COVID CHRYSALIS

Before my wandering ways take me back to my Top 10 list of poems, I have resolved to share a new poem. I recently wrote this poem in the style of an unfinished poetry project that I started before I began writing my novel. I suppose my subconscious is wanting me to finish what I began. Indeed, the river of time does circle back around from time to time. Instead of letting it perpetually bob up and down in an eddy in my mind, I release it to you.

COVID CHRYSALIS

primordial skin surrounds
covid chrysalis

pulsating heart
squeezed within

old ways
dissolving slowly away

sprouting bubbles
new normal

time warps
bending together

night and day
day and night

new normal
shrouded reality

chrysalis cracks
exposing the metamorphosis

emerging wings
shrinking shell

shimmering sun
glistening new body

nascent beginning
a fading memory

fluttering flight
a leap away

by Cody McCullough

Photo by Chris F on Pexels.com

AWAKE

I suppose it’s time to awaken from my long slumber. In reality, it wasn’t much of a rest. I’ve been as busy as I’ve ever been. The more things change…. Anyway, today seems like a good time to begin again. There’s no time like the present as they say. With that thought in mind, I’m going to continue my very subjective countdown of my favorite poems (the ones that me, myself, and I have written). Next up is the fifth installment. That’ll be my next post. In the meantime, I suppose we have some catching up to do.

Well for starters, I haven’t gotten very far from home in a while. Then I suppose that isn’t much of a surprise to anyone. I also have a new collection of face coverings that make it easy for me to stick my tongue out at people without them ever knowing. 😜 Oh yeah, I changed the title of my upcoming novel to 2023: A Time Odyssey. In case you are wondering what the difference is between 2021 and 2023, here’s some simple math for you: 1+2=3. Actually, the difference is this: 3-1=2. I never was all that good at math, but I digress. The important thing is that my goal for 2021 is to publish 2023.

Other than that, I don’t really have any big plans to speak of this year. I imagine 2023, my poetry countdown, and an HBO Max subscription will keep me busy enough. It’s that or go back into hibernation like Punxsutawney Phil. No, I think I’m rested enough. Here we go….

The Past, Present, & Future: A Book of Poetry – Cody McCullough

I am extremely pleased today to share with everyone a review of THE PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE by one of the best and most prolific book reviewers on the internet, Ste J of BOOK TO THE FUTURE. I’ve read Ste J’s blog for quite some time now and I couldn’t be more happy that he has reviewed my little book of poetry. Please checkout his blog, and don’t forget to have a glass of tea and stay awhile. Without further ado, here is his review:

Book to the Future

Cody McCullough’s debut collection of poetry, THE PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE, delves into the fleeting nature of life viewed through the prism of time. Separated into three main collections, the work touches on topics ranging from the essence of life, to family relationships, to the natural world. Featuring poems such as THE TALL FIRS ARE DANCING TODAY and THE COOL MORNING AIR, the entire collection includes a total of 73 poems written in free verse. Through his unique style, McCullough takes the reader on a journey from the beginning of existence, to the end of time, and everywhere in between.

It’s a great pleasure today to introduce, remind, or reacquaint, the reader with Cody McCullough’s blog, and new book of poetry.  I’ve been a fan of Cody’s writings for a while now, and always enjoy my visits over at his site.  This collection written in free verse is his…

View original post 410 more words

MY TOP TEN POEMS: #6 “FLY AWAY”

I hate the coronavirus and the disease that it causes: COVID-19. My heart goes out to all of those who have contracted the virus and all of those whose lives it has affected. I understand why the government is asking us to stay at home and taking all the measures that it has taken. It’s tough, though, to see society shut down. 

Under these strange circumstances, I’m continuing with my top ten list of poems. Next up is my number six poem: “FLY AWAY”. At its heart, this poem is about the desire to have the ability to fly. In many ways, this is a metaphor for escaping the limitations that life puts on us. Perhaps, something many of us know all too well these days.

Feel free to give the poem a read below, and let me know what you think. If you like it, there are more poems like it in my book of poetry: THE PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE. It’s currently for sale as a kindle ebook. You can purchase it for $5.99. Here is the link: purchase THE PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE.

FLY AWAY

I’ve always wanted to fly.
As long as I can remember,
I’ve done it in my dreams.

Often it would begin in the yard.
First, I would float up
then I would sit in a great big tree.

Soon, though, I had to see
just how high this power could take me;
so away I would fly.

Before I could touch the sky, though,
it always would happen.
I’d look down and see how far I had come.

Below, the world would look so small and far away.
Then my spirits would sink
and fear would creep in; I’d have to go back.

I’ve always wanted to fly.
As long as I can remember,
I’ve done it in my dreams.

 

astronomy clouds dusk hands

SIPPING WHISKEY NEAT

Like Selena Gomez, I’ve been known to enjoy sipping whiskey neat. Unlike Selena Gomez, I don’t have a single at the top of the charts to celebrate while tickling my taste buds with a good glass of whiskey. My little book of poetry will most likely never garner anywhere near the same level of success. That being said, I think I’ll have a celebratory drink just the same.

It’s taken a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to get this far, so there’s no need to be bashful about celebrating. Indeed, the time has come to raise a glass of my new favorite Irish whiskey, Writers’ Tears. As I sip, I’ll reminisce on what I have accomplished thus far, and, perhaps, shed a tear over all of the blood, sweat, and tears yet to come.

Before I get too far ahead of myself, though, I believe there was a top 10 list of poetry that I was in the midst of completing. Here are numbers 10-7: THE PAST, LIFE CONTINUES—UNCONQUERED, THE TALL FIRS ARE DANCING TODAY, and FROZEN HEART. In the coming weeks, I plan to complete the list with numbers six through one. After that, I imagine the time will be ripe for another sip. 

Writers' Tears

FREE PREVIEW ENDS TONIGHT

The free preview for THE PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE ends at midnight, Pacific Daylight Time, tonight. That means there’s still a few more hours to get your free Kindle eBook version of the book. After tonight, it will be available for the regular price of $5.99. 

Honestly, it won’t bother me if you wait until tomorrow to purchase the book and send a few bucks my way. That being said, I do want to give each of you one last opportunity to get a copy for free. You’ve all supported my blog for sometime now, and it’s the least I could do.

Anyway, thank you to everyone who has already picked up a copy. I hope you enjoyed it. Don’t forget to rate and review the book. To get your free copy, click on this link: THE PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE (FREE PREVIEW).

PPF COVER

 

FREE PREVIEW OF MY NEW POETRY BOOK

It’s been a long time coming for THE PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE. Today, though, the wait has ended. Indeed, THE PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE is now available to read digitally as a Kindle eBook.

THE PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE retails for $5.99, but I wanted to offer my blog and Twitter followers an opportunity to preview it for free. I figured that would be a fitting thank you to all of you who have followed my work over the years. Truly, you are all my muses, and I wouldn’t have gotten this far without you. Thank you so much.

To read it for free, click on this link: THE PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE (FREE PREVIEW). The free preview lasts until midnight (Pacific Daylight Time) on Monday, March 9th. After that, the regular price of $5.99 will take effect.

For those of you so inclined, I would greatly appreciate it if you would review the book after reading it. To submit a review, you just need to scroll down on the Amazon web page for my book and click on the “Write a customer review” button. It’s about halfway down the page.

Again, I would like to say thank you to each of you. I have greatly appreciated interacting with all of you through the years. I hope you enjoy the finished version of THE PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE. If you like it, look for my follow-up book of poetry LOST IN TIME, which will be out later this year. Until next time, happy reading…

PPF COVER

PURCHASE NOW

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE…

Welcome to CODYMCCULLOUGHWRITES.COM. Seven years ago, I started blogging under the title: THE PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE. Things have changed since then. Today is proof of that. One thing I have learned in life, though, is that the more things change, the more they stay the same. I think someone wise said that a long time ago. Whoever it was, they couldn’t have been more correct.

Within the month, I will be publishing an updated version of THE PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE. While it maintains the integrity and authenticity of the original work, it also embraces change. As soon as it becomes available for purchase, I will post a link. In the meantime, feel free to view the information about it on my website.

PPF COVER

My Top Ten Poems: #7 “Frozen Heart”

     From every ending there comes a new beginning. With the arrival of a new decade, change is on the horizon. What will the world be like ten years from now? That’s something that I don’t know. What I do know is that I plan to make the most of the upcoming year and decade.

     Next month will mark the seven year anniversary of this blog. That being the case, I have something special planned. For now, though, I continue with my list of the top ten favorite poems that I have written.

     In at number seven is “Frozen Heart”. When I wrote this poem, as usual, I had a specific idea that I wanted to convey. That idea was illustrating the cold nature of those who seek to control the world. To begin the poem, I settled on the idea of describing what it’s like to step outside on a cold, northern, winter morning. From there, I wanted the coldness to seep inward until it ultimately encases the speaker’s heart in ice. Once that occurred, the speaker then reveals that he or she seeks to “capitalize the world.”

     In the end, I feel that I was able to convey my original message. When I wrote this poem it seemed to easily flow out of my mind. That’s not always the case, but it is always welcomed. I like when things come easily. That being said, I know that hard work is what’s needed to accomplish most things in life. As we march into the new year and decade, I plan to work hard but will always welcome those things that come easy. Until next time, here’s my number seven favorite poem:

Frozen Heart

Cold breath
expels outward
as I step out
on an icy morn.
Frosty air engulfs
my senses
sending shivers
up and down my spine.
The coldness seeps inward
encasing my heart in ice.
It pumps frozen blood
up and down my veins
and I coolly continue
to capitalize the world.

by Cody McCullough

pexels-photo-895231.jpeg

My Top Ten Poems: #8 “The Tall Firs Are Dancing Today”

     The holiday season has begun. Arriving with the season is the cold weather that will inundate the northern United States until the vernal equinox helps to brighten the landscape next year. Usually, I enjoy the relaxing nature of the long winter months, but this year I feel like hibernating until it is all over.

     I suppose it could be that I just want my leg to be completely healed, or that I’m getting too old to enjoy cold weather, or maybe it is something else entirely. Regardless of the reason, I know that I can’t wait for the next season to arrive. I imagine I should snap out of my melancholy mindset and use the long winter days as an opportunity to write more.

     Yes, that is exactly what I should do, or rather need to do. Still, though, something tells me I am in for a long winter nap. In the meantime, here is a piece that talks about the end of winter and the beginning of spring. It is number eight on my list of top ten poems, and I’m definitely feeling the mood that it lays down today.

The Tall Firs Are Dancing Today

The tall firs are dancing today.
The wind blows their foliage back and forth,
like a sea of hands waving at a parade.

Below, the just sprung tulips try to hide.
Petals sealed tight, they weather the storm,
like little turtles hiding their heads from danger.

Water drops fall from the sky.
Their pace is sporadic, but their onslaught is relentless.
Like warriors, they eradicate all that is dry.

Underneath blankets, I lie.
I want to dance and have a parade with the trees.
Like the tulips, though, I hide.

by Cody McCullough

green bud leafed plant