January 2012 midnightwriters.webs.com midnight.writers2013@gmail.com
Ask Aphro & Dite
Musings of Hades
Athena’s Corner
To submit questions, please email askaphro@gmail.com. They will remain anonymous!
I’d like to start off this new year by apologizing to my darling wife, Persephone, for kidnapping her 3,500 years ago. Not that I haven’t already apologized to her (loads of times), this is just the first public declaration. And before Demeter tries to get supporters for her side, please note that Persephone was not as clueless as you think about the Underworldian binding clause when she ate those pomegranate seeds. (So there.) I’m pretty sure you all know about the whole seasons thing, so – oh, you don’t? Well, I’ve already explained it a million times, what’s another telling or two. Persephone ate pomegranate seeds, food of the Underworld, so she was bound permanently to my kingdom. But of course Demeter’s never quite grasped the concept of letting go of your child once she’s, oh, I don’t know, a hundred or so years old. She had a hissy fit with starving mankind, so Zeus had to mediate and decree that Persephone would stay one month with me for each seed she ate and the rest of the year with her mother. Persephone ate six seeds, so those six months are autumn and winter when she’s with me, and the rest spring and summer when she’s with Demeter, who has even worse temper tantrums than Zeus. And that’s saying something. Moving on. By the time you read this, my New Year’s Resolutions will be a bit late, but here you go: I promise to be nicer to Demeter if she meets me halfway, I’ll expand the Fields of Asphodel so that it’s not so overcrowded, and… well, I suppose someone ought to do something about that crisis in Greece.
Chomp: Carl Hiaasen, March 2012 Wahoo Cray and his father are animal wranglers who need a little money – which is why they accept an offer to work with Derek Badger, a man who thinks he wants to act with live animals in the swamps of Florida. Derek’s antics keep the Crays on their toes, keeping the reader gasping with laughter, until Wahoo’s friend runs away from home and hides out with the Crays, causing her crazy drunk father to appear and create even more chaos. Carl Hiaasen is an amazing writer, best know for his book Hoot, but his other books (Flush and Scat) are just as amazing and hilarious. Oh, and for those of you who obsess about reading books in order like I do, the books are all completely unrelated and you can read them in any order. Highly recommended for a good laugh!
Dear Aphro, This creepy girl with lots of issues is trying to add me as a contact. What do I do? Sincerely, Creeped Dear Creeped, If you know her and actually want to talk to her then accept her! But if you decide to ignore the request, that’s cool, too. If she keeps adding you even though you’ve already clearly told her no, then get help, because those are the genuinely creepy people. Love, Aphro <3 Dear Aphro, Me and my girlfriend never have any time alone. Please find me a solution. We’re always either too busy to see each other or something comes up, like her mom sending her brother down. And her brother is extremely intimidating and armed to the teeth with nerf weaponry. Sincerely, Wishing For Miracles Dear Wishing For Miracles, My advice is: get your license. Fast. Like, faster than humanly possible. Then you can be the one to drive you two lovebirds on dates as opposed to waiting for rides. Also, her brother sounds dangerous. Beware. Love, Aphro <3 Dear Aphrodite, Whenever somebody asks when I sleep, I reply without hesitation, “English class,” then realize I’m embarrassing myself and lie about sleeping for two hours. I never did this in middle school. Now I might as well make myself more comfortable by bringing a sleeping bag and a pillow. But as much as I love sleeping during class, (sleep is my best friend, second Continued Online
The Girl in the Steel Corset: Kady Cross, 2011 Finley may act like a kind, rather meek Victorian girl, but this bland exterior hides a dark and menacing secret. When Griffin discovers Finley, he is intrigued and takes her to his mansion, where she discovers that she is not as unusual as she thought. This book is a wonderful mix of action, steampunk, and romance that promises a thrilling ride. Fun and dark at the same time, very similar to Cassandra Clare’s Infernal Devices series in that way – and a great read!
Special thanks to Sra. Steele and acknowledgement to Hades, Athena, Hippolyta, and Hermes.
Photo—“Springtime’s Child”
January By Artemis January is The rebirth of a new world A fresh start for all Photo—“Summer Beauty” by Eris
Ghosts by Raindrop If he had to compare promises to something, without a doubt he'd compare them to flowers. Under the right care and conditions, they'd flourish and bloom. They'd become delicate things to be protected and loved. They'd create strong bonds between lovers, friends, family. But with neglect, they'd whither. Shrivel up, dry...yet still retain a sense of terrible beauty as a shadow of what once was. Bonds would be severed, but broken promises never forgotten. Ever. They would haunt you forever in the looks they'd send you, and the things they'd say.. Oh, he knew. He knew it all very well. Star Girl by Hunny-Senpai Star girl, star girl, A girl that outshines any other. A comet emitting light for others to use, Gives but does not take. She once gave her heart out, For it never to return... She dwells on it, Dulling her shine. At point of almost combustion, She reflects and lets go... Shining brighter than before.
Illustration—“Star Girl” by Hunny-Senpai
Illustration—“Morning Glories” by Alexandria
Morning Glories by Hades I watch them in the morning sun, They slowly wake to daylight’s smile. Their fragile petals open wide, And heaven’s light shines from within. From midnight blue to lavender, And some of iridescent white. From rosy pink to rainy blue, And some of shimmering, clear rainbow. I pour the water, tend their needs, And touch them e’er so gently, awed. The sun reigns high, the petals furl, I see the beauty no longer. They do not wake from this long sleep, And disappear like ghosts in night. The moon shines down on empty beds, On creatures slinking in the dark. But morning dawns and I awake, And blooms are there another day.
Illustration—“Father Time” by Hebe
Tick-Tock By Hades Tick-tock, tick-tock, White rabbit down the hole. It’s late, late, so very late, Keep your head on tight. Tick-tock, tick-tock, London’s tower sings.
Big Benjamin stands alone, Alone in a changing world. Tick-tock, tick-tock, Father in his Hall of Time. Hourglasses and calendars, Sundials and clepsydras. Tick-tock, tick-tock, The sun’s about to set.
Shadows long, skies so dark, At night it’s all the same. Tick-tock, tick-tock, Grains of sand a-falling. Soon there’ll be none, time will out, And nothing. Nothing at all. Tick—
Crystal had an amazing boyfriend—but he changed. Now that she’s cut him out of her life, she feels hollow on the inside, and her conscience just won’t let her be. Read Do You Regret It? by Izumi Fujimoto (formerly Blackthorn Rose) online! Four children have been murdered. One on Halloween, two on Thanksgiving, and one on Christmas. Officer Vanderbilt is on the case, and he’s narrowed down the list to his prime suspect, Gabe Cameron, who was present at both the Halloween and Thanksgiving parties and has been behaving suspiciously on each of the murder nights. What will happen to Gabe? Read Prime Suspect by Apollo online! Do you like writing, art, or photography? Is there some kind of topic you’d love to rant about? If so, Midnight Writers is the place for you! For more info, email us at midnight.writers2013@gmail.com, or visit www.midnightwriters.webs.com! Join our staff, or just subscribe to our readership!
Photo—“Pittsburgh at Night” by Holiday Blues
When Dreams Are Reality By Hades When the candles are blown, And the covers are pulled, When the house is all quiet, And moonlight streams in, When sleep overcomes, And dreams come a-flying, When you soar in the sky, And ride a Pegasus' back, When you swim in the sea, And watch mermaids laugh, When you float in deep space, And gaze at the planets, When butterflies bloom, And doves carry hopes, When black is white, And white is rainbow, When up is down, And left is not wrong, When flowers sing, And the sun truly smiles, When the stars sigh, And the sky is in reach, When dreams are reality, And reality is a dream.
Illustration—“Mermaids at Play” by Calypso
Illustrations—“Dracones Fati” by Kenpachi
Falling By Hades What is this? This darkness This sadness This utter… loneliness? It creeps And crawls And aches And darkens my heart I don’t know why But I cry But I sob But I weep How I desire To always dream To slowly die To forever sleep My lonely fate Drowning… Suffocating… Falling…
Locked Heart by Hunny-Senpai If all hearts were locks, Each lock would have a pair of keys. One for the lover, And one for one's self. Yet here I am, with a heart that will forever be locked. I have lost my keys, Now praying that one day they will be returned... Illustration—“Locked Heart” by Hunny-Senpai
A Portrait of Virtue by Hades If you could hear the children laugh, If you could see the mothers smile. If you could feel the ardent love, Then you would know what I know, too. The friends that hold out hands to friends, And enemies that are no more. The teachers slowly guiding steps, First steps into a world of more. We share our joy, our tears, our hugs, We help the poor, cold man to eat. We work to build a better world, We look ahead, tomorrow waits. So share your giggles, kisses, care, Remember those who touch your hearts. Then if night never seems to end, Do not despair, for morning comes. The sun will shine, the birds will sing, And life will e’er be beautiful.
A Portrait of Sin by Hades The world, it crumbles, black within, With man’s desire and treachery. The Earth, it burns, and no one cares, As ashes fall from filthy skies. He speaks dark words, no honesty, Just oil gleaming on his lips. Gray daggers thrown amidst the screams, He swims in gold that’s stained with blood. He takes and takes, but ne’er enough, He thirsts and hungers e’er for more. On sofas, cushions soft he lies, Amid false beauty in the grime. The words of friends he pays no heed, They’re silenced swiftly, quick instead. The smallest error stirs a storm, His anger felt in hurricanes. There is no green, there is no hope, For all that’s good has been devoured. Illustration—“Lady Virtue and the King of Sin” by Chronos