@janpsolivagant.bsky.social I have been trying to finish this all week, but I finally did it. This is a tribute to one of my favourite

The Stormwright 

He rose from the dark age of industry, 
a solitary figure 
walking against the tide of empires. 

Where others saw power, 
he saw galaxies, 
currents waiting 
beneath the skin of the world. 

The laboratory was his church. 
Lightning his scripture.
He stood among coils and copper, 
listening for the language 
of the trembling air,
coaxing thunder 
into something he could hold. 

Rivals built machines. 
Tesla built storms.
Blue arcs of illumination
born from his fingertips. 

He fought wars no army could join, 
battles of vision and voltage, 
of ideas arriving 
faster than the world could comprehend. 

And while the world looked away
he worked on, 
with numbers, 
obsessions, 
impossible machines, 
turning darkness into current, 
current into light. 

His legacy is not the monument 
but the pulse:
the illuminated street, 
the humming transformer, 
the sudden spark 
when two worlds touch. 

Nikola Tesla: stormwright
the man who taught lightning to obey.
alt text

The Stormwright He rose from the dark age of industry, a solitary figure walking against the tide of empires. Where others saw power, he saw galaxies, currents waiting beneath the skin of the world. The laboratory was his church. Lightning his scripture. He stood among coils and copper, listening for the language of the trembling air, coaxing thunder into something he could hold. Rivals built machines. Tesla built storms. Blue arcs of illumination born from his fingertips. He fought wars no army could join, battles of vision and voltage, of ideas arriving faster than the world could comprehend. And while the world looked away he worked on, with numbers, obsessions, impossible machines, turning darkness into current, current into light. His legacy is not the monument but the pulse: the illuminated street, the humming transformer, the sudden spark when two worlds touch. Nikola Tesla: stormwright the man who taught lightning to obey.

6 comments — live from bluesky

Emily Tee · 1 · 1d ago
Wonderful writing Jen 👏👏👏
Jen Thorne · 0 · 1d ago
Thank you ❤️
I went to a talk given by Quentin Crisp in Vienna, a long time ago. I wrote him a letter and he replied.
Jen Thorne · 2 · 1d ago
Wow. He was a legend. He was an old man by the time I was born, but still as relevant. He died on my birthday, that's the only connection I have to him.
Well I heard him speak in person.
This is a beautifully written homage to the best kind of maverick. The second stanza in particular captures his essence and ethos! Thank you, Jen! 🙏🌠
Jen Thorne · 1 · 1d ago
Thanks Jan. It was a great prompt and I wanted to do more but its been a mental week!
Ash & Ink · 1 · 1d ago
Very well done. And excellent subject choice
Jen Thorne · 1 · 1d ago
Thank you. He's a bit of a hero of mine.
Ash & Ink · 2 · 1d ago
He was amazing
Jen Thorne · 2 · 1d ago
He really was you know. He understood things we still struggle to figure out nowadays and was (or seemed) genuinely interested in the betterment of humanity rather than making money.
Winter Ives · 1 · 1d ago
You have no idea how much I love this, Jen! 😊💙💫 Brilliant tribute to Tesla.✨ Side note: My g2 great grandfather, first president of first electric co. in Cedar Rapids, IA, went to the 1893 Columbian Exposition. Tesla lit the fair, and they met. From his papers, he supported Tesla over Edison.
Jen Thorne · 1 · 1d ago
Oh wow! 🤩🤩🤩
Winter Ives · 1 · 1d ago
I bring it up in the hopes you might consider allowing me to publish your poem in my historical fiction novel, The Ives, (WIP) in the chapter where I write about my g2 grandfather’s remarkable life and mention his encounter with Tesla. I’d send you the chapter draft (layout) to approve w/ credit.
Jen Thorne · 1 · 1d ago
Oh my goodness, yes, I would be absolutely delighted for you to 🥹
Winter Ives · 1 · 1d ago
Oh, that’s wonderful. Thank you! I use literary quotes in my work to enhance the overall narrative, and this piece is perfectly divine. It’s quite an epic saga that covers four centuries of my family history, which I must say, is rather astonishing. Grateful to you for inspiring me, further. ✨
Jen Thorne · 1 · 1d ago
♥️♥️♥️
Winter Ives · 1 · 1d ago
🤗💙✨💫
Fleur Du Pseudonym · 2 · 1d ago
I thought of Wilhelm Reich as I read it, love it , gone, not forgotten
Jen Thorne · 1 · 1d ago
Another great pioneer ♥️