Ethereal Words

By R. L. Copple

Ethereal Words is an eclectic mix
of strange forms: Hay(na)ku, Haiku,
Pantoum-mime; as well as more
traditional forms: Sonnets, Limericks,

Ethereal Words is funny, surprising,
and full of special moments
that will have you crying and nodding
as your heart and soul unite.

Ethereal Words is relateable, inspiring,
content that will bring you moments
of joy, understanding, awe, and insight
as your mind and emotions dance.

Ethereal Words is the one poetry book
you need to
buy and keep on your
shelf for those moments of need.

Ethereal Words is words
made real for you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R. L. Copple
• Release date: Dec 11, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386555520

R. L. Copple

As a young teen, R. L. Copple played in his own make-believe world, writing the stories and drawing the art for his own comics while experiencing the worlds of other authors like Tolkien, Lewis, Asimov, and Lester Del Ray. After years of writing devotionally, he returned to the passion of his youth in order to combine his created worlds and faith into the reality of the printed page. Since then, his imagination has given birth to The Reality Chronicles trilogy from Splashdown Books, and The Virtual Chronicles, Ethereal Worlds Anthology, and How to Make an Ebook: Using Free Software from Ethereal Press, along with numerous short stories in various magazines. In his Texas Hill Country residence, he continues to create and give wings to new realities so that others might enjoy and be inspired by them.  

Book preview

Introduction

I had never thought of myself as a poet. I recall English literature class in college, where we read these very esoteric poems and we were told to interpret them. Those experiences taught me that good poetry was beyond me. So for many years, every time I attempted to read poetry, my mind would phase out. I had no intention of ever becoming a poet.

That attitude changed in the summer of 2006. I had begun writing stories and working the slush pile at an online magazine, known as The Sword Review.  Yes, some of the poetry there was over my head. Some of it, however, was quite normal. I discovered that I could like and enjoy some types of poetry. When I began slush reading for a mainstream literary magazine, I knew I needed to learn more about poetry.

As it happened, a couple poetry experts who actually did most of the poetry slush reading at those magazines, took me under their wings and I began to learn. One of the ways I learned was to attempt to write some, then give it to one or both of these ladies to tell me what I did wrong or right.

It wasn’t long after those months, when my first poem was published, The Path of Least Resistance at the now defunct Dragons, Knights, and Angels Magazine.  In 2006, I also had my first poem placed in a contest, it won an honorable mention, Black Hole Relationships. Both of these poems are in this volume under the Science Fiction heading.

Since then, I’ve written quite a number of poems in a decent array of styles. And I still write poetry today. This volume reflects my eclectic style and content. Though I favor free verse and Hay(na)ku, I’ve been known to dabble in other forms too. As far as content goes, while most of my poetry goes under the generic term I call life. I also have several Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Surreal poems, as well as three horror poems, peppered to taste.

My most esoteric poems are my science fiction poems. In part because to get it, you need to know certain things like how a star is born. But even among those, there are several that are accessible and easily understood.

That’s mostly what you’ll find here: poetry that is understandable and at times, humorous. Lines that will make you cry and lines that will cause you to rejoice.

I should also add, that while the majority of poems in this volume do not reference religion or God, I am a poet who is also a Christian. That does tend to pop up in my poetry occasionally. Just so you are aware.

Also, two of the poems in this collection, Man’s Best Friend, and Mary, You’re So Scary were purposeful