Writer's Block

First, the obvious: I haven't posted in quite a while. No excuse will be offered. As I'm sure most writers can attest to, sometimes you just don't have anything of value or note to talk about. Also, the "real world" tends to intrude upon the writer's world too often, and usually at the most inopportune times.

In the "real world," I have been unemployed for over four years now. Since the death of my grandmother this past January (whose care took up the majority of my time the past four years), most of my waking moments have been spent in the dignity-crushing search for employment in a, for lack of a better term, shitty economy. Things, however, have begun to look up... last week, I had a pleasant two interviews with a major American employer. The pre-employment process having been completed, I know only need wait for the completion of a background check, which can take up to two weeks to complete. I, of course, am waiting with bated breath, itching to not only work again, but to feel the glorious feeling that only comes with having money in your pocket that you, yourself, earned.

I have also tried to make time each week to work on my fiction writing. To date, I have several short story ideas in the Fantasy and Horror veins, as well as a Western novel and a semi-autobiographical novel in the works. The hard part is choosing which project to work on at any given time. Also, keeping a certain level of inspiration has proved a problem, as at times I have sunk into periods of deep melancholy which make it harder to roust the desire to write within me. I press on, however, because I truly feel that I have the ability to produce works that others will want to read, but also because the sales of those works will earn me even more money.

That may seem rather crass to most people, but so be it. I love money. I love the opportunities that money helps to provide. I love the thought that, with money, I can provide the things that I (and, had I one, my family) need and desire. Gene Simmons (of KISS fame) said it best: The love of money is not the root of all evil. The lack of money is.

At any rate, that is what has been happening with me lately. Wish me luck with my above activities. If all goes well, my posts here may be very infrequent, indeed. But rest assured that, when I feel I have something worthwhile to say, you will be able to read it here first.

Ride Into Glory

Dark clouds fill the sky
No worse could things for me be
I kneel and ask the Gods why
Why have thou forsaken me
But strength is intrinsically mine
I know not the meaning of quit
I will break the shackles that bind
In despair I refuse to sit

        I will arise from out of the mire
        Those who oppress me will soon feel the fire
        I will bring all of my hatred to bear
        And my cries of vengeance will ring thru the air
        As I ride into glory

Under the hot midday sun
I strike my transgressors down one by one
My sword, mace, and axe on a bloodthirsty binge
As I travel on unleashing revenge
So many assumed that they had me beat
But now they all choke on bitter defeat
It's been said ev'ry dog has its day
But 'tis only you who can show you the way

        I will arise from out of the mire
        Those who oppress me will now feel the fire
        I will bring all of my power to bear
        And my cries of vengeance will ring thru the air

        As I ride into glory

Riding Side By Side With Death

On a battlefield littered with bodies
A lone warrior kneels down in prayer
Thanking the gods who have seen fit to keep him alive
As he drove the dictator from his fortified lair
His prayer completed he raises his head
How many more conflicts will he have to face
Neck and neck with Death everywhere he rides
But always managing somehow to win the race

            Ride on great warrior
            Into the setting sun
            Ride on great warrior
            Til your battles all are done

He knows that one day he too will have to die
And then the valkyries to Valhalla with him will fly
The gods all will judge him and only then will he see
If he has earned his rest or must fight on through all eternity

             So ride on great warrior
             Into the setting sun
             Ride on great warrior
             Til your battles all are done

            Riding side by side with Death

The March Of The Troopers Of Death

As the drums begin to sound I march to meet my death
The man in black awaits me- he wants my final breath
You all say I'm the loser but I feel as though I've won
I spilled your neighbor's blood- I took your only son
Your daughter's innocence I took and defiled
And now I stand before you beaten and reviled
I suppose you have won-
                                       wait! A trumpet sounds from on high
As my army of power descends
                                                 racing to be by my side

                  On they ride with
                  Bloodlust in their eyes
                  All you can do is watch and
                  Prepare yourselves to die
                  Vengeance they bear as their
                  Swords sing thru the air
                  Then fountains of blood will fly
                  Headless bodies lay everywhere

And so they break my bonds and carry me to safety
And behind us the earth drinks the blood of those that were
                                                               sworn to hate me
The hooves of the war steeds grind the broken bones into dust
The weapons of steel have now satisfied their lust
The women left are now just pleasure slaves for my troopers
They know they will die when they're finished with
                                              they're resigned to their futures
And now back in my armor with hammer and axe by my side
I slaughter the rest of the village     Now we're ready to ride

                 On we ride with
                 Bloodlust in our eyes
                 All you can do now is wait and
                 Ready yourselves to die
                 Vengeance we bear as our
                 Swords sail thru the air
                 Then fountains of blood they will fly
                 Gory corpses strewn everywhere                   

Trust In Steel

Come to me son and sit on my knee
Carnage and death as far as the eye can see
This is your future      this is your fight
Showing your manhood       proving your might
Many will come with maces in hand
From nearby villages      from far-away lands
You will have to slay them      destroy them you must
For no one else on earth
                                      my son
                                                  can you trust
               Not man
               Not woman
               Not beast
               Only steel

               Trust in your steel, my son
               Trust in your steel

So hear my words, son      and heed them well
Rise into Valhalla or descend into Hell
Whatever your future      whatever your path
Always remember what helped you to unleash your wrath
For death you hunger      for blood you lust
And nothing else on this earth
                                             my son
                                                         can you trust
                Not man
                Not woman
                Not beast
                Only steel

                Trust in your steel, my son
                Trust in your steel
                Trust in your steel, my son

                Trust in your steel

Vengeance Is Mine

I come before you now with steel in my hand
High on your mountain of power
                                         I'm here to make my stand
You butchered my people
                                        you took my father's sword
And I am here now to give you your just reward

                Just who do you think you are
                I've waited so many years
                                              I've traveled so very far
                And now with my ragged sword in hand
                I will make you bleed
                                                 drag your corpse all across this land
                Beg for mercy you scum-sucking son of a dog
                Get down on your knees
                                                      lay your head across this log
                There's nowhere to run and nowhere you can hide
                At last I have won
                                            vengeance is mine

And now the peasants rejoice as your head crowns my pole
I feel a great sense of elation
                                            at last I am whole
All the lackeys who served you so long now cower and run
As your mountain of power burns
                                                   the flames try to touch the sun

                You did not count on my spirit
                                                              on my will to live
                You begged so hard for mercy
                                                              none did I give
                There was nowhere to run
                                                         nowhere you could hide
                At last I have won
                                             vengeance is mine

And the peasants rejoice and I wait for another time
When I'm needed again

                      VENGEANCE IS MINE!

God Of Thunder

Thunder roll and cold rain fall
With skies as black as night
Casting a gloomy pall
On everything in sight
Trumpets sound and horse hooves pound
Into battle ride
Strike them down and drag them 'round
All to avenge our pride

          Ancient god of thunder
                                             O Almighty Thor
          Bring vengeance upon our enemies
                                              to settle the score
          Strike with your mighty hammer
                                              bring forth wind and rain
          Give them sorrow and misery
                                              and we shall bring them pain

Today You Die

The blood runs red across the steppes
                                          as the midday sun beats down
Swords clash and battle cries are sounded
                                          severed heads and limbs lay all around
I see you stand before me         your intent is clear
                                          a look of bloodlust is deep in your eyes
I must use all my skill                I can not back down
                                          I must make certain that you do not survive
          You thought you had me but I have turned the tide
          My blade will swing, your head will fall by your side
          And now you know yesterday is dead and gone
          Kiss tomorrow goodbye
                                                for today
                                                               you die

A Warriors Lament

I hear the moans and cries of anguish from those nearly dead
As I swing my mighty hammer of war above my head
I see a skull splinter as blood mixes with dirt
A gaping wound on my side but I feel not the hurt
A war cry comes from my brethren- their bloodlust has been fed
And all around I see swords and axes dripping red
            Let the valkyries fly
            We all were born to die
            Carry my soul far away
            In Valhalla let me stay...
                                                forever

            Now it is time for me to die
            Odin watches with one good eye
            With my last breath now I pray
            In Valhalla may I stay...

            Forever