Category Archives: Essays

Twittering Tale #53 – 10 October 2017

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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 based on that prompt in 140 characters or less. 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. Have Fun!

Twittering Tale #52 – The Roundup

clown-365375_1280

Photo by GLady on Pixabay.com

Starting us off…my tale:

When Joe was a kid he loved the circus; especially clowns. They were the nicest guys. But Joe was not nice. It was the perfect disguise.
(137 Characters)

From Reena at ReInventions:
“Who is that clown in red?”
“That is a demeaning phrase. The correct word for that is … Actor in the Comic Category. He is an award winner.”

(139 characters)

From Kalpana at Gemini in the Sky:
As he scrubbed his face clean, he felt unsure. The face in the mirror and the mask had merged into one and he never knew when

From Shweta at My Random Ramblings:
He wore a mask to make others laugh for a living,
but no one noticed the pain behind his smiles when he took off his mask.
(123 characters)

From Lady Lee at Lady Lee Manila:
Life is like a grammar class
Full of sentences and fragments
In every class, there’s a jackass
Therefore, we need our patience
Send in the clown
(140 characters)

From Leena at Soul Connection:
“Hey Kid Wana C My Tricks”
“JOKER”Kid Ran Away
Hey M Nt Bad Joker.Lk M Frndly,M Smiling.
Dis Kid Too Scared Of Me.

From Willow at WillowDot21:
Pushed away at home and at school
Always treated as the class fool.
He grew up happy in his own space.
He was a hit, and now wears a happy face.

From My Feelings My Freedom:
I despised clowns for obscuring their true identity. My belief was however defied, when the man in red, took the gunshot for me. Appalled!
(138 characters)

From Hayley at The Story Files:
Once again they cluttered the streets in their bright costumes, so Sally had no choice but to camp out in her attic and wait till the craze had passed.

From Vivian at Smell the Coffee:
-Oh my! When you said you were a clown
I didn’t realise that it was ur actual job!?
-Oops! When it said ‘blind date’,
I thot it mnt BLIND date!
140 characters

From Peter at Peter’s Ponderings:
His right pupil had already blown and dropped to the base of his iris. Now his nose was falling off. That cosmetic surgeon sure was a clown.

From Fandango at This, That and the Other:
I always thought that guy was a bit of a clown, but when he showed up in that stupid clown suit it just proved that he’s just a bad joke.
(137 characters)

From Francine at Woman Walks Dog:
Clown at the Fair
See that clown ? His real name is Ernest Doom he’s a crime writer.
How funny – I mean funny peculiar not funny ha ha
What tickles him ?
Nasty crimes for his books

From Deepika at Deepika’s Ramblings:
Too much chaos, stress and violence out in the world.
“Let me take on, making people smile.”
Come all, “Smile a while”, ease out the tensions.
140 characters.

From Jan at Strange Goings on in the Shed:
It’s taken a while to track you down and I’m not in a good mood. You’re fifty years overdue and he wants it back. Hand the soul over.
(135 words)

Clowns are quite an odd topic I found. Some of you were creeped out…some of you creeped ME out with your tales. There were a few funny tales too…and some bittersweet. Well done! Clowns are definitely controversial characters. But I love what you did with the challenge.

This week we’re exploring the story behind this treehouse. How many of you had a treehouse to play in when you were a kid? I lived near the woods, so I pretty much lived in the trees. Good times. There is something magical about having a special place to hang out when you’re young. I also had a secret hiding space in my room behind a bookcase that slid open like a door. I remember setting it up like my own little home inside a home. I spent many hours dreaming about life in that special place. What memories come to mind when you look at this week’s photo by Antranias on Pixabay.com? You have 140 characters to tell us all about it! Have fun. See you next week at the roundup!

Twittering Tale #53 – 10 October 2017

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Photo by Antranias on Pixabay.com

“There it is! Come on.”
“Nope. I’m fine down here.”
“Suit yourself. Have to see if it’s still there.”
“What’s so important?”
“This!”
“Is tha…”

~kat
(140 Characters…exactly)
Sorry…had to do it. The Rules are the Rules…140 Characters…but I do love a good cliffhanger!  😉


Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 8 October 2017

It befuddles and confounds us; the senseless rage rising up like fire, raining down like acid. Friendly fire that no walls, travel bans or profiling can protect us from. Why are we confused by the realization that our worst enemy is not some other?

And yet we refuse to own it once again. Those with the power to address tragedy turn their eyes away. Their pale lips drip with platitudes and empty prayers, while their pockets moan to be filled with alms for their loyal cowardice.

It is no longer when, how or if this madness will ever end. We are trapped in this house of mirrors. But the terrible monster is not hiding behind the looking glass. No. The monster stands tall and center, glaring at us; a million eyes, burning holes through our souls.

Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 8 October 2017

okay universe…you have my attention
in the wake of hate’s fire
it was the perfect disguise
misty shapeshifting fay
soul deep pools of ebon wonder
here’s the order in black and white
luna’s face glows flush
gently letting go
swirling into syllables
truth’s reflection burning bright
of course we never let on
crave its sweetness
by lingering sadness
rooted in stone
every sinister force
untouched by seasons

~kat

A shi sai or ReVerse poem is a summary poem with a single line lifted from each entry of a collection of work over a particular timeframe and re-penned in chronological order as a new poem. Unlike a collaborative poem, the shi sai features the words of one writer, providing a glimpse into their thoughts over time. I use it as a review of the previous week.


Twittering Tales #52 – 3 October 2017

 

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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 based on that prompt in 140 characters or less. 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. Have Fun!

Twittering Tale #51 – The Roundup

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Photo by Nordseher at Pixabay.com

Starting us off my tale…
The twister spared the trees but had tossed the apples on the ground.
“Looks like an apple butter year,” Mae quipped. It was her best batch.
(140 Characters)

From Reena at Reinventions:
This looks rotten on one side. Not the best for apple pie for her special people.
After all, their grandchildren visited only once in a year.
(140 characters)

From Michael at Morpethroad:
There’s one bad apple and I pulled it out.
Can’t have it spoiling the whole barrel.
You could have been that apple.
Lucky I pulled you out.

From Martin at Martin Corcoran:
Newton’s ex-wife never grew tired of cooking apple pies and dropping them on him from a great height, yelling Don’t blame me, blame gravity!
(140 Characters)

From Fandango at This, That, and the Other:
The old woman with the arthritic hand thrust the apple toward me and asked if I wanted a bite. When she started to cackle, I ran away.
(134 characters)

From Irena at Books and Hot Tea:
“It’s a magic apple,” gradfather said.
“Magic isn’t real,” I gumbled.
“Just try it,” he smiled.
And magically, my sadness disappeared.
(131 characters)

From Sight11 at Journey:
Who knew that the bright red exterior was getting rotten inside? Looks can be deceiving.
Well death was eminent. If not maggots, then teeth. 

From Kitty at Kitty’s Verses:
As the new turns to the experienced for guidance and support,the latter looks forward to the former’s novelty.Life comes a full circle.
134 characters.

From Peter at Peter’s Pondering:
Each year he offered the first of the crop to his darling wife.
This year she was not there to receive it.
Gone. 
The apple of his eye forever!
(140 characters)

From Lorraine two tales at In 25 Words, More or Less:
Different disguise. Smaller apple.
That girl was always one sandwich short of a picnic.
(86 characters)
Or
“Steve, take a break,” Grandfather Jobs said, offering a small Macintosh apple.
“Wait . . . I think I have an idea,” and the IPhone was born.
(140 characters)

From Leena at Soul Connection:
He Sold Ancstrs Land Agnst Evry1’s Wish
Days Later He Lost Job
Appls Lk Juicy
On Demnd V Xprt Dem
It Ws Frm Sme Land Whch He Sold Thnkng Useles.

From Jan at Strange Goings On in the Head:
This is fruit from the Tree of Life  and Death. It enables you to see the creation of the Universe or its death. What do you choose to see? 
(140 characters)

From Willow at Willowdot21:
“Look” he said. “It was just like this, round and ruby red” My eyes grew larger. 
“It was bigger of course  and full of poison.” Winked Grandpa.

From Vivian at Smell the Coffee:
Mirror mirror, am I the prettiest one of all?
You wld be if only you’d eat the apple you were given!
Apples, not chips!
WHAT?
Just go on a diet!
140 characters

Thank you to everyone to took a bite of the apple last week. Some of you made me laugh out loud. You were clever, sentimental, mysterious and inspiring! As always, BRILLIANT! Truly! 🙂

This is Week 52, which means we’ve been tweeting these tales for a year! Another anniversary of sorts. The challenge photo for this week is this photo of a clown by GLady on Pixabay.com. I don’t particularly like clowns. They can be scary. But they make some people happy. I often wonder about the people who dress up like clowns. What is their story? What is this guy’s story?

I hope you have a good week. If you decide to join the challenge, have fun! I’ll see you at the round up. ❤

Twittering Tales #52 – 3 October 2017

clown-365375_1280

Photo by GLady on Pixabay.com

When Joe was a kid he loved the circus; especially clowns. They were the nicest guys. But Joe was not nice. It was the perfect disguise.
(137 Characters)

~kat


Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 1 October 2017

Being an optimist is exhausting, especially now. I’m not going to rattle off another list of what is wrong with the world. You already know it…if you’re paying attention. And I’m guessing you’re exhausted like me.

I’ve stopped saying “I can’t believe it! How is this happening?!” I’ve stopped believing that I can count on people, even those I love, to do the right thing. I’ve started to believe that voting doesn’t matter because politicians are not in it for the people, but to line their pockets and ensure comfortable retirements for themselves.

I’m seriously considering the fact that I may not be an optimist after all. I’m clearly not up to the task. But I can’t bring myself to admit that I’m a pessimist either. Luckily for me, and you too if you’re exhausted, there is another option. Being a realist.

I looked up realist and found the perfect definition in the Urban Dictionary:

Realists have a firm grip on reality and can see things for what they are, not what they are told they are. Realists have their own views and do not fall victim to propaganda, misconception, or titles!

1. There is the Pessimist who believes the glass is half empty!

2. There is the Optimist who believes the glass is half full!

3. Then there is the Realist who knows it is just half a fucking glass!

No more exhausting “rah rah la-la-la, everything is unicorns and rainbows” optimism from me! No more “kiss your ass goodbye, the sky is falling” pessimism either. They’re both exhausting and in a word, delusional. Realism is where it’s at. My self-talk needs a do-over…

“So yeah, things suck…a lot…right now. And it’s probably gonna get worse before it gets better. Fortunately for you, for everyone, it won’t last forever. It never does. Get a grip! In the meantime, the sun is shining and the sky is blue. Or maybe it’s raining. Deal with it. We need rain sometimes. It helps plants…and people grow. But the sky is definitely not falling, so get over yourself. And for god’s sake, get out of bed. Today is 24 hours of whatever you choose to make it. Clock is ticking sweetheart. Get out there. Kick some ass!”

I’m definitely pessimistically, optimistic that being a realist is the way to go. I am so over being an extremist. At the end of the day I might still be exhausted, but it will be well earned exhaustion from keeping it real!

Have a great week everyone! Here’s to keeping it real and kicking it!

Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 1 October 2017

conformation be damned

it drives us mad if we ignore it

and then some

the twister spared the trees 

air dense with death’s balm

chaos rages, earth in flux

tossed and forgotten

a tiny dot on a page

back in the day

pipe-dreams on inked pages

until the lights went out

ending suddenly into dead, black silence

tracks through the wild

even if it is hard to see…

I am not dazzled

death whispers to her

~kat


Lonely-Hearts – Friday’s Word of the Day

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Today’s Word of the Day on dictionary.com is lonely-hearts. It is defined as: of or for people seeking counseling or companionship to bring love or romance into their lives: a lonely-hearts column in the newspaper or in more modern terms, online dating sites. Dictionary.com also explains the origin of lonely-hearts as:

The noun lonely heart in the sense “a lonely or friendless person” and the adjective lonely-hearts, referring especially to a column or feature in a newspaper feature entered English nearly simultaneously. The terms are probably most closely associated with the novel Miss Lonelyhearts by Nathanael West (1903-40). The noun lonely heart entered English in 1932; the adjective lonely-hearts entered English in 1933.

I was intrigued by the reference to Nathanael West’s novel Miss Lonelyhearts. “Miss” Lonelyhearts was actually an anonymous male journalist who wrote an advice column for a New York newspaper during the Depression. Not only was Lonelyheart considered something of a joke by the newspaper staffers, but he allegedly fell into a deep depression, burdened by the desperate letters from his readers. This led Lonelyheart on a downward spiral of heavy drinking and bar brawls and a few affairs, the last of which would lead to his ironic demise. Despite all this he tried desperately to escape the pain of the letters, traveling to the countryside with his fiance and by turning to religion. It was only after he had a religious epiphany that he met his end at the hands of the husband of his latest mistress. This black comedy, as it was described, weaves elements of Marxist ideology, religion, the sad state of a valueless world and the cynicism of a “machine” that mass produces empty solutions to systemic problems of society.

It’s easy to see, from this best-selling book of the 1930’s, how “lonely-hearts” became an adjective. And despite the lessons of the book, it is interesting to note that we still seek advice from sterile advice columns. We read daily horoscopes hoping for direction or affirmation of what we already know or hope for. We seek entertainment to escape the reality of our lives. And we seek love by scanning fabricated personal profiles on online dating sites. But it all falls flat, because we do these things anonymously, without having to bare our heart and soul. It is no wonder we are forever searching for answers, because the answers we seek, answers that truly make a difference, need to be personal, not mass-tabloid, bottom of the birdcage-lining rags. Poor Lonelyheart. I get the sense from reading a summary of the book, that he finally finds his answers through a spiritual awakening. But he meets his end, all the same, at the hands of an enraged man who fails to see his change of heart for what it is. I think that is the greatest tragedy of all.

How often do we hear it said that someone can feel lonely even in a room full of people. Modern technology, instant gratification, social media, texting, tweeting, all keep us disconnected and detached from each other.

But there are moments. Eye contact and smiles from strangers that stop you in your tracks and ignite a spark in your heart. That moment’s connection can change you. I live for those moments. We all do. And the best thing about recognizing this is that we can be this moment for another person. Being, not receiving, can change us too. Make eye contact…smile. It will change your life.

Well! I certainly didn’t see all that coming. It’s amazing what can come of ruminating over a simple word of the day. Lonely-heart. Here’s a Haiku to wrap things up.

lonely-hearts flutter
to pipe-dreams on inked pages
like moths to a flame

~kat