Tag: keepitalive

That letter

Chris Hall57 Comments

She’d been walking on the beach for hours.
There was no-one around.
Just her.

It was cold, damp, miserable. Both the sea and the sky was the same colour.
Everything was grey.
Including her heart.

She opened the letter. Yet again. It was crinkled and damp.
She’d read it so often, she knew it by heart.
But there should be two hearts here.

She stopped and looked out to sea.
She heaved a sigh, then ripped that letter in tiny pieces.

And then she felt so much better.

~~~~~

Image credit:  Pan Xiaozhen @Unsplash

This image shows a fully dressed woman on the edge of a rocky beach. In this black and white photo, she is looking down at something in her hand.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #322 photo prompt.

What do you see #322- 5th January 2026

Choo-Choo!

Chris Hall55 Comments

A railway, a railway!
The two boys smiled happily.

How fun it is
to ride on a train,
and they could take
their bikes with them.

Only a short trip,
but that was fine,
always lucky to be on holiday,
as they grinned again.

~~~~~

Image credit:  Tobias Reich @Unsplash

This image shows a scene from a railway station. The platform on the photographer’s side is empty, and you can see a train on the opposite side, leaving, engulfed in smoke/fog.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #321 photo prompt.

What do you see # 321- 29 December 2025

Christmas cheer?

Chris Hall36 Comments

Yes, I am a sheep
and only for Christmas time
and a bit longer.

Yes, I’m on a tree,
not a real one, obviously,
there’s tinsel and lights.

And are we happy?
Hard to say, since we don’t speak,
and we never have.

So we continue
to spin slowly for Christmas
and New Year as well.

Then back in that box
and for everyone, until
next time, see you then.

~~~~~~~

Image credit: Renata Kidd @Unsplash

This image shows a close up of a Christmas tree, with two little woolly lambs hanging from it. One is white and the other is grey.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #320 photo prompt.

What do you see # 320- 22nd December’25

Beach time

Chris Hall55 Comments

‘Beach time,’ she shouted as she grinned happily. ‘It’s so warm, it’s so pleasant.’ She grabs her sunglasses – so funky, a tangerine colour, so bright. She pops her floppy hat which is decorated with little hearts and butterflies – very cool. She started to sing to herself as she went to get sunscreen – she knows she should be wise since she wouldn’t want to burn. ‘It’s going to be blazing by the beach,’ as she jumped into her snazzy car. ‘Broom, broom!’ and off she goes.

she’ll run down the beach
she’ll potter around the sea
she’ll take some shells back

~~~~~

Image credit: Amera Pawlik @Unsplash

This image shows an embroidery frame, coloured pens, a pair of child’s plastic glasses and tic tock signs. In the embroidery frame- different emojis are embroidered.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #319 photo prompt.

What do you see # 319- 15th December 2025

It’s almost Christmas

Chris Hall60 Comments

what a wonderful time it is
so much happiness and joy!

all those little businesses are busy
since they will be closing soon.

we peer in various shops
is there anything else we need?

no, we think we have everything
let’s run home now!

~~~~~

Image credit: Deep Doshi  @Unsplash

This photo shows a snowbound scene from a street in Quebec, Canada. There are Christmas trees outside almost every home and they are sprinkled with snow. People, warmly dressed are going about their business.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #318 photo prompt.

What do you see # 318- 8 December 2025

Seagull World

Chris Hall59 Comments

Seagull World

Another beautiful day,
said one.
Where shall we go today,
said the other.

They potted around the lovely beach.

So warm isn’t it,
said one.
Well, it’s summer on the Cape, isn’t it,
grinned the other.

They potted a bit further, as they looked out.

I know, let’s go right to the end.
You mean the Table Mountain?
No, even further… the southern tip of the Cape Peninsula.
Let’s enjoy the Cape of Good Hope just now.

And off they went!

~~~~~

Image credit:  Thibault Moluenko @Unsplash

The image shows two birds standing in the water of the ocean, at a beach. The sky overhead is cloudy and lit golden by the rays of the sun, which are reflected in the water too. There are waves coming in towards the beach.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #317 photo prompt.

What do you see # 317- 1st December 2025

Was that me?

Chris Hall60 Comments

Was that me in a different life? Is it possible to be reborn again without knowing?
Something drastic happened. Everything disappeared completely.
Not just dark. Just nothing. Nothing at all.
Gone.

And yet…
Something rebooted, eventually.
Eyes opened. But looking upside down, and back to front. Just like a brand new baby.
And then it all came back again. So, I’m thinking that’s what happened.

a new chance
many lovely days
lucky me!

~~~~~

Image credit:  Mohsen Karimi @Unsplash

The image shows a blurred girl/woman through a rain-streaked window. The background is not clearly seen.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #316 photo prompt.

What do you see # 316- 24 November, 2025

Coffee, please!

Chris Hall51 Comments

The first cup of the day,
delightful,
warming and waking her up.
What will she do today?

Such a beautiful morning,
fresh, gorgeous,
as she opens her laptop.
It has to be a poem!

What will she think about,
she’s musing,
as she continues to drink.
Perhaps another coffee?

Aha, that’s it!
This is my poem
about coffee.
(more please)

~~~~~

Image credit: Jon Tyson @Unsplash

The image shows a cup sitting on a wooden table. On the cup you can read the inscription – “ My cup runneth over”.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #315 photo prompt.

What do you see # 315- 17 November 2025

Who is she?

Chris Hall53 Comments

She’s a busy lady!
She’s beautiful,
She’s clever,
She’s making a nest.

She weaves, and weaves,
Delicate but strong,
She continues to weave,
Until she’s happy.

She’ll finds some food,
More than she needs,
But she’ll keep it for later,
Now she’ll doze for a while.

A few days later,
She’s even busier,
She’s making more silk,
It will be her nursery.

Do you know her?
I’m sure you’ve guessed…
She’s more than just a spider,
She’s a lucky lady!

~~~~~

Image credit: Doncoombez @Unsplash

In this image we can see branches of a pine tree. There is an intricate spider web woven between two of the branches. The background is blurry, but the golden light suggests a forest or garden setting.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #314 photo prompt.

What do you see # 314- 10 November 2025

Just a cat…

Chris Hall50 Comments

that is no such thing
as ‘just’ a cat – ‘just’ a cat?
definitely not.

she’s always regal,
pretty, beautiful – of course,
and she’ll stare, and stare.

what is she thinking?
we will never really know,
she’s just amazing!

could we pry?
nope, definitely not.

~~~~~~

Image credit: Haoli Chen @Unsplash

A white and fawn cat is hiding behind a partially open curtain hanging on a window. Through the window we can see green trees. The cat is also watching the trees.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #313 photo prompt.

What do you see # 313- 3rd November’ 25