and the city was struck

but did not fall.

Four years ago, I entrusted a friend to convert this blog to WordPress, a decision I almost immediately regretted, as it is much easier to change to WP than from it.

Now, four years, almost to the day, I stand before you and explain. I was notified yesterday by my web hosting company that someone had planted malware, through a security hole in WP, on my City of Legends site. A bomb, shall we say, by a terrorist or criminal, in my city.

I tore the city down. I revived this surviving antiquity, and am endeavoring to salvage what I can of the last four years of the City of Legends blog to add to it. I don't know how long that might take.

But the City stands, still. I will be tweaking it heavily in the next few days and weeks to clean up the mess and improve, I ask your patience.

Life is a cup of hot jasmin tea

I was asked for input into what would be the final poem of the year (and the 97th post) in the Amomancer blog, and assented to the choice of my 2005 work "Perhaps there are yet panthers". Despite my disappointment in the woman who inspired the works that are practically synonymous with my reputation, the Panther Cycles, I respect that poem. It speaks to who I am, having come at a time of great disillusionment, but expressing the hope that there should be someone out there for everyone, including me.

Yeah, I mean you Jaz. Having garnered your sister's vote, do you think I will call it a day and retire my suit? Ha!

Yesterday I was asked who my favourite muse of all time was for my works. An unfair question. But one I felt like answering for the person who asked it, so I did. I think she was mildly shocked at who I named (Who was it? I don't have to answer that for you...but I will give you a clue, she was quite tall). She was further surprised when I was asked how many muses I've had and I told her that there have been but three significant ones, despite E.J.'s insistence upon there having been like 8 major muses and a dozen minor ones. A single poem, a single stone, does not a temple of Aphrodite make. I have not been as promiscuous with my flesh or my heart as those who would benefit from thinking so would tell you.

In a perfect world, a perfect world, I would have married my first real love, Psyche, and that would have ended the path, she was beautiful, wise and brilliant. A great kisser (that's important, you know), an earnest lover, intellectually passionate and of a sharp humour, she inspired some of my most elemental and enduring works. Without her I would never have become the poet, or the man, for good or for bad, that I am. I owe her infinite thanks. I measure all the women I have been inspired by against her, and most are found sadly lacking. No, it wasn't her, but I wanted to state that, right here and now.

The New Year is upon us, and it is a time for sober reflection, introspection and mid-course correction.

The hell it is.

I want 110% power on all engines. Next time you see a comet in the night, passing Earth and waving hello as it fills the eye and sky with wonders, that'll be me.

This is my moment of inertia.

Thanks to Jaz, Sarah, Peri, Elric, Dante, Brian, Jan, the guys in the band, Alan, Stephanie, Maggie, Jennifer, Robert, Tag, Chanda, Kristin, E.J., Nancy, Karla and everyone I am forgetting but will remember later.

One hell of a year, the bar has been set a bit higher for next year. And I'm already taking my running start.

A Living Legend

For more than a decade the poetry and writings of William F. DeVault have been synonymous with neo-romanticism and neo-metaphysics.

His ability to cast spells with words of love have given rise to his title, Amomancer, while the passionate and prolific nature of his poetry has seen Yahoo! officially naming him the Romantic Poet of the Internet.

"William F. DeVault, known as the 'amomancer' is a living legend
who will live beyond time... his words forever captured by his prolific pen." - Lupi Basil, editor/publisher, Emotions Magazine

With webcasts broadcast regularly on live365, podcasts available from Apple's iTunes Music Store and videos available for download on YouTube, DeVault's spoken word poetry has been equally popular.

Having published 9 books and 5 cds, DeVault's work has captured the attention of a worldwide audience, earning him a reputation as a living legend.