Pixel Poetry

With the right tool any person can become a poet.

(see what other poets have made)

  1. Step 1 / 3

    Uncover the story within the story.

  2. Step 2 / 3

    Drag, drop, and discard your words to write your poem.

  3. Step 3 / 3

    Save your poem and pass the words on.

Once Upon a Time

Onceuponatime,aboyandagirlfellinlove.Fromrivallingfactions,differenthouses,opposingsides.Ataleasoldastime.Hewasfromafamilyofconstellationmappers.Scientists.Whosawtheworldandbrokeitdownintomathematicalprecisionanddetail.Charted,calculated,plotted.Shewasbornamongthestory-tellers,whodrewupfablesandfairytales.Legendstoexplainwhythingswereandhowthingscouldbe.

Thestory-tellersdespisedthescientistsfortearingapartmysterytorevealbarebone.Likeopeningabodytorevealtheinsides.Sacrilege.Thescientistcouldn’tunderstandhowsomecouldgothroughlifesoblindtoitsreality.Ignorance.

Butshelovedhisattentiontodetail.Hisinterestinallthingsbigandsmallintothemostminiscule.Howhecouldunearthandexplaintheworld’smosthiddensecrets.Andhelovedhersweepingvision.Abottomlessknowledgeofthingsbeyondhisken.Howshecouldaccountfortheworldandeverythinginitandthenspinbeautyoutofthemundane.Sotheyplannedtorunawaytogetherandstartanewwayofbeing.

Allgoodthingscannotlastinalandfullofenvy.Theywerecondemnedandtornapart.Nevertoseeeachotheragain.Bothsidesdidtheirbesttomakethemforget.Forgetaboutfeelingwhole.And,time,well,timedoeshealallwounds.Memorieswerebrushedoveruntilhecouldn’treallythinkofaplacewithherandshecouldn’trememberitbeinganyotherway.

Buttrueloveknowsnoboundaries,anditfoundthemintheonlyplaceitcould.Betweenwords.Thathalf-waypointbetweenreasonandimagination.Folktaleswouldreachhisears.Hispeoplewouldsitinacircleandlaughattheabsurdstoriestoldoverthere,ontheotherside.‘Onceuponatime’onemimicked.Andtheboy’sbreathcaughtinhischest.Wordshe’dheardbefore,spokendifferently,softer.Forasecond,apresencewithinreach,afeelingonthetipofhistongue.He’dbeenherebeforewithsomeonehehadonceknown.Thenitwasgone.

‘Onceuponatime’andshewouldfeelashiftintheair,alingeringtouch,aflutterofherheart.‘Onceuponatime’,‘onceuponatime’.Likematchesstruckinthenight.‘Onceuponatime.’Andforabriefsecond,itwasliketouching.Thennothing.Andhewouldshakehishead,andfeelalittlebitemptier.