Tag: quadrille

Purple Leaves

Chris Hall74 Comments

it’s almost Christmas
and trees are running zigzags
bark is peeling gently, buds are opening
and the showy lilac and mauve are vibrant

it’s almost Christmas
and the jacarandas are singing
as this is the southern hemisphere
and joyful music blossoms around the streets

~~~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Pixabay (free for use)

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a road that is surrounded on both sides by trees, the branches of which meet in a canopy over the road. Light from the sun is filtering through the branches and illuminating the road.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #265 photo prompt.

What do you see # 265- December 2, 2024

Poppies drifting

Chris Hall64 Comments

all the poppies drift again
as another war breaks out
more violence, more atrocities
so many lives wasted…

millions are homeless
trudging along with little hope
will this ever change?

okay – no more war
let’s ask around the world
is there a new way?

~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Derek Mack @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a field of red poppies, in the middle of which two trees are growing. In the back, the sun is rising in a sky where a few scattered clouds are floating! 11-11 is celebrated as Armistice day/ Remembrance Day to celebrate the end of WW I. And red poppies are symbolic of this day.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #262 photo prompt.

What do you see # 262- November, 11, 2024

Water, beautiful water

Chris Hall73 Comments

Water, Beautiful Water

shall we go?
we have wooden boats
five of us

we will row
gently but swiftly
here we go;

it’s so clear
and mountains stare up
air breathes deep

it’s lovely
row, row, row again
wonderful

~ such a shame we only have an hour ~

~~~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Radek Skyzypczak @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this is an image of 5 wooden, empty row boats in a body of water. The water is reflecting the mountains and trees along its coast.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #261 photo prompt.

What do you see # 261- November 4th, 2024

The Embers

Chris Hall60 Comments

he’s a little goblin
and rather sweet
but he’s lonely
and he’s looking for a mate
there aren’t very many left now
and that so sad
he’d been busy in the embers
and suddenly she’d appeared
she smiled and waved
let’s be lovers, eh?

~~~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Klára Vernarcová @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows an outdoor scene at night. There is an open log fire burning in front of a wooden bench and a table. There are a couple of candles burning on the table.

The log fire has a strange-looking flame burning in its middle, that looks like a time creature of fire. A few iron spits are thrust into the ground near the fire.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #260 photo prompt.

What do you see # 260- 28, October, 2024

The Luggage

Chris Hall55 Comments

she’s moving again
how many times, she’s lost count
where will she go next?

the custom manager
threw the rest of her things out
‘good riddance,’ he shouted

her method is the same
she will find another place
it’s a tradition

a man’s there.

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

Image credit: Bernhard @Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows the view of a street where a stack of old luggage (suitcases) is piled one upon another, the lowest one resting on a wooden box. There’s a bicycle parked next to this pile, along a no parking sign.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #253 photo prompt.
Di’s Pensitivity101 – Monday’s Three Things Challenge: CUSTOM, TRADITION, METHOD

What do you see # 253- September 9, 2024
Three Things Challenge #M812

Ghosts and Dreams

Chris Hall77 Comments

she sits staring out
rain pitter-patters down, cold and grey
dismal, dank and damp

but inside she’s warm
reading a tatty old book
and what’s wrong with that?

the candle flickers
but there’s no ghosts here now
just peace and happiness

no misery here!

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

Image credit: Esra Korkmaz @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows an open book lying on a table near a window. There is a lit candle near the book on the table in a brass bowl. The pages of the book are yellowing with age. There are water droplets on the outside of the window pane.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #252 photo prompt.

What do you see # 252- September 2, 2024

I’m going in

Chris Hall47 Comments

Time to go in
as the huge doors beckon.
She has her cotton bag
and she’s on her last call.

She’s inside
and she’s confident.
She walks up the winding stairs,
wearing her professional face.

She disappears, and re-appears.

‘Order, Order!’
She’s the judge.

~~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Richard Stachmann @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a woman standing on the sidewalk, near a door looking at her phone. There is a handbag in between her hand and a cloth bag hanging from her shoulder.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #251 photo prompt.

What do you see # 251- August 26, 2024

Walking Boots

Chris Hall55 Comments

will he walk a thousand miles
as he climbs around the sea
and will he walk another league as well?

his boots are big and magnificent
as he strides over mountains and lakes
and then the pinnacle arrives…

but what more can he achieve?

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

Image credit: Karsten Winegeart @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a pair of hiking boots suspended in the air. They both are facing in different directions and it seems as if they are worn on feet attached to invisible legs!

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #250 photo prompt.

What do you see # 250 – August 19, 2024

Island in the Lake

Chris Hall53 Comments


She steps onto the jetty
its planks still moist with dew.
She tugs the mooring rope softly
and she draws the boat towards her.
She drops lightly into the boat
casts off, and slips away into the morning.
Her tiny island awaits:
just blissful.

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

Image credit: Unsplash+ in collaboration with Serene arches
(Sadje has purchased the membership of Unsplash+ so any image is permitted for this)

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a beautiful wooden rocking chair, placed on a small carpet. The setting is unusual as it is sat upon a three-tiered stone circle, beside a swamp / marsh.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #245 photo prompt.

What do you see # 245- 15th July, 2024

Are we beautiful?

Chris Hall46 Comments

are we beautiful?
in a way
blessed and humble
we perceive
is it odd?
maybe
but we’re free
like a bird
in a tree

but maybe
I could be
a film star
or maybe
just famous
just fifteen minutes
is all I ask,
please?

~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Tom Barrett @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a billboard on which the quote; “You are beautiful” is written in the form of many colorful post-it notes. There are faint images of buildings in the background.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #243 photo prompt.

What do you see # 243- July 1st,2024