Category: Stories, poems and other short pieces

We’ll sit together

Chris Hall60 Comments

We’ll sit together,
at least very soon;
I’m almost running,
you see, I am late again.

Well, I’ve lost something,
and it’s pretty important,
still not a calamity,
although it’s a kind of one.

Well, I’m here now,
and sorry about all of this,
what a performance I’ve had,
but now I’m sitting by you.

And a moment later,
she opens her big bag,
and says:
here’s your phone.

~~~~

Image credit: Barney Goodman @ Unsplash

This picture is in black and white, shows a woman smartly dressed sitting on a bench with a tall bag near her. Her face is partially covered with her hair and we can she her profile. There is a wall behind her and a pillar on one side.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #358 photo prompt.

What do you see # 358- 14 September, 2026

Those two squirrels

Chris Hall74 Comments

Squirrel time!

As the two of them
pranced and jumped.
What to do today?

We scoot down
from that great palm tree,
fun for us!

Ooh, so look at this.
It’s a bicycle, isn’t it,
can we jump on this?

Well, I’ve got the saddle,
and you’ve got the basket,
but no-one to pedal.

Oh, I think we need to go,
and quickly,
well, we’re just naughty squirrels,
aren’t we!

~~~

Image credit: Alex Azabache @ Unsplash

This image shows a white bicycle parked near roadside, on a green tree lined street. Near the parked bike is a road sign that says, “Follow that dream”.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #357 photo prompt.

What do you see # 357- 7 September, 2026

A beautiful villa

Chris Hall56 Comments

What a wonderful villa, as she smiled to herself. Is it all for me, for a week and a half? But no, just a couple of rooms at the top. Still, that’s fine, as she climbed up the outside steps, while lugging her big bag and her rucksack.

She opened the door, and dumped her stuff on the bed, then flung one of the windows out and looked. Wow and wow… what a vista! This was absolutely perfect. She grinned a lot, but just to herself.

she is a writer
and sometimes she’s a poet
so what will she do?

~~~

Image credit: Ryan Spencer @ Pexels

This image shows a small villa in a Mediterranean island. There is a light blue gate and we can see stairs going up on the side of the house. Flowering vines can be seen on one side of the gate.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #356 photo prompt.

What do you see # 356- 31 August, 2026

A new museum

Chris Hall55 Comments


a new museum,
this is more than interesting,
radical, I’d say.

tiny, tiny things,
very valuable, I’m sure,
fantastic, aren’t they.

I really want it,
is it possible to buy?
only a punt though.

so, not to worry,
let’s look at the next display.

~~~

Image credit:  Amaury Michaux @ Pexels

This is a black and white image of five people standing by the railing in a museum looking down at something or someone. There are 2 women and 3 men.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #355 photo prompt.

What do you see # 355- 24 August, 2026 – Up or down!

My first flat!

Chris Hall81 Comments

Memories

Ah yes, my first flat,
well, it was almost it.
A tiny bedsit,
what a find!

It was old even then,
a little table,
a chair, and behind
that tatty bed.

Eish! I would say
now.

Just a couple of things,
some books and records,
but my pride of place…
that little black and white TV.

Ah, memories…
I’ll just take
that useful
suitcase.

~~~

Image credit: Tolga Ahmetler @ Unsplash

This image shows a scene inside a room. There is an old-fashioned TV sitting on a small table. There is a big white kettle on the TV. There is a yellow bag in front of the TV. There is a wooden chair on the right of the TV. On the back wall, there are windows with metal grills over them.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #354 photo prompt.

What do you see # 354- 17 August, 2026

That old door

Chris Hall44 Comments


That Old Door

It’s an interesting door, you said?
I did.
But what do you think about it?
Well, it’s old, obviously.
Yes, go on.
It’s a bit creaky too.
Indeed.

It looks a bit like, hmm…
What?
A Christmas tree, don’t you think?
I see what you’re saying.
And yes, it’s funny.
Definitely!

Will we be able to go in?
Let’s find out.

So they waited and waited for ages.
But sadly no-one was in.
Oh, such a shame, don’t you think?
Still, we’ll try again sometime.
Ah yes, we will!

So off they go, and smiling happily…

~~~

Image credit: Istiaque Hossain @ Pexels

It is a monochrome photo of an old door. There is a simple pattern of wooden planks on the door- creating triangles! The wall on which it’s fixed isn’t in good repair. There are signs of fungus around the lower part of the wall.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #353 photo prompt.

What do you see # 353- 10 August, 2026

Burning books?

Chris Hall51 Comments

Burning books?
Surely not?
Well, why not?

No, you’re crazy… really crazy,
and heaven forbid.
Just don’t do it.

But, again, why not?
There’s no value in these,
so what’s the point?

But, but…
But what can I say?
It’s, well, just wrong.
In fact, I’m thinking you’re deranged.

I know what you’re saying,
but at least we can use those books
to make part of our fire.

Now what are you thinking?
I’m thinking you might be… well, right!

~~~

Image credit: Ebahir @ Unsplash

This image shows a table top with a glass of a drink, probably juice or cold coffee, and a few open books, one of which is either in Persian or Arabic.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #352 photo prompt.

What do you see # 352- 3 August, 2026

Trees are poems

Chris Hall60 Comments


I do like this park,
it’s peaceful and gladdening.
I often sit here
and look up at those great trees,
where birds are all around there.

“Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky.”

Shall I write today?
I have my notebook and pen,
but it seems too hard;
so I’ll just look up again
and enjoy the lovely day.

— Khalil Gibran


Image credit: Shan Ali @ Pexels

In this image, we can see a park with wooden benches installed at regular intervals. There are tall green leafy trees all around, and the ground is covered with grass. A walking track is passing in front of the benches.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #351 photo prompt.

What do you see # 351- 27 July, 2026

We are koi

Chris Hall52 Comments


we are koi
and we are happy
and lively

our colours
are more than gorgeous
– lucky us

so more food
as we open our
big mouths

chomp, chomp, chomp
so swallow quickly
then eat more

we’re fun guys
as everyone knows
– see you soon

~~~

Image credit:  Andre Filipe @Unsplash

This image shows a pond teeming with koi fish. They are of all colours and sizes. The pond water is greenish colour.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #350 photo prompt.

What do you see # 350- 20 July, 2026

Let’s paddle!

Chris Hall54 Comments

Let’s paddle by the river,
not too far though;
it’s rather wide and deep,
also a bit chilly,
at least I think so.

Fun, I’d say,
such a lovely day,
just me,
and my dog.

And a few hours later,
we’ll go home,
smiling.

~~~

Image credit: Rafael Peier @Unsplash

This image shows a house on the bank of a river. There is a pier leading to the river from the house. There are tall trees surrounding the house.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #349 photo prompt.

What do you see # 349- 13 July, 2026