Category: writing prompts

He should be a poet

Chris Hall53 Comments



he was in his prime
he was often just this thinking thought
on his lonesome time

you see he was a poet, but he had lost his inspiration ~

he held his notebook
several pens and pencils
clattered on the ground

he stared up, looking at the great tree, he should climb up it ~

further and further
he climbed, so much better here
he’s able to write

~~~~~~~

Image credit: Rob Mulally @Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a huge tree. Its branches are growing both vertically and horizontally. A man is resting comfortably on one of the horizontal branch, quite high up.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #282 photo prompt.

What do you see # 282- 31th March, 2025

A wee dram

Chris Hall52 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

Ah whisky, shall I have a little dram?
Beautifully mellow – amber, tangerine, and maybe musk
Come with me – it’s a journey
Deep into the highlands

Every step you’ll take
Fading in the mist
Granite unmoved
Hiding in full view

Isle of Skye, gorgeous land, so pure
Just be… spread your wings
Kites are wheeling in the mountains
Lovely place… just breathe

Morning air is fresh
No problem
Open the door, then go
Paddling in the sea

Quite bracing, but still nice
Rather good to eat outside
Six o’clock is here
Talisker awaits

Unicorns speak:
Victor, Wellington, Xena, Yasmine and Zacharia
🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄

(100 words)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.

Daydreamer

Chris Hall60 Comments

he’s daydreaming
and there’s nothing wrong with that
he shakes his head
but he’s as bright as a button

you’d see him walking around
doing a handstand if he wanted to
but mostly he would sit in the middle
watching the bridge
and contemplating

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Антон Воробьев @Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a small grey figurine sitting on the railing of a bridge. There’s a wistful expression on his face. He has a beard and mustache and on his head a lock of curly hair.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #281 photo prompt.

What do you see # 281- 24th March, 2025

In the forest

Chris Hall49 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

‘Come on, we can have a race between ourselves, it will be fun.’
‘Definitely, especially since our mountain bikes are best in the woods and the hilly bits.’

The two boys looked back to see the end of their village.
‘Now we are in the proper country – rolling hills and streams.’
‘It’s not too far, but far enough.’
‘Shall we go?’

They looked to each other and grinned.
‘Now it’s time to race.’
‘On your marks, set and… go!’

They went up and down and around, over a couple of streams – they were rather wet and muddy, but who minded? They were biking fast as they were riding neck and neck. Then they came to a huge oak tree in the middle of the track – one went left, the other went right… both were still neck and neck, even though the trees and bushes were getting denser and higher.

They were almost at the top of the largest hill, but suddenly a little glade opened up. The two boys stopped dead.
They mouths fell open.

And what did they see? Can you guess?
I think they will whisper…

‘We saw a couple of unicorns who darted out, and then disappeared.’
‘Did we see them, or not.’
‘Maybe it was just a double take?’

You decide! 🦄🦄

~~~~~~~~~~~

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.

Cherries🍒

Chris Hall65 Comments

ahh cherry blossoms
beautiful and lingering
known as sakura

flowers are dainty
while trees are magnificent
both together is hope

but meanwhile something else is happening:

cherries are blushing
bountiful and delicious
how many can we eat?

these are so sweet
more than delightful!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Redd Francisco @Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a lot of cherry trees in blossom. There is a body of water in front of the trees that is reflecting the image, upside down.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #280 photo prompt.

What do you see # 280- 17th March, 2025

Another little nonsense

Chris Hall40 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

Ah yes, two different specs
one for distance, and the other for close
but in the middle neither is good
especially using the computer
bloody thing.

It’s definitely not the Goldilocks effect
no, not clever at all
but now I’m thinking about breakfast
maybe some nice porridge
instant, of course!

~~~~~~~~~~~

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.

Just the two of them

Chris Hall48 Comments

she’s a pretty girl, isn’t she
just like her dad too
they walk along the beach
just the two of them

it’s warm and mellow
only a little breeze
which wafts merrily over the sea

just waves and waves
rolling back and forward
ceaselessly

~~~~

Image credit: Mohamed Awwam @Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a man holding a baby up in the air. In the background we see the sun breaking through the clouds over the sea!

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #279 photo prompt.

What do you see #279- 10 March’ 2025

He’s big!

Chris Hall55 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

Wow, he’s big
and beautiful,
regal too.

Staring out
on the gate,
what’s he thinking?

He’s hardly moving,
what’s going on
in his mind? (anything?)

I’m getting closer,
can I pet him??
ah – he’s purring!

That’s enough though.
He climbs down,
walking with purpose.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.

Sleeping Beauty

Chris Hall45 Comments

She was slumbering, peacefully, for a long, long time. Will she open her eyes? Not yet. She was fine for the autumn, turning this way and that, making herself more comfortable. Then it turned to the wintery time. It was darker and colder, frigid and stark. She hunkered down, keeping herself warm, as she delved down. Slowly, slowly the winter passed, and suddenly… it was spring! She opened her eyes and looked out.

hey, little squirrel
lovely to see you again
here’s some nuts; enjoy!

…

Squirrels take all sorts of things for their nests, including bits of newspaper and magazines. It kind of reminded me about this photo, so I used it for my prose/poem.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Стас Кадрулев @Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a woman, her head resting in an aperture of a rock. Her eyes are closed and she appears to be sleeping.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #278 photo prompt

What do you see # 278- 3rd March’ 25

A Posh Neighbourhood

Chris Hall42 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

‘Hey, look at this place, it’s very posh.’
‘I don’t think we have been here, have we?’
‘Definitely not.’
‘Still we can mosey around, since it’s the holidays.’

The two boys walked around one of the cul-de-sacs.

‘Oh, look at this. It’s a lovely large chameleon right next to the wall.’
‘It’s not real.’
‘No, but it’s very cute.’
‘That wall is pretty tall, and it goes all around the house and the garden I suppose.’
‘I bet it’s really nice.’
‘Do you think we would be able to go inside?’
‘Shall we find out?’

The two boys knocked on the door and rang the bell.
And waited.

‘No answer.’
‘Try again.’
‘Okay. ‘

‘No reply.’
‘Maybe we can climb up, and over?’
‘Shall we try?’
‘Hmm, don’t think so – bound to be court.’
‘Yip, you’re right.’

They stared for a bit.
‘Did we try the handle on the door?’
They tried, both of them; but no luck.
However, they saw something.

And if you look very closely, beneath the handle, you can see a tiny unicorn.🦄

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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.