Terry L. Forney, conclusion. Peace Dove I am the Peace Dove She proudly says Eyes cast up, arms spread wide, I am. Lifting off from the Dreamers Rock Soaring, diving, sweeping the ground, Lifting off. I am the Peace Dove she loudly squawks Landing with grace on his shoulder. I am. Whispers in his ear the voice Of eclectic reason Diverse, disparate, identical, self-same Whispers in his ear. I am the Peace Dove a bearer of love Which is all that we all are Underneath our masks. I am. Copyright © Terry L. Forney 2003

My Hamartia Layers of self designed to hide Hamartia of stubborn egoistic pride What is the verity buried inside, Does it battle for birth a soul divide? Concealed by a truth that silently lied Not seen by any but eyes open wide. Realistic concessions all denied In hopes that honesty is belied. Inner self screamed viscerally cried Let me live let me live before I die. Copyright © Terry L. Forney 2003

The Autodomesticated Toad Prodded with a stick of words Into his tiny ear Toad hops away in a frenzy of Domesticated fear. He'd broken all the rules of The pond that he lived in He was guilty and ashamed In his domesticated sin. He'd believed for a short time He could walk upon two feet But other Toads attacked him In their domesticated heat. How dare he dream and reach Beyond the skin he is in He lost the vision and returned To his domesticated fins. Copyright © Terry L. Forney 2003

Tender Is the Toad Tender is the Toad The amphibian alter ego of my love. Eyes bulging out at the world Searching for reason, for explanation. Tongue flickering out in an effort To taste his new beginning, He hops about aimlessly knowing he is locked in a prison of his own creation. Faintly he remembers the Prince within Faded memories of another existence They flicker on and off before his closed eyes reminding him Prodding him to discover who he really is. One moment he knows, then it is gone. Still he knows it is there--the answer. He will search, he will trust, he will hope that it is there. Tender is the Toad, the amphibian alter ego of my love. Copyright © Terry L. Forney 2003

Terry L. Forney contributes to the Fiction section of StickYourNeckOut in addition to his poems, above.  Terry was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio.  His mother says, "Terry is the only child in sixth grade who wrote a story about the shoes in his closet having sex."

Terry admits to having been "a geek" in high school and never having had a date back then, but says he is "making up for it now."

Terry (who also writes under the name Khande Ye Khode—means "laughter of God" in Farsi) has written three as-yet-unpublished books:  From Prince to Toad, A Love Story (with A.D. Toad); SoulJourn; and I'd Be Married By Now If It Weren't For That One Weird Thing.

From Prince to Toad, a "real-life Griffin and Sabine," is about falling in love.  SoulJourn describes a 4000-mile solitary journey of self-discovery by the author. ("Still looking," he says.)  I'd Be Married By Now journals a cavalcade of the author's failed dates.

Terry, who works professionally as a grantwriter, is "passionate about love, life, laughter, that ONE TRUE THING, learning, books, spirit (aka THE BIG CHEESE) writing, my friends, and horses."

Contact the author at:  tlforney@hotmail.com

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