Category Archives: Challenges and Writing Prompts

Echoes of my Neighborhood

BRMEA

Happy Thursday! And another installment of Echoes of my Neighborhood in response to the challenge from my friend Jacqueline of the blog, a cooking pot and twisted tales.

I have worked in Admin for my entire career (decades…though I won’t mention how many!) and for the most part my working space has been located in a dark corner cubicle…or in an office with no windows. During the winter seasons it was not uncommon for me to spend an entire day never seeing sunlight, because I would leave before sunrise and return home after sunset. I have always packed my lunch as well, so I would often eat in front of my computer screen while catching up on emails or the news of the day.

So you can imagine my delight to now have a window seat of the Blue Ridge Mountains each day. My current office setting is still a cubicle (in that I am partitioned from other staff members by temporary walls), but an entire WALL of glass flanks my left! Floor to ceiling windows! I love, love, love my new digs! (well actually not new, new…been here for almost 4 years now). It doesn’t matter to me if the sun is shining or if it is raining or snowing. I don’t even care anymore that in the winter I still leave at dawn and return home after dusk. At any time during the day I can glance to my left and see that there is a beautiful world out there with trees and clouds and a sky. It has made a huge difference in my life resulting in less stress. I suppose after decades of dedicated pecking at keyboards and answering phones I have earned this esteemed spot. 🙂 At any rate, I am quite happy in my little corner of the world and happy too, to share it with you! 🙂


Into the Woods

Robert-Frost-poem

The woods are lovely, dark and deep
Deep in thought I wander there
There to find sweet solitude
solitude from worldly cares.

Worldly cares that rob my soul
soul swept weary, jumbled mind
mind uncluttered free to be
be…and lose myself from time.

Time will pass though I won’t care
Care to join me, take the leap?
Leap carefree into the woods…
the woods are lovely, dark and deep.

kat ~ 21 January 2016

I have been wanting to try a “chain” poem style after having read one recently. Basically, you start each line with the last word or short phrase from the previous line. This is my first go at it, while also responding to Jane Dougherty’s latest poetry challenge…Take a favourite line from a song, verse, book, etc., and feature it in a poem. The line I chose is from the poem Stopping By The Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost. (I found the photo featured here at Inspire Leads). With winter and impending snow looming this weekend, I am in a wintry frame of mind! If you would like to ready other poems or enter your own, please click HERE.

 


Twenty-Nine

 

Our days are numbered
blissful routine midst chaos
beware the leaper!

kat ~ 19 January 2016

This Haiku is in response to TJ’s Household Haiku Challenge, prompted by the word, “Calendar”.  If you would like to read others or enter your own Haiku, click HERE.

 


Frozen

139-01-january-17th-2016

Photo Credit: A Mixed Bag 2010

“It’s been there for over a week! Once the snow melted I thought someone would come move it.”

“No sign of movement anywhere near the car, you say?” The Sheriff wanted to be sure before calling the tow truck.

“Nothing. But I have noticed this strange light…”

“Go on…”

“At first I thought it was a flashlight, but nobody has been out there in this weather. This little ball of light just bounces around near the door and then…there! You see it?”

“Hmmm…that is certainly odd. Maybe I better have a closer look.  You stay here Mrs. Martin.” As he opened the door, there huddled in the front seat was the frozen body of an older man. An autopsy later revealed that the poor guy had likely died of a heart attack.

As for the strange light, Mrs. Martin only saw it once more. As the coroner’s van took the body away, the ball of light appeared brighter than she had ever seen it. It made a spiral or two and then zipped over her head disappearing.

“How strange,” she thought. But it left her with a peaceful feeling. Maybe that poor guy was finally at peace too.

kat – 19 January 2016
(200 Words)

A story in response to Sunday Photo Fiction’s Challenge based on the photo above.  If you would like to enter your own story or read the other submissions, click HERE.


The Honey Tree

The Honey Tree

Photo Credit: The Storyteller’s Abode

“No silly, honey doesn’t grow on trees!”

“But you said we was goin’ to the Honey Tree, Auntie Sue!”

“Yes I did! It’s a special store on Shore Drive. And this is the perfect time of day to visit. When the sun is setting, it gives the store fronts an amber glow.”

“Whatsa namberglow?”

“Amber glow, Sarah. It’s the color of the buildings when the sun sets just so…like gold…do you see it?”

“Oh, I see it…oooh…I like amber glow!”

“Well the reason we’re going to the Honey Tree right this minute is because I heard that the beeswax candles you buy at sunset are magic. You can make a wish when you light them.”

“Any wish, Auntie Sue?”

“Any wish.”

“And your wish will come true?”

“Well I guess we’ll never find out unless we try.”

“You know what I gonna wish for Auntie Sue?”

“I think I might. I’m gonna wish that too.”

“I wish that mommy will get better. That’s what I wish.”

“Me too sweetie…me too…”

kat ~ 19 January 2016
(175 Words)

A story for Priceless Joy’s Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers (FFfAW) Challenge based on the story above. If you would like to read other stories or submit your own, click HERE for the link.