swirl of fired sand
jar once filled with spice and oil
evanescence gone
~kat
For TJ’s Household Haiku Challenge, prompt words, Lost (gone) and Perfume (spice, oil), inspired by TJ’s photo of this ancient Roman vessel.
Legacy
Legacy
Since moving from the Midwest to the South some 30 years ago, I have become keenly aware of class and rank and, I’m just going to say it, blatant racism in the United States of America. It is as thick as the honey dripping from a southern belle’s lips when she coos, “bless their hearts.” I was shocked to learn that the southern-born locals, especially here in Virginia “Where the Nation Reunited”, yearn to have one last (un)Civil battle to set things right…the way things shoulda’ been…the way things always had a’ been before the War of Northern Aggression took away their right to own people, and later dared to demand that they allow their lily-white, privileged, progeny attend school with the coloreds. I know my words sound harsh. I mean for them to sound that way. It was a culture shock to me back then, just as the current state of unrest in this country is a shock to some folks now.
Fast forward to the 21st century and it’s plain to see that the bitter divisions we are suffering are nothing new. None of us should be surprised by the ugliness that has been unearthed by this latest battle of Conservatives versus Liberals.
I listen to pundits on tv who wonder how long it will take to undo the damage done in less than a year by politicians who seek to destroy government on the backs of the middle class and the poor, while lining the pockets of the rich, and their own. I’ve thought about it and I don’t expect us to recover anytime soon. In fact, the way I see it, this was just a relapse. Eventually we may slip into remission; the ugly underbelly of our worst devils may crawl back under their rocks. It’s been a sickness raging just under our skin for several centuries now.
And make no mistake, here in the South the Rebs are in no hurry to stop this train. They finally have a hero who talks like they think; mean and spiteful and hateful. With rebel flags flapping in the wind they’re locked and loaded and ready for that do-over to set things right. Those who refuse to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it…and repeat it.
i wasn’t prepared
for the venomous rancor,
lines drawn in concrete,
pompous trumpeter swagger,
all civility be damned
i wasn’t prepared
for the costly price of love;
humanity’s end
~kat
For Colleen Chesebro’s Weekly Poetry Tuesday Challenge, a Haibun/Tanka/Haiku prompted by the words Hate and Pride.
Twittering Tale #44 – 7 August 2017
About the challenge: Each Tuesday I will provide a prompt, and your mission, if you choose to play along, is to tell a story based on that prompt in 140 characters or less. If you accept the challenge, 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 us a new prompt. Have Fun!
Twittering Tale #43 – The Round-Up
From Michael at Morpethroad:
Ray loved to make tattoos.
Secretly he loved the pain his clients felt.
The buzz electrified him.
The heat of the iron rushed through him.
(136 characters)
From Reena at ReInventions:
This is an elite business, and I only take committed clients. Don’t worry, it is not about the pain. My tattoos last beyond relationships.
(138 characters)
From Fandango at This, That, and The Other:
Said he was a professional tattoo artist for fifty years. Looked like a trustworthy grandfather. Who knew he couldn’t spell nothing?
(132 characters)
From Kitty at Kitty’s Verses:
No amount of coaxing relieved her of pains of separation.While time works in a funny manner, a tattoo would ease his pain.
Character count:- 122
From Jim at newepicauthor:
Now my arm will be worth over $600 after this beauty. This will put my whole body up over 7 grand. Next week I’ll get one on my face. Sweet!
(140 Characters)
From Sight11 at Journey:
A lingering ache
Periodical Intake..
Skin, absorbing time
#Senryu
From Di at Pensitivity101:
He’d wanted to be a dentist really, but white was boring.
So much nicer to be working in colour.
95 characters.
From Sandi at Flip Flops Everyday:
The true story behind his tattoo:
“…but I want an Evil Calypso!”
“All you can afford is an evil hippo.”
In his inebriated state, he agreed.
In his mind, he got this
In reality, he got this
140 characters
From Leena at Through My Heart Web:
No Place Left On Me To Ink, Now Lets Tattoo Others N Fulfill Burning Desire.
(Months Later)
“Hi, I Want Smthng Btfl On My Neck”
“U Love Fairies?”
From Cara at Do the Flash:
17-year-old Daisy, who had bone cancer, designed a tattoo for her life. Uncle Aziz etched her vision on her shoulder with tears in his eyes.
From Willow at Willowdot21:
Telling
A story
Totally absorbed in his art
Tantalizingly catching the eye
Only he can transform your skin
Oh! It hurts but it’s what you want.
(140 Characters)
From Michael at Flawed Masterpieces:
“I know she loves John Lennon, but did she have to get “Come Together” tattooed on both her cheeks?”
(Character count: 100)
From Kirst at Kirst Writes:
At your age? her kids smirked. Her husband was furious:
What have you done? Of all the trashy… I’m disgusted.
She grinned. The desired effect.
(140 characters)
From Martin at Martin Cororan:
With each stab of ink the message slowly revealed itself: I’ve only paid up to the words ‘I’ve poisoned you’. Wire £1m for the antidote…
138 Characters
From Kathryn at Another Foodie Blogger:
You didn’t want to get sent to Tim for your mandatory numbered tattoo. Word is if you got Tim you left with more than a tattoo on your body.
(140 Characters)
From Ghostmmnc at TeleportingWeena:
AS STILL as a CORPSE
After practicing his ink art on cadavers,
Gramps was happy to have his first live client.
88 Characters
From Peter at Peter’s Ponderings:
A dotted line with a message, “Follow the dots”. Starting at the neck, they now snaked down his stomach to his groin. Almost finished. OOPS!
(140 characters)
From Radhika at Radhika’s Reflection:
A tattoo “I love you my darling wife” would be a perfect anniversary gift thought Jim. But was aghast. The wife got tattooed as “wifi”!!!
Character count: 137 letters
From Jane at Jane Dougherty Writes:
She sent him to have the new kitten tattooed. She began to worry when he phoned to ask, a bouquet of roses or a two-headed Chinese dragon?
(139 Characters)
From Dermott at Postcards from a Pigeon:
She talked him into tattoos of each other’s names, night of the ‘long talk’. One look love. She died, time the tattoo faded, not the memory.
From Lady Lee at Lady Lee Manila:
My hard life tattoed on me, every aspect and all lessons learned.
It’s like I’m bearing my soul for all to see.
I am who I am.
Let me be me.
(137 characters)
From Kalpana at Gemini in the Sky:
blue marks left on my body
are medals of your anger
indelible lashes on my soul
I veil them under the guise of blue tattoo art.
both gel well.
And my take on the photo…
“I feel like crap. Damn Tequila. What’s this? A tattoo? Who the hell is Sheila?”
“Morning you. I made coffee.”
“Uh, hi? You must be Sheila…”
(140 Characters)
I loved the tales this week! Your twittering tales were so fun…and some were poignant and inspiring! There were some really heart-wrenching, lovely tales, some funny “oops” moments, a few creepy stories and I learned about pet tattoos too. I posted a few of the photos that were included. Be sure to check out everyone’s page though. You all are awesome writers. Thank you all so much for joining the challenge last week.
This week, I picked a close-up of a microscope. What is the story of the person at the other end of the eyepiece lens? What is staring back at them from the slide? Does the microscope itself have a story? There are several possibilities for this random photo. I hope you have fun with this prompt. See you next week at the Round-Up.
Twittering Tale #44 – 7 August 2017
Photo from Pixabay.com
Dr. Cole was convinced he’d found the antidote, but the virus was resistant. He assembled his notes with a warning for those who’d find him.
(140 Characters)
~kat
Intuition’s Murmur – Magnetic Poetry Monday
breathe the sun
feel the blue
listen to shady green
and follow rosy cloud
blossoms to where
ancient rocks sing
secret songs of your
souls deep quiet
~kat
Magnetic Poetry Nature Kit
Painted Lady – a Haiku
For Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge, prompt words Painted & Lady.
“Rose”
she is no lady
moll with painted crimson lips
beware, she has thorns
~kat
Most Inspirational Blogger Nominee
like mercury colliding... 