Monday Motivations – Treasure

THIS WEEK’S WORDS come from “Morning” by Kristen Case: breathing, against, birds, impossible, skull, bricks, coffee, unfolds, comes, sleeping, white, probability

The day unfolded quietly as I drank my coffee. I had a good night’s sleep for the first time after a long time. That was a good start. I sat in the garden, listened to the birds singing. I put the tortoises out and gave them some dandelions. I checked my emails and answered some of them. That was my morning.

At lunch time, I was cooking my lunch, when the doorbell rang. Ah, the postman came with a parcel, he was probably delivering the ones we’ve ordered recently. I signed the papers when suddenly the door shut. Oh no! I was cooking my lunch! Would it get burnt? Would my house be on fire? What should I do? Should I ring my husband? But, he was in a meeting the whole day, he told me this morning. And my mobile phone was in the house, in my bag. Should I go to my friend who has got the spare key? But my car key was also inside. Should I throw a brick in the window? He would kill me for that! I was starting to feel cold, as I just wore a t-shirt without any jumper, and I was barefooted. My skull was hurting from frustration. Why didn’t I put something like a shoe between the door and the wall, to stop it from closing? I usually do that, but today, I probably was still asleep, totally not there yet. Oh my God, the whole world was playing against me today!

“X marks the spot,” he kept telling me before. I didn’t pay much attention. I should have had. Now this desperate situation. I needed that spare key. Where was it? Why did I do something else while he was showing it to me? I thought he would always be here to get it. Or that it would never happen. Oh God, I promise to be good. And I was positive I could do this. Think, woman, think!

Was it by the gate where the cactuses were? Was it by the front door where the garden tools were? Was it under the blue pine tree? I remembered we kept on changing the place and we took it out last time we were on holiday. That unassuming thing which I didn’t consider before. It was the most precious thing this time. Wait a minute, I remembered where it was. All I need was to pinpoint exactly where it was. OK, right, give me a minute, yes, indeed, I knew it, it was there! I needed some knife to get it, affirmative, I got one from the garden tools. Sure, the flowers on the side, the trellis, I couldn’t reach it…. a little bit more…. found it – my treasure!

For: Monday Motivations by Esther Newton and Whirligig 54 by Magical Mystical Teacher

Now One Of Us Has To Tell Mary

THIS WEEK’S WORDS come from “How to Clean an Oil-Slicked Penguin” by Andrew Gent: penguin, beak, wings, loosen, remains, stone, preening, reclaiming, thanks, bite, scratch, survive

We were arguing, me and my brother
Of who’s the best or the worst among us
And that turned into a pillow fight
Squabbling, biting and rolling like mad
Until we heard a crash, what was that?
Oh the penguin, its beak was broken
We thought it was just a scratch
A bit of glue and we can reclaim it
Now one of us has to tell Mary
Remain calm if we want to survive
She’ll be livid, we know that
Perhaps if we preen it well
Hide it behind the stones
Thank our stars, we’re clever
Keep our fingers crossed
Hope Mary doesn’t find out
Here she comes…. Hide!

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: TBP’s On-line Writer’s Guild #7 and Whirligig 53 by Magical Mystical Teacher

Love Conquers All

THIS WEEK’S WORDS come from Sonnet 65 by William Shakespeare: brass, stone, earth, sea, honey, hold, battering, meditation, forbid, miracle, ink, shine

Oh, Victoria, you are the miracle that was given to me, my world and my universe. You are the peace that consoles me when I meditate. No battering can keep us apart.

Oh Rodolfo, my world shines with you. You are the honey to my tea and the stone or rock that keeps me steady.

But life is cruel. Victoria’s parents forbid her to see Rodolfo again. “He’s not one of us, not made of the same brass as we are. He’s a scum of the earth, coming from that family, our enemy!” Victoria holds her tears.

What happens next?

For: Moral Mondays: “Love Conquers All” by Nortina S. and Whirligig 52 by Magical Mystical Teacher

With Open Arms, I’ll Fly With You – A Cascade

Cascade, a form created by Udit Bhatia, is all about receptiveness, but in a smooth cascading way like a waterfall. The poem does not have any rhyme scheme; therefore, the layout is simple. Say the first verse has three lines. Line one of verse one becomes the last line of verse two. To follow in suit, the second line of verse one becomes the last line of verse three. The third line of verse one now becomes the last line of verse four, the last stanza of the poem. See the structure example below:

a/b/c, d/e/A, f/g/B, h/i/C

To make the Cascade an even longer poem, use more lines in verse one. For example, if verse one has 6 lines, the poem must have seven stanzas so that each line of verse one is reused as a refrain in each following stanza (a cascading effect).

THIS WEEK’S WORDS come from “Winter, Spring” by Jim Harrison: black, beige, drought, oaks, warblers, branches, surprise, open, arms, fly, aiming, feeders

With open arms, I’ll fly with you
We will sing with the warblers
Aiming to reach the feeders
You’re my one big surprise

Black birds sing on old oak tree
Building nest on some branches
My world used to be all beige
With open arms, I’ll fly with you

Nowadays with you, it’s all bright
The colours of the rainbow
Embrace me as you do
We will sing with the warblers

You’re the last piece of my puzzle
My morning sun and evening moon
I’m so pleased you have found me
Aiming to reach the feeders

We’ll climb the highest mountains
Walk till we circle the globe
Just love me as you do
You’re my one big surprise

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: Music Prompt #34 “Love Me Like You Do” by Ellie Goulding and Whirligig 51 by Magical Mystical Teacher

The Lovers

THIS WEEK’S WORDS come from “After Fifty Years” by William Faulkner: empty, shade, echoes, bent, birds, crown, mirrors, softness, blind, scent, body, snare

By the shade of the old oak tree
No one else there, just empty
Echoes of birds twittering
Cricket chirping, wind blowing
He and she mirror each other
They kiss with certain ardour
Her scent snares him
Fills his desire to the brim
The softness of her body
Makes him full of glee
The manliness in him
Like singing in a hymn
Crowning with passion
Two bodies become one
Bent on partaking each other
And stay there as they were

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

 

For: Writing Prompt #150 “The Lovers” and Whirligig 50 by Magical Mystical Teacher

But This Is The Middle of Nowhere

THIS WEEK’S WORDS come from Psalm 107:1-13: wilderness, hungry, thirsty, works, darkness, counsel, thanks, enemy, north, city, fainted, praise
‘but this is the middle of nowhere…”

In the north of the city
I thought I’d faint as I drove
You left and you were angry
I passed by some mangrove

Driving straight from work
Feeling thirsty and hungry
Trying not to go berserk
Just come, you said with a plea

With wise counsel, I found it
Praise the Lord, as I’d say thanks
Let’s talk before we quit
Let’s fill up our blanks

But this is the middle of nowhere
An empty carpark in the wilderness
Anything could happen in the square
You said you’d protect me as promise

We talked, we cried, we made up
We said we can have another go
As long as there’s no breakup
We said sorry and let love grow

 

For: FLASH FICTION FOR THE PURPOSEFUL PRACTITIONER: WEEK #11 – 2016 by Rogershipp and Whirligig 49 by Magical Mystical Teacher

My Soul Demands It

latoday.deviantart.com

THIS WEEK’S WORDS come from “Going Out to the Garden” by Alice Walker: morning, seeds, fiery, reeling, spray, hose, crevices, stones, squirt, bathed, troubles, ask

Bathed in silhouette
A wind-blown lunette
A morning’s walk
With my cat at the bach
In crevices and stones
Feel the chill in my bones
Spraying with the hose
As the wind gently blows
Squirting with the mist
With nature I coexist
Not asking for troubles
Talking with my angels
Not fiery, just peaceful
Start the day being grateful

For: TBP’s On-line Writer’s Guild #3, Photo Challenge# 103 and Whirligig 48 by Magical Mystical Teacher

Five Minute Friday :: News

Sheep shearer Erin Pirro of Granby, CT, with the help of her husband Jonathan, finishes giving Sampson, a 250 lbs. sheep, his annual haircut at Rainbeau Ridge in Bedford Hills April 25, 2010. The sheep shearing was one of a number of activities open to the public at the farm throughout the afternoon. Other activities included cookie making for kids, art projects, and garden tours. ( Seth Harrison / The Journal News )

a jagged dolerite rock cliff on the tasman peninsula

THIS WEEK’S WORDS come from “I Will Keep Broken Things” by Alice Walker: broken, chasing, wise, sheared, basket, jagged, swims, remains, missing, pilgrim, sorrow, keep

“Bill Langoy has broken the record of being the fastest swimmer in the South China Sea!” He later revealed that his secret was to think that he was being chased by a shark. That was a wise idea.

“Great sorrow for the boy still missing in the pilgrim.” The family kept their vigil, hoping for his return. News later revealed that the remains of the boy was found among the jagged cliffs.

“Price of wool has gone down!” Consequently, the cost of shearing  a sheep sometimes exceeds the price at which the wool can be sold.

For: five minute friday :: news and Whirligig 47 by Magical Mystical Teacher

Trouble, Oh We Got Trouble

THIS WEEK’S WORDS come from “300 Goats” by Naomi Shihab Nye: icy, huddle, debating, frigid, swooping, cuts, goats, town, shrugs, warm, zodiac, pressing

 

Trouble, oh we got trouble
Walking on an icy road
Goats drink in frigid water
She huddled up close to him
He’s not even her husband
Wife just shrugged and
Went home to keep herself warm
Husband be prepared for the debate
If I was her I’d cut his throat
A pressing doom and gloom
For his Zodiac sign
Trouble, oh we got trouble

 

For: Music Prompt #27: “Trouble in River City” from the musical “The Music Man” and Whirligig 44 by Magical Mystical Teacher

Just Jot It January 24th – Compelled – We’re almost there!

Editable vector illustration of a man winning a race

THIS WEEK’S WORDS come from “Praise Be” by Yusef Komunyakaa: guilty, mossy, witness, sway, glint, praise, woe, disappearing, fierce, hush, look, going

 

We’re nearly there and we have to keep going
Praise the Lord for managing to continue
Look, I could see a glint of hope at the end
The mossy garden with herbs is my witness
Hush, don’t feel guilty for not doing other things
As the leaves sway with the winds, be happy
Our sense of woe slowly disappearing
We are compelled to continue until the end
To give us some sort of satisfaction – yay!

 

 

For: Just Jot It January 24th – Compelled and Whirligig 43 by Magical Mystical Teacher