Tag: wdys

Different Worlds

Chris Hall66 Comments
The image shows shows a well-dressed young man of African descent sitting on stairs. His hands are gripping the railing and he is staring intently at the camera.

living here
in the same building
you don’t stop
we don’t talk

torment lurks within my soul
you just don’t see it

sitting here
alone on the stairs
you’re aware
of my gaze

sorrow lies behind these eyes
you just won’t see it

existing
in separate worlds
minds don’t meet
hearts don’t open

but then, behind the façade
I see your sadness

~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Caleb Williams @ Unsplash
The image shows shows a well-dressed young man of African descent sitting on stairs. His hands are gripping the railing and he is staring intently at the camera.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #132 photo prompt

Summoning the Sun

Chris Hall77 Comments
The image shows two young girls standing outdoors looking at a book which both of them are holding jointly.

our night-time terrors
evaporate with the dew
dispersed by the sun’s first pink rays

greet the day
with sweet voices raised
welcome in the dawn

each new day
let’s summon the sun
with a song
~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Ben White @ Unsplash
The image shows two young girls standing outdoors looking at a book which both of them are holding jointly.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #131 photo prompt

Exercise in mindfulness

Chris Hall71 Comments
The image shows the word ‘Exhale’ illuminated as a sign, embedded in a carved structure.

breathe in (count to three)
breathe out (count to five)
close your eyes
repeat

imagine yourself
on an empty beach
tide coming in
tide going out

breathe in (count to three)
breathe out (count to five)

take yourself
to that place far away
empty your cares
on the sand

watch as the tide
washes over the beach
breathe in, and again
now exhale

~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Matt Barringer @ Unsplash
The image shows the word ‘Exhale’ illuminated as a sign, embedded in a carved structure.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #130 photo prompt

Been here?

Chris Hall84 Comments
The image shows a rotary dial pink telephone, and next to it are cards showing the answering machine messages on different cards. “Leave us a message” , “After the tone” and “Thank you”

Pacing her apartment, she waits for him to call. She stares at the phone, perched innocently on a side table. Wills it to ring. She strides to the window, grips the ledge, her fingers tightening as she views the busy street below. Couples laughing, children running, a solitary man consulting his watch. She turns away. Why doesn’t he phone? Damn him! Puts on her coat, grabs her keys. One last lingering look at the unforgiving phone.

waiting no longer
she slams the door behind her:
the phone starts to ring.

~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Tylor Heery @ Unsplash
The image shows a rotary dial pink telephone, and next to it are cards showing the answering machine messages on different cards. “Leave us a message” , “After the tone” and “Thank you”

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #129 photo prompt

Accident Report

Chris Hall82 Comments
The image shows three orange traffic cones placed on the road. There is ice on the road surface and foot prints can be seen on the ice.

Snow melt started the previous day.
Soft rain fell all afternoon.
Black ice formed overnight.
Treacherous.
Transparent.
Deadly.

The driver took the corner badly.
Wheels spun, slewed on the ice.
Vehicle out of control.
Screech.
Impact.
Silence.

In the distance
a siren wails.

~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Oleksii S @ Unsplash
The image shows three orange traffic cones placed on the road. There is ice on the road surface and foot prints can be seen on the ice.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #128 photo prompt

No future

Chris Hall84 Comments
The images shows an earthenware jug filled with red tulips. The jug is sitting on old stone steps.

Returning to the steps where first they met,
 he sits awhile, alone, bereft.
Crimson petals like blood red tears
 scatter on cold, hard stone.
His heart bleeds for her, his loss,
 a future that will never be.

~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Yana Hurskaya @ Unsplash
The image shows an earthenware jug filled with red tulips. The jug is sitting on old stone steps.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #127 photo prompt

These our demons

Chris Hall76 Comments
The image shows a black coloured full face mask held in both hands of a person, not shown in the frame.

Your face a mask
pale against the pillow,
eyes watching
aren’t they?

Your head twitches
you turn towards the wall,
not speaking
are you?

I watch and wait
listen to your breathing,
still awake
aren’t you?

Then, the tirade
hateful words tumble out,
awareness
is total.

Lips turn upwards
this, your mischievous smile,
acting up
…aren’t you??

~~~~~~~~

Image credit: John Noonan @ Unsplash
The image shows a black coloured full face mask held in both hands of a person, not shown in the frame.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #126 photo prompt

Like Snow on Stony Ground

Chris Hall74 Comments
The image shows a rough track leading to a cottage in the woods. The track is bound on both sides with a wooden fence. There is a layer of snow on the ground.

you melted my heart
that chill winter’s day
when you lured me
into the woods

by the flickering fire
clothed in candlelight
I rapidly fell
for your charms

night after night
smouldering bright
my whole body
liquified

but by Dawn’s harsh light
my love for you
fell like snow on
stony ground

~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Sean Boyd @ Unsplash
The image shows a rough track leading to a cottage in the woods. The track is bound on both sides with a wooden fence. There is a layer of snow on the ground.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #125 photo prompt

Escape

Chris Hall78 Comments
The image shows a girl carrying an oversized geometry set in her arms, looking directly at the camera.

snatching up the tools of her trade
gathering together
her books, her notes
small remnants of her life

eyes wide with fear
her flatmate clutches
their little dog
to her chest

travelling by train, on foot
they finally reach the border
her skills, at least
are portable

~~~~~~~~

inspired by an article from yesterday’s SA Sunday Times in which three SA final year students escaped from Ukraine to Slovakia (their little dog, Mowgli, made it out too)

Image credit: Houcine Ncib @ Unsplash
The image shows a girl carrying an oversized geometry set in her arms, looking directly at the camera.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #124 photo prompt

Outsiders

Chris Hall68 Comments
The image shows a red neon sign that reads “Vacancy” over a black background.

Trudging through dark, rain-drenched streets, sodden feet sliding over cobbles, hope ebbs away, like rivulets flowing over muddy gutters. The storm rages beyond the border, and wave upon wave of the cowed and the cowering flee; families struggling, dragging straggling old folk and hungry, wailing kids. Doors open, women beckon, many are taken in. But not us.

midnight approaches
and now the streets are empty
will we ever find refuge?

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

Image credit: Carter Saunders @ Unsplash
The image shows a red neon sign that reads “Vacancy” over a black background.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #123 photo prompt