so many people
reaching out more
rage, rage, rage again
too much pollution
too many plastic bags and bottles
it should be a better place
so make it happen
just a little help
and hope
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Image credit: Tom Barrett @ Unsplash
For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a view of a walkway/ street, at a time when the shadows cast by the sun are out of proportion larger than the people walking the street.
Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #235 photo prompt
© Ayr/Gray
She stared around the gallery. The main room had all the great masters in the old wing, very dull, she thought, but this part is new and rather posh, how nice.
She lifted a glass from the tray, sipping the bubbly, then she glided around the room. Some rather good paintings, modern in an interesting way but nothing particularly could her eye. But then she sees an imposing sculpture. It rears up, a hooded man and a gaping maw, and it looks rather frightening. Does his expression reflect the artist’s angst?
Apocalypse by Cliff Davies
She made her way up to the second floor. Then suddenly two men – clearly artists – both of them held up their fists. She hedged away, gripping her glass in her hand. People began to stare. Then a moment later, the fight began on the staircase. But it finished as quickly as it started. What was that about, she wondered, as the two artists shook hands and left.
Two hours later, her flight was called. She smiled quietly as she’d acquired a little picture from the gallery wall, where she’d stashed her big bag.
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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.
Di of Pensitivity 101
Saturday’s Three Things Challenge: FIGHT, FLIGHT, FRIGHT
It moaned and raged across the south coast, right up to the highest mountains.
The storm lashed and buffeted the tallest trees, traumatising animals and people living in their shacks.
The birds, shaking with fear, crept in the hollows and bushes, while the squirrels hunkered down in the deep dreys as the huge palm tree swayed around our garden.
From morning to night the storm raged, and raged again; we looked out into the street where the fire and rescue truck had managed to take down a broken great tree, what a relief, but not before we saw terror in the faces of several people
And finally, in the morning, there was no wind or rain.
At least we all have our houses – the walls, the doors, the windows and the roofs – but everything else is such a mess, and we will only talk about the present at the moment.
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Di of Pensitivity 101
Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge: TRAUMA, FEAR, TERROR
Denise Farley of Girlie On The Edge
Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt: PRESENT
By the way, this was all true and it was just two weeks ago.
A movie star in the making
but at the moment he’s treading the boards
he pretends he’s shy
but he’s nothing like it
he could even be a drama queen.
Well, maybe not
strike that one out.
He’s a beautiful man
so clean and fresh and tidy
but there’s one problem
he talks so very high
such a pity.
Actually, he could be a man in drag
and why not?
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Image credit: Sander Sammy @ Unsplash
For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a man holding a white face mask which is hiding half of his face. Only his light brown eyes and forehead are visible.
Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #234 photo prompt
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.
© 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.
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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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
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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The really Monkey and Paddington!
© 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
luna's on line 