Harvest Moon

March 13, 2024March 15, 2024 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?

March 7, 2024March 7, 2024 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

March 4, 2024 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

The Moon, The Moon

February 27, 2024 Chris Hall74 Comments

the darkness is midnight
the moon is misty
and all the stars are hiding

the man stands staring in the distance
his feet are poised
should he stay or should he go?

a moment later
the stars are back again
the moon is radiant

his soul brings hope
he straightens his hat
it’s time to go

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Image credit: Darksouls 1 @ Pixabay

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a monochrome photo of a man wearing a suit and a hat, standing at the edge of a small stone bridge. The man is facing away from us. There is a full moon visible in the background and some trees. The whole scene is surrounded by fog.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #227 photo prompt

Maybe it’s a mashup

February 23, 2024February 24, 2024 Chris Hall46 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

I didn’t expect that, but what a happy coincidence – two things happened at the same time (well, almost); just like ‘kill two birds with one stone’ (not literally, of course), but now I have ‘Six Sentence Stories’ and ‘The Unicorn Challenge’, how fun!

So, anyway, look at the photo – three musicians, all fine players, performing.

I remember the wonderful song ‘Pass the Dutchie’ (1982), written by three songwriters: Jackie Mittoo, Fitzroy ‘Bunny’ Simpson and Lloyd ‘Judge’ Ferguson from Kingston. It talks about the Dutch oven, a type of cooking pot, in Jamaica, and how very delicious it is. Even more interesting, the Jamaican slang is from a pot holding marijuana, although we would never use it (ehem).

So, enjoy the music!

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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: PASS
Click on the Café sign for more #SixSentenceStories

Breaking Boundaries #8

June 18, 2023 Chris Hall18 Comments

A wonderful pianist and so much more.

Let are light shine, Lucy!

The Rhythm Section

Boundary: a line which marks the limits of an area; a dividing line.
Often boundaries serve a purpose, sometimes they are waiting to be transcended.
Every Friday, here at The Rhythm Section, we will explore the ocean of music using the latter as our lodestar: breaking of a boundary.
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There are times, days, moments in our lives when dark clouds amass overhead. The impending storm is not softened by the anticipation of petrichor, since nothing seems to penetrate that darkness spreading inside.
Suddenly, comes a ray of light.
It can be a friend with enough empathy to bridge thousands of miles as if they were inches.
It can be a simple joke that will fuse tears with laughter.

Or it can be… Lucy.

Before we talk about Lucy, let us look for a moment around her.
Her mother; she didn’t give up when her child was…

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