Category: Stories, poems and other short pieces

Lucky man!

Chris Hall40 Comments

What a life he has,
no worries, no consequences.
He lives in an apartment,
not large, but large enough,
and right by the canal.

It seems idyllic,
and kind of it is.
However, he’s a poet,
and today, he can’t find
anything to say!

~~~

Image credit: Llia Bronskiy @Unsplash

This image shows a man lying beside a canal in Zurich, Switzerland. His head is cushioned by his bag/ backpack and his arm is covering his eyes. Behind him, a boat can be seen traveling in the canal.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #346 photo prompt.

What do you see # 346- 22 June, 2026

Just clouds?

Chris Hall51 Comments

Photo Prompt © C. E. Ayr

What? It’s coming down?
No, surely not.
But it is.

Look, over there. See, that thing is not part of that cloud.
What?
It’s not just that cloud, it’s too dense.
Dense? That sounds like you.
What?
Sorry, just making a joke… ish.
More than feeble, but never mind about that. That cloud, is not a cloud; that is something much more interesting.
So what?

Well, it’s moving more quickly… and lower now. Oh, but now we can’t see it, since the mountain is in the way. Damn!
So what are you thinking?
Aliens, and a ship.
What?
Defo, aliens.

~~~~

Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers
Genre: Sci-fi
Word Count: 100

19 June 2026

Just a tiny bird…

Chris Hall55 Comments

just a tiny bird
but so beautiful, so cute
bright yellow feathers
are more than brilliant, just fab
and she knows that doesn’t she.

“A bird does not sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.”

hey there little one
what can you see right up there?
maybe there’s a mate
is it? really? that is great
but you’re off, ah well, see you!

— Maya Angelou

~~~

Image credit: Mark Olsen @Unsplash

This image shows a Yellow Warbler singing from a sunlit branch during spring migration at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area on the southern shore of Lake Erie, Ohio.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #345 photo prompt.

What do you see # 345- 15, June- 2026

What on earth…

Chris Hall40 Comments

‘What’s this?’
‘Bizarre.’
The two boys had just stopped by one of the shops.

‘I don’t remember seeing this.’
‘Me neither.’
‘But what is in this window anyway?’

Then one of them looked up to see the sign.
‘It says that this is a barber’s shop, but it seems, well, odd.’

The shop door opened with a happy ding-dong bell, as a large jolly man waved some scissors at them. ‘Want to do you’re short back and sides then, young boys?’

The two of them grin, then one of them said. ‘It was only last week, so no thank you.’
Then the other one said. ‘Please can we see what’s in the window?’
‘Do come in. You’ll like this!’

‘See, they should sing but not until the fourth one is back. Just a little crack to make him better. Then it’ll be a barbershop quartet, and that will be lovely.’

~~~

150 words

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #090

Graffiti?

Chris Hall44 Comments

Photo Prompt © James Pyles

Graffiti maybe, but it isn’t. No. This is more.
You are saying, what?
This is Art. Real art.
Is it? Art?
It is.

So what’s the difference? I mean, do tell. I do want to understand the difference.

Well, it’s the way that it works. It’s the fab colours, the drawings are divine, and many deep meanings… shall I go on?

Well, why not. I am trying at least.

Okay. Let’s walk a little further.

I just had a thought.
Did you?

It’s a song. You’ll know it.
Sorry. I’m not getting this…
It’s this one. Art For Art’s Sake!

~~~

~~~~

Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

12 June 2026

Snow in June?

Chris Hall63 Comments

Snow in June? Surely not, as she peered from her window. No, it can’t be snow, it doesn’t look right. As she moved closer, almost sticking her nose on the windowpane.

Clouds on the ground? Most odd, since the sky all around is bright blue. She would even call that sky cerulean, such a pretty name. So those clouds can’t be clouds, but what in the world are they?

So she opened her door. Bizarrely the ground was made of candy and bubble-gum. And she was now holding some flowers.

She must be dreaming… surely.
Ah well, back to bed!

~~~

Image credit: Mehrab Sium  @Unsplash

This image shows an open door from which a hand extends holding a bouquet of pinkish white flowers. This image is superimposed on an image of a cloudy sky, giving the impression that the wall with the door is resting on the clouds.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #344 photo prompt.

What do you see # 344- 8 June, 2026

Food for thought

Chris Hall38 Comments


~~~

big buttercups, buzz
darling daisies walk the talk
golden butterflies
fling nectar through those tall trees
the summer time vibe goes on

Summertime, and the living is easy. —Ella Fitzgerald

let’s lie on the hay
drinking some boozy bourbon
eat eggs and mustard
just a mellow afternoon
as a black crow cracks a joke

~~~

TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 67, Yellow Things, 6/2/26

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #089

A lovely lake

Chris Hall52 Comments

Photo Prompt © Lily

One could reminisce just here.

The two of them would continue to stay there all the time.
They’re very close to the lovely lake, such a good idea.
Pretty, too.

Maybe they are thinking.
About what?
Well, anything.
Or maybe nothing.
So, which?
I’d say… and again
It’s what?
Reminiscing.
You think so?
I do.

Pretty, aren’t they.
Of course.
Those excellent chairs.
Oh yes, bright pink.
Pink?
I thought it was more mauve?
Really?
I’d say so.
Okay, not a problem.

Anything else we should say?
Anything meaningful?
No.
Let’s just scatter them down there.
Now, enough, let’s go.

~~~

Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers
Genre: Hysterical Fiction
Word Count: 100

5 June 2026

Beguiling

Chris Hall70 Comments

Beguiling, isn’t it?
it almost glows.

Mysterious, maybe?
just a little.

Could we walk?
I think not.

But we could float,
ah yes.

How are we feeling?
just fabulous!

So what will we do now?
just continue to float.

We won’t go back.
Never.

~~~

Image credit:  Sunira Moses @Unsplash

This image shows a body of water. The sunlight is reflecting on the water surface, the small waves look like being illuminated by a thousand bulbs.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #343 photo prompt.

What do you see # 343- June 1, 2026

Baa-lambs

Chris Hall41 Comments

~~~

ahh baa-lambs
so very, very cute
delightful

skip and jump
there’s almost always
two, they’re twins

spring, summer
are both very nice
oh, but then…

they slow down
they’re more mature
just staring

so off to market
we must not mention this, no
bye, goodbye, baa-lambs

so something
very different now
more than good

we’ve some spuds
some lovely mint sauce
‘lamb for lunch’

~~~

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 66, Exploring Haiku, 5/26/26
Crimson’s Creative Challenge #088