Sleep

Clip-art from Microsoft Office

          Sleep

        By R. Andrew

       The memories that I keep

      run rampant, magically, into

stories that were never meant to be.

But when I am asleep,

all problems seem to cease.

All sorrows turn into joy.

The comfort that I find,

slips from me every time whenever

my soul awakes.

The darkness that consumes my rest,

blankets my silhouette.

While I sleep, it is my greatest escape.

Wishes

Clip-art from Microsoft Office

    Wishes

   By R. Andrew

I wish for peace for all people.

I wish for warmth for those who are cold.

       I wish for strength when times are difficult.

                        I wish for hope to find those who have none.

I wish that pain never existed.

I wish hearts were never broken.

I wish that loneliness would go away.

I wish that death would meet its match.

I wish the One above would hurry back!

I wish for my heart always to be pure.

I wish for joy and laughter to fill this place.

I wish that my faith would sustain through any

disastrous storms.

Run to Me

Clip-art from Microsoft Office

           Run to Me 
     (sequel to Shambled Soul and Surrender)

              By R. Andrew

Shambled Soul, will you run to me? You know that I can set you free. Let my Light be your guide in the night, despite your fright. Your surrender is all that I need. Run to me.

Run to me my child. I'll keep you safe from harm. I'll wipe away the tears from your face. All your mistakes are gone. You are precious to me.

The proof of my love is shown through the holes in my hands. When I see you, I smile, when your laughter is bright. But I cry when you cry, because your pain becomes my pain.

I long to hear your sweet voice say "Hello" or "How was your day?" Run to me, my child, before it is too late.

Surrender

Clip-art from Microsoft Office

           Surrender

            (sequel to Shambled Soul)

               By R. Andrew

I am a shambled soul. Will I run to you? I know you can set me free. I long for your light to be my guide in the night. I yearn to surrender.

My soul wants to be found. I wait patiently for my crown. But each hour is the same - full of silence and familiar pain.

I cry to you! Please answer me! They say you want to set me free. They say you're always there for me...so why are you silent when I make my plea?

Love is numb, and I don't know the word. It's hard to shed a single tear. Surrender is like a lonely, wounded bird.

For so long, I have yearned to be in your embrace. I have longed for the moment where I'm recognized by your face. I know you'll heal the pain I've buried deep inside. So hurry quickly; set me free!

My Book: The New Day

So, a long time ago, I posted a preview of my book, The New Day, on here when it was first published. I took it down due to insanity because I was afraid of my stories getting stolen and claimed as other people's (it's a fear I have). But, I've come to the realization that that idea simply isn't fair. It's not why I made the book. It's not why I posted most of those poems and short stories on this blog. I made those things so that others can enjoy them (if they did) and so that they can be helpful to others. Some of those poems dealt with feelings related to personal trials I've been through, and just writing most of them really have helped heal some deep wounds. And almost all of them deal with my faith and the need I yearn for in God and Jesus Christ. Even today, I look back on some of the poems and remember certain phrases and I feel better about a situation that I may be going through.

For example, I wrote the poem "I Will Worship You" a while back to combat against things I feared. To this day, there's a line that goes, "Stormy weather may make me frown, but my heart still wears it's crown. So long fear, you can't hold me down! With all my life, Lord, I will trust in you!"

I can't tell you  how at ease I feel when I quote that to myself to this day! I was once told by a friend that reading one of my poems really was empowering. That compliment gave me the strength to continue to share them with easy access. So, that is my plan. They'll go back up; on here or on my other blog, if they're not already. Because, I thank God for giving me this gift to write. Writing is my passion. It's one of my dreams (apart from teaching the little ones). And I have so many stories to tell! (I have a calling in me to reach young readers and young adults and change the way kids are being marketed in the publishing business, but, shhh, it's a secret!).

Nonetheless, I recommend, if you like the poems or short stories I've posted here, you might like to have them in book form. I, of course, won't receive any revenue (by choice, because it's not set up that way, and I don't want it any other way). You'd only be purchasing to have Blurb make you a book copy. By all means, though, print them off here if you like them (but some of them are revised in the book form). However, as someone who purchased the book form, I can say that I really love having them in a book form, and all under $10 (when you consider processing and shipping, which is cheap for a Blurb book)! I personally have the soft cover version, because I wanted to see my works in a book form (aside from being handwritten in a journal), and I just love the cream-colored paper that comes with the book form. Plus, the picture on the front and back cover was taken at a wonderful place I worked at, so it makes it more special, to me at least!

The point of this random blog entry, if you've enjoyed my poems or short stories like I have, thank you! And, if you'd like them in a book form (for your own enjoyment; I won't see any revenue from any sales) then you can click on the link within the book preview down below.

I know this was random, but this was on my heart so I thought I'd mention it here!

The New Day by R. Andrew | What's Your Story?

The Hunger Games' Story

It has almost been a year since I found out about The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. When I worked at my University's library, I remember seeing the book and it's sequels on the shelf countless times (and I possibly even checked it out to patrons many times; I think). However, it wasn't until news of a movie being made from it that I really started to take interest in this series.


Of course, it wasn't just because there was going to be a movie of this story; it was also because of the hype from people I knew who had been fans of the story for a while. That revived hype got me interested in reading the first book during the summer holiday.


You see, ever since J.K. Rowling finished the final Harry Potter book, I've been looking for a series that has an engaging storyline for its characters. I tried to "get into" the Twilight series (don't judge me!) but, by chapter ten, I just couldn't stand most of the characters and their descriptions and habits. (My sister said it was because I wasn't a girl. My feelings about gender discrimination aside, as someone who loves a good story, I don't think I didn't like the Twilight novel just because I wasn't "a girl.") So, after that failed attempt, I was kind of hesitant about reading another series (from an author I never knew of) that consisted of a fan base largely made of females. However, I love a good story, so I eventually checked out The Hunger Games last summer. (The summer time is usually the time I focus on reading new stories. Most of the time.)


My initial thoughts of the book were positive ones. It does contain a great storyline, and its characters are believable and experience a life in a world in need of a savior (go Katniss and her gang of people!). I like how it reminded me of the short story "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson (the way of choosing Champions), and a little bit of the television show LOST (the jungle scenes). Sure, being male, there were times, when Katniss played on the girlish flirting for the cameras, that made me cringe a little while reading certain scenes, because I knew it was against her character and that she did that to get sponsors. Although, I understand she did that to go with the flow that society expected her to be in this competition. Also, I find it a pet peeve if there are errors in books, and I found several errors in the copy I checked out from my library. (Just a few, near the end.) With that aside, I found it to be a good story. Although, I stopped reading after the first book, because there were other stories I wanted to read, and other things I wanted to do, during the summer before I started my student teaching. However, I really do recommend this story for those interested in a good adventure.


With that said, seeing the trailer for the movie adaptation of The Hunger Games really got me excited about the movie. However, soon after feeling excited, I soon felt sad. I mean, I'm pretty sure I'm not going to see this in the theater, solely because I don't want to be the one male in the room not forced there by his girlfriend. I mean, I am aware it's a story that captured a female fan base (which is wonderful, we need more, better/stronger female characters for young girls/ladies) and some males, but it's the kind of movie you know certain people are going to be squee-ing over solely for the male actors - every series (especially one like this) has those kind of movie-goers. Nonetheless, I will probably, most definitely wait until the movie is on DVD to enjoy it.

Did You Know...?

What a charming video about certain facts about some of the world's most famous classic children authors. Some of the information are things I already knew, but there are some nice tidbits that I didn't. I do agree with the narrator when he states that some authors use things close to home as inspirational works...although, I think that's a given!