Category: Stories, poems and other short pieces

Good Books

Chris Hall56 Comments

Gosh, a book club, how exciting
Can we go?
I don’t see why not.
What time does it say?
Ah, let’s see.
Here it is, look
It’s next week, Monday
And in the evening
Six o’clock – that’s perfect!

and so we both went
it was great – reading more books
heaven, pure heaven!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Toa Heftiba @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows  a sign that says;
“Book Club” – Meets every month- This sign is lit with sunlight coming through a window.
In front of the sign there’s a vase with fresh flowers, a note book and a pen.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #272 photo prompt.

What do you see # 272- Jan 20, 2025

Where are they?

Chris Hall47 Comments

She has a new car, beautiful, really beautiful; and with her, a great friend. They drove through the evening to find a particular lake, it was almost a myth. But it’s there. They stopped. There was no one in sight. And there, she, the wonderful moon, towered over them. What could be better?

it’s a lovely night
they decided to wade in;
they’re skinny dipping!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Pavlo T @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a car parked near the edge of a body of water. The door of the car is open. Behind the car is a small rise and we can see a huge spherical body/ moon rising behind that rise.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #271 photo prompt.

What do you see- 271- 13th Jan’2025

There it going again

Chris Hall43 Comments

Echo… echo… echo… There it goes again. She stopped and looked around. But nothing. She walked on, her thick boots keeping her warm, she had been in the mountains for some time, hoping that she might see a rare bird or too, but it was really something even more interesting… a mysterious legend, and maybe she’d find it. She was always earnest about everything… and there it goes again: echo, echo. She opened her bag, setting her equipment out, she wanted to get a shot.

an enigma, she thought
and I’m going to find it
since it’s a yeti

~~~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Dmitrii Shirnin @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a young woman, dressed warmly, standing on a snow-clad elevated piece of land, looking skyward. The sun is shining brightly and she looks ready to venture out with a bag on her shoulder.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #270 photo prompt.

Plus, Di’s Pensitivity101 – ECHO, EARNEST, ENIGMA

What do you see # 270- 4th Jan, 2025
Three Things Challenge #M931

Sun rises again

Chris Hall43 Comments

he’s Sun, rising his head
breathing blissfully
as he looks out and around

he begins to stride out
over oceans, mountains and lakes
turning from east to west

later, it’s evening
now it’s her turn
and she’s Selene

forever… perhaps

~~~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Ompragash Viswanathan @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows the sun rising over the horizon lending its golden glow to the water.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #269 photo prompt.

What do you see # 269- 30th December, 2024

Train coming home

Chris Hall52 Comments

she’s young
she’s pretty
and it’s almost Christmas she’s waiting
on the train
but soon she’ll be home

there will be packages and presents
she will be thrilled
and soon
she will be brimming over
but only when
she’ll get off from the train

~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: unsplash?

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a young girl looking out the window of a train carriage. She is wearing headphones over her ears. The girl is around 5-6 years old.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #268 photo prompt.

What do you see # 268- 23 December, 2024
Three Things Challenge #M917

Blackboard

Chris Hall53 Comments

no slouching
reading, writing, numbers
all so important

rubbing on the board
cleaning quickly

I stare out, longingly
trees, birds and the sky
in the distance
I can hear the cars

sorry, what?
and yes, of course
I am the teacher
not the pupil

~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Mesut çiçen @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows  a young boy – 7-8 years old, with a cloth duster in his hand, erasing something off a blackboard. In the background, we can perceive the environment of a classroom.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #266 photo prompt.

What do you see # 266- 9 December, 2024

Purple Leaves

Chris Hall74 Comments

it’s almost Christmas
and trees are running zigzags
bark is peeling gently, buds are opening
and the showy lilac and mauve are vibrant

it’s almost Christmas
and the jacarandas are singing
as this is the southern hemisphere
and joyful music blossoms around the streets

~~~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Pixabay (free for use)

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a road that is surrounded on both sides by trees, the branches of which meet in a canopy over the road. Light from the sun is filtering through the branches and illuminating the road.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #265 photo prompt.

What do you see # 265- December 2, 2024

Whoa, and oh…

Chris Hall55 Comments

I’m doing a few clever moves
up and over the wall
with my great skateboard
look I’m under a tall lorry
whoa, that was a cool one
next I’m pacing along the road
moving in uniform
straight, straight, straight

but what’s going on now?
this guy just gave me all these balloons
but I didn’t really want them
I mean, what am I going to do?
I am still holding my skateboard
but now I’m going up
I’m flying…
and I can’t drop now

~~~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Dylann Hendricks @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a man holding colorful balloons sitting on a sidewalk with a skateboard between his feet.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #264 photo prompt.

What do you see # 264- 25 November, 24
Three Things Challenge #M890

And what shall she do?

Chris Hall60 Comments

she is a good girl
she’s bright and intelligent
but what will she be?

history, maths, English
science, geography or art
maybe Latin? (no)

but, of course, she’ll tell
she wants to be an actress
and why not? you see

she can be anything!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Nishaan Ahmad @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows three girls of possibly Asia heritage sitting in a classroom with books open at their desks. The girl in focus of the image is looking directly at the camera with a smile on her face.

November 20 is celebrated as international children’s day all over the world.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #263 photo prompt.

What do you see # 263- 18 November, 2024

Poppies drifting

Chris Hall64 Comments

all the poppies drift again
as another war breaks out
more violence, more atrocities
so many lives wasted…

millions are homeless
trudging along with little hope
will this ever change?

okay – no more war
let’s ask around the world
is there a new way?

~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Derek Mack @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a field of red poppies, in the middle of which two trees are growing. In the back, the sun is rising in a sky where a few scattered clouds are floating! 11-11 is celebrated as Armistice day/ Remembrance Day to celebrate the end of WW I. And red poppies are symbolic of this day.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #262 photo prompt.

What do you see # 262- November, 11, 2024