I’ve got a bit of a meta poem for you today! To be honest, I woke up a bit early, sat in bed and thought ‘what am I going to write about?’. I had some work to do and some little bits and pieces to tidy up, but then I sat down and just wrote. This is what happens when I let words just leave me and enter a screen, apparently: some sort of commentary on the actual process and impact of writing itself. Maybe it’s because I’m in a small room with the curtains drawn, so there’s not much else for inspiration – who knows? In any case, I hope you enjoy this poem!
Author Archives: Oskar Leonard
Oskar Leonard is a trans author, poet and illustrator from the UK, as well as a beta-reader and proofreader through Fiverr. He has written fifteen books: six novels, five poetry collections, three novellas and a short story collection.
His short works have been featured in publications such as The Meadowlark Review, Pen & Quill and Juven. He has achieved a First Class Honours BA in English Literature with Creative Writing from Edge Hill University.
Take Me With You
This poem appeared in OUCH! Mag’s fifth issue, Galaxy, and it definitely fits within that starry theme. But it’s not just about space and aliens, although those elements are definitely within it. I tried to create a deeper story behind the simple want to live among the stars with strange beings from other planets, and I hope that comes across in my writing. Rather than just hope and curiosity, some more negative emotions lurk beneath the stanzas, but I think they all contribute to the overall image: not wanting to be left on Earth when you could be taken anywhere else in the galaxy.
Dear Oskar
No, I didn’t just address a blog post to myself – instead, I wrote a letter-poem to myself! This piece is themed around my lockdown experience, with highs and lows of how life has been. It came runner-up in the Telegraph’s Teen Writing Competition and I’m really proud of it.
Thoughtless
To be clear, this poem is not an attack on my classmates (and not-exactly-classmates, as I’ll discuss) or the bus driver who diligently gets us to college and back in the mornings and evenings. Instead, it is a discussion of the many failings which occur when you force two year groups from two colleges (four year groups in total) onto one bus during lockdown and COVID restrictions. Think of it more as an expression of emotion, rather than a formal letter of complaint – and enjoy!
Lighter Fluid Excerpt
Have you read Lighter Fluid, my gritty high school inspired novella, yet? It’s available as a completely free ebook on Smashwords! Already read it? Feel free to leave a review telling me what you thought, or even a comment on this post. For those who haven’t read it yet and want a little taste before they leap into a new book, here’s the first scene! If you love it, make sure to check out either the ebook or the print book!
Tender Choice
I decided to write this poem about the choice between summer and winter and the different types of beauty they both hold. Personally, I find myself switching between which one I like more pretty often (Autumn is probably my favourite season just for being a comfortable in-between). I hope you enjoy the poem!
Flutters Of Memory
This is actually a poem which I wrote for the FOURALL Magazine Spring Internship Program as a Creative Writing Intern, and it was featured in FOURALL Magazine’s sixth issue. I’m pretty proud of it, so I thought I’d post it here too. The poem focuses on memories and draws off of some of my fondest memories with old friends. I hope you enjoy it!
Away, On The Chill Of The Wind
Before we completely leave winter, I thought I’d write a little flash fiction piece inspired by it. If you’re looking for a quick read which blends relationships and the cold together, you’re in the right place. It’s not exactly happy, but I thought that it was almost morbidly beautiful while writing it. Hope you enjoy–or perhaps ‘enjoy’ is the wrong word. Either way, here it is!
A Childhood
This is a poem which I wrote during FOURALL Magazine’s fall internship program. I wanted to explore ideas of childhood and very specific elements of it, while acknowledging that these concrete details aren’t universal. I hope you enjoy reading A Childhood!
Sweet Dream, Bitter Reality Excerpt
Looking forward to the release of my next novella, Sweet Dream, Bitter Reality? If you’re curious about the book, why not have a little taste right now? This is the prologue to Sweet Dream, Bitter Reality–or ‘Chapter 0’, as I’m calling it. I hope you enjoy this little introduction to my next novella!
Oskar Leonard 