Why are we here? Because we're here. Roll the bones.
Why does it happen? Because it happens. Roll the bones.
- Rush, "Roll the Bones"

The original Eyrie - my first set of web pages - set up a page called the "Book of Shadows", which was a catch-all place for my poetry, writing, thoughts, and a few strayed links. This page shall serve somewhat the same purpose for Silver's Den; however, it will be purely my own composition, my own writing, poetry, and thoughts.

Each of the poems - at the moment, they are all poems - though that may change - will be preceded by a few paragraphs of commentary (meta-writing) about what the piece came from, or, very rarely, what it means; I rarely comment on meanings, because that is what the poems are there for. I hope that these commentaries will enhance the reading of the poem - however, for those who are not interested, there is a link at the top of each page to take you directly to the verse.

I am a writer by spirit and profession. All of these works are copyright to Heather Anne Nicoll.

• An untitled poem in dactylic octameter - February 13, 1997
• My City - ??? ??, 1998
• But My Heart - February 14, 1998
• The Blue-Eyed Cat - March 6, 1998
• To My Mother - March 29, 1998
• Aobheil - April 27, 1998
• XAIPEIN - April 29, 1998
• Phulaxe - April 30, 1998
• Alegria - April 30, 1998
• Questing for Aleph - May 1, 1998
• The Rain - May 2, 1998
• Impromptu Poetry - May 27, 1998
• This Dream - June 1, 1998
• Blood Mother - June 3, 1998
• Rape Satori - June 3, 1998
• Blood Oath - June 5, 1998
• Images and Words - June 7, 1998
• Nine Passions - June 7, 1998
• Promises - June 11, 1998
• Granddaughter - June 15, 1998
• Padrecito - June 18, 1998
• Composed Without Further Editing - June 28, 1998
• The Visitation - July 3 (4), 1998
• (The gap here is partially explained by me writing a novel.)
• Tribute - Nomar Garciaparra - 18 October, 1999
• Obsession - 23 November, 1999
• Perfect Game - 14 March, 2000
• Negative Space - 30 May, 2000
• Broken Sestina - 21 June, 2000
• It Rains - 27 June, 2000
• Seth Beyond the Borders of Egypt - 22 July 2003
• Untitled: In Praise of Yinepu - 7 January, 2004

I do recommend perusing the Book of Shadows if these works are interesting to you. These are the contents thereof wih a little comment on each.

• Alexander: This is one of my oldest short stories and one that I've been lucky enough to keep track of over the years. It is probably my first successful experiment with the psyche in writing.
• Dark Angel: This poem was written as a gift to one who is no longer so close as he was. I have reclaimed it.
• Another poem: this one untitled, which I tend to refer to as 'the horse poem'.
• The Wedding: This came from something of a vision-image I had. I have been engaged - unofficially, since I was underage at the time - since Yule of 1995.
• Hymn to Oestre: I wrote this after walking across the Wellesley campus in the mist to the rather (supposedly) prosaic Science Center, which is actually one of the more aesthetically perplexing buildings on campus. I find it delightful. The poem, though is about other things entirely.
  
• Gueneviere: I occasionally say that I have a ghost in my head. This is her. I'm perfectly serious. She's been there since mid-April, 1996.
• Eyes: Prose piece. It's not just poetry I write to crystallize the pain.
• The Rose Remembered: A poem - vaguely related to Eyes. If it helps with the image, look at your hand after considering the action of the last line of the poem. It may be illuminating.
• Closer to Moonlight: Short story about the natures of gods and coming of age.