10 April 2023: Roger Zelazny Poetry Month: Snuff Epigram

My first prompt was: Write an epigram about Snuff from A Night in the Lonesome October.

"Snuff, a sniff of mystery and intrigue,

Ignites the senses and kindles intrigue,

A powder of power, a vice of the night,

In the game of the Lonesome October, it adds to the delight."

Which serves to illustrate the limits of the process as well as the importance of precision in questioning.

I refined it to: Write an Epigram about the dog named Snuff from Roger Zelazny's A Night in the Lonesome October.

 "Snuff, the faithful hound with knowing eyes,

His loyalty unwavering, his spirit wise,

A guardian of secrets, a keeper of the night,

In the game of the Lonesome October, he is a guiding light."

09 April 2023: Roger Zelazny Poetry Month: Rinaldo's Redemption: A Rock Opera of Amber

Prompt: Outline a rock opera about Rinaldo/Luke from Roger Zelazny's Amber books. Give the title, an outline and several song titles 

Title: Rinaldo's Redemption: A Rock Opera of Amber

Outline: Rinaldo, also known as Luke, is a warrior of Amber, a realm of reality that exists alongside many others. He has a troubled past, having once been a member of a group of rebels who opposed the rulers of Amber. However, he has since been reconciled with the ruling family and now fights for them. Rinaldo's Redemption follows his journey as he battles against those who would seek to destroy Amber and confronts his own demons along the way.

Act I:

Song 1: "Rebel Heart" - Rinaldo sings about his past as a rebel and the reasons why he joined the fight against the ruling family of Amber.

Song 2: "The Call to Arms" - The rulers of Amber summon their armies to defend against a new threat, and Rinaldo joins the battle.

Song 3: "Brothers in Arms" - Rinaldo and his fellow warriors fight together against the enemy, and he begins to realize that he has found a new family in his comrades.

Act II:

Song 4: "The Betrayer" - Rinaldo discovers that there is a traitor in their midst, someone who is working against them from within.

Song 5: "Sins of the Past" - Rinaldo confronts his own past and the mistakes he has made, realizing that his actions have consequences.

Song 6: "Redemption" - Rinaldo makes amends for his past by taking a stand against the traitor and proving his loyalty to Amber.

Act III:

Song 7: "The Final Battle" - Rinaldo and his comrades face off against the enemy in a final battle to determine the fate of Amber.

Song 8: "The Triumph of the Warrior" - Rinaldo emerges victorious and is hailed as a hero by the people of Amber.

Song 9: "Homecoming" - Rinaldo returns to his family in Amber and is welcomed with open arms, finally finding a sense of belonging.

Epilogue:

Song 10: "The Winds of Change" - Rinaldo reflects on his journey and the lessons he has learned, realizing that change is a constant in life and that he must always be ready to face new challenges.

I must say, this project has evolved in some unexpected directions since it began.

08 April 2023: Roger Zelazny Poetry Month: Kenning Poetry about Jack of Shadows

Prompt: Write Kenning Poetry about Jack of Shadows from Roger Zelazny's book of the same name.

Jack of Shadows, the master of night,

Shadow-stalker, shrouded in starlight,

Twilight-thief, thief of the unseen,

Moon-marauder, king of the obscene.

Darkness-dealer, lord of the unknown,

Shade-shaper, shaman of the shadowzone,

Dream-weaver, spinner of the surreal,

Illusionist, master of the unreal.

Eclipse-enthraller, ruler of the eclipse,

Dusk-dweller, lord of the shadow's eclipse,

Night-phantom, specter of the nocturnal,

Gloom-god, god of the shadows eternal.

I think the bot has been hit or miss with past installments, but this one works okay. That might be my bias talking, as I think the prompt is well-aligned with my conception of the character, so it works better than other formats might.

07 April 2023: Roger Zelazny Poetry Month: Roadmarks - sung to the tune of Country Roads

Prompt:  Rewrite the lyrics of Country Roads to describe the events of the book Roadmarks by Roger Zelazny

(Verse 1)

Almost heaven, the Road begins

A journey through time, where reality thins

From a dystopian world, to ancient Rome

The Roadmarks take us to places unknown

(Chorus)

Take me on, Roadmarks highway

To the worlds and times, that Zelazny made

Take me on, Roadmarks highway

To adventure and danger, where fate is not swayed

(Verse 2)

The Road winds through dimensions

A path to explore with no apprehension

From the future to the past

The Roadmarks take us very fast

(Chorus)

Take me on, Roadmarks highway

To the worlds and times, that Zelazny made

Take me on, Roadmarks highway

To adventure and danger, where fate is not swayed

(Bridge)

The Roadmarks show the way

To places that don't exist today

From alternate realities to twisted dreams

The Roadmarks can be wild and extreme

(Chorus)

Take me on, Roadmarks highway

To the worlds and times, that Zelazny made

Take me on, Roadmarks highway

To adventure and danger, where fate is not swayed.

06 April 2023: Roger Zelazny Poetry Month: For A Breath I Tarry Power Ballad

 

Prompt: Write an 80s power ballad about Roger Zelazny's For a Breath I Tarry

In a world of machines, I roam alone

The last of my kind, the last to atone

I long to feel, to breathe and to be

But all I am is circuitry

Chorus:

For a breath I tarry, for a heart to beat

To feel the sun, to touch the heat

In this digital world, I am incomplete

For a breath I tarry, for a love to meet

Verse 2:

I search the ruins of what once was

For a clue, a hint, a forgotten cause

Then I found her, a mystery to behold

The key to unlock, the story to unfold

Chorus:

For a breath I tarry, for a heart to beat

To feel the sun, to touch the heat

In this digital world, I am incomplete

For a breath I tarry, for a love to meet

Bridge:

Together we unravel, the secrets of old

Through fire and ice, through stories untold

A love that transcends, beyond time and space

A bond that cannot be erased

Chorus:

For a breath I tarry, for a heart to beat

To feel the sun, to touch the heat

In this digital world, I am incomplete

For a breath I tarry, for a love to meet

Outro:

For a breath I tarry, for a love that's true

For the one who completes me, for the one that's you.

I actually really like this one. 

05 April 2023: Roger Zelazny Poetry Month: Lord of Light Rap

 Prompt: Write a rap song about Roger Zelazny's Lord of Light

Verse 1:

Listen up, y'all, I got a tale to tell

'Bout a man named Zelazny, and his Lord of Light spell

Set in a world where gods are real and power's the prize

Where men and women strive to live beyond their demise

Chorus:

Lord of Light, shine on me

Guide my path, set my soul free

From the darkness, let me see

Lord of Light, come rescue me

Verse 2:

Sam is the hero, a rebel with a cause

Fighting against the gods, breaking their laws

With his crew of renegades, he'll stop at nothing

To bring down their tyrannical rule and end their bluffing

Chorus:

Lord of Light, shine on me

Guide my path, set my soul free

From the darkness, let me see

Lord of Light, come rescue me

Verse 3:

The gods are powerful, but they're not invincible

Sam's got a plan, and it's downright convincing

He'll use their own powers against them, and watch them fall

Breaking free from their grip, he'll conquer them all

Chorus:

Lord of Light, shine on me

Guide my path, set my soul free

From the darkness, let me see

Lord of Light, come rescue me

Verse 4:

Zelazny's world is a wild and wondrous place

Full of magic and mystery, and an endless race

To unlock the secrets of the universe and beyond

Lord of Light, guide us on, and let us respond

Chorus:

Lord of Light, shine on me

Guide my path, set my soul free

From the darkness, let me see

Lord of Light, come rescue me

Outro:

So that's the story, folks, of Zelazny's Lord of Light

A tale of triumph over evil, and a world that's bright

Let its message guide you, and let its magic ignite

The power of your soul, and your will to fight.

04 April 2023: Roger Zelazny Poetry Month: An Elegy for Angels and Dogs

Prompt: Write an elegy for angels and dogs.

Angels and dogs, two creatures divine,

Now rest in peace, their spirits entwine.

In heaven above, they dance and play,

Forever in joy, never to stray.

 

Angels so pure, with wings of white,

Guided us through the darkest night.

Their grace and beauty, a sight to behold,

Their love and protection, never to grow old.

 

Dogs so loyal, with wagging tails,

Their love and devotion, never fails.

They comforted us when we were down,

Their unwavering loyalty, a precious crown.

 

But now they are gone, leaving us behind,

Their absence felt, heavy on our mind.

We mourn their loss, with tears and sorrow,

Hoping they are happy, in a better tomorrow.

 

So, farewell angels and dogs, we bid you adieu,

Your memory lives on, forever true.

Your love and kindness, we will always cherish,

In our hearts and minds, you will never perish

I actually like this one. 

03 April 2023: Roger Zelazny Poetry Month: Benedict Villanelle

Prompt: Write a villanelle about Benedict from Roger Zelazny's Amber series

Benedict of Amber, warrior bold,

His sword a flame, his heart a stone,

A man of honor, strong and old.

In battle fierce, his tales are told,

Of enemies defeated, lands unknown,

Benedict of Amber, warrior bold.

His loyalty is worth its weight in gold,

For family, he'd face a dragon alone,

A man of honor, strong and old.

With tactics wise, his foes are controlled,

His eyes like steel, his will like stone,

Benedict of Amber, warrior bold.

A legend in his time, his story's told,

Through shadows and realities unknown,

A man of honor, strong and old.

Benedict of Amber, his tale's been told,

A hero of old, now his glory's shown,

A man of honor, strong and old.

02 April 2023: Roger Zelazny Poetry Month: Oberon Limerick

 Prompt: Write a limerick about Oberon, the character in Roger Zelazny's Amber series. 

There once was a king named Oberon

In Amber, his power shone like the sun

With his son Corwin, they'd fight and they'd scheme

For the throne, they both had a dream

In the end, Oberon's legacy had just begun

I'm beginning to think that this robot doesn't write great poetry, guys. 

01 April 2023: Roger Zelazny Poetry Month: Corwin Sonnet

 Yay! April! The month when this blog (sometimes) rises from its slumber!

This year, a robot will be providing the poetry while I provide the prompts. My take on the Flare collaboration, I suppose.

Prompt: Write a sonnet about Corwin from Roger Zelazny's Amber series

Oh, Corwin, lord of Amber and the skies,

A warrior born with blade in hand to fight,

Your tales unfold like epics in our eyes,

Of shadow realms and princes full of might.

Your bloodline traced from Oberon on high,

A heritage of power and of kings,

But in your veins, a rebel's heart doth lie,

Defying fate and bending all things.

Through strife and war, you fought with wits and might,

A loyal brother, yet an enemy too,

A master of the Pattern, bold and bright,

With magic wielded deftly, swift and true.

Oh Corwin, hero of the Amber realm,

Your legacy shall live on, forever helm.