T. Gene Davis' Story and Poetry Vault

Here are all the stories and poems I have on this site. New stories and stories that I have improved are marked "NEW".

Scroll down for the poetry section. It is after the stories section.

I am also a huge fan of Project Gutenberg. They are working hard to preserve our literary heritage, and have made 10's of thousands of stories, novels, plays and poems available for free.

I have put together a list of basic literary terms that any author or student of literature should know. The list is here.

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My first book of poetry is now selling. I compiled it mostly from poetry I have posted on this site. I titled it Interview with Chuck. Let's face it. Reading poetry on a webpage can never match holding a book of poetry in your hands. Also, purchasing a copy of my book helps fund additional works. Why do I feel like someone should be excitedly shouting, "CALL NOW"?

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Stories

A Cold Damp Autumn Tuesday Morning - Nostalgia and a cold lonely road can be too much for an old man.

Blaik - He saw the fleshless bone and a sigh caught the wind. "I look awful," he muttered.

Blast on Board Spaceliner 274 - Kind of a sci-fi who done it.

Blue - What would you do about a neighbor's pesky dogs?

Blue Pens - I play with perspective in this short short story.

Ceremonial Tree - I heard her angry muffled oath between sobs.

Christmas Star - Sometimes all we have are the little things, and those little things seem so big.

Dinner - Are dinner dates so quaint?

Duchess of Ferrara - This is what happens when you combine Plato and Robert Browning at early hours of the morning. This is pretty humorous when read after your bedtime.

Ebony the Dragon - Ebony was cursed by a wizard to live as a man. The result was unexpected.

Fallen - Humanity is perhaps the pronounced ability to learn from failure.

Grandfather - Here's a story for the Christmas season.

Heart Patent - I had an editor insert an 'i' into patent in an attempt to correct my spelling. Obviously, the editor did not understand the story, if she even read it.

it doesnt matter - When life hangs in the balance, perspective changes.

Legant and the Lich - Do we feel a longing for that which we don't remember losing?

Moon Walk - Sci-fi.

Myself - Magic Realism.

Once Upon a Midnight Dreary - This sci-fi piece originally appeared in Parlour Papers Volume 2 Number 2 in the beginning of 1994.

Raven - Moving is hard, and even harder when the new home is nothing like the old one.

Real - Jon was AI born. So when he had a chance to enter the real world, he took advantage of it.

Reflection - When he went to catch the last shiny silver orb, the reflection was wrong. Instead of Henry reaching for himself in the ball's surface, ....

Ripened Fruit - "I was angry with my friend. I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe. I told it not, my wrath did grow."

Romance - Ain't it great? Heh, heh....

Rub - A short story about unemployment.

Slopes of Haleakala - Inspired by a day I spent hiking on Haleakala many, many years ago.

Snow Cave - Andy only looks to avoid some work, but nearly finds himself dead.

Solo - Anything but ... solo.

Spotlight - A first trip to mars by a couple of explorers.

Steps of Union Square - Popping the question; and the answer is ....

Stolen Kiss - An instant and a spontaneous decision changed Jake's life.

The Edge - What if a city where self repairing? Would it out last its creators?

The Interview - We have our good days and bad days, but to Todd, having a job interview on a foreign planet, the bad days just seem worse.

The Leaf - Some of my favorite things are little and easily go unnoticed.

The Restaurant - You first. No, you. No you. You first....

The Silent Scream - This Science Fiction story has a real touch of horror to it. Maybe it hits too close to home.

The Tree - The stories that are forgotten with the passing of time, ... it is a shame.

The Veiled Prince - This sci-fi piece originally appeared in Lost Worlds: The Writers' and Artists' Science Fiction and Fantasy Forum vol. 8 no. 7 in 1996. It was the first story in that issue.

Tom Firefly - Longing for home only increases with distance.

Way Things End - This story has entered our folklore, it has been retold so many times. I thought it would be fun to tell it again.

Weary Night - It was late, and the line was short. It should have been a short wait too.

You Can Never Go Home - This sci-fi piece originally appeared in Vision Science Fiction issue number 16 in the beginning of 1993.



 

Poetry

A blue moon's on the rise! - Free verse poem I wrote back in High School. It first appeared in "The Anther: Spring of 88".

A cafeteria - Free verse. This was written when it happened, as I recall. That was many years ago in High School.

Again - A painful memory brought to the surface by a common news story.

Air flowing freely - Haiku.

Am I intruding? - Free verse.

As I Walk Home With Joy in My Heart - Free verse.

As We Learn - This is a free verse poem I wrote back in High School. It first appeared in "The Anther: Spring of 88".

Bear Lake at Christmas in My Youth - This is yet another poem I don't remember writing, but I remember the events very clearly. I was just 18 at the time. I'm guessing I wrote this the morning after it occurred. It was a very enjoyable walk along the remote mountain roads. The roads were snow packed, the dog kept pace with the four of us, my oldest cousin, myself and two young ladies I had never met and never seen since. The snow was still falling in big flakes, and the landscape was lit in only a way it can be on a dark snowy night. Some memories can never be duplicated, just enjoyed in recollection.

Beautiful city - Haiku.

Bedtime Story Lost - Free verse. As I'm sure that you notice, I usually give permission to copy and distribute my works for not-for-profit purposes. I feel very strongly that artists should seek to enrich their communities first and profit second. I do not feel profiting off your labor is wrong. Far from it, but I do not ask, who stole my story or poem, rather who was uplifted or has benefited from my story or poem. Selling someone else's works for profit they don't receive is wrong. How many plots have been based off Shakespeare, urban legends or folk stories, and no contribution returned to the author or culture that created them without first imposing a fee? I'm sure things won't change. It just bothers me that my grandchildren will not know about the culture/society I grew up in, unless they have enough money to purchase it.

Belayed - Pen holds in chains memories we love.

Binding Night - Free verse.

Black copy toner - Haiku.

Blue skies above us - Haiku.

Bridget - This is a sestina I wrote for the lovely girl I married. She is worth every hour I spent on this poem. May we spend eternity with each other.

Bright lightning flashing - Haiku.

Charity is love - Haiku.

Children are swinging - Haiku.

Cloudy sky above - Haiku.

Contemplation - Free verse.

Crowd talking laughing - Haiku.

Delicate power - Haiku.

Dinner and a Cruise - Free verse.

Distance - Free verse.

Dry hot sun, deadly - Haiku.

Feet From Homeless - Free verse.

First white rose of spring - Haiku.

Friday Night Chores - Free verse.

Giants in My Backyard - I find great beauty in windmills. I am actually surprised that it does not find its way into my writing more often.

God's Child - Sonnet inspired by reading David's Psalms.

Grass like camouflage - Haiku.

Grass, trees and flowers - Haiku.

Gray granite boulder - Haiku.

Great Salt Lake City - Free verse.

green mountain side - Haiku.

Heather - I know who I wrote this about, but I cannot remember anything about this event. I don't even know if it happened, to be honest, but I feel the heartache that I'm not sure ever happened when I re-read this poem.

Hope - Free verse.

Hot light from above - Haiku.

How long will your hand often be in mine - Sonnet.

I once heard a tale - Free verse.

Interview with Chuck - I spent many years as a professional computer programmer. I do not know a profession where a highly skilled employee is typically worn out and thrown away as frequently as in computer programming. It is very rare to find programmers that have been at it for more than 15 years.

It feels good - Free verse.

Kind Holy Scripture - Haiku.

Loneliness is Caused by me - Free verse.

Love growing deeper - Haiku.

Lovers' Triangle - Names or objects, it is still a fun poem.

Majestic Redwoods - I visited the California Redwoods in November of 2004. Amazing forests. I hear China also has Redwoods. I hope I get to see them someday. Here's a Haiku I wrote for the occasion.

Manger Scene - I did the checkbook one night and felt overwhelmed by the bills, wondering how to pay them. While I drove to the post office to mail off my bills, I watched the beautiful Christmas lights and decorations pass me. They actually increased my stress some how, then thoughts of tranquility and a manger scene came over me. This poem has rhyme, but the rhythm is all wrong, just the way I felt. It was a nice release to write it.

Moment - I experiment a bit here with a form I've never seen before. I may experiment with this form some more.

Mourning Psalm - This one is a bit experimental. I think that it worked though.

Myself - Free verse.

Oh God, ... Save Us - Mourning the vilification of religion.

One day time just stopped - Haiku.

One of the Frightening First - This is a free verse poem I wrote back in High School. It first appeared in "The Anther: Spring of 88". This is about an actual experience. I still can feel what happened. It is a very powerful memory even after 20 years.

One Week / Four Years - Free verse.

Pause - Free verse.

Pink flowers pleasing - Haiku.

Pioneers of Change Not Place - Free verse.

Red and black on green  - Haiku.

Red and brown finch lands - Haiku.

Red book filled with writ - Haiku.

Salty lapping waves - Haiku.

Shimmering winged stick - Haiku.

Shiny round CDs - Haiku.

Sifting Through Memories - This is a free verse poem I wrote back in High School. It first appeared in "The Anther: Spring of 88". This is a true experience. I actually wrote this poem as it happened. The last part was speculation about the future, but that turned out to be accurate too. Lucky thing, becuase it would have ruined the whole poem if it hadn't.

Struggle by Dawn - Free verse.

Tan praying mantis - Haiku.

Terror destruction - Haiku.

Thank you friend - Free verse.

The Climb - Sestina.

The large beast tolerated each young boy - Sonnet.

To Heather - Free verse.

Today I saw a bow, in the clouds - Free verse.

Tracks - Sestina.

Valentine Rhyme - This sonnet was inspired by yet another valentine with no ideas for gifts.

Water sparkling clear - Haiku.

What Madness - Sonnet.

When I'm with you - Free verse.

Whence Doeth My Heart Beat - Sonnet.

White peaks now turned green - Haiku.

Wind slips through my hair - Haiku.



Everything in this site is owned by Gene Davis unless otherwise noted. Copyright 1999-2005. Stories and poems that are written by Gene Davis may be reproduced and/or distributed for private and public use of a not-for-profit nature if this copyright information is included with the reproduction or distribution. All other rights reserved.