Project

Hey guys! Been a long time since I posted anything on here, I know. But I've got a new project that I've been working on for a while and recently dedicated myself to seeing it through to the end. I as of yet do not have a plot for this story, since I am currently focusing my attention on building the world in which it takes place. But what I can tell you is that I am hoping to create a world that is truly interesting to be immersed in, and I want to have a fantastic plot to go with it. I'll keep you all updated as I develop more information.
    Thank you for your patience.
~ Jake

Opening Scene

This is the opening scene to a story I've been working on more recently. Have to work out more of the world itself before I move forward, but I decided to write a little teaser.

My eyes opened to the vast expanse of space, the stars sparkling like jewels in the darkness. The ship turned to yield a view of the red planet. We had made it, and the journey was half over. We continued past Mars and on past its moons, within an hour arriving at our destination.

    The hypergate lay before us. It stretched two and a half miles across; a small distance in space, but quite large in comparison to our ship. “Gate activation in 3....2....1....”” a voice crackled over the intercom. I had only dreamed of this moment.

    A bright beam of energy flew past us, striking the side of the gate. The energy arced and crawled around the metal ring, connecting on the opposite side after just a few moments. “This is it...” I whispered to myself. The energy began to fill the empty space, and as as it connected an explosion of color and light was sent out from the center. A chill shot through my spine. Two hundred years of development and here it stood, humanities greatest achievement. But I was leaving most of humanity behind now. Earth was at my back, and unknown worlds lay ahead. I closed my eyes as the ships stasis cells were activated again, dreaming of the moment when we arrived.

    My name is John Kiersin, and this is my story.

Poem "Until The Sky Breaks"

Until the sky stoops low,

Until it shatters from the weight,

Until the stars fade out,

Until the sky breaks,

We will fight on,

We brothers in arms,

We fight for each other,

We fight for our homes,

Until such a day as we are to fall,

We will fight on,

Until death gives its call.

Drabble "Obsession"

For those of you who don't know what a drabble is, it is a sort of writing game where a prompt is given, and the participants are given five to ten minutes to write a one-hundred word piece based on that prompt. Since it's very difficult to make it exactly one-hundred words, I sometimes go a little over or am a little under. But here is one of mine.

Obsession-

"I couldn't help myself. The gears, the springs, the metal. Every little detail had to fit into place so perfectly to make it work. Not a single part could be spared or left out. It had to be perfect, it must be. The gentle tick of previous projects surrounded me, all of them perfectly in sync with one-another. How could anyone ignore their beauty? It didn't seem right. So often ignored, but they were a feat of technology to be revered. I placed the last gear into the piece and closed it, unable to stop myself from staring into the crystal face and admiring my work. These were my obsession."

Poem "Was Broken; Is Beautiful"

I figured it'd be good to go in order, so here is my second poem. This one is more of a free verse.

A man brought a bronze shield through the door,

It's polished face dirtied and beaten,

The pieces bound by leather chain,

Just barley holding it's shattered frame.

The man brought it to the blacksmith and said "Here. Take it. It is useless to me now."

The blacksmith took the shield in his hands, carefully rubbing the grime away. "I can repair this." he replied.

The man just laughed, turning away. "It does not matter. It is used, it is broken. It is useless." and walked back through the door.

The blacksmith carried the battered shield back to his forge,

Taking up his tools of work.

"I will make this into something better."

And with that, he set to work.

He cut the chain,

The shield falling apart where it lay,

He took the pieces and put them in a stone bowl, placing them gently into the cradle of his forge.

He pushed the billows,

He fed the flames,

The fire burning bright and strong.

He removed the bowl from the flame,

Pouring the molten metal into small molds about his forge.

He worked quickly,

Every move precise,

Every blow firm,

Every piece perfect,

Every touch gentle.

The blacksmith worked through the night,

His hands working with masterful skill.

The molds now held small flower petals,

Each made of the broken shields bronze.

More metal was added,

Some of the smith's own work,

To add more petals to his final craft.

Each petal was placed on a golden plate,

Carefully secured with molten steel.

Every piece was placed perfectly,

Handled with incredible care.

The sun began to rise,

The night fading away,

But the smith did not notice;

He gazed upon his work, a smile on his face.

Before him lay a shield,

But not as it had been when it came,

The base was gold, with an oak support and strong leather strap,

Covered in a pattern of circling flower petals,

Each made with such care as to look real.

The outside layer altered between silver and bronze,

The second layer blue and green,

The third layer red and gold.

At the center and diamond shone,

Casting off a rainbow of light.

"This is my creation. It is not but a tool, but my most prized possession." the smith said, proud of his work.

He took up the final piece, placing it on his arm.

"This will be your place, with me. I will walk with you, and guide your action." the smith said,

And with that he set out to show his work to the world.

(c) Jacob Johnson

Poem "Glory's Land"

Well, I'll start this off by posting the first ever poem I wrote. 

The soldiers marched through day and night,
Through rivers of pain and fields of blight;
The Shadow's fingers stretched over the land,
To try and steal it from Glory's hand,
But on they marched,
Through the dark,
Through the Shadow's new claimed land.
Their drums beat, their banners flew.
A golden light shone as each foot fell,
blazing into the blackened sky. 
The horses hooves shook the mountain peaks,
the soldiers boots shook the the lower realms.
The spears gleamed,
The shields clanged,
The drums beat,
The trumpets sang.
The air shimmered with the force of their faith,
The land shuddered with their songs of praise.
They were to take back Glory's land,
Take it back from Shadow's hand.
When the battle came no sword was lifted, no grass was stained,
But they stamped their feet,
They pounded their shields and shook their spears,
They beat their drums and hymns they sang,
The trumpets blew, the banners blazed,
The soldiers cried their songs of praise.
The Shadow's army fell to their knees,
One by one, as if to freeze,
The darkness gone, replaced by light.
The land was again in Glory's hands,
and the sky was filled with golden rays.
The people cheered their saviors name,
Over come with joy and songs of praise.
The land was free,
The Shadow gone,
And the grass yet remained unstained.

(c) Jacob Johnson