Ty Barbary
Life Goal: Cultivate Awesomeness. Web designer by day, sci-fantasy writer and artist by night. Genderqueer Kemetic crafter and musician.
I write visceral stories about all kinds of people: monsters and aliens and animals and, sometimes, even humans. I like combining myth, magic, and plausibility, resulting in strangely logical fantasy and some awfully mystical sci-fi. I have approximately a zillion original cultures and species, which is why humans don’t usually get my spotlight. While I like snappy and witty pacing, I tend to wind up with verbose imagery. (I paint with words; it’s a thing.) I enjoy featuring less-common demographics in my stories wherever I can, and yes, I will queer it up a lot.
In addition to the free short stories I’ve made available below for your reading pleasure, I’ve also released some short fiction for Kindle.
Current projects: Black Blood, an epic hero’s-quest novel starring an alien race; Everything to Lose, a scifi on-world adventure novel, and The Last Devil, a high fantasy military novel.
Ekunyi says…
A song for Sekhmet and Her devotee, Ty.
lyrics
Seek Me in spaces between your heart and body
Feel blood that runs a course forever beating through your veins
I will be waiting beyond the drums you hear in searching
Silent but for the fall of crimson rain
Walk through the desert and know that the sun is watching
Shining above to guide you through the daily trials and pain
Endless horizons await if you can but dream them
Painted to life in crimson rain
Follow the Lady of Scarlet and Flame
She with hands that heal and claws that can maim
Destroyer and Comforter, one and the same
The fire that sustains us: Sekhmet is Her name
Lioness mother and guardian of Her fierce children
Those who would fight on and never be tamed
Sacred sphinx child, lion-souled if human-bodied
Your goddess calls you to fly through crimson rain
Follow the Lady of Scarlet and Flame
She with hands that heal and claws that can maim
Destroyer and Comforter, one and the same
The fire that sustains us: Sekhmet is Her name
Ty says…
This song is long overdue. It’s for Redwood, the red Original of the Korat race.
lyrics
red as blood, hard as stone
the likes of which have ne’er been known
swift of blade, sure of heart
this flesh and life shall ne’er be ‘part
sidifir oerri
Redwood Bane, mother of all
sidifir oerri
Redwood Bane, never to fall
thick as trees, strong as tides
a soul so bold will never hide
blue of eye, sharp of claw
she upholds her own good law
sidifir oerri
Redwood Bane, mother of all
sidifir oerri
Redwood Bane, never to fall
fast as floods, hot as flame
the wicked shall not her bones claim
short of limb, long of reach
children through the ages she’ll teach
sidifir oerri
Redwood Bane, mother of all
sidifir oerri
Redwood Bane, never to fall
made by light and wind and voice
(Redwood Bane, mother of all)
named for life and root and king
(Redwood Bane, never to fall)
she will not conquer, this her choice
(Redwood Bane, mother of all)
she roams these lands and passion brings
(Redwood Bane, never to fall)
sidifir oerri
Redwood Bane, mother of all
sidifir oerri
Redwood Bane, never to fall
red as blood, hard as stone
the likes of which have ne’er been known
swift of blade, sure of heart
this flesh and life shall ne’er be ‘part
sidifir oerri
Redwood Bane, mother of all
sidifir oerri
Redwood Bane, never to fall
sidifir oerri
Redwood Bane, mother of all
sidifir oerri
Redwood Bane, never to fall
Ty says…
Ekunyi wanted me to do a song for and about Set and Nebt-het (Nephthys). This is the unexpected result.
lyrics
He is the strength that defends the sun-barque
He is the strength that kills His own kin
She is the strength that takes up each new dead
She is the strength that allays all grief
together They dance, Storm Lord
and the Lady of Twilight
lithe desert beast and sharp-winged kite
together They dance, Set and Nebt-het
toes on the line between Red Land and Black
She is the compass that reveals the hard truths
She is the compass that leads to the shards
He is the compass that shows that which is needed
He is the compass that wakens the lost
together They dance, Storm Lord
and the Lady of Twilight
lithe desert beast and sharp-winged kite
together They dance, Set and Nebt-het
toes on the line between Red Land and Black
Set, in Your exiles, You are not alone
Your Lady Nebt-het is as liminal as You
Set, in Your fury, You are not alone
Our Lady Nebt-het burns as fiercely as You
They are the bringers of thunder and snow
They are the bringers of chaos and change
They are the bringers of vigor and ma’at
They are the bringers of challenge and aid
together They dance, Storm Lord
and the Lady of Twilight
lithe desert beast and sharp-winged kite
together They dance, Set and Nebt-het
toes on the line between Red Land and Black
toes on the line between Seen and Unseen
Ty says…
Shortly after writing a song for Set and Nebt-het, I was nudged to write one for my Mothers, Nebt-het (Nephthys) and Hethert-Nut (Hathor the Celestial Cow). I am named for the mystery surrounding Them both, so consider this both a personal song and a teaching one. The second verse is for Nebt-het and the third for Hethert-Nut; both verses employ Their epithets.
lyrics
come close, my darlings, I’ve got a tale for you
a song straight from the edges of twilight
a melody descended from the glory of stars
a blessing from my Mothers’ lips to yours
listen well to the mysteries of the Mothers
shadowed Lady and star-strewn sky
listen well to the mysteries of the Mothers
as They walk you through the rhythm of life
the Mourning Woman comforts those who are grieving
the Night-Barque guides the dead to the horizon
the Good Sister finds the lost and makes them whole
the Eye of Ra protects from threat of uncreation
listen well to the mysteries of the Mothers
shadowed Lady and star-strewn sky
listen well to the mysteries of the Mothers
as They walk you through the rhythm of life
the Brilliant One inspires all arts and all music
the One Who Rises uplifts the weak and holds them safe
the Lady of the West bears the blessed dead as stars
the Celestial Cow covers the earth with Her love
listen well to the mysteries of the Mothers
shadowed Lady and star-strewn sky
listen well to the mysteries of the Mothers
as They walk you through the rhythm of life
look to the Mothers for your lessons
let Them teach you the Seen and Unseen
touch the cool hand of grace and deep compassion
feel the warmth of endless love and radiant muse
listen well to the mysteries of the Mothers
shadowed Lady and star-strewn sky
listen well to the mysteries of the Mothers
as They walk you through the rhythm of life
as They walk you through the rhythm of life