Category: Stories, poems and other short pieces

The Mask

Chris Hall50 Comments

She’d always wanted to be the perfect lady, all glossy hair and high-heeled shoes, smiling graciously behind flawless make-up, while people marvelled at the poise of her bearing and her chic couture.

But nature was cruel. The golden-haired baby girl grew into a spotty awkward teenager. There was no extraordinary mutation from ugly duckling to elegant swan for her; no amazing transformation in her teens nor late-blossoming in her early twenties.

And so she became a writer, acclaimed for her literary accomplishments while sheltering beneath the camouflage of the well-turned sentence and gorgeous prose.

What lies behind your wordsmith’s mask?

Image credit: Ava Sol on Unsplash

Written in response to two challenges:

Di of Pensitivity101‘s Three Things Challenge – LADY, PERFECT, HIGH

Denise Farley of GirlieOnTheEdge‘s Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt – MARVEL

Purple Prose

Chris Hall49 Comments

Like luminous petals falling
Over lush green lawns your
Violet verses float down in
Eloquent abundance.

Love-filled lyrics pervade the ether
Elegant stanzas resonate with rhyme
Tantalising texts torment my senses
Tempting cantos seep into my soul
Eternal love spills from your pen while
Rhythms of ecstasy permeate my heart.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #65 photo prompt.

Image credit: Simona Sergi @ Unsplash
The image shows an envelope hanging by a white thread. In the background there is a house entrance.

What lies within?

Chris Hall69 Comments
photo of an old trunk

Kneeling before the old chest, watching the winter sunlight filter through the dusty window of the attic, I’d paused in trepidation. I’d never been in this part of the house, as my uncle had forbidden it and his directives were not to be ignored lightly; but I’d been driven to explore the unexplained parts of my past and now I’d discovered that the chest contained the final few pieces of the puzzle.

Finally, I’d unlatched the lid and lifted it.

If only I hadn’t. My uncle had been right.

That day I learned that some things are better left undisturbed.

Image credit: Pinterest

Written in response to two challenges:

Di of Pensitivity101‘s Three Things Challenge – PAST, FEW, CHEST

Denise Farley of GirlieOnTheEdge‘s Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt – FILTER

Stepping Out

Chris Hall41 Comments

Vermillion streaks of swirling silk
illuminate the slate-grey dawn
while fervent feet, with careful steps
traverse the open gates of morn’

Viridian hues tint distant trees
beckoning the breaking day
while eager feet, with girlish grace
greet the golden sun’s first ray

Violet veils shroud verdant hills
soft’ning lofty umber peaks
while dancing feet, with tender tread
roam the purple path she seeks.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #64 photo prompt.

Image credit: Timur Kozmenko
The image is of a girl dressed in a red swirling frock walking towards open gates. The gates appear to be of oriental origin and are very tall. From the open gate you can see mountains visible through a cloudy sky.

Paralysis of Indecision

Chris Hall40 Comments

Today I’m still waiting by the track
choices limited, just forward or back
when at dawn, new light ascends
empty platform, empty track, possibilities

Choices limited, just forward or back
step on, step up, step up to the plate
empty platform, empty track, possibilities
which route shall I take?

Step on, step up, step up to the plate
hurry now, it’s not too late
which route shall I take?
inertia stays my feet

Hurry now, it’s not too late
when at dawn, new light ascends
inertia stays my feet
today I’m still waiting by the track

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #63 photo prompt.

Image credit: Rodrigo Curi @ Unsplash
The image shows the sun setting over the horizon and in the foreground you can see rail tracks.

Secret Santa?

Chris Hall28 Comments

My puppy wears a Christmas hat
is there something wrong with that?

He stares intently back at me
by the light of the Christmas tree

Two dark eyes and round back nose
what he’s thinking no one knows

But I think that I can guess
okay, boy, more is less!

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #62 photo prompt.

Image credit: Rhaúl V. Alva @ Unsplash
The image shows a puppy wearing a Christmas hat, sitting in a bed. You can see the Christmas tree lit up in the background.

Let me out!

Chris Hall55 Comments
The image shows wall art. A woman is dressed in 1950’s style. A speech bubble next to her says, ” Listen to your inner child” There are cartoons and graffiti on the wall too

My inner child cowers, confined by conformity
Yearning to be let out, unshackled and free!

Iridescent, uninhibited
Not contained and
Not restrained, she’d
Engineer enjoyment, frivolity and fun.
Raging and rebellious

Chortling and
Howling, craving
Instant satisfaction, but no! Quietly she
Lurks beneath the veil of decorum
Dwelling in the darkness, sadly unfulfilled.

Written in response to Sadje’s What Do You See #61 photo prompt.

Image credit: Tim Hüfner @ Unsplash
The image shows wall art. A woman is dressed in 1950’s style. A speech bubble next to her says, ‘Listen to your inner child’. There are cartoons and graffiti on the wall too.

Traditionally Yours

Chris Hall40 Comments

Reaching out across the airwaves
tuneful voices high and sweet
echo brightly from a distant chapel
of vaulted ceilings and flickering candles

She sings along, only slightly out of tune
picturing pews of fresh-faced choirboys
with golden halo hair and snow-white surplices
wide-eyed and open mouthed

Smiling, she chops and slices
as the voices transport her
while her hands work busily
preparing for the feast

Now the warm summer wind drifts
through the open kitchen window
while wintery hymns
embrace her in nostalgia.

It’s my special festive tradition to listen to the carol service from King’s College Cambridge while cooking on Christmas Eve. This year will be no exception. Some particularly fond memories of mine come from the years when my husband had a bike shop and used to go out late on Christmas Eve to deliver the children’s bikes to their houses after they’d gone to bed, just like Santa Claus, while I made us a late supper of fishy treats.

Written in response to Sadje’s What Do You See #60 photo prompt.

Image credit: Shche-Team @ Unsplash
(The image shows an outdoor scene. An old fashioned radio is placed next to a couple of candles and a wicker basket. Behind the radio is a pot full of blooming red flowers)

Sisters

Chris Hall51 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

Written in response to Sadje’s What Do You See #58 photo prompt.

Image credit: Cheryl Holt @ Pixabay
(The image shows very two young girls heading off together, holding hands. One is of African heritage and the other seems Caucasian).

A bit of old nonsense

Chris Hall45 Comments

Just one tiny cake
a candle-topped treat
two bites big
is all I can eat.

Gone are the days
of parties and thrills
just make sure
I take all my pills.

But with memories rich
I’ll celebrate
don’t you know
I’m a hundred and eight?*

Written in response to Sadje’s What Do You See #57 photo prompt.
Image credit: Angéle Kamp @ Unsplash
(The image shows a a single cupcake with a lit candle on top of it).

*thank you, Goutham @ https://gdutta17.wordpress.com/ (see the comments below)