Two Friends

Chris Hall74 Comments


Monkey was always a little friend
but he only lived on the couch

Monkey liked to play with his people
but often he was alone

Monkey could look out to see what’s happening
but he had nothing to say

But one day he has a new friend
and he certainly looks familiar…

He used to live in Darkest Peru
but now he’s called Paddington

Monkey and Paddington talk all day
and sometimes they get into mischief!

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Image credit: Anastasiia Krutota@ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows two stuffed toys sitting on a cushion. The monkey on one side has its arm around the other stuffed toy that appears to be a hybrid between a bear and a penguin. (you can imagine your own combination)

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #231 photo prompt

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What do you see #231- March 25, 2024

The really Monkey and Paddington!

Equinox

Chris Hall66 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

It’s late afternoon as I walked along the sand dunes near the sea, smiling as I hopped down the bank to the beach, striding along to the rock pools, then poking around to see what was there; I could be busy for hours.

As it was getting into evening, it was still warm as I walked around the edge of the ocean, looking far out in the lovely False Bay; then I looked back at the harbour, as I waved at Jannie who’s a fishermen, who works to catch squid and octopus in the dark sea in the night.

Much later, I flung open my window, and there she was, the beautiful moon, Selene. There she stood alone, with all the stars around her; her gibbous moon lay on her back, arching her jewelled scimitar.

I shut my eyes for a moment, and then I saw the octopuses dancing up in the sky, shooting stars around the world, for twice a year it’s the equinox, as the celestial moon brings the spring rebirth, while the harvest moon must rest for the winter. Meanwhile, the octopuses play in the Milky Way, because all of the octopuses are aliens.

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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 GirlieOnTheEdge’s Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt: BANK

More #SixSentenceStories

Steps and Shadows

Chris Hall64 Comments

she walked silently
slowly measuring each step
then she stops and thinks

she gently walks again
listening in the cloisters,
is there someone there?

she turns around quickly
holding her notebook and pen,
but no-one is there

it’s so difficult
when you’re a writer

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Image credit: Nickola Johnny Mirkovic @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows an arched veranda, where multiple pillars support a high vaulted ceiling. The sun is casting shadows on the wall behind the veranda. At the end of it is a fancy door.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #230 photo prompt

What do you see # 230- March 18, 2024

Harvest Moon

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?

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

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

Back in the neighbourhood

Chris Hall55 Comments

The red-headed writer, aka the Raconteuse, was sitting in the black taxi; the cabbie didn’t speak much, and she was happy with that, all he had said was the traffic was busy and where he would take her to the south in the city.

After a moment, she begun to rummage in her enormous bag, noticing her new bold, short and spiky hair in her little mirror; she dug down with her nail clippers, pens and pencils, than finally she found her lucky silver cigarette lighter (the non-functioning prop); she held it tightly, breathing slowly.

The sun was going down, huge and orange-red, over the tall buildings. The taxi swung a right and another left to the park; it was Friday – almost the weekend – so many memories, she thought, smiling.

She was almost there, right in the downtown district; the cabbie slowed down and stopped. The Raconteuse waved a handful of notes and gently slamming the door; then she walked around the narrow road, looking up as it beckoned.

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Denise Farley of Girlie On The Edge’s Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt: NAIL

Click on the Café sign for more #SixSentenceStories

The Moon, The Moon

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

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

Walking in the snow

Chris Hall69 Comments

I can see footprints
but there is only me here
trudging in the snow

a moment later
and now there are two people
that’s so much better

let’s walk together
and do you know who it is?
it’s Piglet and Pooh!

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Image credit: Moostapper@Pixabay
For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a deep blue sky and mountains in the distance. The ground is covered by snow and a single track of footprints is seen headed towards the mountains.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #226 photo prompt

What do you see # 226- February 19, 2024