As the world turns,
you turn with it
always just a little out of kilter;
existing within a land of virtual friends
and made up characters,
submerged in the limpid pools of your mind’s eye,
where with every throw of the dice
you win.
Written in response to Sadje’s ‘What Do You See #5‘ photo prompt.
He’d battled over the Melancholic Mountains of Mythndlore,
scythed through thick forests where Dark Shadows lurk
stumbled across Mind Leaching deserts and now
wading through the stagnant Green Marais
at last he’d found what he was seeking.
The light at the end of his personal
Tunnel of Angst
…
Finally, he types
‘THE END’
Written in response to Sadje’s ‘What Do You See #4′ photo prompt.
Waves of words wash over her
transporting her through
space and time
to other realms
where dreams come true
and the adventurer knows no bounds.
Riding the White Horses of the Camargue
Dancing with Wolves
Searching for The Beach
She journeys to the Centre of the Earth
explores King Solomon’s Mines
and witnesses the Return of the King.
Laying aside her book
she drifts, dreams,
and the waves of words
still wash over her.
Written in response to Sadje‘s ‘What Do You See #3‘ photo prompt.
Look up at that little tree,
sparkling in the moonlight,
lit up by the stars.
Take a moment to remind yourself
of what is truly precious.
One life, one planet,
last chance.
Written in response to Sadje‘s ‘What Do You See‘ photo prompt.
Freya admired her newly-polished talons. She glanced over her scaly shoulders at her wings, freshly adorned with the finest lapis lazuli, mined by the dwarves of Zendor. The elves had done a fine job on her. It had cost her several gold coins from her secret horde, but it would be worth it. She was ready for the audition.
As a young actress she’d been an extra in the final Lord of the Rings film. She hadn’t enjoyed flying on by herself all the way to New Zealand. It had been exhausting. But there’d been no way she would have agreed to go in one of those flying metal contraptions, crated up like an animal. And then, after all that, her scene had ended up on the cutting room floor.
Her other big regret was to have just missed the part in the BBC TV series, Merlin. She’d have loved to have worked with John Hurt, but they’d said she was too pretty. Fair enough, she’d thought; the role had, after all, been for a considerably older dragon, and a male at that.
Now she was pinning her hopes on the Game of Thrones. This could be her big break!
Written in response to Sadje‘s ‘What Do You See‘ photo prompt.
And in memory of our friend, Hélène Vaillant. I’m so pleased that Sadje has revived this!
Romeo clung to hope as fiercely as he clung to the gutter, eavesdropping on Nero as he chatted up the new little cat in town. The pretty princess had never given Romeo a second glance, but his hope swelled when he heard her rebuff his rival.
Nero leapt down, landing with the soft thud of paws on paving-stones. Immediately Romeo swung himself up onto the roof and stretched seductively before the little queen.
She slammed her paw down on the tiles. ‘Enough of you toms, you’re just after one thing! I’m going to hang out with the girl cats.’ Tossing her pretty head, she flounced off into the night.
Romeo stared after her open-mouthed. He peered down into the street below where Nero was twitching his tail in irritation. He jumped down and landed beside him. Nero turned his head. ‘No luck either?’ Romeo shook his head. ‘Wanna go rat-catching?’
From a prompt by Hélène Vaillant of Willow Poetry: What do you see? June 4, 2019
Her memories were wrapped up
in the present.
The milestones of her life.
Happy times, happy faces!
And the bitter-sweet,
the sobs and sighs.
Then waiting and hoping;
futile as it turned out.
Try. Open the box.
Look inside!
Oh, but it is empty.
Not even dust.
The memories, just ether,
Her mind, a void.
From a prompt by Hélène Vaillant of Willow Poetry: What do you see May 28, 2019
She holds the golden sphere in the palm of her hand. It glows, warm with all that remains of him. She has him now, resting in the palm of her hand. His soul, trapped. He in her power; not she in his.
Revenge is sweet, she thinks.
She curls her fingers and feels the sphere pulsate. She turns and walks the few steps to the bridge. Leaning on the rail, she watches the greasy, grey river flow beneath her.
She tosses the sphere in the air and catches it. Tosses again; lets it fall.
Goodbye traitorous heart, she whispers.
Written in response to The Aether Prompt: May 22nd, 2019
Maggie trudged up the winding steps of the south tower, resentment gurgling in her stomach. Every day for the past 15 years since her father had passed away she had been obliged to carrying out the wearisome task. Every day of the past 15 years, as the big old clock in the hall struck twelve, she filled the copper watering can and climbed the tall stone steps. She was careful, oh so careful, not to spill a drop of the precious sweet well water which was all that must be used. Nothing sullied, nothing tainted, only the very best. Every day for the past 15 years she climbed to the top of the south tower to water a single bloom which her father had nurtured faithfully for as long as she could remember.
No one else could carry out the task. Not the gardener or the gardener’s son. Not the girl from the village who came to tend to her mother’s feet. Or, heaven forfend, the surly housekeeper, who prepared her mother’s meals, but not hers.
Meanwhile, Maggie’s mother sat in splendid isolation on a huge cushion-laden throne, from whence she issued orders and complaints in turn, which fell from her lips like so many leaden marbles, rolling over the stone floors to trip up the unwilling or unwitting. No task was too trivial to escape her notice, as she monitored the household through her all-seeing crystal spyglass. And, despite her great age, she still looked fresh as a daisy, while Maggie herself was beginning to wilt.
Maggie was almost at the top of the south tower. She rounded the last narrowing loop of the steps and arrived at the pinnacle. There was the single bloom. It never changed, never altered, throughout the changing seasons and the succeeding years; its golden face, thrust upwards to the sky, surrounded by a plethora of pink petals. The petals never discoloured or dropped. The single bloom remained, static, unseen, apart from by Maggie and her mother’s crystal spyglass.
Lately, as her knees creaked and her back ached with the climb, Maggie had begun to wonder what would happen if she deviated from the routine. But it was an idle thought. She swallowed her resentment down. Duty must be served.
As she raised the copper watering can, a flock of geese flew overhead, honking noisily. Maggie looked up. If only I were free like them. Her heart yearned to fly away to a world beyond the castle; explore the unknown lands beyond the fields and cottages which she could see from the top of the south tower. If only I were free, she mouthed silently.
Maggie’s back arched unwillingly as she tracked the progress of the snow-white birds. She craned further back; her feet teetered on the topmost step. Arms cartwheeling, she desperately tried to keep her balance. The watering can flew from her outstretched hand. It spun as it fell, spilling a wheeling spray of sweet well water down the wall of the south tower.
With a superhuman effort, Maggie flung herself forward. Her face buried itself in the golden centre of the solitary bloom. Her hands clawed for purchase, pulling out fistfuls of pretty pink petals which showered over the steps. Maggie sank to her knees and steadied herself. Slowly she came up for air. Maggie stared in horror at the ruined solitary bloom. All that remained was a battered bare stalk with a smashed-in face.
Then gradually, as Maggie watched, the squashed centre of the solitary bloom plumped back out again. Features appeared: eyes, nose and mouth. Maggie blinked. The corners of the mouth turned up and rosy blushes appeared on the golden cheeks. Petals sprang out on either side of its face. The head of the solitary bloom turned; it gazed up and down, left and right, settling on Maggie’s open-mouthed stare.
‘You wished to be free,’ it said in a clear and musical voice. Maggie continued to stare. ‘Close your mouth, child,’ it continued.
Child? Thought Maggie. Hardly.
‘I too wish to be free,’ said the solitary bloom, its head bobbing. ‘I have been here for an eternity, marooned on top of this barren tower.’
Maggie rubbed her eyes.
‘We can both be free, Maggie,’ the voice sang. ‘Free as the birds on the wing. Free as the clouds in the sky.’ It threw back its head and laughed. Then it straightened up and gazed intently at Maggie. ‘You can free us both, Maggie.’ It nodded vigorously. ‘Would you like that Maggie?’
Maggie stared, transfixed. Free?
‘Free, Maggie. That’s right.’ The solitary bloom leant towards her and whispered something.
Maggie stood up. She looked around at the fields and cottages below. She looked at the wide blue sky where birds sang and flew. She stretched out her arms and took a deep breath.
‘Go on, Maggie,’ the solitary bloom urged.
Maggie bent down and ripped the solitary bloom from the earth were it grew. She held it aloft, soil cascading from its roots. The solitary bloom let out a great cry. Maggie took up the cry as she leapt from the top of the south tower.
Down below in the depths of the castle, the crystal spyglass started to shake in the old woman’s hand. It reverberated, taking up the sound of the cries coming from the south tower; louder and louder, until the very walls of the castle started to shake. The servants fled from the building and the old woman yelled and cursed on her cushions as the castle crumbled and crashed down around her. Moments later there was nothing but rubble and dust.
High up in the sky two snow white geese honked loudly, flapping their wings in joyous freedom; soon they had disappeared beyond the clear blue horizon.
From a prompt by Hélène Vaillant of Willow Poetry: What do you see May-14-2019
Sandra’s superpowers had come as a surprise. Caused by a faulty connection in her washing machine, the freak accident had dumped her on the floor. She’d felt rather odd after that, sending out electric shocks at the most inopportune moments. It was only when she’d touched the interactive display at the mall and the whole panel had exploded that she’d realised their potential.
So many wrongs which need righting, it was hard to know where to start; but the people who had rejected her writing were at the top of her list.
Hell hath no fury like an author scorned.
Written in response to The Haunted Wordsmith’s Prompt May 13, 2019
luna's on line 