Monthly Archives: January 2016

Late

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Photo Credit: A Mixed Bag 2011

I was late! It wasn’t entirely my fault. First there was the phone call from Mom. She goes on and on…And then, there was the puppy. He had to pee. And poop, and you know how long that can take. Mortimer likes to peruse the yard…circle here and there….”c’mon Mortie! I gotta go!”

Once I finally got on the road, I hit every red light. “What next?!”

“Oh no, you’ve got to be kidding me! Maybe I’m not meant to get to that interview!” There crossing the road was a momma duck and her brood of ducklings!

I was only five minutes away and I could see flashing lights in the distance. Clearly there had been a serious accident. The traffic was backed up for over a mile.

Suddenly it occurred to me, if I had been on time I might have been right in the middle of that pile-up. At that moment, I counted my blessings…my long-winded chattering Mom, Mortimer, those cute ducklings and even every annoying red light. And I said a prayer for those travelers who were not so fortunate. Sometimes being late isn’t the worst thing that can happen.

kat ~ 31 January 2016
(199 Words)

A story inspired by the photo above by Al Forbes of Sunday Photo Fiction. If you would like to read other stories or enter your own story, click HERE.


Sunday’s Week in Re-Verse – 31 January 2016

 

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This is Maxwell who has mastered the art of living life to the fullest! 🙂

 

Happy Sunday to you. I have to admit, I didn’t think I’d find the time to write much this week. Work proved to be a bear…with digging out from the snow to hosting out of town guests for hours of meetings, requiring me to schedule, compose notes, cater lunches and dinners, etc, etc. It pays the bills, my day job, but some weeks it can be quite a challenge to keep my head afloat.

Enter this week’s challenges and verse! Wisdom led me to start the week off cooking a warm pot of soup. It sustained me for several days. Then we launched into a variety of lovely poetry and fiction challenges. Past weeks have presented darker prompts that left me no choice but to tell tales of sadness or to pen poetry deep in melancholia. But this week presented sunflowers and words like sleep (ah lovely sleep), tales of celebrations, and triumph. Oh there were a few less uplifting headers, but I managed through these balanced by the incredible upbeat other verses and prose.

I suppose that this week could best be summarized by the word balance. Or if you want to take a really broad view…LIFE. 🙂 Life has ups and downs, celebrations as well as mourning and choices…always choices. We can choose to be happy no matter where we find ourselves on the journey. And there is something to be said as well for allowing ourselves to be wrapped in exquisite sorry…to give ourselves fully to it. It is so cleansing for the soul!

Because the truth is, every moment, the full piercing emotions of each, are fleeting. There is always another chance at happiness, peace, goodness and grief. The trick is not lingering too long. Life is best lived when we are moving. 🙂

Sunday’s Week in Re-Verse – 31 January 2016

And oh my, it was-a mighty good-a!
It was her moment!
as if it’s a thing one finds
They wait in obscurity
To sleep anywhere…
fits of hysteria,
Maybe I’ll just stick with butterflies.
she closed her eyes and imagined him listening.
All tucked in for another night!
Wishing you sunflowers!
Best viewed from afar.
The track doesn’t end at the bottom.
enlightened pilgrims understand
‘Tis heaven on earth…like a soft morning kiss!
Triumph!
Yeah, yeah, blah, blah, blah. Whatever makes you happy!

kat ~ 31 January 2016

If you’re new to this blog, a bit of background to explain the verse above. It is a line from each poem or prose from the previous week. Lifted and placed in the order written. A snapshot review of the week. It helps me to prepare for the upcoming week with a clean slate.


Swan Song

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This photo is from Shutterstock.com

I’ve heard there was a secret chord. Its harmonic resonance opens the gate of the fortress. If we can crack the code, maybe we can get inside before it’s too late.”

“You’re an idiot! Might as well play a swan song. Kiss your ass goodbye. It’s hopeless!

“Well, I have to try. The fort was built in 1856. Chromatic mediants were a common chord progression. I could start in the key of C Major and proceed into its diatonic mediant and submediant, E Minor and A Minor.

“Yeah, yeah, blah, blah, blah. Whatever makes you happy!”

Tom used an electronic keyboard to play the haunting chord sequence. Nothing happened. He tried another sequence and another and another. Leonard leaned against the stone wall.

“I told you, Tom. Here, have a smoke.”

“I don’t smoke. And I’m not giving up. How much time is left?”

“Not enough!” Leonard smirked, “3 minutes 47 seconds…46…45…44…”

“Shut up! I have a few more sequences I can try.” Tom played furiously, fingers trembling.

Suddenly, the latch burst open, its force shifting the massive door ajar. Leonard tumbled to his ass dropping his cigarette.

“Hah! I did it! Get up Leonard! You have a bomb to disarm!”

Leonard rushed the chamber where the bomb ticked, red LED numbers flashing, 50…49…48. He located the red wire, giving it a swift clip.

It was over by the time Tom arrived. He dropped to the floor next to Leonard. “Maybe I will have a cigarette. What is it you were saying about swan songs?”

Leonard growled at Tom while offering him a light.

“I know a few swan songs Leonard. I can play one for you if you like. But you don’t really care for music, do you?

~kat – 30 January 2016
(295 Words)

Click HERE to Read Part Two

A Flash Fiction Story for RonovanWrites Friday Flash Fiction Challenge. This week’s prompt:
-Use the first line of one of your favorite song and begin your story with that line. (REQUIRED)
-Word count of no more than 300. (STRONGLY SUGGESTED but I don’t want you to let it get in the way of creativity.)

My inspiration comes from the song “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen. I used the first line as required and borrowed my favorite line from the song for the end of my story, adding a bit of irony.  🙂

If you would like to read other stories or enter your own, click HERE.


Triumph – A Six Word Story

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Photo Credit: From SpauldingRehab.org’s Wounded Warrior Program page

A Six Word Story for Sometimes Stellar Storyteller’s prompt this week: “triumph”. To read more or participate click HERE.

He ran like wind…on titanium.

kat ~ 30 January 2016


Mist – A Limerick

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The valley is covered in blankets of mist
dew heavy clouds that descend for a tryst
though some find it dreary
who must venture out early
‘Tis heaven on earth…like a soft morning kiss!

kat ~ 30 January 2016

A Limerick for Mind and Life Matters Limerick Challenge. To read others or enter your own limerick, click HERE.  Thanks to Rashmi for hosting this week’s challenge prompt: “Mist”.

 


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