Mastodawn

I had no idea that it would be so difficult to write from a prompt based off of my own songs…

We wrote from a prompt based off of my song “A Weapon”, and it was simultaneously surreal and like pulling teeth to write anything because I feel like I worked with any sort of metaphor involving my body – or really anyone’s – being a weapon nine years ago. I also don’t feel like my brain fully turned on until close to the end of workshop, so could have been part of the issue, as well.

Something to keep in mind if I ever run a workshop based off of my work… Huh…

-Allēna

#aWeapon #betterTogetherMKE #Mago #poetryWorkshop #writersBlock #writingAboutWriting

Assoc for Scottish Literature Jan 8

Poetry Workshops with Rebecca Sharp
17 & 24 January, Arbroath – free, ticketed

Led by poet & playwright Rebecca Sharp, these workshops will explore the ways stories are preserved, forgotten, or reinvented – from history to legends & folklore. No experience needed.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/poetry-workshop-with-rebecca-sharp-tickets-1977268333813

#Scottish #literature #poetry #poetryworkshop #history #legend #folklore

Poetry Workshop with Rebecca Sharp

We’ll be uncovering forgotten, hidden or imagined stories — from historical figures to family legends, local folklore. No experience needed.

Eventbrite

Ashley Halliwell Nov 10, 2025

This was the result of a very special workshop on ekphrastic poetry today.

I am a sorceress, twice in exile –
they claim my magic is merely madness, but
those with the eyes to see know better
I am the voiceless breaker of curses, until now
bearer of grief no one knows about
I am no one’s prisoner anymore

to know myself is to know my power
to know myself is the key to my freedom
I have all that I need
there is an embarrassment of riches in my heart
and though you may not like what you see
you might be shocked by it
terrified by it
I have looked within so I can look without
I see you for all that you are now
and you hold no charm for me
I am made of night and waves and song
water and air, wrath and lightning
while you are made of nothingness
I do not need you, you need me
you will no longer have my pain

so here I go, I’ve broken my chains
and the ties that bind me
and I take my first steps into the dawn and
the red world

~”the sorceress”, after breaking the vicious circle by remedios varo, written by Allēna 11/9/2025

#ekphrasticpoetry #ourpoetry #poetryWorkshop

Ashley Halliwell Aug 24, 2025

On one liners.

Emerson and I ran the poetry workshop today and did a round of the poetry TTRPG for the prompt. Unfortunately I was dice cursed and rolled 1 stanza, one line. My favorite result was this:

“home is a circle when you live in my head”.

-Allēna

#Emerson #poetryTTRPG #poetryWorkshop #TTRPG

Infinite Poems. (Almost) Infinite Combinations. by opensorceryy

A poetry writing game inspired by an insomnia hack I saw once.

itch.io

Ashley Halliwell Aug 3, 2025

I went to the poetry workshop with Emerson again today and as such, I come bearing gifts.

This was the result of a TTRPG roll and it’s called “everything’s coming up lavender”

i was 17 when you first came to me
mind threatening to unravel in shades of crimson

now i swear everything's coming up lavender and
golden brown, i'm much madder now and
while i can't say things are fine in this pit
of snakes we live in, at least i feel
somewhat safe now that i found the melody i
was looking for

the problem is that i sought you high and
low in all the wrong places, wrote my best songs
and lines to all the wrong people
it's sad to say that you found me at my worst, but
you loved me anyway

i'm a stubborn piece of shit and i know
you know that, so are you
that's part of why i love you so fucking much
neither of us know when to quit when we know exactly what we want

so are we living the dream? maybe not yet
but do we have the grit to get there?
absofuckinglutely. and one thing's for certain
i know i will never be bored again

so thank you. thank you for not
giving up on this raging bitch
thank you for sticking it out because
i loved you endlessly then and i love you endlessly now

-Allēna 8/3/2025

Here's the TTRPG if you want to snag a copy for yourself!

#bettertogethermke #Emerson #gay #lovePoem #poetryworkshop #queerjoy #QueerLove #synesthesia #t4t #transjoy #transmasc #transpoet #transpoetry #TTRPG #TTRPGCommunity