Words beneath a dappled sky

Something a little longer -

Title: The Shining Furrow
Characters: Three, Jo, the Brigadier, Benton, UNIT
Wordcount: 34,520 (in a prologue and 13 chapters)
Summary: An out-of-season meteorite in Trelissick, Cornwall, a missing man and missing ferns; the Doctor and Jo have a puzzling, dangerous riddle to solve.

A/N: This tale, quite strangely, arose from reading one of my favorite classic poems by Tennyson. I expect the storyline is not even remotely like anything Tennyson had in mind when he penned it, but nonetheless I have used it for my guide. You will find its lines at the opening for each of the chapters. Apologies to any non-whovian Tennyson-lovers.

Photos of Trelissick tower and the Fal may be found at Folly Towers: http://www.follytowers.com/trelissick.html

This is a personal favorite and also one that meant plenty of (mostly enjoyable) research on the nature of fractals, meteors and Trelissick gardens, Cornwall. Nothing like writing to expand the horizons on unexpected topics. For the most part it is 'adventure' and mystery in approach with a few undertones of somewhat serious Three-Jo fluff tucked in for which I'll give it the 'romance' tag though it barely qualifies. This has been called a "missing episode" by some, and for that I am greatly complimented. Enjoy the read.

The Shining Furrow at Teaspoon

The Shining Furrow at AO3

Or at Fanfiction.net

Drabbles!

Not only worse than potato chips, but nearly as numerous. Drabbles are (of course) 100 words, no more, no less and my drabbles are usually pretty exact in their count though the various sites automatic 'wordcount' things give varying numbers, I count them by hand before posting (titles not included).

These are all for Doctor Who - My collection of Tolkien drabbles are earlier in this journal, just click the tags to find them.

Here's most of the collection in a jumbled order at Teaspoon and an Open Mind (inclusive of occasional other Doctors beyond 1, 2 and 3):

Snatches of an Old-Fashioned Coat

Or, if you prefer, I keep them collected by Doctor for One, Two and Three at fanfiction.net:

First Doctor:
Snatches of a Mischievous Grandfather

Second Doctor:
Snatches of a Rumpled Genius

Third Doctor:
Snatches of a Velvet Coat

If I accumulate enough, I expect there'll eventually be collections for Four and Seven as well.

This is for Thelma, a tiny lady I all too briefly knew in the autumn of her days.

Knitting Granny
( Cheerfully telling everyone in her little monologue, (Whether they inquired or not -) )
-

I will never leave you, dearest;
We will share the warm Winter of our years.
The sea will wait amid its grey mists
Long after your gentle light has been drawn away.

Sam, watching his beloved Rosie fading with age.

Fading Rose
( My fading Rose with petals white where once you bloomed in gold and blush )
-

There's a ship going forth from the Havens,
And upon her that one light shone

For the Bay of the Blessed and the ships finally turning their faces towards Home.
This has been nominated in the MEFA awards for 2009.

With it I'm placing a short verse for Gandalf's role and his guidance even towards the Havens.

The Way Home
( There were ships going forth from the Havens )
-
Grey
( A way to a home I've never seen )

He said I was meant to be whole,
And that wholeness surrounds me;
I must find a way to soak it into my heart.

And finally - "I'm back"....

This brings the 'story' to its ending for my poetry listings that follow the events of the books in order, but there are a handful more to follow, some observations, thoughts and bits from the appendices.

Back Home
( Entering, I gather her in )
-

Nodding in his carven chair
Among his cushions and shawls he sits

The Travellers return to Rivendell at last, and their beloved, aged Bilbo awaits them by his fire ready to hear all about their Adventure... assuming he can stay awake.

Nodding by the Fire
( Hands like wisps of parchment )
-

You’re the one
Who must be strong,
Your heart must beat and strive for two;
In the depths of deepest need
Death cannot reach
The Shire’s life yet green in you.

One more for Sam at Sammath Naur - because darn it, he's that amazing. This is written in a pattern with a refrain, and if I were a musical person would be one of a handful I would probably try to write a tune for.

Steadfast
( With steadfast heart you stand by me )
-

I'll hold to you fast,
somehow I'll pull us through,
As a bird with broken wings will still drag though the ash.
As long as my legs will carry me,
I'll carry you.

Nearly to the goal but exhausted and overcome, Frodo's helplessness in the grip of darkness and Sam's faithfulness to see them both through to the end.

Carrying
( For your sake I will spend my last breath )
-
Slopes of Ash
( How can I bear your eyes aching for tears when none will come - I want to feel pity for you, Sam, but I cannot... )
-

A
star
single
piercing
through
sharpened
thorns; one
bright eye to
answer. a spark
of life in a deadly
land where living is
suffering and merciless.

Into Mordor proper we go - in this case, to the thorns and the dessication. The first poem is a 'concrete' or shaped poem with each stanza forming a thorn. The second is a (somewhat rambling) examination of the waters that finally trickled down within the rock to keep them alive in that dry, dead place.

Thorns
( a silent resolution )
-
Stream's Descent
( This spark of life...gathered for a purpose )
-