thing to admit to - it's my comfort reading, don't judge me.

So I love this story. It's a masterpiece.

Not perfect, no - it mentions how fat the villain is at least six times too many, for a start - but a masterpiece, all the same.

And I'm fully prepared to admit that I'm entirely biased when it comes to this story. So be aware of that. 😅

Friday Fics Fix - That Particular Soft-But-Warped Tone

 

'Edward froze, glancing to the corner Stede had gestured to and seeing nothing there. Stede clearly saw something though, because he kept glancing over there...'

I finally got around to watching Our Flag Means Death (OFMD) - it will come as zero surprise to most people that I utterly freaking ADORE it!

And what I do with things I adore, once I run out of canon material, is read fanfiction - let's be honest, I am nothing if not predictable. 😅

(Fandom notes:

Canon is the 'official' stuff in the book/film/TV series/whatever.)

Comics Wrap-Up - They Have Yet To Hire Me As A PR Gal

 

It's Thursday, I can't work out the clocks changing, let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Poetry: Created

 

This poem was originally published by me in the Medium publication The Brain Is A Noodle, for the writing prompt 'writing as a breathing organism'

Created

‘There is something at work in my soul, which I do not understand.’ — Mary Shelley, Frankenstein