Author: Chris Hall

Novelist, story writer, writer of just about anything for anyone!

Poetry Please!

Chris Hall52 Comments

What a lovely month for April. I was so pleased to be included – just a year ago:
‘Poetry Treasures 3: Passions‘ by Kaye Lynne Booth & Robbie Cheadle.

January guest – Robbie Cheadle
February guest – Smitha Vishwanath
March guest – Abbie Taylor
April guest – Chris Hall
May guest – Yvette M. Calliero
June guest – Willow Willers
July guest – Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
August guest – Patty Fletcher
September guest – Yvette Prior
October guest – Judy Mastrangelo
November guest – Penny Wilson
Special guest – Colleen M. Chesebro
Special guest – D. Wallace Peach

April is my guest appearance which is a big bonus since one of my poems is about Earth Day which is an important message.

What will become of us?

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Image credit: Mother Earth by gedomenas

Earth Day – Monday 22nd April 2024
The poem is a metaphor. From the start of begin of the of beautiful Mother Earth around the world. Then it moves on. The planet is smaller, more unsure and frightening, wondering how life with remain.

For a little while, during lockdown and covid, Mother Earth had a brief respite where the noise of engines fell silent and wild animals walked the streets, it seemed that nature just might have a chance, but once again, pollution spews, plastic continues to fill the oceans and the ice caps are melting even more quickly.

Today, Earth Day 2024, I find my poem is just as relevant, maybe more so.
https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2024/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Day

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I am particularly pleased that Robbie Cheadle read my poems What will become of us?
You Tube – there it is.

Purchase Poetry Treasures 3: Passions from Books2Read and Amazon: Paperbook and Kindle (sadly for me, only ebook is available from South Africa, but never mind).

However, during the month of April, all poetry volumes on the WordCrafter Press backlist are on sale for only $2.99 each. Find this with Kaye Lynne Booth here.

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I first wrote my poem, ‘What will become of us?‘ back in April 2019 from the prompt ‘What do you see?‘ from the wonderful Hélène Vaillant, although sadly she’s gone to a better place.

Shall I Stay or Shall I Go

Chris Hall53 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

‘Please can I have my life back,’ she said. ‘Is it too much to ask?’

She can stride around the garden and she can run up and down the stairs, several times.
She’s so fit but she can’t go out.

But there’s no one. No one at all.

Quiet, very quiet, she thinks.

She looks at the big door; the one that opens in the street, and she looks back in the hall, for a moment.

Then slowly, very slowly, she opens the door, just a tiny crack.
She opens a little more – a creaking sound – then nothing.

She looks out, staring left and right.

‘Shall I come out?’

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Posted for The Unicorn Challenge, a magical challenge hosted by Jenne Gray and C E Ayr, where they provide a photo and we, in turn, provide up to 250 words.


Be strong?

Chris Hall57 Comments

two strong guys
sometimes it’s hug
just because

just a little hug
good guys always friends
all it needs

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Image credit: Josue Escoto @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows two men hugging. The expression on the face of the man facing the camera is quite intense and emotional.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #232 photo prompt

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What do you see # 232- April 1, 2024

A little hiatus (Tales from the SSC&B)

Chris Hall50 Comments

The red-headed writer, aka the Raconteuse, slides down onto the small flat-roofed section of the old mill building, scanning around while holding her huge bag. The most important new thing was the swanky penthouse on the opposite street where the Bartender stays there most of the time, particularly when the lovely dog, Hūnga, was home too; she’d invited her to stay but the red-head had declined.

She’d had thought about it, but she felt she should stay somewhere else – and in fact, she’d made a little nest, just next to the long-defunct elevator machine room on the top floor, that was all she needed.

She took out her notebook and pencil and started to write, but nothing would come out; she stares at the sky and then she tries again, but no, nothing. She decided to read her new Kindle – she has a lot of catching up to do – but it’s worth it; she settles down on her great big bag, making herself comfy.

Rather later she woke up, but now she’s refreshed and she’s happy to go down to the ground floor; it’s time to enjoy the evening.

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

More #SixSentenceStories


Two Friends

Chris Hall74 Comments


Monkey was always a little friend
but he only lived on the couch

Monkey liked to play with his people
but often he was alone

Monkey could look out to see what’s happening
but he had nothing to say

But one day he has a new friend
and he certainly looks familiar…

He used to live in Darkest Peru
but now he’s called Paddington

Monkey and Paddington talk all day
and sometimes they get into mischief!

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Image credit: Anastasiia Krutota@ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows two stuffed toys sitting on a cushion. The monkey on one side has its arm around the other stuffed toy that appears to be a hybrid between a bear and a penguin. (you can imagine your own combination)

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #231 photo prompt

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What do you see #231- March 25, 2024

The really Monkey and Paddington!

Equinox

Chris Hall66 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

It’s late afternoon as I walked along the sand dunes near the sea, smiling as I hopped down the bank to the beach, striding along to the rock pools, then poking around to see what was there; I could be busy for hours.

As it was getting into evening, it was still warm as I walked around the edge of the ocean, looking far out in the lovely False Bay; then I looked back at the harbour, as I waved at Jannie who’s a fishermen, who works to catch squid and octopus in the dark sea in the night.

Much later, I flung open my window, and there she was, the beautiful moon, Selene. There she stood alone, with all the stars around her; her gibbous moon lay on her back, arching her jewelled scimitar.

I shut my eyes for a moment, and then I saw the octopuses dancing up in the sky, shooting stars around the world, for twice a year it’s the equinox, as the celestial moon brings the spring rebirth, while the harvest moon must rest for the winter. Meanwhile, the octopuses play in the Milky Way, because all of the octopuses are aliens.

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Posted for The Unicorn Challenge, a magical challenge hosted by Jenne Gray and C E Ayr, where they provide a photo and we, in turn, provide up to 250 words.

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

More #SixSentenceStories

Steps and Shadows

Chris Hall64 Comments

she walked silently
slowly measuring each step
then she stops and thinks

she gently walks again
listening in the cloisters,
is there someone there?

she turns around quickly
holding her notebook and pen,
but no-one is there

it’s so difficult
when you’re a writer

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Image credit: Nickola Johnny Mirkovic @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows an arched veranda, where multiple pillars support a high vaulted ceiling. The sun is casting shadows on the wall behind the veranda. At the end of it is a fancy door.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #230 photo prompt

What do you see # 230- March 18, 2024

Harvest Moon

Chris Hall59 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

The red-headed writer, aka the Raconteuse, had a plan – she was on WhatsApp with Jenne, Denise and Mimi, telling them that she was still a little magic left in her journey around the world; we’ll meet tomorrow, and don’t worry about the different time zones, I’ll handle it.

Now they were sitting in a beautiful wine garden in the château in Franschhoek, right by the vineyards where they are bringing back the harvest – you see, it was autumn in the southern hemisphere. In a little while two waiters brought wine, juice and delicious food; then they rested – it was so peaceful and calm, and they must have drifted into slumber for a while.

Later, they woke up and it was almost dark; they walked along the Huguenots Monument and further, now it was rather steep, rugged and remote; they laid down on the sweet fynbos, and there it is, the Harvest Moon, huge yellow and magnificent – but that was all they could remember.

Did we dream it – all of us – in different places? But no, on the table, each one has a small silver box and inside it has a little locket; WhatsApp pings, it’s the Raconteuse, you know, it’s going to be useful one day, she said.

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Posted for The Unicorn Challenge, a magical challenge hosted by Jenne Gray and C E Ayr, where they provide a photo and we, in turn, provide up to 250 words.

Denise Farley of Girlie On The Edge’s Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt: REMOTE

Click on the Café sign for more #SixSentenceStories

P.S. I am reading ‘The Moon of Autumn: Word Weaving No.1‘ edited by Colleen Chesebro & Jules Paige – I know so many lovely people in WP.

A celebration?

Chris Hall60 Comments

Previously

The red-headed writer, aka the Raconteuse, hurries along the narrow street, looking up and down and around, checking to see what is unchanged: here’s the Bagel’n’Cake place (closed at this time, of course), and here are the two warehouses, rather dingy, on either side.

She’s almost there… and here it is: The Café and Bistro, she holds her hands up, but there’s no one there; she’s deflated, she dropped her head and her feet felt like lead.

She notices something at the top of the steps, it was a still-smouldering cigar butt on the ground – it must be him, the Gatekeeper, who else could it be?

She hurries down to the three steps by the double-doors, peering in the gloom in the long bar and high seats, and across the way to the food pass behind the doors; she could almost see what should be happening – the Bartender with the wine and whisky, and Mimi in the kitchen, and Tom as well.

Then she turns around, going back up, scanning around; there’s something about the back of The Café and Bistro, she races around the building, heaving her big bag, she peeps in the basement, now she’s making headway; she can hear music, in her mind’s eye, she listens, isn’t it Mark Knopfler playing ‘Sultans of Swing’ and wearing his headband?

The Raconteuse grins and she can see the Manager, smiling back and waving; he cranks up the volume and plays, ‘Ace of Spades’.

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Written in response to two challenges:

Di of Pensitivity 101’s Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge: HEADWAY, HEADBAND, LEAD
Denise Farley of Girlie On The Edge’s Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt: ACE

Click on the Café sign for more #SixSentenceStories

Sisters

Chris Hall50 Comments

growing up on distant continents
without a common tongue
lives so seemingly different
rich north, poor south
experiences diametrically opposed

and yet

sharing corresponding smiles
weeping mutual sorrows
our hearts are touched
by the same love and loss

because, in the end
we are all
sisters under the skin

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This week’s image is in honor of international women’s day, celebrated on March 8th. This image shows a diverse group of five women holding a placard on which the word “ WOMEN” is written in bold letters. In the background you can see other people holding different placards too.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #228 photo prompt

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I wrote my poem back in 2020. It was also International Women’s Day too. I wanted to remind us that wherever we may be in the world, we have a bond of common experience. I’ve found it when travelling in parts of rural Greece and Spain and, when I moved to South Africa and met women from more diverse cultures and with very different life experiences, this connection came even more sharply into focus for me.

Another reason is for my lovely friend, Michnavs – Poetry by Mich.
Here’s her powerful and beautiful book: After Rain Skies by Michelle Ayon Navajas.
My review is here too.

https://www.amazon.com/AFTER-RAIN-SKIES-Michelle-Navajas/dp/B0B2TYMSFZ