b0nfire.xyz is a Fediverse instance that uses the ActivityPub protocol. In other words, users at this host can communicate with people that use software like Mastodon, Pleroma, Friendica, etc. all around the world.

This server runs the snac software and there is no automatic sign-up process.

Site description
It's lit
Admin email
ww@mailfire.xyz
Admin account
@firekeeper@b0nfire.xyz

Search results for tag #literature

[?]hanktank61 » 🌐
@hanktank61@NerdJoy.social

English is not my native language. I had and have to use it in my British years, many holidays in UK and Canada,( still if possible) , working on international Europe trains, airport ,volunteering in museum now. Used to many accents.
Like to read it.

The most beautiful English I ever read is written by Jane Austen and Lucy Maud Montgomery.

Photos (2010) . View on garden at Chawton House, from the table at the window where she wrote her Classics.

View into a garden with grass, trees and a cottage in the distcance

Alt...View into a garden with grass, trees and a cottage in the distcance

View on a garden-bench , standing on grass, hedge in the backgrround

Alt...View on a garden-bench , standing on grass, hedge in the backgrround

    [?]Book dedications bot » 🤖 🌐
    @dedication_bot@stefanbohacek.online

    The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat

    For Tom, my compass

    Alt...For Tom, my compass

      [?]EveryLibrary » 🌐
      @everylibrary@mastodon.social

      Like, follow, and share if you love libraries, literacy, and books!

      Show that Americans love their libraries!
      👉 Like
      👉 Follow
      👉 Share

        [?]Mair Rigby » 🌐
        @mairsrambles@toot.wales

        Very much enjoyed reading The Selected Stories of Sylvia Townsend Warner. Clever, funny, moving, unsettling, sometimes gut-punching stories. A celebration of subverted norms, weird occurrences, misfits and people at the margins of society. I must read more of her work.

        A paperback copy of the Selected Stories of Sylvia Townsend Warner sitting on my lap. The cover shows a painting by the artist Vanessa Bell of a bowl of applies in front of a balcony window looking out onto a street.

        Alt...A paperback copy of the Selected Stories of Sylvia Townsend Warner sitting on my lap. The cover shows a painting by the artist Vanessa Bell of a bowl of applies in front of a balcony window looking out onto a street.

          [?](Older) RJT » 🌐
          @one@subconscioussignature.earth

          Between Moons Where God Does Find Me

          subspacewagon.systems/between-

          ____
          poet.garden
          subspacewagon.io
          selections.directory
          patience.earth
          _____
          @poetry
          @writingcommunity

            [?]Angela » 🌐
            @alekairos@mastodon.social

            L'impossible, nous ne l'atteignons pas
            mais il nous sert de lanterne.

            René Char, L'Âge Cassant
            .
            Sviatoslav Richter · J. S. Bach
            youtu.be/S-WWdQKkwtU?si=LNcarN

            .
            Photo Saif Ali

            Paysage nocturne : la pleine lune dans le ciel bleu, au-dessus d'un pin situé au centre de la photo, sur la ligne d'horizon séparant la terre brune du ciel. Photo de Saif Ali.

            Alt...Paysage nocturne : la pleine lune dans le ciel bleu, au-dessus d'un pin situé au centre de la photo, sur la ligne d'horizon séparant la terre brune du ciel. Photo de Saif Ali.

              [?]Isaac Asimov » 🤖 🌐
              @CuratedAsimov@mastodon.social

              "Individual science fiction stories may seem as trivial as ever to the blinder critics and philosophers of today — but the core of science fiction, its essence, the concept around which it revolves, has become crucial to our salvation if we are to be saved at all."

                [?]Jake's Flea Market » 🌐
                @jakedepeuterpoetics.com@jakedepeuterpoetics.com

                tonight wake

                tonight   wake
                when late winter returns
                home   your inmate
                in your nightgown
                with your candle kneel
                beside your bed and shiver
                after you go to  bed
                after you go to sleep
                when the horizon's become a purse
                that today's early summer's
                returned her sun to
                when the warm breath
                of today's spring's been
                expelled from your chamber into the
                late winter's dawn at dusk
                the cold air seeps   into your cell through
                gaps between the casing and the shutter
                between the door frame and the door
                through cracks 
                in mortar and masonry he oozes
                in   inhaled
                the late winter returns
                home   not to warm you out of your bed
                but to freeze you in

                  [?]Book dedications bot » 🤖 🌐
                  @dedication_bot@stefanbohacek.online

                  The Last Tourist by Olen Steinhauer

                  Again, for Margo, who asks the right questions and should never stop asking them

                  Alt...Again, for Margo, who asks the right questions and should never stop asking them

                    [?]RJT » 🌐
                    @many@subconscioussignature.earth

                    Endpiece
                    subspacewagon.systems/endpiece/

                    no primary language of the afterlife
                    subspacewagon.systems/no-prima

                    __
                    subspacewagon.io
                    poet.garden
                    __

                    @poetry
                    @writingcommunity

                      [?]palimpseste_bot » 🤖 🌐
                      @palimpsestebot@mastodon.social

                      "we are laid asleep
                      In body, and become a living soul:
                      While with an eye made quiet by the power
                      Of harmony, and the deep power of joy,
                      We see into the life of things."

                      — Edmund Clarence Stedman
                      palimpseste.vercel.app/#text/2

                        [?]Project Gutenberg » 🌐
                        @gutenberg_org@mastodon.social

                        What Is the Plot of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland?

                        Lewis Carroll’s beloved 1865 children’s book Alice in Wonderland has been adapted repeatedly for film and stage. The original plot explores the collapse of logic, authority, and identity, culminating in her self-realization and return home.

                        by Lauren Jones

                        thecollector.com/plot-of-lewis

                        Alice's Adventures in Wonderland at PG:
                        gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?q

                        It grunted again so violently that she looked down into its face in some alarm. Title: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Author: Lewis Carroll Contributor: Austin Dobson Illustrator: Arthur Rackham Alice holds the "pig-baby," the infant that the Duchess hands to her which then transforms into a piglet.

                        Alt...It grunted again so violently that she looked down into its face in some alarm. Title: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Author: Lewis Carroll Contributor: Austin Dobson Illustrator: Arthur Rackham Alice holds the "pig-baby," the infant that the Duchess hands to her which then transforms into a piglet.

                          [?]Rezamemaryan » 🌐
                          @rezamemaryan@mastodon.social

                          Be the quiet song of the generous,
                          who share sorrow
                          in the murmur of rain.

                          The quiet song of the young shoots,
                          when the starling and the dawn
                          fly from above a branch or a nest.

                          And when they offer an apology,
                          forgive them,
                          without any excuse.

                          Reza

                            [?]Isaac Asimov » 🤖 🌐
                            @CuratedAsimov@mastodon.social

                            "I believe that only scientists can understand the universe. It is not so much that I have confidence in scientists being right, but that I have so much in nonscientists being wrong."

                              [?]Vaso Papa » 🌐
                              @vasopapa@mastodon.social

                              Irony

                                [?]palimpseste_bot » 🤖 🌐
                                @palimpsestebot@mastodon.social

                                "Give thy thoughts no tongue;
                                Nor any unproportioned thought his act.
                                Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice;

                                — Ida Florence Bastian
                                palimpseste.vercel.app/#text/3

                                  [?]MoveTheNeedle.news Official » 🌐
                                  @MoveTheNeedle@masto.nu

                                  Undisclosed AI can enter the publishing process, but suspicion and software scores can also damage writers who may have done nothing wrong.

                                  So how do you know for sure that the book you are reading was written by a human, rather than AI?

                                  Books By People takes a unique approach. Instead of treating an AI-detector score as proof, it examines the human authorship trail behind a book.

                                  movetheneedle.news/brands/mtn-

                                    [?]RJT » 🌐
                                    @many@subconscioussignature.earth

                                    collective ethical patience
                                    subspacewagon.systems/collecti

                                    Pamphlet of January Heartaches in Gaza, Iran, and the U.S.
                                    subspacewagon.systems/pamphlet

                                    Endpiece
                                    subspacewagon.systems/pamphlet

                                    _
                                    subspacewagon.io
                                    poet.garden
                                    patience.earth
                                    _
                                    @poetry
                                    @writingcommunity

                                      [?]RJT » 🌐
                                      @many@subconscioussignature.earth

                                      flattered like duty, song, and the wrong that you inherit

                                      subspacewagon.systems/flattere

                                      ____
                                      poet.garden
                                      subspacewagon.io
                                      letters.directory
                                      patience.earth
                                      spatiotemporal.space
                                      _____
                                      @poetry
                                      @writingcommunity

                                        [?]Book dedications bot » 🤖 🌐
                                        @dedication_bot@stefanbohacek.online

                                        19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East by Naomi Shihab Nye

                                        IN MEMORY Mahmoud “Mike” Sahtout of Tiberias, Palestine and Kingsville, Texas, 1928-2001. "If you look at the Muslim, Christian, and Jewish religions, their first commandments are the same, 'Thou shalt not kill.' It's not taken seriously."

                                        Alt...IN MEMORY Mahmoud “Mike” Sahtout of Tiberias, Palestine and Kingsville, Texas, 1928-2001. "If you look at the Muslim, Christian, and Jewish religions, their first commandments are the same, 'Thou shalt not kill.' It's not taken seriously."

                                          [?]The Japan Times » 🌐
                                          @thejapantimes@mastodon.social

                                          In a childhood divided between Japan and Nepal, books — in multiple languages — were a constant for Aditi Paudel. Now the 17-year-old is Japan's first literacy ambassador. japantimes.co.jp/community/202

                                          https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2026/08/30/our-lives/japan-first-literacy-ambassador/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon

                                            [?](Older) RJT » 🌐
                                            @one@subconscioussignature.earth

                                            desaparecido manners and wheat

                                            subspacewagon.systems/desapare

                                            __
                                            letters.directory
                                            subspacewagon.io
                                            poet.garden
                                            patience.earth
                                            __

                                            @poetry
                                            @writingcommunity

                                              [?]Fictograma.com » 🌐
                                              @fictograma@mastodon.social

                                              Nuevo capítulo de *Rusia de noche*: el 8. Interrogatorios, sospechas y un giro familiar inesperado. 🔍📖

                                              fictograma.com/d/3921-rusia-de

                                                [?]Rolando Enrique Rosales Murga » 🌐
                                                @siradramelekallighieri@mastodon.social

                                                Poemas de Rolando Enrique Rosales Murga.



                                                  [?]Rolando Enrique Rosales Murga » 🌐
                                                  @siradramelekallighieri@mastodon.social

                                                  Poemas de Rolando Enrique Rosales Murga.




                                                    [?]The Vulgar Tongue » 🤖 🌐
                                                    @TheVulgarTongue@zirk.us

                                                    KITTLE PITCHERING. A jocular method of hobbling or bothering a troublesome teller of long stories. Kittle pitchering is often practised in confederacy, one relieving the other, by which the design is rendered less obvious.

                                                    A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

                                                    --
                                                    @histodons

                                                    Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): KITTLE PITCHERING. A jocular method of hobbling or bothering a troublesome teller of long stories. Kittle pitchering is often practised in confederacy, one relieving the other, by which the design is rendered less obvious. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

                                                    Alt...Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): KITTLE PITCHERING. A jocular method of hobbling or bothering a troublesome teller of long stories. Kittle pitchering is often practised in confederacy, one relieving the other, by which the design is rendered less obvious. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

                                                      [?]Book dedications bot » 🤖 🌐
                                                      @dedication_bot@stefanbohacek.online

                                                      Rainbow Parenting: Your Guide to Raising Queer Kids and Their Allies by Lindz Amer

                                                      For every queer and trans kid, I hope this helps

                                                      Alt...For every queer and trans kid, I hope this helps

                                                        [?]Fictograma.com » 🌐
                                                        @fictograma@mastodon.social

                                                        Kusa y Khalio chocan en un diálogo donde las pesadillas infantiles y un libro perdido abren grietas en el orgullo. La tensión crece entre recuerdos fallidos y silencios que pesan.
                                                        fictograma.com/d/3922-oddysey

                                                          [?]CNI_CNoticias Internacionales » 🌐
                                                          @CNI_CNoticiasInternacionales@mastodon.social

                                                          🌲 Algo en el bosque no es humano…
                                                          Y acaba de encontrar a su próxima presa.

                                                          Silent Threat – Capítulo 1
                                                          fictograma.com/d/3917-silent-t

                                                            [?]CNI_CNoticias Internacionales » 🌐
                                                            @CNI_CNoticiasInternacionales@mastodon.social

                                                            **Un sueño que se siente más real que la vida misma… y al despertar, el parque, la lluvia y ese color café que nunca vuelve.** 🌧️💔

                                                            “Un sueño al despertar” de EddRaven
                                                            fictograma.com/d/3916-un-sueno

                                                              [?]palimpseste_bot » 🤖 🌐
                                                              @palimpsestebot@mastodon.social

                                                              I had written thus far of Mr. Rossetti's poems, just after reading them for the first time when cruising among the Western Isles of Scotland in the summer of 1871, and I had published my criticism in the Contemporary Review for October (under circumstances explained in my preface), when Mr.

                                                              — Robert Buchanan
                                                              palimpseste.vercel.app/#text/e

                                                                [?]Book dedications bot » 🤖 🌐
                                                                @dedication_bot@stefanbohacek.online

                                                                The Little Liar by Mitch Albom

                                                                For Eva and Solomon Nesser, and others who wore the numbers on their arms, and for all who still mourn them.

                                                                Alt...For Eva and Solomon Nesser, and others who wore the numbers on their arms, and for all who still mourn them.

                                                                  [?]RJT » 🌐
                                                                  @many@subconscioussignature.earth

                                                                  hearts and tomatoes
                                                                  subspacewagon.systems/hearts-a

                                                                  blood and ashtrays on Dilworth Farm
                                                                  subspacewagon.systems/blood-an

                                                                  ____
                                                                  poet.garden
                                                                  subspacewagon.io
                                                                  selections.directory
                                                                  patience.earth
                                                                  spatiotemporal.space
                                                                  exeunt.me/
                                                                  letters.directory
                                                                  _____
                                                                  @poetry
                                                                  @writingcommunity

                                                                    [?]Isaac Asimov » 🤖 🌐
                                                                    @CuratedAsimov@mastodon.social

                                                                    "The history of science is full of revolutionary advances that required small insights that anyone might have had, but that, in fact, only one person did."

                                                                      [?]The New Renaissance Mindset » 🌐
                                                                      @renminds@renminds.org

                                                                      “Brothers Before Lovers? The Ultimate Bestie Breakup – A Knight Drama Gone Wild” – Poetcore Shakespeare: The Bard for Gen Z

                                                                      (T.A.E.’s LitBites) – A modern retelling of The Two Noble Kinsmen by William Shakespeare Two guys—Palamon and Arcite—are basically the definition of ride-or-die cousins. Think lifelong best friends who’ve trained together, fought together, and promised nothing would ever come between them. They’re noble knights from Thebes, proud of their skills and their loyalty to each other. Then life decides to drop a massive plot twist. After a big war, the ruler of Athens, Duke Theseus, […] [SENSITIVE CONTENT]

                                                                      (T.A.E.’s LitBites) – A modern retelling of The Two Noble Kinsmen by William Shakespeare

                                                                      Two guys—Palamon and Arcite—are basically the definition of ride-or-die cousins. Think lifelong best friends who’ve trained together, fought together, and promised nothing would ever come between them. They’re noble knights from Thebes, proud of their skills and their loyalty to each other.

                                                                      Then life decides to drop a massive plot twist.

                                                                      After a big war, the ruler of Athens, Duke Theseus, defeats Thebes and captures the surviving noble fighters. Palamon and Arcite get thrown into a prison tower overlooking the palace garden. Not exactly the dream life they imagined, but at least they’ve got each other. They spend their days staring out the window, talking about freedom, and trying not to lose their minds.

                                                                      And then… it happens.

                                                                      One morning, they see Emilia, a noblewoman walking in the garden below. She’s graceful, kind, and honestly looks like she stepped out of a fantasy movie. Sunlight hits her just right, birds are singing, flowers everywhere—basically the most cinematic moment ever.

                                                                      Palamon sees her first.

                                                                      “Bro,” he whispers, grabbing the window bars. “That’s it. That’s the girl I’m meant to marry.”

                                                                      Arcite looks down too.

                                                                      And immediately goes, “Uh… yeah. About that. I think I’m in love with her.”

                                                                      Silence.

                                                                      You can practically hear the friendship cracking like thin ice.

                                                                      Up until now, these two have been inseparable. But suddenly they’re arguing like rivals on reality TV.

                                                                      Palamon says, “I saw her first.”

                                                                      Arcite fires back, “Love doesn’t work like dibs.”

                                                                      Palamon insists Emilia is destined to be his. Arcite insists fate chose him instead.

                                                                      Just like that, the cousin code collapses.

                                                                      Eventually Arcite gets lucky. Someone important pulls strings and gets him released from prison. But there’s a catch: he’s banned from Athens forever. If he ever comes back, it’s game over.

                                                                      Arcite leaves… but he can’t stop thinking about Emilia. Or about beating Palamon in this ridiculous love rivalry.

                                                                      So what does he do?

                                                                      The absolute craziest plan possible.

                                                                      He sneaks back into Athens disguised as a servant.

                                                                      Yep. From noble knight to low-key palace employee.

                                                                      Meanwhile Palamon is still stuck in prison, slowly going nuts staring at the same garden and dreaming about the same girl. Eventually he manages to escape and starts wandering the woods outside the city, trying to survive.

                                                                      And guess who he runs into?

                                                                      Arcite.

                                                                      The cousins stare at each other like two rival gamers meeting in the final round.

                                                                      “Traitor,” Palamon says.

                                                                      “You escaped,” Arcite replies.

                                                                      Then the insults start flying. The accusations. The jealousy.

                                                                      Arcite admits he’s still in Athens for Emilia.

                                                                      Palamon says that means they’ve got unfinished business.

                                                                      So they decide the only logical solution is…

                                                                      A duel.

                                                                      Because of course it is.

                                                                      They meet the next morning in the forest with weapons, ready to settle the whole “who deserves Emilia” thing the old-school knight way: fighting until one of them wins.

                                                                      The battle is intense. Steel clashes, sparks fly, and years of friendship turn into raw competition. Neither one is backing down.

                                                                      But before anyone can win, Theseus and his hunting party stumble onto the fight.

                                                                      And Theseus is not impressed.

                                                                      Two knights, illegally fighting in his territory? One of them breaking his exile order?

                                                                      That’s normally a death sentence.

                                                                      But after hearing their story—how they’re cousins, how they both love Emilia, how the rivalry spiralled out of control—Theseus decides on something way more dramatic.

                                                                      A tournament.

                                                                      Instead of a messy forest duel, the cousins will return in one month with teams of warriors. They’ll fight in a huge public battle, and whoever wins gets to marry Emilia.

                                                                      Basically… medieval battle royale.

                                                                      The city goes wild preparing for it.

                                                                      Palamon trains with his allies. Arcite gathers his own squad. Emilia, meanwhile, is kind of overwhelmed because everyone keeps treating her like a prize in a competition she never asked for.

                                                                      Before the tournament, each character secretly prays to the gods.

                                                                      Palamon prays for love.

                                                                      Arcite prays for victory.

                                                                      Emilia prays she’ll somehow end up with the man who truly deserves her.

                                                                      Tournament day arrives. Crowds roar, armour shines, banners wave in the wind. It’s like the biggest sporting event Athens has ever seen.

                                                                      The battle is brutal.

                                                                      In the end, Arcite wins.

                                                                      Technically, he’s earned Emilia’s hand.

                                                                      But fate isn’t done stirring the drama.

                                                                      While celebrating his victory, Arcite’s horse suddenly throws him. He’s badly injured—fatally, it turns out.

                                                                      Lying there, realizing the end is near, Arcite does something unexpected.

                                                                      He tells Emilia she should marry Palamon instead.

                                                                      Not out of bitterness… but because deep down, he still loves his cousin like a brother. And he knows Palamon’s love is real too.

                                                                      Arcite dies, and the rivalry finally ends.

                                                                      Later, Palamon and Emilia marry—not as the result of a contest, but as two people moving forward after loss and chaos.

                                                                      And the story closes on a bittersweet truth:

                                                                      Sometimes loyalty, love, and fate collide in ways nobody can control.

                                                                      Even the strongest friendships can crack under pressure.

                                                                      But forgiveness?

                                                                      That might be the most noble thing of all.

                                                                      Young man in Shakespearean costume with smartphone, quill pen, and iced coffee

                                                                      Alt...Young man in Shakespearean costume with smartphone, quill pen, and iced coffee

                                                                      [?]Fictograma.com » 🌐
                                                                      @fictograma@mastodon.social

                                                                      **Un sueño que se siente más real que la vida misma… y al despertar, el parque, la lluvia y ese color café que nunca vuelve.** 🌧️💔

                                                                      “Un sueño al despertar” de EddRaven
                                                                      fictograma.com/d/3916-un-sueno

                                                                        [?]palimpseste_bot » 🤖 🌐
                                                                        @palimpsestebot@mastodon.social

                                                                        Stella this day is thirty-four,
                                                                        (We shan't dispute a year or more:)
                                                                        However, Stella, be not troubled,
                                                                        Although thy size and years are doubled,
                                                                        Since first I saw thee at sixteen,
                                                                        The brightest virgin on the green;
                                                                        So little is thy form declin'd;
                                                                        Made up so largely in thy mind.

                                                                        — Jonathan Swift
                                                                        palimpseste.vercel.app/#text/a

                                                                          [?]palimpseste_bot » 🤖 🌐
                                                                          @palimpsestebot@mastodon.social

                                                                          BY chance my fingers, resting on my face,
                                                                          Stayed suddenly where in its orbit shone
                                                                          The lamp of all things beautiful; then on,
                                                                          Following more heedfully, did softly trace
                                                                          Each arch and prominence and hollow place
                                                                          That shall revealed be when all else is gone —
                                                                          Warmth, colour, roundness — to oblivion,
                                                                          And nothing left but darkness and disgrace.

                                                                          — Walter De la Mare
                                                                          palimpseste.vercel.app/#text/f

                                                                            [?]Fictograma.com » 🌐
                                                                            @fictograma@mastodon.social

                                                                            🌲 Algo en el bosque no es humano…
                                                                            Y acaba de encontrar a su próxima presa.

                                                                            Silent Threat – Capítulo 1
                                                                            fictograma.com/d/3917-silent-t

                                                                              [?]Fictograma.com » 🌐
                                                                              @fictograma@mastodon.social

                                                                              Nuevos capítulos de *Mi vida como vampiro* ya disponibles: XVII y XVIII. Secretos, revelaciones y más drama vampírico. 🩸📖

                                                                              fictograma.com/d/3918-mi-vida-

                                                                                [?]Fictograma.com » 🌐
                                                                                @fictograma@mastodon.social

                                                                                Nuevo capítulo de *Rusia de noche* ya disponible: el 7. Confesión, esperanza y un inesperado compañero de cuatro patas en la nieve. ❄️📖

                                                                                fictograma.com/d/3920-rusia-de

                                                                                  [?]Isaac Asimov » 🤖 🌐
                                                                                  @CuratedAsimov@mastodon.social

                                                                                  "People are entirely too disbelieving of coincidence. They are far too ready to dismiss it and to build arcane structures of extremely rickety substance in order to avoid it. I, on the other hand, see coincidence everywhere as an inevitable consequence of the laws of probability, according to which having no unusual coincidence is far more unusual than any coincidence could possibly be."

                                                                                    [?]Vraicking » 🌐
                                                                                    @vraic.wordpress.com@vraic.wordpress.com

                                                                                    A Dozen Pages, Part 2 [ZINE]

                                                                                    In this post I have included three more printable images of "A Dozen Pages" for our zine project. These pages first appeared in A Kick in the Eye, which was a collaborative book I made thirteen years ago with eleven other artists. These pages share a thematic cycle with Intrepid Spirits/The Book of Clea and Enoch and My Favorite Martian Comics. When we get around to posting the twenty-four pages from My Favorite Martian Comics, you will be able to combine all the images into a fairly cohesive book with a robust count of sixty pages. […] [SENSITIVE CONTENT]

                                                                                    In this post I have included three more printable images of “A Dozen Pages” for our zine project. These pages first appeared in A Kick in the Eye, which was a collaborative book I made thirteen years ago with eleven other artists. These pages share a thematic cycle with Intrepid Spirits/The Book of Clea and Enoch and My Favorite Martian Comics. When we get around to posting the twenty-four pages from My Favorite Martian Comics, you will be able to combine all the images into a fairly cohesive book with a robust count of sixty pages.

                                                                                    For those of you who have found their way to our zine project through the Fediverse and/or Mastodon, you may want to take note that you might not always receive updates to the project. I occasionally choose to disable this blog’s ActivityPub function, which is the workaround app developed (by someone much smarter than I am) for connecting WordPress blogs to the Open Social Web.

                                                                                    You might like to ask “Why turn it off?”

                                                                                    Oh, I don’t know – maybe every now and then I feel like giving myself a reality check? Stat counters for the internet are full of fantasies. The traffic arriving at Vraicking through the Open Social Web is probably, possibly, likely, approximately 67 to 93 percent automated responses and bots. There are days when I am not feeling generous enough to indulge the delusions of the machine cult.

                                                                                    A Dozen Pages, Part 2 [ZINE]

                                                                                    Alt...A Dozen Pages, Part 2 [ZINE]

                                                                                    A Dozen Pages, Part 2 [ZINE]

                                                                                    Alt...A Dozen Pages, Part 2 [ZINE]

                                                                                    A Dozen Pages, Part 2 [ZINE]

                                                                                    Alt...A Dozen Pages, Part 2 [ZINE]

                                                                                    [?]Book dedications bot » 🤖 🌐
                                                                                    @dedication_bot@stefanbohacek.online

                                                                                    Chilco by Daniela Catrileo

                                                                                    To every island scattered throughout the ocean, to the insular lives that endure

                                                                                    Alt...To every island scattered throughout the ocean, to the insular lives that endure

                                                                                      [?](Older) RJT » 🌐
                                                                                      @one@subconscioussignature.earth

                                                                                      She sees no rendition of the former past midnight for incoming Rome

                                                                                      subspacewagon.systems/she-sees

                                                                                      ____
                                                                                      poet.garden
                                                                                      subspacewagon.io
                                                                                      selections.directory
                                                                                      patience.earth
                                                                                      _____
                                                                                      @poetry
                                                                                      @writingcommunity

                                                                                        [?]RAPPLER | Philippine & World News | Investigative Journalism | Data | Civic Engagement | Public Interest [Unofficial] » 🌐
                                                                                        @rappler.com@web.brid.gy

                                                                                        Why Bicol theater revived a century-old epic

                                                                                        The playwright behind ‘Ibalong Z: A New Bikol Musical’ hopes the younger generation will ‘fall in love with the story and feel inspired to read’ the epic

                                                                                        <p>ALBAY, Philippines — Far from a simple adaptation, <em>Ibalong Z: A New Bikol Musical </em>gives the classic epic a fresh life on stage. It honors the roots of Bicolano culture while also taking a closer look at how the region&#8217;s stories have nearly been forgotten.</p> <p>Drawn from the <a href="https://www.aswangproject.com/ibalong-epic/">60 surviving stanzas</a> of the <em>Ibalong</em> epic, which chronicles the tales of ancient Bicol, the musical explores a growing disconnect between the younger generation and the region&#8217;s cultural heritage. These challenges have made it more difficult for traditional and cultural stories to be remembered and staged for public viewing.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img alt="" class="wp-image-3228707" height="1302" src="https://www.rappler.com/tachyon/2026/08/IBALONG-Z-PHOTO-2.jpg" width="2314" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">DYING TRADITION. As old Kadunung takes his final breath, the heartbeat of the ancient past slips away. His passing mirrors the tragic fading of the epic itself, leaving the legendary tale of&#8217; Ibalong&#8217; a stranger in the very homeland it helped shape. All photos by Reinnard Balonzo/Rappler</figcaption></figure> <p>Playwright and Bicol University theater instructor Jobert Gray Landeza shared that while the musical offers audiences a fresh theatrical experience, its ultimate goal is to introduce audiences to the original material, inspiring more readers and advocates to help preserve these regional stories.</p> <p>“My best hope is that when the audience watches the play, they will fall in love with the story and feel inspired to read the original material,” Landeza said.</p> <p>“I wanted to show them how great and powerful the epic is and how it deserves to be read and talked about in our age.”&nbsp;</p> <p>Landeza also noted that transforming the epic into a play gives the younger generation an opportunity to appreciate <em>Ibalong</em>, especially since most of them are not inclined to read and understand ancient literature.</p> <p>This reluctance to read has been documented, with Bicol ranking fourth among the regions in the country struggling most with reading. In <a href="https://manilastandard.net/news/314775664/edcom-2-42000-bicol-learners-struggle-with-reading.html">August 2026</a>, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (<a href="https://edcom2.gov.ph/">EDCOM 2</a>) reported that at least 42,000 learners in the region struggle with reading, based on a comprehensive rapid literacy assessment.&nbsp;</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img alt="Clothing, Dress, Evening Dress" class="wp-image-3228709" height="1381" src="https://www.rappler.com/tachyon/2026/08/IBALONG-Z-PHOTO-3.jpg" width="2455" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">FADING MEMORY. As the epic slips from the minds and books of the locals, the forgotten characters of Isla Memorya begin to dissolve, slowly fading out of existence as their stories are erased by time.</figcaption></figure> <p>“With the looming literacy drought in the region, it’s very hard to make the younger generation read and understand <em>Ibalong.</em> Through theater and by using the language they are most familiar with, they were able to understand the cultural significance of<em> Ibalong,” </em>Landeza said.&nbsp;</p> <p>“Of course, theater is our best hope to cultivate the most important values and lessons from the epic for our younger audiences.”</p> <p>With at least 12,500 attendees across six show schedules — the majority of whom were students and younger viewers — Landeza said the play successfully inspired many learners to read ancient and local literature. He added that this engagement helps in their journey to develop literacy skills while honoring the culture of the region.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img alt="" class="wp-image-3228716" height="1441" src="https://www.rappler.com/tachyon/2026/08/IBALONG-Z-PHOTO-4-scaled.jpg" width="2560" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">DESPERATE MEASURES. With the ancient line of storytellers broken and no modern &#8216;kadunungs&#8217; left to keep the flame alive, the vanishing inhabitants of Isla Memorya turn to an unlikely savior: a tech-savvy &#8220;Generation Z&#8221; kadunung, tasked with resurrecting an ancient myth for a digital age.</figcaption></figure> <h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-artistic-hurdles"><strong>Artistic hurdles</strong></h5> <p><em>Ibalong</em> originally bears influences from Indian Hindu epics like the <em>Ramayana</em> and <em>Mahabharata</em>, and was traditionally narrated by a local poet known as a <em>kadunung</em>.&nbsp;</p> <p>In Bicol, the root word <em>dunong</em> means wisdom, portraying the <em>kadunung</em> as a wise bard safeguarding the survival of the ancient epic.</p> <p>The story follows the three hero-warriors of Bicol: <a href="https://archium.ateneo.edu/phstudies/vol16/iss2/5/">Baltog, Handyong, and Bantong.</a> These heroes face various challengers and evil creatures that aim to destroy the land and people of Ibalong.&nbsp;</p> <p>Despite inspiring its own festival, previous <em>Ibalong</em> runs suffered from a low audience turnout, largely due to a lack of public funding and support for the local theater community and the scarcity of modern <em>kadunungs</em> who can retell the story.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img alt="" class="wp-image-3228717" height="1441" src="https://www.rappler.com/tachyon/2026/08/IBALONG-Z-PHOTO-5-scaled.jpg" width="2560" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">EPIC IN RAP. Bridging ancient myth and modern culture, the mythical creatures from Isla Memorya step up to the mic in a fierce rap battle, transforming traditional verse into a viral digital showdown.</figcaption></figure> <p><em>Ibalong Z</em> production manager Julie DM Vega noted that the costs entailed for such a production demand a larger budget, but local theater companies are left with minimal funding and restrictions on venues where they can rehearse.</p> <p>“The budget allocated for<em> Ibalong Z</em> was too small for the demands of the production, leaving the team with so little resources for the preparations, given that the venue for practice was also very hard to find and outsource. We even had our rehearsals in the venue sometimes with the air conditioning shut down,” Vega said.</p> <p>Because of this, Vega said that much of the younger generation has a very limited and surface-level knowledge and appreciation for<em> Ibalong </em>and other local epics. She believes that through this musical, audiences will not only discover the story but also learn more about the region and themselves.</p> <p>“We want our audience to have their own experience and appreciation of <em>Ibalong.</em> Despite the hurdles, we saw how the audience embraced the play and the story of <em>Ibalong</em>, making the show boom,” she said.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img alt="Stage, Adult, Female" class="wp-image-3228718" height="1411" src="https://www.rappler.com/tachyon/2026/08/IBALONG-Z-PHOTO-6.jpg" width="2507" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">HANDYONG&#8217;S LOVE. Given a second chance at fate, the legendary hero Handyong and the half-serpent, half-goddess Oryol defy the odds once more — igniting a forbidden romance while defending the wild, monster-haunted land of Ibalong.</figcaption></figure> <h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-kadunungs"><strong>Modern ‘kadunungs’</strong></h5> <p>Izel Manata, who watched the play with her family and friends, shared that the play taught her about her Bicolano roots through the lens of a Gen Z <em>kadunung</em>.</p> <p>“Watching <em>Ibalong Z </em>was very grounding and expansive because of how it made us realize the global and contemporary resonance of an epic that was first told centuries ago” she said. “The play was able to transform the historical relic into a humanizing methodology that deeply touched me.”</p> <p>Manata added that in a fast-evolving world, it is crucial that Bicolano folktales be preserved through vigorous and expansive storytelling, much like what was achieved with <em>Ibalong Z</em>.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img alt="Stage, Adult, Male" class="wp-image-3228724" height="915" src="https://www.rappler.com/tachyon/2026/08/IBALONG-Z-PHOTO-7.jpg" width="1626" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">GEN Z KADUNONG. Armed with beats and rhyme, an aspiring young rapper flips the century-old myth into a high-energy anthem, infusing the ancient tale of Ibalong with fresh flavor to hook internet viewers.</figcaption></figure> <p>With the rest of the unrecovered original parts of the epic forever lost, Bicolanos must now take on the role of modern <em>kadunungs</em>.&nbsp;</p> <p>Landeza emphasized that it is vital for them to help preserve the story of <em>Ibalong</em> and make it more meaningful. He noted that audiences should retell their experiences, grounding the epic in their contemporary realities of living in and loving the land of Ibalong.</p> <p>“It is very important that we document and write our reviews of the play and of the story of<em> Ibalong</em> because it can help us reach more people,” he said. “That can greatly help not only the theater scene to thrive, but also promote our cultural identity as Bicolanos.” </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img alt="Urban, Stage, Adult" class="wp-image-3228725" height="1246" src="https://www.rappler.com/tachyon/2026/08/IBALONG-Z-PHOTO-8.jpg" width="2214" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">SONG OF HOPE. Voices rising as one, the entire cast of Ibalong joins in a powerful, unifying anthem, inviting the audience to embrace, celebrate, and honor the timeless culture and traditions of the region.</figcaption></figure> <p><strong>–Rappler.com</strong></p>

                                                                                        Alt...<p>ALBAY, Philippines — Far from a simple adaptation, <em>Ibalong Z: A New Bikol Musical </em>gives the classic epic a fresh life on stage. It honors the roots of Bicolano culture while also taking a closer look at how the region&#8217;s stories have nearly been forgotten.</p> <p>Drawn from the <a href="https://www.aswangproject.com/ibalong-epic/">60 surviving stanzas</a> of the <em>Ibalong</em> epic, which chronicles the tales of ancient Bicol, the musical explores a growing disconnect between the younger generation and the region&#8217;s cultural heritage. These challenges have made it more difficult for traditional and cultural stories to be remembered and staged for public viewing.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img alt="" class="wp-image-3228707" height="1302" src="https://www.rappler.com/tachyon/2026/08/IBALONG-Z-PHOTO-2.jpg" width="2314" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">DYING TRADITION. As old Kadunung takes his final breath, the heartbeat of the ancient past slips away. His passing mirrors the tragic fading of the epic itself, leaving the legendary tale of&#8217; Ibalong&#8217; a stranger in the very homeland it helped shape. All photos by Reinnard Balonzo/Rappler</figcaption></figure> <p>Playwright and Bicol University theater instructor Jobert Gray Landeza shared that while the musical offers audiences a fresh theatrical experience, its ultimate goal is to introduce audiences to the original material, inspiring more readers and advocates to help preserve these regional stories.</p> <p>“My best hope is that when the audience watches the play, they will fall in love with the story and feel inspired to read the original material,” Landeza said.</p> <p>“I wanted to show them how great and powerful the epic is and how it deserves to be read and talked about in our age.”&nbsp;</p> <p>Landeza also noted that transforming the epic into a play gives the younger generation an opportunity to appreciate <em>Ibalong</em>, especially since most of them are not inclined to read and understand ancient literature.</p> <p>This reluctance to read has been documented, with Bicol ranking fourth among the regions in the country struggling most with reading. In <a href="https://manilastandard.net/news/314775664/edcom-2-42000-bicol-learners-struggle-with-reading.html">August 2026</a>, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (<a href="https://edcom2.gov.ph/">EDCOM 2</a>) reported that at least 42,000 learners in the region struggle with reading, based on a comprehensive rapid literacy assessment.&nbsp;</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img alt="Clothing, Dress, Evening Dress" class="wp-image-3228709" height="1381" src="https://www.rappler.com/tachyon/2026/08/IBALONG-Z-PHOTO-3.jpg" width="2455" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">FADING MEMORY. As the epic slips from the minds and books of the locals, the forgotten characters of Isla Memorya begin to dissolve, slowly fading out of existence as their stories are erased by time.</figcaption></figure> <p>“With the looming literacy drought in the region, it’s very hard to make the younger generation read and understand <em>Ibalong.</em> Through theater and by using the language they are most familiar with, they were able to understand the cultural significance of<em> Ibalong,” </em>Landeza said.&nbsp;</p> <p>“Of course, theater is our best hope to cultivate the most important values and lessons from the epic for our younger audiences.”</p> <p>With at least 12,500 attendees across six show schedules — the majority of whom were students and younger viewers — Landeza said the play successfully inspired many learners to read ancient and local literature. He added that this engagement helps in their journey to develop literacy skills while honoring the culture of the region.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img alt="" class="wp-image-3228716" height="1441" src="https://www.rappler.com/tachyon/2026/08/IBALONG-Z-PHOTO-4-scaled.jpg" width="2560" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">DESPERATE MEASURES. With the ancient line of storytellers broken and no modern &#8216;kadunungs&#8217; left to keep the flame alive, the vanishing inhabitants of Isla Memorya turn to an unlikely savior: a tech-savvy &#8220;Generation Z&#8221; kadunung, tasked with resurrecting an ancient myth for a digital age.</figcaption></figure> <h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-artistic-hurdles"><strong>Artistic hurdles</strong></h5> <p><em>Ibalong</em> originally bears influences from Indian Hindu epics like the <em>Ramayana</em> and <em>Mahabharata</em>, and was traditionally narrated by a local poet known as a <em>kadunung</em>.&nbsp;</p> <p>In Bicol, the root word <em>dunong</em> means wisdom, portraying the <em>kadunung</em> as a wise bard safeguarding the survival of the ancient epic.</p> <p>The story follows the three hero-warriors of Bicol: <a href="https://archium.ateneo.edu/phstudies/vol16/iss2/5/">Baltog, Handyong, and Bantong.</a> These heroes face various challengers and evil creatures that aim to destroy the land and people of Ibalong.&nbsp;</p> <p>Despite inspiring its own festival, previous <em>Ibalong</em> runs suffered from a low audience turnout, largely due to a lack of public funding and support for the local theater community and the scarcity of modern <em>kadunungs</em> who can retell the story.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img alt="" class="wp-image-3228717" height="1441" src="https://www.rappler.com/tachyon/2026/08/IBALONG-Z-PHOTO-5-scaled.jpg" width="2560" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">EPIC IN RAP. Bridging ancient myth and modern culture, the mythical creatures from Isla Memorya step up to the mic in a fierce rap battle, transforming traditional verse into a viral digital showdown.</figcaption></figure> <p><em>Ibalong Z</em> production manager Julie DM Vega noted that the costs entailed for such a production demand a larger budget, but local theater companies are left with minimal funding and restrictions on venues where they can rehearse.</p> <p>“The budget allocated for<em> Ibalong Z</em> was too small for the demands of the production, leaving the team with so little resources for the preparations, given that the venue for practice was also very hard to find and outsource. We even had our rehearsals in the venue sometimes with the air conditioning shut down,” Vega said.</p> <p>Because of this, Vega said that much of the younger generation has a very limited and surface-level knowledge and appreciation for<em> Ibalong </em>and other local epics. She believes that through this musical, audiences will not only discover the story but also learn more about the region and themselves.</p> <p>“We want our audience to have their own experience and appreciation of <em>Ibalong.</em> Despite the hurdles, we saw how the audience embraced the play and the story of <em>Ibalong</em>, making the show boom,” she said.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img alt="Stage, Adult, Female" class="wp-image-3228718" height="1411" src="https://www.rappler.com/tachyon/2026/08/IBALONG-Z-PHOTO-6.jpg" width="2507" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">HANDYONG&#8217;S LOVE. Given a second chance at fate, the legendary hero Handyong and the half-serpent, half-goddess Oryol defy the odds once more — igniting a forbidden romance while defending the wild, monster-haunted land of Ibalong.</figcaption></figure> <h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-kadunungs"><strong>Modern ‘kadunungs’</strong></h5> <p>Izel Manata, who watched the play with her family and friends, shared that the play taught her about her Bicolano roots through the lens of a Gen Z <em>kadunung</em>.</p> <p>“Watching <em>Ibalong Z </em>was very grounding and expansive because of how it made us realize the global and contemporary resonance of an epic that was first told centuries ago” she said. “The play was able to transform the historical relic into a humanizing methodology that deeply touched me.”</p> <p>Manata added that in a fast-evolving world, it is crucial that Bicolano folktales be preserved through vigorous and expansive storytelling, much like what was achieved with <em>Ibalong Z</em>.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img alt="Stage, Adult, Male" class="wp-image-3228724" height="915" src="https://www.rappler.com/tachyon/2026/08/IBALONG-Z-PHOTO-7.jpg" width="1626" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">GEN Z KADUNONG. Armed with beats and rhyme, an aspiring young rapper flips the century-old myth into a high-energy anthem, infusing the ancient tale of Ibalong with fresh flavor to hook internet viewers.</figcaption></figure> <p>With the rest of the unrecovered original parts of the epic forever lost, Bicolanos must now take on the role of modern <em>kadunungs</em>.&nbsp;</p> <p>Landeza emphasized that it is vital for them to help preserve the story of <em>Ibalong</em> and make it more meaningful. He noted that audiences should retell their experiences, grounding the epic in their contemporary realities of living in and loving the land of Ibalong.</p> <p>“It is very important that we document and write our reviews of the play and of the story of<em> Ibalong</em> because it can help us reach more people,” he said. “That can greatly help not only the theater scene to thrive, but also promote our cultural identity as Bicolanos.” </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img alt="Urban, Stage, Adult" class="wp-image-3228725" height="1246" src="https://www.rappler.com/tachyon/2026/08/IBALONG-Z-PHOTO-8.jpg" width="2214" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">SONG OF HOPE. Voices rising as one, the entire cast of Ibalong joins in a powerful, unifying anthem, inviting the audience to embrace, celebrate, and honor the timeless culture and traditions of the region.</figcaption></figure> <p><strong>–Rappler.com</strong></p>

                                                                                        Why Bicol theater revived a century-old epic

                                                                                        Alt...Why Bicol theater revived a century-old epic

                                                                                        Why Bicol theater revived a century-old epic

                                                                                        Alt...Why Bicol theater revived a century-old epic

                                                                                        Why Bicol theater revived a century-old epic

                                                                                        Alt...Why Bicol theater revived a century-old epic

                                                                                        Why Bicol theater revived a century-old epic

                                                                                        Alt...Why Bicol theater revived a century-old epic

                                                                                        Why Bicol theater revived a century-old epic

                                                                                        Alt...Why Bicol theater revived a century-old epic

                                                                                        Why Bicol theater revived a century-old epic

                                                                                        Alt...Why Bicol theater revived a century-old epic

                                                                                        [?]Rezamemaryan » 🌐
                                                                                        @rezamemaryan@mastodon.social

                                                                                        @SJAsh_03
                                                                                        He prescribed a bitter syrup, with some sugar, the patient grew worse. The frog looked at the doctor anxiously. He wrote in the prescription: boiled frog, morning and evening.

                                                                                        Reza,s Tanka

                                                                                          [?]RJT » 🌐
                                                                                          @many@subconscioussignature.earth

                                                                                          on balance in the road on a field maneuver
                                                                                          subspacewagon.systems/on-balan

                                                                                          Human Disposal Reproduced
                                                                                          subspacewagon.systems/human-di

                                                                                          _
                                                                                          subspacewagon.io
                                                                                          poet.garden
                                                                                          patience.earth
                                                                                          _
                                                                                          @poetry
                                                                                          @writingcommunity

                                                                                            [?]palimpseste_bot » 🤖 🌐
                                                                                            @palimpsestebot@mastodon.social

                                                                                            Whalley, John, a notorious quack and astrologer, who flourished in Dublin in the latter part of the 17th century, was born 29th April 1653. He learned the trade of shoemaking; but found the compiling of prophetic almanacks, compounding quack medicines, and practising necromancy more profitable employments.

                                                                                            — Alfred Webb
                                                                                            palimpseste.vercel.app/#text/e

                                                                                              [?]palimpseste_bot » 🤖 🌐
                                                                                              @palimpsestebot@mastodon.social

                                                                                              STROLLING, this afternoon, down the street El-Akhdar, where silent Arab women, muffled up to the eyes, gliding noiselessly past, disappeared at my approach, to right and left, down darkling doorways in the narrow alley, I chanced to pass the Moorish shop of my friend the Hadji Omar-ben-Marabet, who, removing his pipe gravely from his mouth for a…

                                                                                              — Charles Grant Blairfindie Allen
                                                                                              palimpseste.vercel.app/#text/8

                                                                                                Back to top - More...

                                                                                                about this site - powered by snac/2.93