Ladybird,
or maybe,
Ladybug.
Either way,
it matters
not a bit.
I have red
and black too,
polka dots!
It’s summer
afternoon
busy time.
I’m lucky
and also
good fortune.
Now I will
eat aphids
and many!
~~~~
Photo Prompt © Ted Strutz
But is it art?
What do you mean?
Well, it’s not really real.
Sorry?
It has been generated with software.
It’s not surreal, no. It’s very realistic.
Now that I understand. I could munch some fruit in there.
That bit of banana is beautiful, isn’t it?
And that mug of coffee looks hot.
That old photo looks interesting too.
I like the way that artist is working outside.
It’s called en plein air
Ooh, impressive.
You know there is a market for buying crypto-art?
You don’t say?
Yep, it’s called Non Fungible Tokens.
Well, all I can say is… blimey!
~~~
Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers
Genre: Fiction
Word Count: 100

Paris Photographer – Louis Paulin
‘Odd,’ said Joan, ‘we haven’t seen our lovely friend, the red-headed woman, for several days, have we?’ – ‘no indeed,’ as Scatty looked up for a moment, as she laid down all her cards, and shouted, ‘Rummy!’ as she grinned happily, ‘all out, again,’ as she gathered the cards together, then began to shuffle them again.
Meanwhile, on the next table, Francis and The Old One were concentrating playing poker, while outside, Mr Cushing was busy cleaning his gorgeous limousine, he had just finished polishing the car, when he looked up to see the red-headed woman standing near him.
‘Fancy a drive, my dear?’ said Mr Cushing, ‘I think I know where you want to go,’ as he stared at her, while she gripped her bag more tightly, then nodded.
‘Can I come too?’ as The Old One appeared outside, ‘I lost again, poker is not my strong suit you see, my pride has been injured yet again, but never mind, it seems we have a job to do.’
So off they went, the three of them, it was such a lovely day, and soon they arrived at that particular farm, and even from there, they could all see the poor farmer was clearly still brooding over life’s injustices, well wouldn’t he?
The red-headed woman jumped out, trotting to the farmer, the two of them began to walk in step together; then they popped inside the farm house, then a moment later, the red-headed woman appeared again, and said, ‘all done.’
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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge: INJUSTICE, INJURE, INSTEP

Denise Farley of GirlieOnTheEdge
Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt: SHUFFLE

More #SixSentenceStories
Chicago, Chicago! What a wonderful city. We know it’s called the Windy City, but from here in this lovely hotel it seems blissful. Such a gorgeous view. We can see for miles and miles. All those striking skyscrapers. What a joy!
So we crane our heads at those views to see the river. The river? No, we mean that huge lake. Ah yes, Lake Michigan. That’s the one.
Okay, so what are we going to do now?
Well, we’ve dropped our stuff in this very nice room.
I’m saying, food.
We could go to get a couple of Chicago-style hot dogs… Downtown Dogs?
Or let’s push our boats out, what about ‘Girl and The Goat’. It’s a very good restaurant, apparently.
Now you’re talking!
so let’s leave them there
since we know some good new facts
anyone else to go?
~~~~~~
Image credit: Alessandro Guarino @Unsplash
This image shows the view from inside a hotel room out of the window. High rise buildings present a calm scene. According to the photographer it is; Nobu hotel-Chicago; the city never asks to be let in. The bed is made and the room seems unoccupied.
Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #336 photo prompt.
Peacock Butterfly – Crispina Kemp
what happened to me?
I’m a peacock butterfly
look, I’m so pretty
I’m going to have a mate
and a family, but what then?
such a whirlwind month
I’d been a caterpillar
and before an egg
at least, I think so, but now
I’m afraid I’ll be no more
~~~~~~
Jisei – A traditional Japanese Buddhist death poem which discusses death and the meaning of life in the last moments before death. This form uses the syllabic form of the Tanka (5/7/5/7/7) and is generally serious though it can be humorous. We have all mused on our own demise – try to do it in this form.
Plus, I felt I needed two of these.
Thanks, Val
~~~~
Photo Prompt © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Another small boat around here? I keep seeing them.
It’s rather grey today, although that’s pretty normal.
Not hot, not too chilly.
It’s called ‘in the middle’.
I have been trying to get the right light, since it is important to me.
That little boat seems to be tacking back and forward. That’s clever.
It’s a granite grey sea, and a slate grey sky, plus a charcoal grey on the beach.
But just a pop of colour from that sailing boat would be good.
Ah, some ultramarine blue, a little crimson red, and a tiny bit of cadmium yellow.
Perfect!
~~~
Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

Paris Photographer – Louis Paulin
The two gargoyles, who were still on that belfry, while on they smartphones, they relayed a message from Reena, to the red-headed woman and Monsieur Bourbon; it was all about the diamonds – so many useful facts continued to flow – as the red-headed woman and Monsieur looked rather amazed, as they read what Reena said.
The two gargoyles shut their phones then put them in their satchels, they had already ditched their hats and coats, and as the red-headed woman looked up, the two gargoyles were about to fly off, as both of them gave a little wave to her.
She wondered where they were going, since it seemed that they were no longer interested about those gems; all that effort, and nothing now, as the red-headed woman grimaced.
‘Well,’ said Monsieur Bourbon, ‘the brutal truth is those synthetic diamonds are not very valuable, or at least what I thought that very clever lady, called Reena, had explained, is that right?’
‘Indeed, it seems so,’ as the red-headed woman had managed to grasp much of what Reena said, as she read again while scrolling down and back again, then she looked to Monsieur Bourbon, as she said, ‘the blunt truth is there’s no point to keep those gems,’ as she put her phone down then pushed her knuckles on her jaw.
‘So what should I do,’ she muttered to herself; then she said, ‘okay, this is the best idea, I’ll give back those stupid diamonds to the farmer, I guess.’
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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge: BRUTAL, BLUNT, BEST

Denise Farley of GirlieOnTheEdge
Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt: RELAY

More #SixSentenceStories
I jumped up quickly,
this is what I ought to write;
not a ‘Dear John,’ no!
Oh, this must be eloquent,
but will he think about me?
He’s such a nice guy,
always helpful and useful.
We are both good friends,
but could we be more than pals?
He’ll begin… ‘We’re soul mates.’
~~~~
Somonka – write this Japanese form consisting of 2 Tanka (syllable count of 5/7/5/7/7 without rhyme) written as love letters. Although traditionally a collaborative form, one author can write both. Make this love letters to yourself taking two different points of view.
Thanks, Val
~~~
Image credit: Alexander Mass @Unsplash
This image shows a woman in a night gown, sitting in front of a writing table and writing something on a sheet of paper. There is a window behind her showing that it’s day time and the bed is unmade.
Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #335 photo prompt.
Thank you so much, Robbie… I am so impressed about your lovely review about my book.
WWII sea mine – Crispina Kemp
It was him!
It was a sea mine
To keep our coasts safe.
World War Two was dreadful
As many lives were lost.
So victory was needed.
He was in the right place and the right time.
It was Winston Churchill,
Man, War Correspondent and Prime Minister.
~~~~
Acrostic – This form requires that the first letter of each line forms a message. It was used for messages in code between lovers, spies, and mischief-makers. Write a message to other poets.
Or possibly a writer, an artist and more much.
Thanks, Val
~~~