Err... actually, actually, that's a typo. It should read "fires in". Thanks for the comments!

I'm a biologist, I don't mind most bugs that much. Spiders, I like 'em. Snow, it's hard to come by in warm Venezuela, so I don't trouble myself much over it. Wasps and bees, now THEY make me nervous. Perhaps it is because I've never been stung by one before. I don't go into a hysterical fit, but I certainly fidget a lot. I can never concentrate on anything if there's one of them stinging beasts around; I keep my eye locked on it, trying to guess its trajectory and doing my best not to be in the middle of it. I hate it when they come visit me at the lunch table in our patio. I always think that they're out to get me. Besides, I've got a dirty conscience: I did some work with these types of insect once... they must have my name on a list. ] They enjoy making me suffer too. They know I will not dare to hit them for fear of retaliation. So they buzz around contentedly, until I am forced to flee the scene. Quietly, of course, and with dignity; I would never let my enemies see my fear. But they know, and I know it.

When printing "One Ring and the Eye" at 50x25 cm, I had to export the flame separately by "hand". If you're unable to export at the desired size, you can always resample, within moderation, and get very good results. A good tip for that is to resize many times by small increments (I use about 5% increments) until you reach the desired size. It can make a huge difference.

Just submitted mine, too. Waiting for confirmation. Ian

Thanks, guys, for liking my poem. I'm touched.

Crescent got the hang of it in the "gather" line. When I wrote this poem, I was thinking of a wild rose that grew accidentally in a person's garden.... something like the rose in The Little Prince: You just never know if it's a weed or what until it blooms. Being unexpected and out of place in the garden, it feels uncomfortable about its appearance. It, however, knows its true values deep inside. The rose says "you can be given only once" and not "I", becuase its relating to its gardener. In the rose's reality, it can only be picked once; but in he grdener's reality, the rose is talking about love: Once you truly give yourself to someone, it can't be done ever again. It's never the same. I do agree it's hard to understand. I guess I was writing too much for myself and not for a reader, lol Oh, Shanna, on the "breath" thing. Tjames caught that one perfectly. Thanks so much, everybody, for all the comments and I'm glad you liked it. I blush now.

I'll definitely pitch in. Count me in!

"Yes, Renderosity has my permission to use my artwork from my art gallery for promotional use only". Ian Brillembourg

Ditto.

Although I experimented with the classical styles for some time, I feel more comfortable with the free verse. For me (maybe because I'm a musician), rhythym is key. I need to feel the words flow one into the other, and I need to feel a cadence, even if it's only a faint suggestion, when I write my poetry. Rhyme for me is not that important. But that's just me. I've read some AMAZING stuff in rhyme. ...all this, of course, is said without taking into account the content itself, the vocabulary, imagery, grammar, etc. That's my two cents on this.

Wow, Lu. Thanks for all the feedback. And yes, I agree with all the suggestions you've made. Also, I concur: the sweat, blood and tears line is certainly a very used-up one. >"I just realized that it does sound a lot like Whitman, here" I'M HONORED!

ummm... hey, maybe my education as a biologist was acting on my subconscious when I wrote that, but I didn't mean to talk about protozoans at all. I was merely trying to write sf/fantasy mythological genesis tale. I'm glad you guys like it, though. thanks.

I can see this written on a gravestone. A little too humorous for the place, maybe, but what a way to go! Really nice. Congrats on finding your stuff back, too. I hate it when that happens (often) to me. Ian

Jon and mysteri, thanks for the comments. I confess I wasn't really expecting critique, I was just looking to share. It's the thought that counts, however, and I do appreciate critique. So thank you for considering it, anyway. Tjames, unfortunately I have never been able to catch a hold of "Hair" in my local rental store, and it was before my time. So, I don't really understand the comparison. Still, it is very nice to see that a reader has a connection with what I write. It's very flattering. This poem tries to express that frustation that mortal man may feel when faced with the divine, the inmortal, or even the thought of it. At the same time, it mainly tries to communicate a true admiration and pride for what is called the Human Condition. I have always admired the value of Man in and of itself. I think that Man's greater moment is when he falls, or errs, and has the courage and will to stand up and correct those mistakes. I also believe that whether or not God exists, creation is ultimately fulfilled by our actions, though we make some pretty major screw-ups on the way (the present day seems to be filled with them, unfortunately). It is our brief time here on Earth that makes our actions so valuable, much more valuable than if we had eternity to make them with. It is our choice to do what we will with our limited life that makes it all so special. oh, and Mysteri, one quesiton: if apologizing in advance is frowned upon, I would guess that threatening you all with some of my short stories is reason for being banned? Lol.

Actually, it turned out to be perhaps a weird bug on the particular flame I had chosen as my trial experience. I fired up my Apophysis, generated a new one, and this time I got it right. Huh... I guess i was just too fixed on my earlier one... ... but still, thanks guys for all your help!