Writing Exercise 159

Merry Christmas everyone!

May your wishes come true, the feast be splendid and the time with your loved ones worthwhile. :D
Here is a little something for you to read:

2018/12/26 – Merry Christmas (poem)

Baubles and tinsel and fairy lights

A shooting star in silent nights

Cinnamon and vanilla flavours

Gifts and wishes and favours

Choirs singing a heavenly song

Knowing that you belong

With family and friends and lovers

Powdered snow everything covers

Festive and joyful atmosphere

Wishing dearly you were here

From the heart I say – it's true:

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Writing Exercise 158

Hi!

How are Christmas preparations going? I almost forgot to upload my writing exercise. XD
This week I had the prompt to  write about a totally normal day in the life of one of my characters. So here is my double drabble:

2018/12/21 – New Leaf (double drabble)

Imagine a totally normal day in the life of the cruel clan chief of the Raven Daemons, Lord Rhagkal Raven. At dawn he would get up and get ready for the day to read his correspondence during a typical Daemonic breakfast consisting of the most delicious delicacies you might ever taste. He would create several illusions of himself to file trade orders, pay visits to his toys in the dungeon, research the whereabouts of mighty artefacts to hoard in his vault, telepathically mess with the heads of important people to keep wars going for his entertainment, hold meetings with his co-conspirators, have an even more splendid lunch ready, have tea in the library between good reads and be bothered with the shenanigans of his 'high maintenance toy'. He would pay a visit to his deceased wife's grave, cursing her for every prediction that came true. If his heir was home they would battle until the younger Daemon was incapacitated. And after a late dinner he would spend more time with his favourite toys, granting them attention and maybe something they wished for. After a hot shower he would call it a day and dream of things going according to plan.

Writing Exercise 157

Hello again!

Thi time I tumbled over a questionaire on twitter so chose ten questions out of those 31 for this week's writing exercise and answered them. So this is me. XD

2018/12/13 – Interview with a vampire writer

1. Introduce yourself!

I'm Asuka Ishimaru, a self-published science fiction and fantasy author, digital and traditional artist, law student and housewife.

2. What are your hobbies?

I love writing, drawing, painting, reading and video games. I miss sailing, but I'm looking into skiing.

3. Where do you most hope to visit?

The places where my dear writing buddies live so we can meet in person and geek about our characters and plots.

4. What I your most-used emoji?

XD, closely followed by a black heart and an upside down smiley.

5. What was your first job?

Our neighbour back when I was in school was a locally famous linoleum print artist. I helped out in his atelier.

6. Who was your biggest teacher in life?

My mother; she taught me to laugh and love and live and just be myself, come what may.

7. What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?

Stay true to yourself and keep doing what you do. Life is tough, but you end up being me.

8. What job would you be terrible at?

Professional road racing athlete. I hate cycling with a passion.

9. What is your favourite song?

I have many favourite songs, and they change with the characters or stories I'm writing. My favourite band however is Trivium.

10. Do you have any pets?

I have a bunch of cacti. Does that count? I may not be able to cuddle them but they have names and I talk to them.

Writing Exercise 156

Good morning!

This week I have another double drabble for you. I have several prompts up my sleeve, and this is actually one of them. Here is what I made of it:

2018/12/03 – Anything but that (double drabble)

A blinding flash trickling down his spine was the last thing he remembered before clapping his eyes open. The rising sun peered through the blinds as he lay sprawled on the bed. Which was weird since he didn't remember going to bed. And the room seemed unfamiliar as well. His head in a cotton-woolly state, he blinked to focus his vision as he listened to the dulled sounds of birdsong. His senses did not sharpen much though. So he waited in the faint hope they would return once he was fully awake. Yet to no avail. Confused he sat up, slid out of bed and padded through the room, carefully, as his balance was off and his limbs felt wobbly. He managed to make it to the bathroom. A look into the mirror shocked him so much that his stomach lurched and repudiated its contents into the toilet. He frantically tried to call on his well of unfathomable strength and make this nightmare end. Nothing happened. His powers were gone. To his horror he was human. Those cheeky elders. He despised powerless creatures, and now they made him one as punishment for failing the mission. There was no way back.

Writing Exercise 155

Hello everyone!

I'm still on holiday, but in between sightseeing I found some time to write this Tanka and respond to a prompt with a character from my dear Neverbeen Universe. Here it is:

2018/11/27 – Daggers in the Dark (Tanka)

The next in line is

A prince not wanting the crown

Daggers in the dark

Are not his concern; he just

Wants to heal the sick, not reign

Writing Exercise 154

Hi there!

Currently i'm on holiday. But that doesn't keep me from writing. Here is this week's writing exercise, a free verse poem inspired by a prompt:

2018/11/22 – I choose you! (free verse)

On a bright day, quite nice quite clear

His darling asked him to go

To the nearest meadow

Where there stood an apple tree

The apples were quite ripe and delicious

So he went to fetch some for a snack

Collecting a few in the tree's shadow

He was oblivious to the heinous attack

Someone sneaked up on him

Threw a contraption and hit his head

He saw stars, then it was dark

Before he knew it he was trapped

No idea how to break free from that device

His powers sealed, his body dematerialized

He was caught in that cruel confinement

Where he waited

For his cruel fate

Worrying for his family as it was getting late

He tried to cry for help

Yet his voice echoed from the walls

His situation unseen and unheard

Helpless he had to endure

Brooding and planning some kind of revenge

On the one who so heinously captured him

Sorrow and longing for home in his heart

And it tore him apart

But suddenly

The spell was broken

The contraption was opened

His matter spat out

Gaining form and body again

He found himself at some foreign place

Staring incredulously at... a human child?

Its eyes sparkling and wide

All his anger fizzled out

He would never hurt

A kid, no matter the race

Especially if it freed him

If only he knew how to get home

So he asked for the way

Yet the human didn't understand

And uttered instead a command

Confused he turned around

To see a long lost friend

Who'd disappeared some months ago

In front of another human child

Its eyes just as excited and wide

His friend turned foe and attacked

“Just play along

If one of us goes K.O.

For now it'll end,”

He was told.

“This is your life now.

Welcome to Hell.

If you're lucky

Someday you will be set free.

Until then you will have to fight.

That human, your master, will care for you,

Keep you confined day and night.”

Confused he looked about

The child bellowed commands left and right

And soon he understood

There really was no choice

He started listening to that voice

In the faint hope he would be released

As promised

And return home one day

But for now the child held that contraption again

Cast that spell and trapped him again

Where he brooded and waited

Forced to travel and fight

Yet he couldn't really hate the kid

For what it was putting him through

It was oblivious to his world and his worries

Yet it genuinely seemed to care

Fed him, treated his wounds

Called him a 'friend'

And went on great adventures

But always when he was confined again

He would dwell and brood

Dreaming of the place called home

Writing Exercise 153

Hello again!

A new week, a new prompt, a new writing exercise. This time I wrote a double drabble for you. Enjoy!

2018/11/13 – Fallout Girl (double drabble)

Putting on her rubber gloves Alice called down the hall as she bounded towards the door: “Ma? Da? I'm going to play outside a little!” None answered, but she didn't care. She grabbed her mask and slid it on then pushed the heavy metal door open. It fell shut behind her with a loud klanking noise. Alice breathed deeply into her mask and peered into the mist that hung low above the asphalt; the faint sunshine painted it violet and red. She skipped on the broken pavement, avoiding the rubble and holes on her way to the playground singing: “One, two, dead are you. Three four, lock the door. Five, six, bombs break bricks. Seven, eight, it's too late. Nine, ten, they kill you then.” By then she made it to the playground and climbed awkwardly on the monkey bars where she had a good view over her block. She strained her eyes and wished her mask had built-in binoculars. But taking it off was no option either. She didn't want to get sick like Ma and Da. Alice hoisted her self-made flag on the top pole of the monkey bars and waited. One day other survivors would appear...hopefully.

Writing Exercise 152

Good morning!

Lets start the week with a writing exercise instead of ending it with one, shall we? This sonnet was also prompted by my dear writing buddy from the Dead Pete Society. Enjoy!

2018/11/05 – Dry Spell (German sonnet)

In a world of wonders and magic

Where everyone wielded a power or two

You might think it cannot be true

But something happened quite tragic

When everyone basked in their strength

Suddenly our hero failed a spell

His magic gone – he couldn't tell!

But went to get it back at great length

During adventures to gain what was lost

He attained a cursed artifact at great cost

Activated it so the deed be done

A blinding light emerged from his hands

Hit everyone everywhere all over the lands

And from then on all the magic was gone

Writing Exercise 151

Hello there!

I just realised I haven't done my writing exercise yet. NaNoWriMo kept me busy half of the week. :D
So here is a double drabble prompted ba my dear writing buddy from the Dead Pete Society:

2018/11/04 – A Dance Amongst Shadows (double drabble)

Warily he eyed the merry crowd, people dressed up in their most splendid robes, frolicking and dancing to the fine music in the ball room. Ah, how he loathed such social events, how he despised the oblivious and ignorant people who pretened to have a good time gossipping, drinking, dancing… Alas, he had to attend, and so he did. A glass of heavy wine kept him company as he kept his distance and observed with contempt.

Until a beautiful lady appeared before him and smiled up at him. “Mylord,” she breathed, a halo of flowery perfume around her, “you seem a bit bored. May I try to lift your mood during this dance?” She held out her slender hand for him to take. He blinked, just as perplexed as wary. She used his moment of hesitation to take the glass from his hand, put it away and drag him towards the dance floor. Before he knew it, she was in his arms swaying to the music.

It was not like he couldn't dance, he just preferred not to. He seriously considered ditching her for he rather danced amongst shadows than make a fool of himself here. So he left, disgusted.

Writing Exercise 150

Wow!

This is writing exercise 150 already. :o
This means there are 150 weeks of continuously writing tidbits behind me. With this week's little poem, here's to another 150 writing exercises. :D

2018/10/28 – The Little Leaf (poem)

There once was a little leaf

Budding on a stem of a tree

To whispered caution it was deaf

Wishing to be wild and free

There once was a bright green leaf

Basking in the summer sun

It was of the certain belief

That flying would be so much fun

There once was a withered leaf

Watching all his dear friends fall

It was stricken with great grief

Knowing this was nature's call

There once was a crumpled leaf

Covered by a blanket of snow

It had a dream quite nice, quite brief

Of buds in springtime's morning glow

Writing Exercise 149

Good morning!

I'm sorry I'm late. For some reason I didn't upload this yesterday, but here is last week's writing exercise:

2018/10/21 – Autumn (Drabble)

It is that time of year again, when in the wee hours of the new day the light is hardly able to fight the darkness of night and the world wants to stay grey and black. Occasional lampposts throw blots of light in the blackness. And when the day finally breaks the mist doesn't want to let go for the longest time. But when it does, the day is usually bright. Leaves fall and crumble to the ground, cover the earth like a colourful blanket. So it may rest peacefully while the days become shorter. Autumn always makes me sleepy.

Writing exercise 148

Good morning!

This time aroun I was inspired by a song title to write this week's Haiku. Here it is:

2018/10/13 – fairy tale gone bad (Haiku)

Once upon a time

The hero lived happily,

But never after

Writing Exercise 147

Hey everyone!

Today is a special occasion so I waited until today to do my weekly writing exercise. Celebrating the National Day of my country I wrote a poem for you. Here it is:

2018/10/03 – German National Day (Poem)

Let me praise you

My beautiful country, my nation, my home

Your landscape is so diverse and rich

From the mountains to the sea

Never have I felt so free

Have my constitutional rights, of which

I make use, my life to hone

Let me applaud you

By xenophobia let's not be blinded

Embrace cultural diversity now

Black, red and gold

Remember what history told

Be proud of what democracy can allow

Break free from being narrow-minded

And let me love you

Writing Exercise 146

Hello there!

This week I was prompted by a dear friend of mine, and so I wrote a drabble which is probably different from what she expected. Here it is:

2018/09/28 – broken dream (Drabble)

Dark and disastrous things happen all around, atrocities, cruelties beyond humanity. There is no end. No silver lining, no hope, no nothing. You can only succumb to despair and madness, or die in the process thereof; horribly, mercilessly, miserably, painfully. If you are really lucky it will happen quickly, a shot through the heart or the head. But prepare to be torn apart limb after limb, and still be alive and aware enough to witness the gory massacre.

Suddenly a noise tears through the darkness. You wake immediately; it was just another broken dream. Having survived another night, you smile.

Writing Exercise 145

Good morning!

This week I was prompted by one of my art buddies, so I wrote a poem about 'demons'. Here goes:

2018/09/18 – Demons (poem)

Everyone has their demons haunting them day and night

Some are very real, others are just their fears

Bringing the hardest men and toughest women to tears

Gripping and shaking them until they don't know left from right

Mine lurk in the darkness inside my soul

Laughing at me, taunting me as they tear me apart

Letting me know the real torture is only about to start

How can I live when inside I have this gaping hole?

Those demons are ghastly creatures

Behind each thought their jabs and punches are vicious

They find my silent suffering so delicious

And when I look in the mirror they bear my features

There are nights when I think this never ends

When I know against them I'm a lousy defender

But in the end I swear to never surrender

And hope that one day my barren soul mends

Writing Exercise 144

Hello there!

Do you mourn 9/11 today as well? Well, I have a double drabble for you. Here it is:

2018/09/11 – remembrance (double drabble)

Today we remember a day which shocked the whole world almost two decades ago, and every year in doing so we carve the notch on history's bedpost a little deeper. But this is not the only day worth remembering – in fact, we have so many of them, we could mourn and remember every day of the year and do nothing else.

World Peace Day, World Hunger Day, World Women's Day, World Refugee Day, World Health Day…

Safer Internet Day, World Sleep Day, World Radio Day, World Tourist Guide Day, World Grandpa Underpants Day.

Okay, I made the last one up. But seriously, the truly important days should not only be remembered once a year – these are issues which should be addressed and acted upon always, until they are issues no more.

And the other remembrance days are nothing but ridiculous; they trivialize the real problems by putting them on the same level of importance.

I understand the need for more positivity in this world, and I support it. We need to feel happy in order to know sadness, and vice versa. And, by all means, we could use some good news!

But let's not lose sight of what is important.

Writing Exercise 143

Good morning!

This week I want to raise a little awareness. So I wrote a little Haiku for you. Here it is:

2018/09/04 – News (Haiku)

Why are news mostly

About something horrible?

Notice the nice things

Writing Exercise 142

Good morning!

It it time for another writing exercise. :D
Today I have a little drabble for you, which I wrote in the very situation described therin. Enjoy!

2018/08/29 – pre-dawn (Drabble)

Sometimes the night is over before it even dawns. Something awakes you from your slumber, grasps you, shakes away the tiredness from your body and won't let go until you decide to get up. Silently you heed its call, get yourself a nice cup of coffee or tea and sit by the window to watch over the sleeping world like a sentry, a mortal guardian angel. You peer into the darkness and by the minute it seems to lift as the sky slowly turns from black to blue to violet. Suddenly a silver lining – the beauty of sunrise is yours.

Writing Exercise 141

A new week, a new writing exercise! :D
This time I was prompted again by my buddy from the art group, and I decided to write a German sonnet for this prompt. Enjoy!

2018/08/20 – “shadows of big creatures soar through the sky, the sky looks almost like it's burning“ (German sonnet)

The sky is painted in fiery reds

There are clouds of ash and smoke

Ghastly shadows swoosh like a feather stroke

You think you're safe at home in your beds?

A roar erupts from the heavens like thunder

The earth seems caught in a conflagration

People tremble with dread and anticipation

That those creatures tear the world asunder

Flying death approaches from the sky

Don't hope for mercy for they will deny

You think there is a silver lining?

As the shadows soar over the lands

Your fate lies solely in their hands

Onto soot and ruins the sun will be shining

Writing Exercise 140

Hello there!

I know this comes at a late hour, but I couldn't sleep so worked on this prompt by a friend from my art group. So here is this week's exercise:

2018/08/15 – “They came out of nowhere, the demons are destroying the city. This is the end” (drabble)

It all started with a dull rumble. The earth shook and trembled under the sheer force of nature. But it was no ordinary earthquake. No, it was something more sinister. Something, which heralded the beginning of the end. An abysmal rift opened and split the city in two, and from it they emerged – ghastly creatures conjured from your worst nightmares. Demons of all kinds, and they sought to destroy and kill and devour. None was safe. There was no hope to survive this horror for no man-made weapon could touch a hair on their ugly heads. The end was nigh.

Writing Exercise 139

Hello again!

This week my focus lies on a rhethorical device: the alliteration. Thus I challenged myself to this little exercise:

2018/08/06 – alliteration ABC

After all astronauts are afloat.

Before breakfast bakers bake bread.

Crying children cannot chill.

Dark days devour dreams dreadfully.

Even elephants eat every evening.

Floating fleets ferry furry ferrets.

Great geese gobble grass gleefully.

Happy hippies hold hands heartily.

Ivy is insidiously irascible inside.

Just join joggers joyously.

Keen knights kill knowing kindness.

Long leaves lay loosely, lingering listlessly.

My muse may moan miserably.

No, naysayers never need negotiation.

Orchid orchards overshadow odour.

Poets play plenty poetic pranks.

Quixotic queens question querulously.

Ravenous ravens rise restlessly.

Softly swaying she sings sweet serenades.

The tragedy therein tortures them terribly.

Usually users underestimate utility units.

Very vicious villains vandalize variegated vernissages.

Wintry winds whisper without wailing.

X-rays x-ray xylophones.

Yesterday you yielded yearning, yet yelping.

Zealous zebras zigzag zoos.

Writing Exercise 138

Hello!
I'm back again with another writing exercise. This week I wrote a little poem inspired by my plans for the week. Here it is:

2018/07/30 – the visit (poem)

My friend, is it time?

The air is filled with anticipation

Let me cross for you a whole nation

My promise is ringing like a chime

My friend, be patient still

I'll soon hurry there

You know, I'd go anywhere

To meet you, and I will!

My friend, don't worry

Time sure flies by

We meet again if we try

And none of us needs to be sorry

Writing Exercise 137

Hi!
Is this heat wave weighing down on you the same way as on me? Anyway, I have a prompt this week, which I turned into a Haiku.
Enjoy!

2018/07/26 – darkness (Haiku)

Infinite darkness.

There is a silver lining –

Treasure of the soul.

Writing Exercise 136

Hello there!

For quite some time I had a request lying about. Now I got round to finally tackle it. It is set in my Neverbeen Universe. And this is what I made of it:

2018/07/20 – “Um… Boss? You might want to see this…” The Dark Overlord’s henchman notifies them. They look outside to see the prophesied hero, who has just heard the prophecy and learned of their importance, has shown up at their doorstep to join the forces of evil.

“Mylady!” Totally engrossed with the book she was reading the Daemoness only noticed her minions wanted to gain her attention after a few attempts. “Um...Boss? You might want to see this...” the henchman notified her nervously wringing his hands.

Lady Rawiya Raven blinked then sighed and put down her book. “Alright. What's the matter?” she asked and followed the man to the to of her keeptower where other minions were gathered. A red dawn crept over the horizon. But there was more, so much more...

“What are they?” Rawiya peered at the oncoming hordes.

“Undeads, Mylady...” the henchman seemed even more nervous as the shambling creatures approached and followed their master, who was marching straight towards her black fortress.

“I see,” the Dark Overlady murmured, “so the day has finally come as was prophesied...”

“What are we going to do? Attack?” another of her minions asked as he clutched his weapons, ready for war. All of them seemed visibly agitated, even distressed.

But the Daemoness just held up her hand. “Wait.” She spread her black wings and leapt into the air to face the prophesied hero. The hordes stopped and the knight in shining armour approached where she landed and awaited him.

“You must be Lady Rawiya Raven. They told me about you and your destructive powers.” the alleged saviour of the world rumbled as he took off his helmet to greet the Dark Overlady. “My name is Aeron Deathwalker.”

She inclined her head and smiled a little mischievous smile. “You are not mistaken, Aeron Deathwalker. I assume you know of the prophesy?” She crossed her arms.

He nodded. “I do.” He sighed. “To save the world I am supposed to defeat you, the ultimate threat to mankind. That's at least what they told me.”

Rawiya raised a brow. “And you think fighting me here, where I have field advantage, would be a good idea? You're very sure of yourself. Then again you have a whole prophesy to back you up. But we'll see if it's any good.”

“Actually...no,” Aeron deadpanned. “I'm not here to fight you, Mylady. I'm here to offer my services and join your forces.” He got down on his knees and took her hand. “I don't care about the prophesy, I don't care about those old coots babbling about heroes and fate, and I certainly don't care about humanity. I'd rather see the world burn if I can spend the rest of my days by the side of this beautiful lady,” he stated.

She looked deeply in his eyes, and he looked right back. She saw nothing but sincerity in him. Then a small smile crept onto her lips. “Very well,” she said. “Rise. And come with me; I'll show you your new home...can I offer you some tea?”

Writing Exercise 135

Hello again!
This week I was prompted by a member of my art group, and I decided to write you a drabble. Without further ado, here it is:

2018/07/11 – Reawakened (drabble)

He had heard of the magic of a kiss. There were stories of royal kisses releasing people from their curses, and there was truth to them, wasn't there? So when he, the prince, found her in the deepest of slumbers and none was able to rouse her from her sleep, he instantly knew what to do. Thus he bent down, drawn in by her sweet lips and kissed her, only to deepen it in the spur of the moment. She sighed, short of a moan, and her eyelids fluttered open. But he withdrew abruptly. For he had reawakened a zombie.

Writing Exercise 134

Huh, the weather changed so suddenly and my grand plans for today fell through. To let off some steam I wrote my frustration into this poem:

2018/07/06 – summer days (poem)

Summer days, where have you gone?

Yesterday it was so nice and hot;

Today you would believe it not.

Look what one single storm has done!

Summer days, come back to me!

I long for golden sand on the beach:

Swimming and sunbathing – a lot of each!

Why is the temperature ten lower in degree?

Summer days, I wish you well.

At least there is more than enough rain

For the flowers to feel no pain.

This is all there is left to tell.

Writing Exercise 133

Hi!
This week I have something controversial and political for you as I wrote a comment. Read for yourselves and feel free to discuss with me about it!

2018/06/26 – Glamis, Cawdor, King – What's up next, Mr. Trump?

“Fair is foul and foul is fair.” Who does not know Shakespeare's honourable warrior Macbeth, who is lured by sweet promises of twilight creatures, aims for the crown by bloody measures and is haunted by the consequences of his deeds? Today we may face another great warrior entitled with the democratic crown of the western hemisphere.

As we follow the line of actions in the war against ISIS we might be reminded of “Macbeth” seeing “the battle's lost and won”.

Indeed President Trump has kind of success striking back against terrorism, alright. That might glorify him to the head of the American world-police and moreover the American force seems kind of overwhelming.

But the battle is “lost” at the same time: reckless actions and military pressure on people produce more suffering, depression and frustration, which help terror spread and provoke self-destructive assassins to appear. And the world is shocked.

Glamis Trump obviously keeps on listening to these witch-like directors of flawed intelligence, instead of reflecting on the pros and cons of his actions. Or maybe he does, but ignores the negative consequences (which are quite a lot) in favour of his ambition to achieve honour, glory and power.

This is another feature he seemingly has in common with Macbeth, who finds every but one reason not to commit murder, but still does the deed.

Cawdor Trump might defeat all his enemies someday, but I fear he might kill his Banquo, whoever that is – maybe his European allies who he keeps affronting, maybe people in the middle east who want to change things themselves or maybe even the American people who elected him.

Yet King Trump's downfall is to come, but already terror's ghosts, ISIS, haunt the president and every radicalized self-destructive assassin that pops up seemingly out of nowhere should be a pointer as well as a warning sign: there should be found other measures but “bloody work that strikes back at the inventor” and quick attack against frustrated and misled minds. Terror has to be destroyed, there is no doubt in it, but the uppermost aim must be ending the suffering of the innocent, because they are the ones to strike back if we loose their trust by rash actions.

Therefore President Trump should better teamwork in order to find a convenient solution in the ISIS conflict, than being too ambitious like Macbeth or else he might not be able to estimate what is “fair” and what is “foul” for people living in the areas occupied by ISIS. It just might be the other way round according to the American world view.

Writing Exercise 132

Hello there!
This week I am a little late again. But I finished this Haiku just in tim for you to see. Maybe you have some time to do as I did?

2018/06/24 – party (Haiku)

Celebrate the day

Make new friends, meet old ones

Enjoy this life. Now.

Writing Exercise 131

Hello again!
This week I'm a little late. But I have a summer-themed poem for you to read. I hope you can relate.
Here it is:

2018/06/16 – cherries (poem)

Spots of red between green leaves

Full and ripe and glowing

Reaching over from the eaves

For what summer has been growing

Finally claiming that sweet taste

Oh, how long did I miss

Deliciousness in my mouth so chaste

As if it were my true love's kiss