I love the elliptical answers the spirit provides here. Fragments of truth. And I adore this as a prompt. Such a cool poem idea. I'll have to give it a shot!
Love this, Nadia. I’ve read it a few times now and keep picturing the ghost’s replies inching further and further away--which I admit probably sounds weird haha. I just mean that I’m reading their part as its own poem almost, and it’s lovely reading it all together, and then side by side.
Oooh, I've heard of Phasmophobia but didn't know the details past what I could imagine. Immediately my mind went to the ghost interviews done in the game At Dead of Night. You're trapped in a hotel with a *very* strange owner who's tying up your friends... And while you try to escape the ghosts of the hotel tell you to help them, HE (the owner) needs to be stopped!
So you have to get a machine to find and interview/communicate with the ghosts in the hotel to get more info and clues and it's absolutely heartbreaking (and a thriller!). So good and eerie!
I loved the way the ghost you caught up with seemed to linger and shift moods in your poem! Not every ghost needs to be heartbreaking. I definitely wonder about the afterlife at times, and if there even is one. Hmmm...
We may not know, but it's fun like this that lets us speculate and create great work like yours!
Aww, thank you, Cierra! I also wonder about what comes after. I want to believe in the afterlife or reincarnation. I refuse to believe there is nothingness. And omg I know this game. I watched a gameplay of it. But I was too chicken to play it myself lol. It is excellently made! Original and thrilling!
Same! After witnessing the process twice quite recently, it's felt like a welcoming next journey. A peace, calm, and tranquility about it. But maybe that's the transition into the "next stop." Who knows?!
Betty White said in an interview that her mom would say, "not they know the secret" when someone would pass and I've kept that with me ever since. It's more comforting than anything else I've heard! Haha
And yesss! I watched it as well haha. Several playthroughs! It was really well done!
Love a good seance! The ghost in your poem seems hopeful and serene, perhaps it was a poltergeist and you were communicating with an aspect of yourself... :)
I LOVE how you often incorporate video game culture into your work. I picked up Phasmophobia on Steam ages ago and this has inspired me to push it to the top of my list. Lovely poem, and the the intention behind your work is continually inspiring!
That is awesome, Taegan! So glad you got to enjoy it some. I had issues logging in with PS5, but then the "fix" was to download a random game and then you log in. *Shrugs* Then apparently with PS5 I need to subscribe to their monthly subscription so I can play with my husband on his PC lol. It was a surprise because during beta this wasn't a thing. So I signed up for a month. I don't think I'll play longer than that.
A lot of people had that issue. Yes, the PS Plus. I really don't need it, but I guess I did to be able to play with the hubs. So that was one little disappointment for me. But otherwise, the game is amazing!
Yeah the online service part is a bit of a drag for sure.
I set up the clan! Substack Crew is the name and should be searchable in the social tab. Getting Alexander the info too. And I’ll create a note to see if anyone else wants to join
I've never written any poetry. Perhaps this is a place to start.
I love that I get to hear about your experiences with games that I've never played. I remember hearing about Phasmophobia on a podcast when it released and the concept sounded unique and clever.
Thank you so much, Nathan! I shared a bunch of prompts in the past. I used to write only poetry, but went out of my comfort zone. And it's not so hard to branch out, actually. The process is fun too! The game is scary, but it's hilarious if there's four people playing, so maybe it won't be too bad for you haha.
BTW, I've had two encounters with ghosts....The first was in a friend's guest room and after a frightening experience in the middle of the night, I asked my friend at breakfast if anyone had ever had something similar happen. She said calmly, "A handful of people think it's haunted."
Same with no. 2 after staying in an old hotel in Michigan. Scary experience at night, and when I asked the desk clerk if the hotel was haunted she didn't even look up: "Some people think so."
Great one! Your posts always remind me to carve out some time for a good video game. I’ve had The Red Strings Club on my Switch for a while but I haven’t played much, although I want to. And I also want to get A Space for the Unbound. Have you played these?
Sublime x
Thank you, fellow sublime poet!
Ok then,
There is a ghost behind me
Not crazy,
I know it's there.
Sometimes I see it in the mirror.
Is that me or?
I walk
It's there
I sleep
It snuggles under me
Maybe it loves me?
That ghost follows
Always behind
But some day
We will merge.
That is so cool, Malcolm!
Thanks, I was trying so hard not to be obvious until the last line.
It is poignant!
Yeah, I didn't want though to start with "Death by My Shadow"
Do you miss breathing? I am.
That is an ingenious line!
I love the elliptical answers the spirit provides here. Fragments of truth. And I adore this as a prompt. Such a cool poem idea. I'll have to give it a shot!
Thank you dearling! Please do, I'd love to read!
Love this, Nadia. I’ve read it a few times now and keep picturing the ghost’s replies inching further and further away--which I admit probably sounds weird haha. I just mean that I’m reading their part as its own poem almost, and it’s lovely reading it all together, and then side by side.
Wow, Garrett, that is such a tremendous compliment. Thank you! Perhaps the ghost is being forgotten, or let go and moved on, or whatever else!
Oooh, I've heard of Phasmophobia but didn't know the details past what I could imagine. Immediately my mind went to the ghost interviews done in the game At Dead of Night. You're trapped in a hotel with a *very* strange owner who's tying up your friends... And while you try to escape the ghosts of the hotel tell you to help them, HE (the owner) needs to be stopped!
So you have to get a machine to find and interview/communicate with the ghosts in the hotel to get more info and clues and it's absolutely heartbreaking (and a thriller!). So good and eerie!
I loved the way the ghost you caught up with seemed to linger and shift moods in your poem! Not every ghost needs to be heartbreaking. I definitely wonder about the afterlife at times, and if there even is one. Hmmm...
We may not know, but it's fun like this that lets us speculate and create great work like yours!
Aww, thank you, Cierra! I also wonder about what comes after. I want to believe in the afterlife or reincarnation. I refuse to believe there is nothingness. And omg I know this game. I watched a gameplay of it. But I was too chicken to play it myself lol. It is excellently made! Original and thrilling!
Same! After witnessing the process twice quite recently, it's felt like a welcoming next journey. A peace, calm, and tranquility about it. But maybe that's the transition into the "next stop." Who knows?!
Betty White said in an interview that her mom would say, "not they know the secret" when someone would pass and I've kept that with me ever since. It's more comforting than anything else I've heard! Haha
And yesss! I watched it as well haha. Several playthroughs! It was really well done!
Love a good seance! The ghost in your poem seems hopeful and serene, perhaps it was a poltergeist and you were communicating with an aspect of yourself... :)
Hahahah. Have you not seen poltergeist movies?! They're not very friendly. Thank you so much. I think the ghost was mad at first but then let go.
"Whom do you love?
Her cherry lips haunt me in loops."
[emoji heart goes here]
D'aww. Pat. <3 <3 <3
I LOVE how you often incorporate video game culture into your work. I picked up Phasmophobia on Steam ages ago and this has inspired me to push it to the top of my list. Lovely poem, and the the intention behind your work is continually inspiring!
Thank you so much, Taegan! We should all play together sometime. Did you get the chance to play D4 yesterday?
I did! I somehow played enough to finish act 1? I'm going to create the clan this weekend and tag you with the joining info.
Did you get to play?
That is awesome, Taegan! So glad you got to enjoy it some. I had issues logging in with PS5, but then the "fix" was to download a random game and then you log in. *Shrugs* Then apparently with PS5 I need to subscribe to their monthly subscription so I can play with my husband on his PC lol. It was a surprise because during beta this wasn't a thing. So I signed up for a month. I don't think I'll play longer than that.
Ohh yeah I had some login issues at first but then it just randomly worked. You mean PlayStation Plus? Or is there a subscription on Blizzards end?
A lot of people had that issue. Yes, the PS Plus. I really don't need it, but I guess I did to be able to play with the hubs. So that was one little disappointment for me. But otherwise, the game is amazing!
Yeah the online service part is a bit of a drag for sure.
I set up the clan! Substack Crew is the name and should be searchable in the social tab. Getting Alexander the info too. And I’ll create a note to see if anyone else wants to join
So cool, Nadia! And what a lovely poem!
Thank you so much, Priya!
Great poem, great writing prompt (and artwork!)
I've never written any poetry. Perhaps this is a place to start.
I love that I get to hear about your experiences with games that I've never played. I remember hearing about Phasmophobia on a podcast when it released and the concept sounded unique and clever.
Thank you so much, Nathan! I shared a bunch of prompts in the past. I used to write only poetry, but went out of my comfort zone. And it's not so hard to branch out, actually. The process is fun too! The game is scary, but it's hilarious if there's four people playing, so maybe it won't be too bad for you haha.
😅 Having others play as well is probably the best way to get me into a scary game!
I love this writing prompt idea! Jotting it down for possible use with my local writing craft group. Thanks, Nadia!
So happy to hear that, Wendy! Please share your results with me!
My scariest work is The Vampyre of Gotham, set in New York during The Gilded Age: https://www.amazon.com/Vampyre-Gotham-Lev-Raphael-ebook/dp/B008C3HD8O/ref=sr_1_1?crid=355V5ELV6TB7G&keywords=the+vampyre+of+gotham&qid=1685634043&sprefix=the+campyre+of+gotham%2Caps%2C295&sr=8-1&asin=B008C3HD8O&revisionId=d0d2dc06&format=2&depth=1
Thanks so much for sharing, Lev! I'll be checking it out :).
BTW, I've had two encounters with ghosts....The first was in a friend's guest room and after a frightening experience in the middle of the night, I asked my friend at breakfast if anyone had ever had something similar happen. She said calmly, "A handful of people think it's haunted."
Wow. That is eerie.
Same with no. 2 after staying in an old hotel in Michigan. Scary experience at night, and when I asked the desk clerk if the hotel was haunted she didn't even look up: "Some people think so."
Wow. What kind of hauntings did you experience if you feel comfortable sharing?
I'm saving those for an essay. :-)
Interview with the Ghost
I don’t believe in ghosts.
Nonetheless.
Prove to me you’re real.
You go first.
I’ve got my phone ready. Will you appear for a quick video?
Bring your phone with you when you die.
That’s a cop-out answer.
You will learn.
Sigh. Are you a good ghost or a bad ghost?
That’s up to you.
Could you hurt me if you wanted to?
That depends on how you define the word “hurt.”
This has all been a waste of my time.
That depends on how you define the word “time.”
See you later, Ghost!
Yes.
Jim, that is awesome! "Sigh. Are you a good ghost or a bad ghost? / That’s up to you." - Love that!
Not anywhere near as good as yours! But I enjoyed writing it. Thank you.
I love the tone in yours! And it's quite vivid too. Thank you so much for this :).
Fun!
Great one! Your posts always remind me to carve out some time for a good video game. I’ve had The Red Strings Club on my Switch for a while but I haven’t played much, although I want to. And I also want to get A Space for the Unbound. Have you played these?
Thank you, Andrei! Those look like beautiful games! I never heard of them interestingly.
So beautiful!!! That’s one hell of a good poem, you’re so so talented x
I appreciate you, my lovely, lovely friend. Thank you so much. <3