ysabetwordsmith | Poetry Fishbowl Open!

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Poetry Fishbowl Open!

The Poetry Fishbowl is now CLOSED. Thank you for your time and attention. Please keep an eye on this page as I am still writing.

Starting now, the Poetry Fishbowl is open! Today's theme is "If the devil's nicer than the church folks, then we've got a problem." I will be checking this page periodically throughout the day. When people make suggestions, I'll pick some and weave them together into a poem ... and then another ... and so on. I'm hoping to get a lot of ideas and a lot of poems.

I'll be soliciting ideas for devils, angels, churchgoers, clergy, theologians, deities, children, fish out of water, historians, philosophers, ethicists, activists, heroic leads, antagonists, other people involved in theological conflicts, worshipping, praying, speaking, listening, reading, writing, summoning, banishing, discovering yourself, testing boundaries, creating connections, coming of age, learning what you can (and can't) do, shocking people, changing the world, accomplishing the impossible, recovering from setbacks, returning home, temples, churches, church clubs, spiritual study groups, seminaries, monasteries, convents, charities, finishing schools, other places of worship or spiritual socializing, etiquette, bigotry, religious abuse, clergy sexual abuse, Religious Trauma Syndrome, devil-angel relationships, devil-human relationships, tenets of belief, hypocrisy, virtues, values conflict, moral injury, betrayal, alienation, crisis of faith, rebellion, religious language, the heroic journey, liturgy, personal growth, imprint vulnerability, rites of passage, and poetic forms in particular.

Among my more relevant series for the main theme:

Clay of Life deals in Jewish folklore and religion.

Fiorenza the Wisewoman is Italian historic fantasy with Roman Catholic and Italian folk religions.

Fledgling Grace features angelic and demonic aspects as people develop bird wings.

Frankenstein's Family includes Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

One God's Story of Mid-Life Crisis is about the God of Evil becoming the God of Drunks.

Path of the Paladins presents the human impact of divine disputes.

Polychrome Heroics has characters from many different traditions. Shiv and Turq are two characters who have mentioned religious abuses. The new Rutledge thread has religious issues because the Syrians are mostly Muslims and the Vermont folks are mostly Christians. The theme can also be generalized to supervillains behaving better than superheroes or other socially approved people. That brings in people like Calliope and Vagary.

Or you can ask for something new.

Currently eligible bingo card(s) for donors wishing to sponsor a square:

Hurt/Comfort Bingo Card 6-18-19

Ladiesbingo Card 9-2-19

Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-20

Click to read the linkback poem "The Bushfire Shawl" (10 verses, Arts and Crafts America).

What Is a Poetry Fishbowl?

Writing is usually considered a solitary pursuit. One exception to this is a fascinating exercise called a "fishbowl." This has various forms, but all of them basically involve some kind of writing in public, usually with interaction between author and audience. A famous example is Harlan Ellison's series of "stories under glass" in which he sits in a bookstore window and writes a new story based on an idea that someone gives him. Writing classes sometimes include a version where students watch each other write, often with students calling out suggestions which are chalked up on the blackboard for those writing to use as inspiration.

In this online version of a Poetry Fishbowl, I begin by setting a theme; today's theme is "If the devil's nicer than the church folks, then we've got a problem." I invite people to suggest characters, settings, and other things relating to that theme. Then I use those prompts as inspiration for writing poems.

Cyberfunded Creativity

I'm practicing cyberfunded creativity. If you enjoy what I'm doing and want to see more of it, please feed the Bard. The following options are currently available:

1) Sponsor the Fishbowl -- Here is a PayPal button for donations. There is no specific requirement, but $1 is the minimum recommended size for PayPal transactions since they take a cut from every one. You can also donate via check or money order sent by postal mail. If you make a donation and tell me about it, I promise to use one of your prompts. Anonymous donations are perfectly welcome, just won't get that perk. General donations will be tallied, and at the end of the fishbowl I’ll post a list of eligible poems based on the total funding; then the audience can vote on which they want to see posted.

2) Swim, Fishie, Swim! -- A feature in conjunction with fishbowl sponsorship is this progress meter showing the amount donated. There are multiple perks, the top one being a half-price poetry sale on one series when donations reach $300.

3) Buy It Now! -- Gakked from various e-auction sites, this feature allows you to sponsor a specific poem. If you don't want to wait for some editor to buy and publish my poem so you can read it, well, now you don't have to. Sponsoring a poem means that I will immediately post it on my blog for everyone to see, with the name of the sponsor (or another dedicate) if you wish; plus you get a nonexclusive publication right, so you can post it on your own blog or elsewhere as long as you keep the credits intact. You'll need to tell me the title of the poem you want to sponsor. I'm basing the prices on length, and they're comparable to what I typically make selling poetry to magazines (semi-pro rates according to Duotrope's Digest).

0-10 lines: $5
11-25 lines: $10
26-40 lines: $15
41-60 lines: $20
Poems over 60 lines, or with very intricate structure, fall into custom pricing.

4) Commission a scrapbook page. I can render a chosen poem in hardcopy format, on colorful paper, using archival materials for background and any embellishments. This will be suitable for framing or for adding to a scrapbook. Commission details are here. See latest photos of sample scrapbooked poems: "Sample Scrapbooked Poems 1-24-11"

5) Spread the word. Echo or link to this post on your Dreamwidth, other blog, Twitter, Facebook, Digg, StumbleUpon, or any other social network.  Useful Twitter hashtags include #poetryfishbowl and #promptcall. Encourage people to come here and participate in the fishbowl. If you have room for it, including your own prompt will give your readers an idea of what the prompts should look like; ideally, update later to include the thumbnail of the poem I write, and a link to the poem if it gets published. If there is at least one new prompter or donor, I will post an extra freebie poem.

Linkback perk: I have a spare series poem available, and each linkback will reveal a verse of the poem.  One person can do multiple links if they're on different services, like Dreamwidth or Twitter, rather than all on LiveJournal. Comment with a link to where you posted.  "The Bushfire Shawl" has 10 verses and belongs to Arts and Crafts America.

Additional Notes

1) I customarily post replies to prompt posts telling people which of their prompts I'm using, with a brief description of the resulting poem(s). If you want to know what's available, watch for those "thumbnails."

2) You don't have to pay me to see a poem based on a prompt that you gave me. I try to send copies of poems to people, mostly using the LJ message function. (Anonymous prompters will miss this perk unless you give me your eddress.) These are for-your-eyes-only, though, not for sharing.

3) Sponsors of the Poetry Fishbowl in general, or of specific poems, will gain access to an extra post in appreciation of their generosity.  While you're on the Donors list, you can view all of the custom-locked posts in that category. Click the "donors" tag to read the archive of those. I've also posted a list of other donor perks there. I customarily leave donor names on the list for two months, so you'll get to see the perk-post from this month and next.

4) After the Poetry Fishbowl concludes, I will post a list of unsold poems and their prices, to make it easier for folks to see what they might want to sponsor.

5) If donations total $100 by Friday evening then you get a free $15 poem; $150 gets you a free $20 poem; and $200 gets you a free epic, posted after the Poetry Fishbowl. These will usually be series poems if I have them; otherwise I may offer non-series poems or series poems in a different size.  If donations reach $250, you get one step toward a bonus fishbowl; four of these activates the perk, and they don't have to be four months in a row. Everyone will get to vote on which series, and give prompts during the extra fishbowl, although it may be a half-day rather than a whole day. If donations reach $300, there will be a half-price sale in one series.

Feed the Fish!
Now's your chance to participate in the creative process by posting ideas for me to write about. Today's theme is "If the devil's nicer than the church folks, then we've got a problem." See above for details. If you manage to recommend a form that I don't recognize, I will probably pounce on it and ask you for its rules. I do have The New Book of Forms by Lewis Turco which covers most common and many obscure forms.

I'll post at least one of the fishbowl poems here so you-all can enjoy it. (Remember, you get an extra freebie poem if someone new posts a prompt or makes a donation, and additional perks at $100-$300 in donations. Linkbacks reveal verses of "The Bushfire Shawl." The rest of the poems will go into my archive for future use.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

L-South Dakota is doing this. How did that go down in T-South Dakota? Any state that puts up with Rabid City might well commit similar idiocy.

Bonus squee for Kenzie and the Iron Horses getting involved. Is Sturgis a thing in Terramagne?

Meanwhile, over in another storyline, I bet there are church folks who are still out to get Shaeth as he is busy shedding his former identity -- and giving much nicer than he's getting.

Wait, you know from Sturgis? See me after class.

And second the prompt for Kenzie whooping legislative arse(s).

>> Wait, you know from Sturgis? See me after class. <<

We saw bikers on our trips out west. You could spot the oldtimers because they had a medicine bundle fastened to the front of their bikes. Turns out, if you ride your bike up Bear Butte without one, you're likely to wind up walking it back down.

And Harley Hawgs don't push so easy. Even downhill.

Well, I grew up in a metropolitan area that is the home of a legendary motorcycle manufacturer known worldwide for the distinctive sound of its exhaust. And too many people in town who knew from Sturgis right from the start. Kind of hard to avoid learning a bit.

Aaaaaaah. Learned by osmosis, eh?

Something like that. Well, keep the bike rubber side down until we meet again.

I'm near Lancaster PA myself, and York...

This contributed to the free-verse poem "Who We Know Ourselves to Be." The Iron Horses stage a protest against a South Dakota bill that attacks QUILTBAG folks and superpowers.

182 lines, Buy It Now = $91

Sturgis!! I used to go to Sturgis on the River in Iowa. Man, that was some fun stuff.

This inspired the free-verse poem "Who We Know Ourselves to Be." The Iron Horses stage a protest against a South Dakota bill that attacks QUILTBAG folks and superpowers.

182 lines, Buy It Now = $91

I wonder if the there's a Satanic Temple in terramagne, and what are they up to... aside from annoying Christian Fundies rather.

Hm, Does the Path of Paladins universe have devils as well as Gods...and I wonder what they think about the state of affairs, now the Other Side are fighting among themselves.

I was just thinking about the Satanic Temple!

I imagine in Terramagne they are doing more to promote critical thinking and development of personal moral models. .... In addition to poking religious bigots in the eye.

Your Satanic prompt contributed to the free-verse poem "Devils in the Soup Kitchen." Diego likes to dress up as a devil and do good deeds, but then he meets some startling people.

85 lines, Buy It Now = $43

There's an argument to be made for Gorein having created such entities, or at least gotten the designation stuck to himself, after what he did to his sister, never mind what that predator follower of his was up to with cursed rope and what sure sounded like his deity's active blessing...

If Gorrein made devils, can we have one of them bite him in the [a-word]*? I think he's overdue for some karma...(rude grumbling...)
*I would also approve of Fortressa's methods in this case.

Speaking of Fortressa, does she ever travel/mentor/network with other supervillsnesses in the same field? T-India likely has pink-wearing ninja-villaness girl gangs. And a Muslim femisist hera or villaness group as a nemesis to the Taliban/Boko Haram/Al-Queda would be awesome. (Add in good Muslim guys treating the women with respect, or maybe even acting as suppourt crew somehow).

What's happining with the T-African tree demigoddes terrifying Boko Haram?

Interfaith, intercultural and very diverse vigilante nuns,* advocating for women, children, cultural preservation, medical care and the environment.
*Buddhist, pagan, Quaker, (is there such a thing as an atheist nun?) I'd like to see at least one 'traditional' Catholic nun, who looks the steryotypical part until she starts talking.

Does T-America have genderqueer monks/nuns? What even is the term for that?

The Shakers say "Screw this; we're applying as foster parents and raising the kids communally." I bet they come up with some awesome schooling. And take a hell of a lot of the 'undesirable' kids.

The God of Good in OGSoaMLC is kind of a jerk...maybe their grandmother-saint could lecture him about manners until he slinks off. Or encourage him to leave with her iron. :) And maybe they're teaching the future Goddess of Evil about manners at the time. :D

T-America, someone does everyday hero stuff... while wearing a realistic devil/demon outfit to piss of the holier-than-thou church people.

T-American response to pro-birthers, the whole 'discount because I am a pastor' trick and those annoyng fake dollar bills that 'tip' you with the hint to join a church (bonus if recipient is already Christian.)

Benjamin Lay, proto-hippie who stabbed a bible in Quaker meeting and was excommunicated for it.

Pre-Roman indigenous languages and religions, surviving or recreating them.

Someone gets along better with followers of a non-mainstream religion (neopagan, Native American, etc) in part because of bad past experiences.

The differenced between being invited and being odered to participate in prayer, worship, etc.

Stereyotype flip with Christanity and one of L Americas unpopular minority religions. (What if everyone worshipped Celtic/Islam/Satanist/Pastafarian, and Christans were actually discriminated against?)

Oh! What if Shiv and the others at Blues Moon started getting those nasty tract fake $20s as tips? What would Boss White do?

Now I'm imagining whatever church they belong to getting a donation plate filled with them...but no real money. (And if the priest is a decent sort, maybe he'll tell people to actually tip the waiters.) Well, we can dream...

This inspired the free-verse poem "More Valuable Than Money." Boss White and Shiv deal with a bit of petty fraud at Blues Moon.

85 lines, Buy It Now = $43

Menachem and Yoselee end up in a Catholic town... and teach a few lessons.

Some Muslims (possibly an imam) show up in Rutledge to encourage the town to take refugees. Hospitality ensuses...

Shiv is definitely (these days) better behaved than a lot of people I could think of. This could go any NUMBER of ways...

Second the Rutlidge idea.

Also, polite interfaith spaces and diologue in T-America.

Your Rutledge prompt contributed to the free-verse poem "Where Change Can Take Place." Rutledge citizens -- including Muslims, Christians, and a Satanist -- make preparations to welcome the Syrian refugees. But not everyone is on board with this plan.

280 lines, Buy It Now = $140

3rding the muslims in Rutledge and Shiv.

Not sure if it fits, but I'd like to see Shiv dealing with a language barrier the best of anyone at the lair/gov office/public space. If he can communicate with Persia, he can communicate with a lost Kurdish-speaking refugee... If the person he helps is recenly from the Middle East he will likely earn a food reward, too. Maybe add in one of those annoying "This is America, we speak American!" types for Shiv to deal with, /politely/ [evil grin].

😁😈

Your prompt contributed to the free-verse poem "Scraps." Shiv talks to Aidan and Dr. G about why he doesn't like church or priests.
(Warning for graphic implications of child abuse.)

520 lines, Buy It Now = $260

💖💖😊😊

A backchannel prompt from Anthony & Shirley Barrette inspired the free-verse poem "Changing Places." The Devil is so appalled by what's going on that he feels compelled to do something about it.

Hold for original prompters.

SO MOTE THAT SHIT.

Yaknow... that's the thing. In just about every story I've ever seen about Old Scratch, he plays by the rules. I mean, sure, there's some lawyerin' goin' on... but if you out-play, out-argue, out-think, or otherwise win the contest with the Big Bad, he will - for the time being, anyway - leave you be. And then there's the tale of Wicked John, who beats the hell (ahem) out of some lesser demons sent to get him to the point where Nick changes his mind and won't let him into Hell... He doesn't just go *chomp* like, say, Cth*lh*...

So, yeah. I could TOTALLY see him hauling Certain People away in broad daylight because, "Dude, you're giving me a bad rep!"

I spent a lot of time wondering, some years ago, if I would ever become a black hat. Well, no... maybe a dark charcoal grey in some areas (including my actual literal hat), but claiming medical neutrality.... but I have learnt to admire people like Shiv who actually have less fucks to give about the rules than I do but still do the right thing because they're a decent human being under all that scarring. Or Cuoio. Boss White. Kraken. Or on this side of the tef, Ed Snowden...

I've actually gotten involved in improving Signal, the secure messaging app Snowden rec'ed... I haven't dove into the actual code yet but I'm contributing good bug reports... :)

But, yeah. S'far as I can tell, if there is a pointy-tailed bad dude, he actually gives a shit, unlike some of the anatomy-groping jackholes in the other Washington.

I feel better knowing you're in code working on Signal.

Angel means messenger, messages must be delivered to the correct address...

>>SO MOTE THAT SHIT.

Yaknow... that's the thing. In just about every story I've ever seen about Old Scratch, he plays by the rules.<<

He's honestly very similar to the Fae like that. Yes, the dice are loaded and the deck is stacked, but if you can manage to count the cards the House won't rake you for it. Lies are pointless when the truth is so much easier to trap you with.

>>And then there's the tale of Wicked John, who beats the hell (ahem) out of some lesser demons sent to get him to the point where Nick changes his mind and won't let him into Hell...<<

The Old Boy has some class, at least. And he stands up for his workers, nobody deserves to have to see the person who abused them at their workplace, Satan Bless it!

>>S'far as I can tell, if there is a pointy-tailed bad dude, he actually gives a shit, unlike some of the anatomy-groping jackholes in the other Washington.<<

Ain't that the FUCKIN' TRUTH, Brother. I'd take Mister Downbelow over the Cheeto in Chief any day.

He's honestly very similar to the Fae like that. Yes, the dice are loaded and the deck is stacked, but if you can manage to count the cards the House won't rake you for it. Lies are pointless when the truth is so much easier to trap you with.

I find that what the Fae basically want is respect. Some of them have less regard for rules than others, but if you can balance standing your ground and not being an arsehole about it? You'll be fine.

Shit.

The idea of keeping magic - any sort - out of society is the same as the idea of keeping people of differing tribes from forming alliances in 20th Century CE society. It's divide and conquer, plain and simple.

Well, FRACK that. Wands UP!

Hire the devil as your lawyer. Or better yet, he volunteers, and gets paid out of the other party's coffers when he wins. :)

Also, why is the devil always a guy? What about the Devil as a woman, advocating for women's health care, free lunch programs, and legalized abortion (and all those other nice little things that are eeeevil).

She is so tired of and appalled bythe behaviors of the religions that she knows: the new local synagogue treating Matthew and Shaun differently, plus being asked to start her conversion lessons all over AGAIN for a third time. The nearby Unity Church, usually so open and accepting, keeps trying to CONVERT Shaun or members overlay some nasty insinuations about the three adults. She's done.

Genna is trying to find local mosques for Victor, but she steps into a LaVeyan Satanist meeting and gets some REAL support for her religiously diverse, and tolerant, family.

I remember watching the LaVeyans and some of the senior pagans get into months long arguments in the pages of Green Egg back in the day.... the former were actually well-spoken and argued decently, though I think Otter had most of the right of the points argued... and in any event what they've been doing of late is BANG ON with what people like Boss White would do... or Boss Finn for that matter. I'm not sure the President of the Maldives would get on well, but that's because to him, whose g-d does matter... but still.

This inspired the free-verse poem "The Cardinal Sin of Satanism." While seeking new spiritual resources, Genna stumbles across the local Satanists. She is disturbed by how much she has in common with them.

231 lines, Buy It Now = $116

+ i would love to see this. 💖💖💖

Edited 2020-02-05 01:25 (UTC)

😊😊

1. From M*A*S*H

Hawkeye: War isn't Hell. War is war, and Hell is Hell. And of the two, war is a lot worse.

Father Mulcahy: How do you figure, Hawkeye?

Hawkeye: Easy, Father. Tell me, who goes to Hell?

Father Mulcahy: Sinners, I believe.

Hawkeye: Exactly. There are no innocent bystanders in Hell. War is chock full of them - little kids, cripples, old ladies. In fact, except for some of the brass, almost everybody involved is an innocent bystander.

2. "Conversation with the Devil" by Ray Wiley Hubbard

3. "You Don't Love God if You Don't Love Your Neighbor" (this version by Rhonda Vincent and the Rage)

4. "Lord Knows I'm Drinkin'" (this version by Cal Smith)

"You Don't Love God if You Don't Love Your Neighbor"

Something like what I'm ready to say to anyone who tries to get in my face with any form of xenophobia while claiming to be a Christian. Considering that the source document pares down the whole list of "shalt" and "shalt not"s down to just two, and one of those is to love your neighbor as yourself, I often wonder about the level of self-hatred required of such people in order for them to retain their stated views while remaining true to their faith.

Thanks for linking to good ol' Cal! He sang a favorite of mine *kaff can't recall the name at the moment kaff* but through your link I found another good one of his. :D

I love that dialogue between the Father and Hawkeye.

And he's RIGHT.

Always. Father Mulcahy and Doctor Sidney Freedman are my favorite characters. 💕🕊️🌈💙✡️

Your M.A.S.H. prompt inspired the free-verse poem "War and Hell," today's freebie.

Friendly neighborhood Satanists - maybe doing interfaith work with the Pagans?

What would social institutions founded by Satanists, Pagans, and similarly open-minded folks look like? We've all heard about what (christian) church-run homeless shelters are often like.... How would other religions do it?

Responses to religious bigotry (for example homophobia) in Terramagne. The religious right and the politically active fundies seem to be a lot less powerful there. What's up with that?

Does T-America have the same kind of tension that we do here between people who use christianity to excuse their bigotry and those who are actually following the teaching of Christ?

the influence of religion in Arts & Crafts America

What about a fundie Christioan having a fit about said tolerant religions syarting a charity...because they assume religious wirship or conversion is mandated of participants. (It isn't.) Prompt inspired by a very nice person I know in RL...who fails to grasp that forcing non-Christains to do rehab, education, etc in a Christian-mandating environmet is /bad/.

What about Native American faiths running charities? What would those be like? (Iron Hirses and Kenzie thread, maybe?)

The part of me that never leaves the Dishonored fandom is jumping up and down in glee going 'suggest the Outsider! Suggest the outsider!" The more circumspect part of me, though, wants to know more about Shiv's life growing up- someone must have introduced him to criminal activity at some point, and I'm catching myself suspecting that the religous abuse may have made him an easier target for that.

Oooooers....

I feel like this prompt is tailor made for the Broken Angels arc. Let's see that stupid ban on potlucks outside of church getting dismantled. And why it became a thing in the first place. Hatey-haters!

Also : After The Big One, getting things going again ... how does that work? What's T-America's FEMA like? How do our soup friends get in there and get things rolling? Some of this has been touched on, but more would be great, pls.

Also also : Cuoio and Chiara are still taking care of Pomerola, yes? How is her tragedy being handled? Are they gonna find the killer?

Ooooh, Cuoio and Chiara! More of that, please.

This inspired the free-verse poem "If the Scar Is Deep." Guests bring gifts for Pomarola, and a momentous message arrives.

340 lines, Buy It Now = $170

Seconding Broken Angels! Also, what do churches think of Cas and his daughter? That could break really bad, and Faster Blaster would NOT take well to that, especially having seen what happened with Shiv. He may not know specifically what happened there, but anybody who ever saw Shiv anywhere near a religi-izer would know that wasn't a fun story.

Oh, the Big One would be followed by Pastafarian Aid Missions, bringing food and absurdity to fill body and spirit. I bet the T-America version Salvation Army (ew) wouldn't like that, given they like to show up uninvited and then CHARGE the government for everything they use, even donated items, and the Pastafarians would obviously be feeding folks because it's a religious duty. That would cut into their profit margins considerably.

I can totally see the pastafarian pirate crew setting up field kitchens along with the hippies and the hobos and cooking up vats of chili-mac or pile of spaghetti with two or three topping options to help keep folks fueled.

Seconded!

I suspect the churchy fols wpuld have less of a problem with Hali than with Cas and Armando's friendship, or the prostitutes in general. Though if anyone complained, it could be pointed out that Jesus got along with prostitutes just fine.

I was thinking rather the opposite. Like when the kid almost got Destined Hero'd into going to Elfland? OR, since some churches like to use old-ass precidents, decide that all Nephlim (Cas being blood of angel and man) are abominations and must die.

There are several stories in the Whateley universe that deal with the reactions of folks to "mutants" with angelic aspects/powers.

One is the daughter of a megachurch pastor and wants nothing to do with her father (in part because as part of her powers she can't stand physical contact with men, but mostly because he is *not* a nice person) Oddly, she has to problem with MtF trans folks... :-)

Another seems to have healing powers and part of the manifestation is "halos" of light (often with wings). He wound up taking refuge at a Catholic church. They mean well, but he eventually has to be rescued.

I can see someone wanting Hali as an adorable little church mascot.
/Raduth/. Blegh. At least the gang want her for her, not for the wings.

What happened with Cas' dad? Did he not know about the pregnncy, or is he a deadbeat dad, or is there something else going on (blue and orange morality, temporal shenanigans, meddling deities)?

This inspired the free-verse poem "If the Scar Is Deep." Guests bring gifts for Pomarola, and a momentous message arrives.

340 lines, Buy It Now = $170

One Gods story of a midlife crisis - his followers so far have always been adults. But the adult xhildren of alcoholics were actual children once.
Prompting for him dealing a an alcoholic who comes w kids. So his church, and if possible, hypocrisy and betrayal.

(From Torc87)

This inspired the free-verse poem "From the Shelter of Compassion and Pity." Shaeth takes in a new family of followers, and deals with a hypocrite in the process.

160 lines, Buy It Now = $80

People out here, *almost* in Lancaster PA Dutch Country, seriously asked me where were my horns, since I said I was Jewish while working at the public library.... Not the Amish or Mennonites asking, either, I get along fine with them! Yiddish works with their own dialect of Low German and I get the importance of the suffering servant that they use. 😉🧐✡️

In related ideas, I don't have any problems with door proselytizing Christians anymore, since I offer copies of the handout for the Hebrew and English version of "Our Father" sung in choir at my mystical retreat to any who show up here. http://onespiritfoundation.org Have a group give a performance of this, somewhere good interfaith interaction needs to be encouraged!

The Polychrome Heroics set of clerics someone had benevolent altruism as a power and got the Jewish one doing tikkun olam and picking up trash? Somebody mad dealing with them, and being rather aikido diverted into helping or at least getting out of the altruistic clerics' way!

Your cleric prompt inspired the free-verse poem "Two Thirds of Our Miseries." Dazhawn struggles to learn his superpower, but not everyone is careful about dealing with it.

167 lines, Buy It Now = $84

I had someone ask me if I could use electricity...while I was using the computer in an electric lit computer lab. (I'm Quaker, not Amish). Other fun reactions: like the abolitionists/like the guy on the oatmeal box*/don't let your religion opress you into not wearing makeup (I am female.)
*Actually no, this was a marketing gimmick taking advantage of our 1800s reputation for fair buisiness dealings.

What if someone insisted one of those free speech corporations had to participate in the religious community (CEO must go to church, 10%of profit must be tithed, employees must be paid enough for a stay-at-home-mom to be an actual financial possibility).

From SlytherClaw Teen: Devil doesn't make anyone ever *do anything* evil, at most Satan just clarifies that these are your intentions, thinking as a Jewish atheist, about the temptation of Jesus the long night discussion.

After all, by even the strictest Christian theology, the self-sacrifice by Jesus wouldn't save *anyone or souls* if he didn't choose it willingly! So Satan was just making sure Jesus really chose that, with full knowledge. Satan, the Light-bringer Angel, messenger of harsh tidings, and Prosecutor in Divine Court. 😉✡️😇

This inspired the free-verse poem "The Angel of Informed Consent." There is no Devil, just what it says on the tin. I really like this interpretation.

42 lines, Buy It Now = $20

Bought! Prompter credit to SlytherClaw Teen, please.

Terramagne: Supervillains (possibly Kraken) acting better/more inclusive/more accepting than SPOON. Bonus if one or more of the people involved (on either side) is religious.

Someone calling in the supervillans first because of this.

Oh yes, this!

"We called in the villians to deal with the [hazardous lab/group] because we know *they* won't just bust in there without taking precautions. They won't get *paid* if they screw up."

"We don't want a mess like Spectrum caused..."

"We called in the supervillans because they won't bitch about my using levitation to get stuff out of the gutters instead of heroing/about my having theological debated with the loval supervillan over coffee."

This inspired the free-verse poem "Coming Together Is a Beginning." Sometimes people call Kraken to deal with wild young things, and then Kraken has to figure out what to do with them.

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I'll take anything for Rutledge, just because I'm very interested in that thread. I don't know what exactly I'd like, but I'll certainly pitch in for sponsoring.

A specific prompt I'd like to see is Shaeth gaining a sober recruit who doesn't like the other gods because their churches are judgmental (I'm picking up that the followers start to mimic (or vice versa) the Gods and Shaeth's family are kinda awful and borderline abusive.

Fledgling Grace has room for showcasing Goth subculture, especially with regards to the Fliddermousen (sp? the bat winged ones). Many of my Goth friends got to be Goth because they started a little left of center and the "polite society" around them was intolerant of that, but the Goths weren't. I got to be Goth because said friends pulled me in as a kid before I could get all hurt and rejected. Generous and loving people, Goths. I can just see it now, "We adopt e'rrybody and bats are cute lil skypuppers anyway, so why the heck would we judge you for the awesome wings? Get on in here, Tuesday is game night and bedtime is never. I have some finger-less gloves if you want em' and Hob over there looks about the same shoe size... Hey Hob, you got any spare mosh-stompers? We have a baby bat who needs equipping. Anybody have any Overtone they're not using?"

Seems to me the less mainstream a community is, the more accepting and communal they must be for survival. As they gain power, they can be more choosy and selective...
If goverment needs a good redecorating ever 50 oddbyears, maybe religion does too.

*Fledgling Grace: The devil's advocate girl busker with the little brown bat wings, her northern ghost bat cousin with the surprise Central American family connection, and a handful (not all, but a handful) of ashamed kin. I'm picturing this post that disastrous family reunion, and whether or not anyone's remorse reaches the two non-evil bats is up to you. So is what they do or don't do with said remorse.

*Also Fledgling Grace: The former bat-winged become sparrow-winged gangster girl and the quiltbag goldfinch girl intervene in a nasty situation with a pious veneer. Cue pearl-clutching, an escape or two by those in need of a way out, and maybe a few long hard looks in the mirror for a couple people. It's not as if the sparrow-winged gangster girl hasn't seen this sort of scenario play out before...

*And again with Fledgling Grace: The Ethiopian red-bellied parrot mentioned in "The Wingdresser's Kitchen" has wing undersides showing peach. Maybe they're a they, but aren't out about it? I can't seem to get this particular prompt to gel.

What about a mama bear someone with bat-wings? There is that species of bat where unrelated females team up to raise pups, and they babysit for each other.

Someone whose bat wings are accepted by the community bc the wings don't signify evil and the community likes the person for who thet are.

Your second prompt inspired the free-verse poem "Even After Everything." The gangsta girl and her goldfinch break up a scuffle outside a church.

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A devil/zombie/etc walks into [a house of religion] expecting to be asked to leave...and is greeted with, "Hi, are you staying for coffee?)

I sure agree with the statement of your topic.

So, how would the people in Monster House deal with that kind of church-goer?

Well, the prompt was inspired by this story:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/2483273/chapters/6079346
...which is incidentally how I like to think my religious community would respond to zombies who arent trying to madly devour folks. Plus it is a far more sensible method than running aroind acreaming...

Your prompt inspired the free-verse poem "No Authority at All." Evangelists come knocking at Monster House. It does not go well for them.

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Remembering the devil who fell up to earth in Fledgling Grace had me trying to think of a prompt for that series. And that led me to wondering if a fledermaus was intentionally, consistently nice - would they be given credit for it? Or would people look for ulterior motives, as they would not for more typical "church folk".

And for any series you think it would fit: Atticus Finch at one point says that "a bible in the hands on one man can be more dangerous than a gun in the hands of another." (Might be misquoting slightly; I didn't look it up.) Church-folk can and will use their rules as rigid walls, no matter who it hurts. That particular sort will drive their children away if their pastor tells them to, and feel righteous about it as they do. They not only don't think for themselves, they consider it a virtue. Devils, on the other hand, are all about breaking the rules. So what of church-folk using rules to do harm, and devils breaking the rules to repair the damage?

I always figured fledermaus wings denoted something like ferocity, determination and /survival/, which is often mistaken for evil by those with more power.

Your righteous prompt contributed to the free-verse poem "Where Change Can Take Place." Rutledge citizens -- including Muslims, Christians, and a Satanist -- make preparations to welcome the Syrian refugees. But not everyone is on board with this plan.

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This may be an entirely new storyline, but:

The New Testament as set on modern America with:
- the religious traditionalists as the Phirasees
- Mary Magdaline as a (former?) teen prostitute
- Jesus' mother as a Latina teen mother (maybe a Dreamer?)
- Jesus' social father as ethnically Middle Eastern and Muslim (and stepping up into marriage, as in the original story). I'd like that relationship to last.
- the Disciples being as varied to modern senses as they were in the source material (an ex-religious fundie, an ultra-liberal superactivist, Doves and Hawks,...)
- Jesus actually having the people skills to get those diverse groups to work together
- Jesus ect all being religious, but not being preachy
- miracles! Which are explained away as 'declared dead too soon,' 'everyone brought lunch,' 'drugs in the water supply'
- the preaching gets flagged as a cult... and they end up talking to ICE or the Feds... and they pick up at least one new recruit
- I also think it would be interesting if Jesus were younger than most of the disciples
- please can we have more gender/race/abledness/other diversity among the Disciples?

seconding this!

i sort of want something in the young frankenstein universe, but the setup of the prompt has the implication that the church people are being uncaring or cruel
actually, prompt idea: young frankenstein or polychrome heroics universe, the church is prevented from helping everyone by essentially bureaucracy, the "sinners" help those who have fallen through the cracks

how much history research are you willing to do? because I kind of want to see the t america version of the sisters of perpetual indulgence

Your second prompt inspired the free-verse poem "Nun of This Nonsense." The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence support gay pride and superpowers, among other things.

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>>"If the devil's nicer than the church folks, then we've got a problem." <<

And it's likely to be the church...

Feel free to swipe the church my character didn't want to go to in this story for inspiration.
https://kengr.dreamwidth.org/915352.html

I still have things to write, but I'm turning in now.

A backchannel prompt from Anthony & Shirley Barrette inspired the free-verse poem "Always the Right Place." Calliope and Vagary talk about souls.

Hold for original prompters.

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