trust is tenuous
chipped away by betrayal
‘til there is nothing
~kat
For Haiku Horizons Challenge, prompt word, Chip.
Monthly Archives: January 2018
Ochlocracy
ochlocracy
they crave attention
vowing no obligation
to covenants, revealing
loyalty in collusion
with the one who swears for sport
power corrupted
democracy is dying
while everyone sleeps
~kat
A Tanka/Senryu for Colleen Chesebro’s Tuesday Poetry Challenge inspired by synonyms of the words: Bond-obligation, swear, vow, covenant, collusion, loyalty and Seek-plead, crave.
Twittering Tale #69 – 30 January 2018
About the challenge: Each Tuesday I will provide a photo prompt. Your mission, if you choose to accept the challenge, is to tell a story in 280 characters or less. When you write your tale, be sure to let me know in the comments with a link to your tale.
A final note: if you need help tracking the number of characters in your story, there is a nifty online tool that will count for you at charactercountonline.com.
I will do a roundup each Tuesday, along with providing a new prompt. And if for some reason I missed your entry in the Roundup, as I have occasionally done, please let me know. I want to be sure to include your tale.
Finally, have fun!
And REMEMBER…you have 280 characters (spaces and punctuation included), to tell your tale…and a week to do it. I can’t wait to see what you create this week.
Twittering Tales #68 – The Roundup
Photo by hschmider at Pixabay.com
Once Upon a Story
“Tell me a story Gran-ma-ma.”
“Well, let me see…Once upon…”
“No ‘once upon a time’ stories! A real story. Elves and faeries! They’re not real.”
“Oh, Cicely, my dear, they are real.”
“Really?”
“Oh yes.”
The candle on the table flickered.
Cicely’s eyes widened, “Tell me Gran-ma-ma!”
280 Characters
From Reena at ReInventions:
Measuring Happiness
“All happy families are the same, but the pain of each unhappy family is unique.”
“I see a reversal of the popular saying here.”
“How?”
“All unhappy homes are equally dark. The level of transparency in happy families differs, and the intensity of light in the windows speaks for it.”
(279 characters)
From Fandango at This, That, and the Other:
A Fairytale Village
“Oh Alan, it’s like a real-life fairytale village,” Karen said.
“There’s nothing like this back in the States, that’s for sure,” Alan said.
“I’m so glad you convinced me to take our ski trip in Switzerland this winter,” Karen said.
“I just want to make you happy,” he told his wife.
(279 characters)
From Jane at Jane Dougherty Writes:
Fire
They thought they were safe from the world’s problems in their luxury chalets. The expensive boutiques, restaurants and security of the mountain resort kept out the riff-raff. But not determined arsonists.
From Hayley at The Story Files:
The Village
Gunther looked out his window, shaking his head. This was the worse snow fall the mountain village had ever seen. People could barely get out of their homes but worse no one could save them. Gunther eyed his axe in the corner and knew he had to do something.
From Di at Pensitivity101:
The War was finally over.
One by one the lights came on to guide their loved ones home.
86 characters
From Kathryn at Another Foodie Blogger:
The Project
Aiden tinkered for 10 years in his underground workshop at the edge of the village nestled high in the remote Alps. Satisfied his work was finally complete, he sealed the door, packed his belongings, and vanished. The reproduction village was the only survivor of The Great Fire.
From Willow at WillowDot21:
The Village
Dark fell, the lights in the village came on giving the place a fairytale look. From on top of the snowy ridge he stood wrapped up against the cold. Knife in gloved hand dripping blood.
From his green shoes to his red feathered hat the elf looked so cute. Just don’t invite him in.
(280 Characters)
From Jan at Strange Goings On in the Shed:
The Village
The Damned looked out with eyes of hunger and lust
Lust for the life force of humans, blood was its matrix
Blood the wine of choice, ruby red and of rare vintage
They lured their prey, in numbers unequalled, to this place
Pretty, pretty village, dark in soul, mired in shadows
“Come”
(280 characters)
From anuragbakhshi at Jagah Dil Mein Honi Chahiye- Stories Have A Life Of Their Own:
Heaven on Earth
I looked at the magical scenery unfolding before me with wonder. So serene, so calm.
A pity that this calm was going to be shattered very soon. We were about to land at Hitler’s winter retreat, and odds were that his bodyguards would not let us to get to him without a fight.
276 characters
From Kirst at Kirst Writes:
Saying Goodbye
A mile out of the village, I took one last look behind. That one unlit house amongst the twinkling lights seemed to stare back at me. I blinked away the tears, and took the road ahead. It was finished. I was never going back.
(227 characters)
From Peter at Peter’s Pondering
A MINOR INCONVENIENCE
You see that ridge line, over to the right? That’s where the boss wants the charge placed. Just under that overhang. The avalanche and rockslide should do the job perfectly!
POTUS, meanwhile, was adding the finishing touches to his plan for a golf course for the rich and famous.
(278 characters) {I must point out that this is entirely false news}
From Leena at Soul Connection:
Parallel World
“Btfl Ngt.Red Glw In Calm Blue Lgt Feels Lyk Love Is Bloomng.Am I Smwhr Else?”
“We R Away Frm Ur World”
“My World?”
“M Nt Frm Ur World.U R In A Parallel World”
She Laughs
He Holds Her Hand
“See”
The Calmness Was Gone.She Was Now In Her Bedrm n Saw Herslf Slpng.
“U R In Dreamland My Love”
From Tena at Jottings and Writings:
One by one the lights were turned out as slowly the village got ready to go to sleep… Even the houses themselves quieted as if getting ready for a nights rest. Tomorrow would start a brand new day with brand new adventures for the village, but for now it was time to sleep.
277 characters – 53 words
Thank you to everyone for inspiring us this week with your creativity. I hope you will click on the blog links to everyone’s entry and read more, and get to know each other. I am grateful everyday for this blogging community. ❤
This week, bringing back a stack of book titles for our challenge. Pick one title…or a few or all and tell me the story behind the words in 280 characters or less. See you at the roundup next week. Happy reading and writing! Have a great week!
NY Times Best Selling Books
“Lean In”
The valley was still, softly draped in mist. Rayna leaned against an old tree, her thin frame wasted from disease, breath frail, fading.
It was just as she had planned.
“I’m ready,” she whispered her last, smiling, as mourning doves softly cooed nearby. And the mountain echoed.
~kat
(276 Characters)
Affirmation – Monday Magnets
you were born dazzling
as the stars on moonless nights,
wild as the ocean, brilliant as
flowers blushed with color;
your breath is a kiss of eternity,
breezy, slow, lingering…
so never let anyone say you
are broken…it is a lie
remember you are magic,
dancing to the rhythm of
the universe…poetry in motion
~kat
Magnetic Poetry Online (The Poet Kit)
The Man Who Talks to Walls
Wailing Wall from Wikipedia
People from miles around gathered at the wall. For centuries it had heard their fears, their hopes, their dreams. For centuries it had collected messages and prayers scribbled on scraps of paper and stuffed into its crumbling facade. Some people were true believers in the wall and its power to pass their intentions to the One who listens. Some thought it nothing more than a novelty, a tourist destination, a photo op.
Cyrus was one of the latter. He lived near the wall and hated it. He often laughed at the pilgrims, ‘emotional fools’, he called them, shouting at them from his doorway, “It’s a wall you know! You’re talking to a stupid wall! Can’t you see how crazy that is? Stupid wall…stupid, stupid wall!”
But early every morning, when the streets were empty Cyrus would shuffle over to the wall; to the very same spot each time. He reached into a paper-laden crack and gently removed a folded yellow note, dropped to the ground, tears flooding the corners of his eyes as he read the child-like scrawl fading on the page.
Please don’t take my mommy God. I need her.
Love,
Cyrus
Days after young Cyrus had written that note, his mother succumbed to illness. That was the day Cyrus stopped believing in the wall; in anything for that matter. He felt oddly comforted when he read the note though. Memories of his mother flooded his mind. As painful as it was, he couldn’t stay away.
Year’s passed and it was Cyrus’ time to leave this world. As he closed his eyes, weary from a life of pain and disappointment, he started to feel lighter. His soul rose above his body and drifted through the door of his house and over to the wall where his mother stood waiting for him, holding the yellow note in her hand.
“Momma? Momma, why did God take you away from me?”
“Oh Cyrus, I never left. Don’t you know that every time you came to the wall to read your note, I was right there, holding you. Reminding you of how much I loved you. Did you feel it Cyrus?”
“I did. Yes, I did feel you each time as lovely memories filled my head. That was you?”
“Yes. The wall and your note kept me close to you. Now you and I can both find rest and peace. Are you ready Cyrus?
“Yes. I’m ready,” Cyrus whispered as he took his mother’s hand. Together they drifted through the wall into the starry night sky.
The wall moaned and shuddered as another breach ripped its ancient stone face bottom to top creating another portal for notes from those seeking miracles and little boys, orphaned too soon.
~kat
For MindLoveMisery’sMenagerie Sunday Writing Prompt. This week: “It’s All in the Title” – Use one or more of the titles below to compose a song/story/poem:
A Girl Called Gift
A Night Without Dreams
The Day the Stars Burned
Revenant
Sleep Deprivation
The Mulberry Bush
A Disquieting Haze
A Vision in Blue
The Man Who Talks to Walls
The Fairy Queen
Most Inspirational Blogger Nominee
like mercury colliding... 