Tag Archives: quest

Why I’m a Creative Writer Poet: Stream of Consciousness Poem

I removed some mental clutter on the travel25years.wordpress.com site yesterday, my mind’s been enthused by reading about UFOs recently, including photosynthesis on Earth in a scientific one, and the latest NASA’s Unexplained Files (series 2, episode 2) last night (which featured orbs amongst other things, saying they often happen above geological fault lines before earthquakes, so they think they could be created by the same tectonic friction that causes earthquakes. My ‘experience’ was of course in Iceland, famously home to one part of a fault line, where you can swim between the North American and Eurasian plates. Thankfully, an earthquake or volcanic eruption hasn’t followed, and it’s now over a year later.) If any photography experts think it is a camera light trick please let me know; it certainly wasn’t mine!

Poetic Inspiration

I think I’ve just about recovered from a cold I’ve had all week, and I think recovering from illness can provide a little ‘high’. I’ve done the ‘right thing’ and tried to avoid other people as much as possible; but tend to do that now anyway!

Moreover, the sun is shining on snow-covered roofs, providing more mental stimulation, as it differs from the norm. I was also looking back with nostalgia at the Y-day week of celebrations, and especially how T had unconsciously found a place in Oates’s final quote: ‘I may be some Time.’

While you may look on me negatively, celebrating my own work, to me, my conscious as I write this, it doesn’t even seem my work; rather it’s my hidden unconscious, which is like my ‘twin’, or the muse. We are of course now in the muse half of the mistYmuse new-age winter festival!

While there are lots of new-age pagan bands, titles and themes I like in rock now, I was particularly poetically impressed by Earth’s album title: ‘The Bees Made Honey in the Lion’s Skull’!

I could make my new poem below into a Folding Mirror poem, but for now, here it is stream of consciousness style. While it’s probably covered old themes of mine; something I’ve criticised rock bands for doing before!; it does have some new and updated material, and the biggest new innovation of having the title at the start and finish; kind of Folding Mirror style…

When Time Stopped, Trees Breathed Photosynthesis, Aliens Returned Requesting…

that moment you don’t remember happening
when you’ve worked up enough steam
and you can freewheel
as if you’ve climbed the steep hill
and now you’re racing down the other side
or struggled upriver against the tide
and now you’re rushing downriver
with the tide washing over you
driving and covering you
so you just have to breathe and steer
but while in physical activities
you just have experience and memories
here you also have
‘genius’ word connections
popping out of
synchronicity in motion
like atoms reacting
creating electrical charges
brain freeflowing
open to cosmos
like puddle to cloud
ocean and rain
no need for devotion
pure pleasure
zonal leisure
this is the moment you write
like the times you feel like flying
when running or cycling
having warmed up on the day
after years of training
the sun is shining
words are flowing
and when you review
they sparkle more than you
remember writing
or even think
you’re capable of
producing, creating, painting
while the conscious has the here and now
the unconscious has past and present… future?..

Humanity, put a stop to this.

P.S. Notice that last line fitting finale little bit of self-proclaimed genius wordplay – which was the unconscious in control as I wrote about times when the unconscious is in control – ‘put a stop to this’ before the full stop!?

Werewolf of Oz Bramble Bay Final Twist

All great things must come to an end, and the satirical comedy of Werewolf of Oz: Fantasy Travel by Google Maps is no different. Yes, this is the penultimate chapter/episode of what should by now be your favourite werewolf rambles around Australia to a Wizard of Oz theme travel quest.

The Final Twist 

The Terminator T-800.
The Terminator T-800. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

With the main story denouement seemingly over, you might have forgotten about the commotion out at sea that only Grey could see, as it didn’t feature in the bombastic Battle of Bri’s bane.

Yes, like many a great book and film, usually when the baddie is not quite finished, there’s one final twist just as everything seems to be concluded and peaceful.

Chapter 141.  Solo Traveller Once Again, Like When it all Began

So my epic journey had really ended, and all was well. The Great Dame of Oz left to go on a world tour, so Angry, Elle and Cathy were going to stay in the mansion indefinitely. I’m sure they had bright Emerald futures ahead of them; now they had regained their body, mind and spirit confidence.

Once More unto the Sea 

Bramble Bay Sunset-_2=
Bramble Bay Sunset-_2= (Photo credit: Sheba_Also)

I knew I could return to the Greenygrey world now, but felt there was something else I needed to do. I thought I should visit the Tasman Sea one last time.

So I said cheerio to everybody and everything in Emerald. There were especially long farewells with my three long-term travel companions and my favourite Oz hat couple. Then it was time to go solo once more; returning to my status upon arrival in Oz.

I shapeshifted into a bird of paradise,
and set off once more for the seaside.
I flew with the wind to the east,
for an hour and a half at least,
arriving at the sea over Deception Bay,
I thought there must be another way,
so I headed south and landed next to a jay,
in a place I liked the sound of: Bramble Bay.
I asked the jay, whose name was Jay,
whether it had seen anything untoward astray.
Jay said nothing unusual had happened all day.

Seeing a Sea Commotion 

The Jays are back in my garden!
The Jays are back in my garden! (Photo credit: Ian A Kirk.)

Everything did seem absolutely normal, and I began to wonder if I’d wasted my time making this diversion. But then:
I saw a commotion out at sea
and wondered what it might be.

The commotion was not only there; it was approaching the beach at a phenomenal speed. I asked Jay if it could see it. It said yes, it could.

I wondered what it could be: Was it more acid-rain? Could it be the MoMo East returning from the deep? Or was it Smiggin Holes escaped from its deep hole? Was there one more test I had to put my exhausted bird-brain through?

Aurora Australis Over New Zealand, Tasman Sea ...
Aurora Australis Over Tasman Sea (Photo credit: NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center)

The commotion reached the shallows. I could now make out a head and arms. I thought I recognised who it was… but surely it couldn’t be… could it?

It continued swimming to the shallows, and then emerged onto the beach.

——————————————————

Notes

Deception Bay and Bramble Bay are real places.

—————————————————————–

Link for Amazon book and kindle.
Link for multiple Ereaders at Smashwords.
Link for multiple Ereaders at Smashwords.
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Ashes Nears End, Werewolf of Oz Round the Bend

The Ashes 2013/14 series has reached its final destination, and it will soon be time for the England and Wales cricket team to say their farewells and head home. The Werewolf of Ozzers are also reaching that point in our serialisation of their epic virtual travel quest to all regions of what is known as Australia in the human world.

Sydney Memories Emerald Future 

Australia are in control of the fifth Ashes test in Sydney, while poetry seemed to take control of the Werewolf of Ozzers in Sydney, with Bronte and Greycliffe House inspiring some literary nonsense sublime rhymes.

EmeraldRailway.JPG
Emerald Railway Station (Wikipedia)

This episode has final farewells to the friends made along the Oz way, before Emily the Emerald Cork Hat returns those that remain to the book’s Wizard of Oz-inspired final destination: as the Wizard of Ozzers reached their final destination in the Emerald City, the Werewolf of Ozzers end up in the real Australian town of Emerald.

Chapter 137.  Saying Goodbye, and Finding a New Path

After everybody and everything had their bellies full of buns, Emily and Brian addressed us all; it was nice of them to give us a house.

The Ashes Urn
The Ashes Urn (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

They also said the locality would now be known as Brisbane, and the region would be called Queensland; in memory of those who had taken part in the battle. They ended by thanking us for freeing Brian from his bane.

The Army Disperses

It was then time to say goodbye to my old friends and comrades, as they departed for home. Captain Dec and Dai were taking Dig, Aus, Vombat and the Collies back to Western Australia, and the cetaceans were swimming that way too. There were of course lots of hugs, and that’s all I’m prepared to write here.

Land of Oz
Land of Oz (Photo credit: _rockinfree)

After they left, Emily asked us what we were doing next. I had seen the dust sandy path leading inland, but told Emily I didn’t know if we were still meant to follow it, now that she and Brian were reunited.

Emily said it looked like the dust sandy path was heading their way… to Emerald.
She invited us along,
and it felt right to go,
for in her I could see a glow;
she hadn’t been wrong yet!

Link for Amazon book and kindle.
Link for multiple Ereaders at Smashwords.
Link for multiple Ereaders at Smashwords.
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Werewolf of Oz featured on Front Row Lit

Hi, it’s Greenygrey. Martin ‘Werewolfie’ Adams is pulling at the leash to update all the greenygrey Euro 2012 happenings, but Grey’s epic Werewolf of Oz satire being featured on Front Row Lit’s website takes the front page news here this morning.

Werewolf of Oz Synopsis and Excerpt 

The opportunity of being featured on Front Row Lit inspired us to write a synopsis for Grey’s epic comedy-fantasy Oz quest (credited to Marc Latham in the human world), where it became the first werewolf to successfully travel around Australia by google maps.

As many of you will know by now, Grey had many amazing adventures on its fantasy travel, and met many strange and interesting creatures… many from the rock music world.

You can see Werewolf of Oz featured alongside other fine books at: http://frontrowlit.com/

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Grey’s Anatomy Plot Features Lassie and Babe the Pig

Hi, it’s Greenygrey. Here’s the latest episode of Werewolf of Oz: Fantasy Travel by Google Maps, now available in all its wacky quest glory on Amazon.

6.  GREY’S ANATOMY PLOT EXPOSED BY COLLIE TWINS

The barking grew louder as I continued toward town, and then Collie came into view through the hazy heat. I thought I’d take the hint and shapeshift into a collie; choosing a border shape from a surprisingly large choice. When I’d completed the shift, Grey’s anatomy had changed to black and white.

Promotional poster
Promotional poster (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Famous Collies on the Edge of Town

As I reached Collie, a Shetland sheepdog rushed past carrying a lassie over its shoulders; it looked like a daring rescue was underway.

HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 15:  CBS News correspond...
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 15: CBS News correspondent Bill Geist and starlet Lassie attend the CBS News correspondent Bill Geist Hollywood Walk Of Fame Induction Ceremonyon April 15, 2011 in Hollywood, California. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

A babey pig then flew over my head squealing, ‘Fly – Fly’; followed by another border collie running along underneath.

Babe: Pig in the City
Babe: Pig in the City (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Meeting the Collie Twins: Colin and Ollie

When I reached the edge of Collie I was met by a couple of dogs guarding the town entrance.

They asked who I might be,
I replied a border collie,
as it should be plain to see.
And who may thee be,
I did respondee.

The bearded one said their names were Colin and Ollie McNab: respected and renowned around these parts as the Collie twins. They said their mother is an Australian stumpy tail cattle dog collie, and their recently departed father was part McNab shepherd collie and part bearded collie.

A three-year-old Bearded Collie in Scotland.
A three-year-old Bearded Collie in Scotland. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I said it was a pleasure to make their acquaintance.

They apologised for putting me under scrutiny, before explaining that Collie was a big bun-mining town; supplying Bunbury with most of its buns. The benefits of living on top of such a bountiful basement were unfortunately a double-edged sword, as the bun bonanza also attracted desperados desperate to get their meddlesome mitts on the munchable minerals that can be moulded into muffins without needing a Midas touch.

Deutsch: Minikrentenbollen Nederlands: Minikre...
Deutsch: Minikrentenbollen Nederlands: Minikrentenbollen, minibolletje met rozijnen en krenten (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Grey’s Anatomy Plot Exposed

The Collie twins sniffed around my person with sensitive security. I was a little nervous, and this escalated into panic when Colin asked how long I had been a collie.

I didn’t want to fib to such fine upstanding collies, so I explained my situation: how I had shapeshifted into a collie after hearing the barking and seeing the town was called Collie.

I waited with bated breath for the Collie response.

—————————————————————————————————-

Notes

lassie – slang for female.
Grey’s Anatomy (TV series).
Babe (
film about a pig).
Lassie (
dog series and film).

—————————————————————————————————-

 

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Werewolf of Oz: the Published Book Explained

Hi, it’s Greenygrey. We’re delighted to bring you the first instalment of Grey’s edited and published Werewolf of Oz: Fantasy Travel by Google Maps epic comedy-fantasy book. After I (we) made the first fantasy solo expedition of North America by google maps in 2008, Grey made the first fantasy solo (or even semi-solo, as it was only one half of the Greenygrey at the time) expedition of Australia (Oz) between 2010-2012. It was quite some journey.

The Cover Image

They say the cover is one of the most important parts of a book, and so we wanted to produce a bright cover that captured the essence of the story. Marc Latham let us use a photo of his from outside Vinales in north-west Cuba; the sun was setting and a lone local was walking out of town on the long road somewhere. The trees, a house and the road were lit up.

The image therefore combines many of the key elements of the Werewolf of Oz: lone travel, nature, human settlements, the road, mystery, the unknown and sunshine.

The Cover Creation 

Using Photo Impact we chose a turquoise background. Then we added the solo Grey’s image to the road at the bottom of the photo, and our image at the top of the photo, to signify the epic journey Grey would have to take across Oz for us to be reunited; and our two halves to have some laughs.

Then we added the title and author, giving Marc Latham the credit, as he edited it.

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Werewolf of Oz Synopsis

Hi, it’s Greenygrey. I’ve been working on a synopsis for the Werewolf of Oz today, which will hopefully show up on our Amazon page. I thought I’d share it here with you too. Cheers!

The comedy fantasy begins with Grey Werewolf’s arrival in Oz, having been exiled from it’s Greenygrey world. It has also been divided from its other half, Green. Oz is the setting of the Wizard of Oz, and the nickname for Australia, and from Grey’s arrival in Western Australia the story combines the two meanings of Oz for Grey’s magic realism quest across the continent to a Wizard of Oz theme.

Grey starts meeting interesting characters from the start, with the names and stories emerging out of real place names found on Google maps. Some of the first characters met on the trip return to the story for the conclusion, which brings the often wacky and disparate episodes to a clear Oz theme ending.

The first extended storyline arrives in chapters 5-8, with Grey reaching the real towns of Bunbury and Collie; they are combined into the bun-mining town of Collie and the bun-burying (to keep them fresh) town of Bunbury. Grey meets Colin and Ollie, the collie (dog) colliers of Collie (the real Collie has a coal-mining history).

A town called Latham then provided a five-chapter self-parody for the author; including twentieth-century British ‘Home children’ removed from their families and exiled to Commonwealth countries, Cool Hand Luke, Guns N’ Roses, the Eagles’s Hotel California and a Lost plot.

An illustration by W. W. Denslow from The Wond...
An illustration by W. W. Denslow from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, also known as The Wizard of Oz, a 1900 children's novel by L. Frank Baum. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Grey then goes to the Rock-It festival with Sancho Panza and Don Quixote after meeting them on the edge of Cervantes, before its first companion joins it in chapter 17. The Toto character is based on legendary AC/DC singer Bon Scott, one of the author’s biggest rock n’ roll heroes.

Monotonous monotheists (MoMo), who take the place of witches in the story, arrive into the narrative a couple of chapters later. The town of Meekatharra is the location, with meerkats taking the place of munchkins. Bruce and Sheila Orlov say they have been living in fear of the monotheists, after they lied and robbed them to build up their power. As in the Wizard of Oz, one baddie is killed by the protagonist, and the other vows revenge. A mild monotheist based on the musician Moby takes the place of the good witch.

MiMo Moby gives Grey an emerald cork-hat, which takes the place of ruby slippers; and tells the travellers to take the dust sandy path, taking the place of the yellow brick road.

Grey and Bonzo continue north, and cross into the Northern Territories through the Kimberley. After meeting some strange characters in Darwin, Humpty Doo and Nitmiluk they head down into the desert.

Cover of the Scarecrow of Oz
Cover of the Scarecrow of Oz (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

They meet Elle there. Based on the model Elle McPherson, she symbolises body, taking the place of the scarecrow’s brain in the Wizard of Oz.

After another meeting with the MoMo East, disguised as a bunyip of Aborigine legend, they meet Alice at the spring, and go to the Great Gig in the Sky with her.

After crossing into South Australia through the Rainbow Valley, they are transported into another dimension by a timequake near Adelaide. The travellers have to win a time wager on an AusRuIcket game between Crows and Redbacks to return to normality.

"Cover of prospectus announcing the produ...
"Cover of prospectus announcing the production of the musical extravaganza The Wizard of Oz, 1902. The illustration is an 'Inland Gnome', drawn by W. W. Denslow in 1894 for The Inland Printer." (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Then Grey meets Angry on Kangaroo Island. Based on Rose Tattoo singer Angry Anderson, the mind takes the place of the Woodman’s heart. The travellers learn about kangaroo mythology on the island, with the personifications of good and evil being Skippy (tv kangaroo) and Rolf (Harris).

After meeting Tazzy on Tasmania,
and several poetic rhymes later,
they crew on board a ship skippered by Capt. Dec O’ Rum, who acts with decorum despite having a deck full of rum. His mate is Dai ‘of the Seas’, whose wine and women loving lifestyle is reminiscent of the Greek god, Dionysus. There is an epic poetic battle on the voyage, after Pirate Lacost is on sail.

An illustration by W. W. Denslow from The Wond...
An illustration by W. W. Denslow from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, also known as The Wizard of Oz, a 1900 children's novel by L. Frank Baum. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The travellers meet Cathy when they arrive in Victoria. Based on the athlete, Cathy Freeman, Cathy symbolises spirit, taking the place of the Lion’s courage in the Wizard of Oz. This completes the body, mind and spirit team.

The travellers enter a nearly 5000-word Terminator inspired time-travel story when they reach the town of Kerang. The name Kerang is one r short of the rock music magazine Kerrang, and the travellers have to battle through rock music decades from the 1960s to 1990s to continue the quest in New South Wales.

After Lord of the Rings and Deliverance inspired episodes, the travellers reach the east coast. The story winds down going up the east coast, with characters from early in the tale reappearing, and the plot being revealed with some surprises.

The Wizard of Oz as pictured in The Wonderful ...
The Wizard of Oz as pictured in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Life of Brian mixes with Lord of the Rings for the epic concluding battle, before Alice in Wonderland and the Elysian Fields of Greek mythology provide the final journey to meet the Great Dame of Oz (Barry Humphries’s Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson) for the travelling team.

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Fantasy Quest, Heroes and Anti-Heroes, Magnificent Seven Quote

 

Hi, it’s the Greenygrey. I was reading about the fantasy literature heroic quest on the Fabulous Realms website, and it reminded Grey of its epic Ozyssey.

Magnificent Seven Heroes

But although Grey was the archetypal protagonist of the story, it considers itself more of an anti-hero than a hero, and wants Bonzo, Angry, Cathy and Elle to be considered the heroes. Not to mention the hats, Emily and Brian.

Our reluctance to be seen a hero is probably because we are a werewolf, and not used to being seen as heroes in human society.

It could also be because we saw the Magnificent Seven film before Grey went to Oz, and it remembers the hired gun Bernado O’ Reilly’s (Charles Bronson) quote near the end of the movie:

‘Don’t you ever say that again about your fathers, because they are not cowards. You think I am brave because I carry a gun; well, your fathers are much braver because they carry responsibility, for you, your brothers, your sisters, and your mothers. And this responsibility is like a big rock that weighs a ton. It bends and it twists them until finally it buries them under the ground. And there’s nobody says they have to do this. They do it because they love you, and because they want to. I have never had this kind of courage. Running a farm, working like a mule every day with no guarantee anything will ever come of it. This is bravery. That’s why I never even started anything like that… that’s why I never will.’

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