Creative Copy Challenge 186
Happiness is as light
and fleeting as feathers
in the wind
beautiful and hard to hold
as bright stars
too high to reach
but we try anyway…
We are on fire
strive for diamonds
find them perched
on sharp horns
that cut us leaving us
skewered and bleeding
in the grass
staring at the blue sky
watching hope float by
from here the grass
a soft quilt of warmth
for the earth wrapped
around clay knees
holding the skin
of a planet together
if I lay on my belly
look closely each spike
the quilt unravels
millions of pieces
growing so close
with one purpose
fed by the body
pointing to a bright sky
bearing the seeds
of a new generation
bearing witness
a tree dances in sea wind
arms akimbo
hearing a song
melody of breath
with the rhythm
of seasons spinning
out a tale of moon
and sun and wisdom
rooted deep in rings
of joyful abandon
loving the air
waiting as it has always waited
the sea sits beyond
beyond the edge of the grass
beyond the reach of the tree
cupped in muddy hands
overflowing with the
memories of creation
that give birth to the rain
that feeds the grass
that holds the earth
that cradles the tree
Here I would sit
Written for Creative Copy Challenge 185 Loquacious, Sedentary, Artistic, Voracious, Fluorescent, Rad, Delicious, Rotund, Decapitate, Slimy
and thanks to Wordnik – Word of the day – Soucouyant!
Henry thought the party tiresome. Being stuck in a corner with a loquacious youth who seemed to think “rad” was an actual word, was not his idea of a good time.
“These little crackers are rad!”
“Isn’t the Dean’s home rad?”
I should have wacked her with my cane.
He only accepted the invitation because he had heard that the Dean of the university had quite an artistic flare and stories of the beautifully decorated home and delicious fare had been spoken of in awed tones at his gentleman’s club. Henry had lived a sedentary life and was a bit on the rotund side. He walked with mincing steps, skirting the slimy puddles. The fluorescent street light shone on his balding pate. He poked at a piece of paper with his cane and glanced around uneasily.
The night was warm and humid and Henry was sweating as he turned away from the lights, down his quiet street. The house mother had left him was in need of a few repairs but it wasn’t his fault that his investments hadn’t paid off the way he had expected. Henry had an astute mind and a flair for finance. How could he foresee the market going soft?
He shivered slightly, even in the heat. It must have been the tale told by the Dean’s sister. A disturbing woman with wild hair and clothing that was far too bright. Her eyes glittered and made Henry’s heart pound in the most disconcerting way. She spoke with an accent and claimed to have traveled from the West Indies. Even her name was exotic…Valencia. Henry didn’t much care for exotic people or places. He preferred his own home, his daily newspaper, and his morning tea at he same time every day. He pulled his handkerchief from his jacket pocket and mopped his forehead. He walked quickly now. The shadows were deeper and the usually comforting lane seemed menacing. He heard an echo of footsteps somewhere behind him. He thought again about the story of the soucouyant – an old woman who could turn to a fireball and slip through your keyhole and suck your blood, either turning you into her kind or killing you so she could wear your skin and pursue more victims. What a lot of rot. Henry chuckled at his nervousness. Too much rich food made for crazy thoughts.
He could see his home just a few doors down and he nearly stumbled in his haste. He remembered the strange woman extending her hand to him as he made his goodbyes. She smiled at Henry.
“You are not superstitious?”
Henry frowned and pulled his hand from her grasping fingers.
“No I am not. Nothing but a bunch of silly tales made up by uneducated people trying to explain the world.”
She smiled again and the glare from the lamps glinted off her teeth. Henry felt the room spin and drew back. Surely a trick of the lights…She licked her lips.
“There are many things in the world – terrifying things with voracious appetites that cannot be explained.” She patted his cheek. Henry had been backing up slowly and jumped when his back touched the door.
“Ggggood evening madam!” Henry stammered and turned to escape into the night.
Now as the conversation came back to him he kept seeing those shiny teeth. He nearly stumbled as he hurried up the front steps and let himself in, throwing the deadbolt behind him.
He shook himself and sighed in relief.
I am being ridiculous! A glass of brandy and then bed!
Henry took off his shoes and set them next to the door, putting on his slippers. He poured a glass of brandy and sat in his leather chair with the lamp spilling cheerful light around him. A combination of nerves and the brandy (and a very full stomach) made him sleepy and he soon dozed off. Henry was snoring when the front door lock began to glow. A bright ball of fire flowed through the keyhole and Henry jerked awake in time to see the flames shimmer and fade until the form of Valencia stood before him. His lamp dimmed and just before the room was plunged into darkness, Henry screamed at the sight of those bright white teeth. Henry stopped screaming as the vampire jaws nearly decapitated him.
The soucouyant would have to wear her own skin another day.
I’m drowning in
tomato soup
I’ve paddled fast
and furious
but can’t escape
the goop
the eyes, the flies
are watching me
and will not
let me out
I pray that they
don’t fill the spoon
and snort me
through their snout!
Image source: http://wallpapers.free-review.net/12_~_My_plate.htm
Written for 3 Word Wednesday
Celia took a sip of wine and stepped back to admire her handiwork.
“Perfect! Look how your eyes follow the natural direction of color on the wall. Maybe one last piece…”
Tom stared, eyes glazed over. She held her fingers up in a square, squinting a little to get just the right perspective.
“Right there on the left I think…”
She set her glass down on the coaster and bent down to pick up the gun. She put one hand under her wrist to support the weight and aimed at the left side of his head, gently squeezing the trigger. His head jerked just a tiny bit from the impact. Celia smiled at the tableau.
She turned off the stereo, washed glass and returned it to the cupboard and wiped her fingerprints from the gun, placing it in Tom’s hand.
Celia paused at the door for one last look, glanced at her hair in the mirror, turned out the light and headed for the parking garage humming Ravel’s Bolero. These breakups just got better and better.
3 Word Wednesday Word choices: admire, follow, piece
there are doors
that keep us safe
and doors that
keep us near
and doors to worlds
we wish to see
down paths
so dark and drear
we cannot see
around the bend
the future all unknown
and yet we walk
without a map
and hope
to make it home
all must walk
the path alone
though married
young or old
a hand may make
for comfort now
staving off
the cold
but to the world
we come alone
and leave the
very same
pass through the
veil of sorrow here
leave words
our only fame
image credit: Carmen Spitznagel
Rowan examined the pages of the codex for the third time. The words blurred and rambled over the page. She pushed her hair off her face and wished for a breeze. The fire burned hot enough to make satan uncomfortable but a shiver ran through her, chilling her blood til it felt gelid and swollen in her heart.
“If I don’t do this, Aidan will die. If I don’t do this right, I will die.” she thought. Neither choice was acceptable. She had walked all day after visiting the old woman in the cave. Most of her advice was nothing but headology and that might work on the poor folk in the valley who were ignorant of the true path. Rowan needed real magic tonight and real magic demanded blood. She had a catheter ready to insert into her own vein and prayed for the resilience to follow through. She sighed and read the page one more time.
“Defenestrate? Why didn’t it just say throw it out the window?” She sighed half from frustration and half from exhaustion.
When she had drained the required amount of blood from her own arm, she applied herbs and a clean cloth to close the wound. She was ready for the incantation.
gizzards and feathers
shall be mixed with the blood
for reincarnation
needs more than mud
twice to the left
thrice to the right
at gibbous moon
in pale dead light
Aidan moaned on the cot and opened his eyes.
“Shazam” He smiled weakly at her.
“Shut up fool” Rowan’s knees gave out and she sank down beside him.
“You owe me seven chickens!”
codex
defenestrate
gizzard
headology
gelid
catheter
reincarnation
shazam
resilience
burn
phew, that was a tough one…
going about
the business of life
running and pleasing
never feeling you are enough
breathing constricted
thinking conflicted
you can lay it down
look around
feel the air on your skin
sun warmed a mystery
of cloud shadows
moving over your face
over the valleys of deep
sorrow and peaks
of joyous heights snowbound
where the bristle cone pine
twists around your heart
chases rabbit and raven
and laughter and haven
for all earth just waits
while going about
the business of life
inspired by “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver
Written for dVerse
there is tired
and there’s tired
and right now
I am feeling
every stinking sinking
ache and creak
and pain that sneaks
in older bones
like telephones are
calling all the joints and
things are screaming
this is seeming
like it should be
happening to someone
could be maybe older
temper smolders
I’m not that one
I’m not aging
I am raging and not going
with no fighting
let me tell you
I’ll work through it
I am staying and
I’m playing and some
singing
maybe dancing
there’s a party and
I’m hanging I’m not missing
one sweet second
if I have to then
it won’t be graceful
if I go
well then I know
that you will all start
doing fun stuff
so I’m calling
father time’s bluff
stick me up
in that back corner
I’ll be quiet
and just listen
write my stories
and my poems
just a scribble
maybe nibble on a snack
or maybe two
just let me stay
what do you say?
Written for Open Mic Night at dVerse
Albie wrapped the rags around his neck and mouth and shivered. The smoke from the fire smelled of something dead and gave off little heat. He got more warmth from the people gathered around. He longed for quiet as the noise pounded into his head. A group on the corner was beating on cans and rusted sheets of metal, shards of glass rained down from the vacant building above and someone in the corner was moaning. Albie kept his eyes lowered and shoved his hands deep into his pockets.
Just yesterday, the sun was shining as he kissed his wife goodbye and left for the office. Everything had been one long night since. His office was an empty lot like the whole east side of town. At least that was what he heard. It was forbidden to go to that sector so there was no way to know for sure. Albie wondered about Jeff who used to be in the office next to his. Did he survive? He used to keep a picture of his family on his desk. Pretty wife and two tow-headed daughters grinned in front of a brick house in the burbs. He would rather think about times at his old job than Sarah. That opened up a desolate pit of pain that was best avoided. People whispered about an apocalypse. Albie figured he was in hell.
An old man shuffled forward, breaking all the rules. He looked each person straight in the eye until they returned his stare for a second. He patted this one and that one on the shoulder as he wandered around the alley. Fool! He will be dead before morning, Albie thought! Sure enough, the old man wandered into a dark corner and after a scuffle, he was just gone. Crazy Mary cackled and rocked, pulling her cardboard up around her. Albie wondered once why no one bothered her, Then one night he saw a fat man reach down for a piece of her makeshift house and screamed when a flash of silver drew a dark line across his hand. Albie stayed well away from Mary’s wall after that. Her cackle ran shivery fingers up his spine.
Albie’s fingers closed around the crumbling piece of paper in his pocket. He had rubbed it for so long the ink was gone. It didn’t matter. He knew the words by heart.
Ten words from Creative Copy Challenge
Yesterday
Apocalypse
Gone
Empty
Desolate
Forbidden
Time
Eyes
Know
Vacant
ejected from polite society
presumed impropriety
how was I to know
and now there’s nothing
left to show but
oily shadows inching away
from salvation
coating grace with heart debris
keeping joy at bay
keeping me down
keeping me sleeping
under cardboard
under fire escapes
that go nowhere
nothing but dead air
and the rat-a-tat
of an impact wrench
around the corner
I am rendered silent
spinning out on waves
of our disconnect
strung out cans
with no string between
slip the grasp
as morning clears
peeling tar paper
revealing concrete
frosted by rusted pipes
I turn my head
make myself small
make myself small
you don’t see me
Three Word Wednesday prompts: eject, impact, render
This gentleman says it much better than I ever could. http://wheneftalks2.blogspot.com/
Image credit: Geir Akselsen
wildness cannot
be tamed
with a whip
just forced to wear
a different hat…
temporarily
fifteen word challenge
The only sounds in the room were the quiet tinkling of washed glassed being put back on the shelf, creating a beat for the soft murmur of conversation. Soft lighting and muted colors completed the picture. Her Manolo Blahniks clicked with each syncopated step across the terrazzo tiles. She placed a lozenge on her tongue and inhaled the scent of cardamom and cinnamon.
Glancing at her reflection in the window, she knew her exacting routine had paid off in sumptuous skin, flat belly, and slim muscular legs. Tori smiled to herself and closed her eyes for a moment. The shiny brass trimmed bar was unoccupied except for two gentlemen watching a muted football game. Tory leaned against the bar, and delicately reached for a napkin. The bartender nodded at her and she listened to the two suits circular masturbatory speeches. Neither was listening to the other, just making noise. Their conversation degraded and tapered off completely as they became aware of Tori standing a few feet away. Blue suit, brown hair smiled slightly and his friend turned to get a better look. Blond hair, gray suit smiled too.
“Sweetheart, you have saved me from a very boring afternoon! Can I buy you a drink? Bartender! Please bring the lady a libation!”
He leaned forward as he spoke and Tori had to control herself so that her disgust didn’t reach her face. His breath smelled like he had gargled with whiskey.
She smiled and nodded.
“Wonderful! I promise my intentions are nefarious.” The fool waggled his eyebrows and then winked as though they were two old friends sharing a joke. Tori smiled at the bartender. “My usual please.”
She held her clutch bag tighter under her arm. taking pleasure in the shape of the knife deep in the inside pocket. My usual indeed.
Writing Challenge from http://www.creativecopychallenge.com/writing-prompts-creative-copy-challenge-182/
Create a cohesive story using the ten words that are bolded above. Go to the site and check it out – some wonderful short stories there!
for sale
red velvet dress
and diamond earrings
will trade for
comfortable shoes
and teapot
I stand and watch
at even tide
they wait in shadow
of timberline
I watch. they watch
we wait each night
and when the fullness
of the light
lay on the field
in gentle glow
they turn and silent
as the stars
like twilight ghosts
they go
and left alone
in dark to dream
and yet bereft
I turn away
and wonder if
they miss me too
and will they come
tomorrow
curled around hunkered over
covering the soft the pale
the unshelled inner
on the ground all the sound
that beats around my ears
and all I hear is my own screaming
dreaming of a silence deeper
feel the vines, a slippery creeper
wraps and strangles off the breath
my heart, my heart
oh God, my heart
It swells and shrinks and now
I think that it will burst no maybe
not just petrify and calcify the bony cover
pull it over shut the door
stay on the floor it’s safer here
the air is clear and even in the darkness
falling over me just cover me
like angel wings just shelter me
while I am torn just hear my prayer
I let it out a little bit
protecting it while healing happens
you will see the sun will come
I will it – Come! I’ll stand again
and take you with me
hold my hand I know you can
I know you can
You can.
I say this now
and leave it here.
The years of living tell the tale of proof.
A second glance is not enough to know
If all will hold beyond the blush of youth,
with more than memories for each to show.
Through crisis, childbirth, bills and petty fights,
the truest tests of how we’re really made,
Of bed-spanned chilly shouldered angry nights
when words cut deeper than the sharpest blade…
Yet when the dark gives way to clocks and sun,
I know who shares the day throughout the years,
And who will meet me when that day is done,
stick through the heartaches, laughter, even tears
We chose to put down roots in close confine,
As tree limbs over years grew intertwined.
1. 3 quatrains of alternating rhyme and a couplet all written in iambic pentameter. In this sonnet form, the premise of the poem is established in lines 1-8, a turn (or volta) toward its resolution begins at line 9 and the resolution is revealed in lines 13 & 14.
a b a b
c d c d
e f e f
g g
2. A total of 14 lines,
3. 10 syllables per line.
The main thing I am unsure of is the pentameter. It gives me fits…
The Terrible Minds challenge this weekend was Three Sentences. These may have been a bit long…
Ivy knew taking this case was a mistake but they needed the money which is never a good basis for decision making. Bishop promised double fees, but now that she was the prey instead of the hunter, she was seriously rethinking the whole monetary gain issue. The smell of rotting flesh was all around and she could hear feet slapping the wet pavement as she felt the stirring of the touch as Sam reached out to her.
Murat11 Jae Rose Thom Gabrukiewicz Teleread Wordnik TERRIBLEMINDS: Chuck Wendig, Freelance Penmonkey Writers Alley KindleObsessed
