Innovated Life

21/09/2024

'Dreams, nightmares, hopes and realities' has just been published in "Dreamscapes and Daydreams" - a Wingless Dreamer anthology. A link to purchase that collection through Amazon is shown below.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHD3K857

For those so interested, that work also follows.

'Dreams, nightmares, hopes and realities'

Some dream of alternative lives –
real or fictional it matters not –
and those experiencing tortuous nightmares
at odds with their waking life
may hope their conscious existence
represents the best of all worlds
while others who experience ineffably pleasant dreams
might wish the daily grind could be better.

Those at peace
understand that dreams, nightmares, hopes and realities
are elements of the human condition –
and life is best
when living is optimised.

Aspirations, ambitions, goals and
dreaming of hostility, loathing, ferocity, wickedness
(or uncommon expectations)
support and interfere with
being realistic, pragmatic, utilitarian and materialistic …
in addition to self-interest.

Life resulting in thoughtful and considerate good?
A blossoming era.

Dreamscapes and Daydreams is an anthology that invites you on a journey through the landscapes of diverse emotions. Within the pages, you will find a rich collection of stories and poems that reflect feelings we often leave unexplored. Each piece takes you to places that are sometimes hard to rea...

19/09/2024

Three works - 'Ingenious states of mind: ease; simplicity; lightness; and brevity', 'The truth about ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’' and 'Ἰησοῦς Χρήστος (Iēsoûs Khrēstós) – a truly worthy ‘eternal spirit’' - have recently been published in Sybil Journal.

To view that material, click on the following link: https://www.sybiljournal.com/work-2/2024/9/18/3-poems-by-douglas-colston .

Thanks, too, to D.M. Rice for their generous and thoughtful words of encouragement.

The target? Innate, guileless, innocent, and simple intentions, plans, and creativity

29/08/2024

'Naturally ...' has recently been published in "Roots and Leaves" (a Wingless Dreamer anthology). It placed among the finalists in the relevant competition.

The Amazon link for the anthology follows: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFM66GFX .

For those so interested, 'Naturally ...' is shown below.

'Naturally …'

The domain governed by a Buddha (a wise person),
the world, the universe, the extraordinary,
one’s life, society and the zeitgeist
are real, the objective, and –
like a lotus seed –
offer the potential for optimal outcomes.

One’s inherent nature, intrinsic qualities and characteristics?
Honourable gifts, security, substantial, natural and simple.

The roots of plants, ancestral homes, foundations and this
are real, the objective and –
like a lotus seed –
offer the potential for optimal outcomes.

Boundaries (including kingdoms in taxonomy)?
Secular,
but –
of course -
from being like generations of familiar friendships,
epochs, the world or the profane,
a zone
like a lotus seed –
offering the potential for optimal outcomes …
this is the essence.

Roots and Leaves

21/08/2024

'Enquiry, motifs, ideas, truth, threads, art, deconstruction and facilitation' has recently been published in "The Silver Lining of Heartbreak" (a Wingless Dreamer anthology). It placed among the finalists in the relevant competition.

The Amazon link for the anthology follows: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DDKV729S .

For those so interested, 'Enquiry, motifs, ideas, truth, threads, art, deconstruction and facilitation' is shown below.

'Enquiry, motifs, ideas, truth, threads, art, deconstruction and facilitation'

Probing themes?
Thoughts fragmenting truth.

One thread catering to truth?
A work of art.

Searching, spying, attempting, finding, extending or visiting?
Rope, a Mahjong tile, solitary, demanding, absorbing or beautiful.

Your masterful and venerable aspect –
the optimal primary entity of the psyche –
scrutinises and mentions.

Heart, mind and intentions shredded or shattered?
Truly one route, sign and border.

Hoping, expecting or striving for observing reality?
Composing character.

The Silver Lining of Heartbreak is an anthology filled with deep emotion. It brings together poets and storytellers that take you through the depths of love and heartbreak. As you delve into the pages, you’ll find yourself living in moments of passionate love and poignant loss, reconnecting you w....

06/08/2024

'Bindú? Beautiful.' has recently been published in "Night Worship" (a Wingless Dreamer anthology). The Amazon link for the anthology follows: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DC6RYRTN .

For those so interested, 'Bindú? Beautiful.' is shown below.

'Bindú? Beautiful.'

Joyously exploring the shadow?
Approaching discovering evil.

Innermost being?
Truly good, admirable, pleasant, clear, attractive …
and well executed.

Earlier,
the lamb disseminated truth –
a work penetrating deeply.

To investigate humanity,
experience genuine profound aspects.

Inside?
Your character?

Utter terror?
Certain.

Things, objects or matters?
Offering weighty aims, standard or criteria …
things, objects or matters
met by chance.

Night Worship

18/07/2024

'It is up to you' has recently been published in "Echoes of Culture" (a Wingless Dreamer anthology) - after placing as first runner-up in the related contest. The Amazon link for the anthology follows: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9F6D5TV .

For those so interested, 'It is up to you' is shown below.

'It is up to you'

Interpreting concepts is idiosyncratic –
each of us has our unique take on things,
whether it involves visual cues,
spoken words
and even our own thoughts.

For example,
consider the text below
shown in Ancient Greek.

ΑΠΟΕΝΟΝΕΙΡΕ

ΤΟΝΟΗΜΑΥΜΑ
ΣΤΗΣΕΛΕΥΘΕΡ
ΙΑΣΚΑΙΤΗΣΣΩΤ
ΗΡΙΑΣΕΙΝΑΙΗΒ
ΑΣΙΣΤΟΥΘΕΟΥ

For some,
it will be indecipherable –
and others may read about a dream
in which the concerns of God
are explained.

A few could also perceive
a deeper philosophical commentary,
such as that which follows.

'As a consequence of what is dreamlike, fleeting or unreal'

Your perception, understanding and design
of freedom, liberty, manumission and lack of due restraint
and deliverance and salvation
is the basis and rhythm
of the fundamental generative good
in each emerging moment.

If there is a lesson here
beyond 'you will do what you do',
perhaps it is 'be thoughtful and worthy' ...
but it is up to you.

Send a message to learn more

18/07/2024

'It is up to you' has recently been published in "Echoes of Culture" (a Wingless Dreamer anthology) - after placing as first runner-up in the related contest. The Amazon link for the anthology follows: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9F6D5TV .

For those so interested, 'It is up to you' is shown below.

'It is up to you'

Interpreting concepts is idiosyncratic –
each of us has our unique take on things,
whether it involves visual cues,
spoken words
and even our own thoughts.

For example,
consider the text below
shown in Ancient Greek.

ΑΠΟΕΝΟΝΕΙΡΕ

ΤΟΝΟΗΜΑΥΜΑ
ΣΤΗΣΕΛΕΥΘΕΡ
ΙΑΣΚΑΙΤΗΣΣΩΤ
ΗΡΙΑΣΕΙΝΑΙΗΒ
ΑΣΙΣΤΟΥΘΕΟΥ

For some,
it will be indecipherable –
and others may read about a dream
in which the concerns of God
are explained.

A few could also perceive
a deeper philosophical commentary,
such as that which follows.

'As a consequence of what is dreamlike, fleeting or unreal'

Your perception, understanding and design
of freedom, liberty, manumission and lack of due restraint
and deliverance and salvation
is the basis and rhythm
of the fundamental generative good
in each emerging moment.

If there is a lesson here
beyond 'you will do what you do',
perhaps it is 'be thoughtful and worthy' ...
but it is up to you.

"The Echoes of Culture" is a poetry book that brings together a myriad of unheard and unimagined pieces, each inspired to redefine culture. It spans themes from the restoration of a storm-ravaged church to the profound impact of Stendhal's syndrome. Wingless Dreamer Publisher invites you to a vib...

25/06/2024

'Interpreting the ‘Loves’' has just been published on the WILDSound Writing Festival site. To see the work in situ, follow the link below.

To the Chinese, ‘passion’ (熱情 [rèqíng]) is a form of enthusiasm that may be associated with being enthusiastic, warm, ardent and animated – but it is different from Ἔρως (Érōs [‘God of Love’ {爱神 (à…

24/06/2024

Three works - 'Wine or Vinegar?', 'What another 'JC' may have meant ...' and '毀滅與的 (Destroying, ruining and slander obliterates ... provide, cause and participate in the optimal)' - have just been published by The Word's Faire.

To read the material in situ (in addition to other creative works from international wordsmiths), follow the attached link.

Douglas Colston hails from Australia, has played in Ska bands, married his love, fathered two great children and among other things, pursued a PhD he hoped would provide a positive contribution to the zeitgeist. Having been a former Pushcart nominee, his writing has appeared in anthologies and magaz

24/05/2024

'Bread, circuses, immovable objects and advancing' has recently been published in "Lyrical Canvas" (a Wingless Dreamer anthology). The Amazon link for the anthology follows: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D4VZDVP1 .
For those so interested, the poem is shown below (the associated image is 'Triumph of Julius Caesar' by Apollonio di Giovanni [an apt reference as a quote attributed to Caesar is included in the work]).

'Bread, circuses, immovable objects and advancing'

Meditating on past times, places and people
is dreamlike –
and as such,
on occasions it may be pleasant, monotonous or nightmarish.

As with most (if not all) memories,
the mind will reconstruct events
with husk-like recollections
interposed with ideal fantasies,
unresolved problems
and the mundane.

Upon returning to connecting with the 'now',
there may well be a natural inclination
to search for meaning in the thoughts,
but doing so may be akin to being distracted
by bread and circuses.

Fundamentally,
what is forsaken, dead and decaying cannot be revived,
cedar mulch has its optimal applications,
people will do what they wish
regardless of whether it is good for themselves
or others
and there is nothing positive to be gained
by gnashing teeth at immovable objects.

As for each present moment we live,
perhaps it would be useful
to apply an alternate reading of:

FERE LIBENTER HOMINES
ID QUOD VOLUNT CREDUNT.

It seems eternally relevant
rendered thus:

Humanity,
speak willingly, eagerly, gladly, cheerfully, vigorously and enthusiastically
that which wishes, intends, consents to and advances towards
imagination, thought, confidence and life-preserving trust.

19/05/2024

'Seeking perfection? Foolish. Illuminating truth? A nightly dance.' has just received a Special Mention in the Velemir Khlebnikov Section of the international poetry competition "Il Parnaso - Premio Angelo La Vecchia"

For those so interested, that work is shown below (the attached image is 'The Apocalypse (II)' by Sidney Sime [1865-1941]).

'Seeking perfection? Foolish.
Illuminating truth? A nightly dance.'

Having courage to search human emotion?
The aim, standard and criteria,
the optimal potential of each emerging moment
and really a profound, deep and extreme dwelling.

Spirit, thoughts, integrity, key factors
and doing abstract or incomprehensible things?
Genuine.

Wielding the shadow
or traumatic and haunting experiences
while observing
obscures, misplaces and causes loss.

Truly,
strangeness and strange things
have beauty, satisfy and are commendable.

14/05/2024

Discovery, utility, the Tao and fruit' has recently been published by "Written Tales" - a link to the work in situ is attached (and for those so interested, a 30% discount on our Reader's Nook membership subscriptions can be accessed through this link https://writtentales.substack.com/thankyou30 ).

Free Verse by Douglas Colston