Tag Archives: Challenge

Twittering Tales #26 – 18 April 2017

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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 Tales #25 – The Roundup

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Door Sign from Pixabay.com

From Michael at Morpethroad:

My Songs
I was disappointed with no entry.
They had played my songs.
Their interpretations fascinated me.
I was flattered by their vocal renditions.
(137 characters)

From Lost in Translation79:

And so it begins…
I stood there with baited breath, the crowd restless. I closed my eyes absorbing this moment, because you only have this once…
(126 characters)

From Lady Lee at Lady Lee Manila

Let us get through
We’ve got passes
To see the Band live
After their show
Special privilege
Couldn’t believe our luck
We’re now groupies, yay!
(136 Characters)

From Reena at ReInventions:

The Final Scene

It was time to don the disguise robes. The mission had to be accomplished today by the suicide bomber. Both success and failure meant death.
(140 characters)

From Kitty at Kitty’s Verses:

Come One, Come All
Why is it restricted entry? Why don’t they put up, “Come one, come all, Laugh till you fall!” After all joy is always to be multiplied.
(137 characters)

From Jane at Jane Dougherty Writes:

We’ll Be In Touch
Booed off stage talentless bands are pushed to this door. Saves paying their fee—it opens onto a disused lift shaft.
(116 Characters)

From Lorraine at In 25 Words More or Less

Pyrotechnics
Cynthia wondered if anyone bothered to leave their ego at the door. Last night’s fireworks weren’t a planned part of the performance.
(133 Characters)

From Di at Pensitivity101:

I could not believe I was denied access.
It was just a local talent contest!
The oldest was 9, the youngest 6, and I was their mother!
(134 characters)

From Kathryn at Another Foodie Blogger:

Ray Sr. stood before the closed door, confused. His rheumy eyes glanced over at his son. “Come on dad, you’ll have fun. For old-time’s sake.”
(141 Characters)

From Sangbad at Thoughts of Words:

Legend
I’ve saw him s’where…where, I can’t recollect now….
the old legend looks at the sign and then at the woman…he sigh…his last breath…
(140 characters)

From Bobby at Bobby Fairfield:

On the other side lies fame and fortune or a very rapid descent into oblivion. Let’s do it boys.
(96 Characters)

From Kirst at Kirst Writes:

I used to go to every gig, years ago.
His eyes would always find me in the crowd, then later we’d…
Would he even remember? I knocked.
(132 characters)

From Peter at Peter’s Ponderings:

You’re banned, not band! Despite dressing as pirates and carrying guitars, Gilbert and Sullivan failed to get past the doorman at the Savoy.
(140 characters)

not one tale but two with a clue…

I’ve been outside the door for 3 days now, waiting for the superstar Kat to come out. I’ll just have to make do with leaving this note behind. Hope she finds it!

From Milton John at Broadsidesdotme:

On the set of the “Titanic” we received due respect.
(52 Characters)

From Irena at Books and Hot Tea:

Finally Famous
With a new lead singer, our popularity peaked. Critics praised us, concerts were sold out.
But was fame worth leaving a part of us behind?
(137 characters)

And starting it off…my take:

People called us an overnight sensation. If they only knew how many dives, we played to get here. Wouldn’t a had it any other way.
(130 Characters)

Loved the variety this week you all! We had has-beens and wanna-be’s groupies and stage moms, a few curtain calls, a nautical twist of view, song pirates and pyrotechnics. Thanks everyone for playing along this week. You’ll find this week’s photo prompt below. What tales are hidden in this rear view mirror?  Hope to see you at next week’s round up!

Twittering Tale #26 – 18 April 2017

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Photo from Pixabay

“Do you see them?”
“No…I think we’ve finally lost them. Just a few more miles.”
“Then what?”
“We may never know. Look ahead. They’re coming.”
(140 Characters)


Nightfall – NaPoWriMo 2017 #17

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the breeze is sweetened by the rain
as bulbous drops on petals cling
beneath a starless sky, brushed gray
night is hovering on the wing

in the gloaming street lights flicker
glowing amber mist descending
shadows loom as fog grows thicker
night is hovering on the wing

gather round for bedtime fables
rock-a-bye hush, the children sing
stay awake if you are able
night is hovering on the wing

kat – 17 April 2017
(NaPoWriMo 2017 #17 – A Kyrielle Poem for today’s prompt to write a Nocturne)


To the Homeless…NaPoWriMo 2017 #16


To the Homeless…

I wonder where you spend your nights
when everyone is tucked in tight.
Are you still wandering the streets
with no safe place to lay your head;
a cardboard box to call your bed?
Dark shadows looming while you sleep,
beneath the moon and stars above;
were you someone, were you loved?
You’re not invisible to me.

~kat
(NaPoWriMo 2017 #16 – for the prompt: write a “letter”, a Nove Otto Poem – nine-lines with 8 syllables per line (isosyllabic)/rhyme scheme: aacbbcddc.


A Blink – NaPoWriMo 2017 #15


look at us,
two old people,
achy and cranky,
graying hair, eyes dimming
i still remember when
and how and where we met,
a hint of summer in the air, raindrops
on pebbles, the solstice moon,
the touch of your hand on my back,
how your lips tasted
that first time…
i remember
a blink
the distance
in between,
the better, the worst,
the sickness, the health,
the day in, day out,
turns and twists,
it’s all a blur
and now there’s this
two old people
look at us

~kat ~ 15 April 2017
(NaPoWriMo 2017 – Prompt: write about the middle or on between of something )


Compathy – Friday’s Word of the Day Haiku

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Happy Friday! Well here is a new word for you…”Compathy”, Dictionary.com’s Word of the Day. It is another word to add to your arsenal of “feeling” words like Sympathy and Empathy, but with just enough of a subtle difference that you may find yourself needing to use it more and more.  The suffix of all three words is –pathy from the Greek ‘patheia’ which means ‘suffering’ or ‘feeling’.

Sympathy’s prefix, sym- comes from the Greek sum or sún, meaning “with, in company with or together with.” While feelings are part of the word, it is possible to be sympathetic without actually feeling what others are feeling. For example one could be sympathetic to a cause. One who is sympathetic might be overheard saying, “Oh poor so-and-so…” and in the next breath commenting, “I’m sure glad it’s not me.” So much for sympathy. No wonder  we are loath to sympathy from others. It smacks of pity.

Enter Empathy. From the Greek ‘empatheia’, when one combines em + pathy the literal meaning is ‘in’ + ‘feeling’.  It’s a feel good word…much more to our liking than sympathy. Having empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes; to consider their plight while also considering how you might feel in the same circumstance. It’s a bit more engaging. Being empathetic moves us emotionally and compels us to act with compassion, but it is not the ultimate of –pathies. One can remain detached more or less and still feel and respond with empathy.

Which brings me to today’s word of the day, Compathy. It’s little prefix of a word, ‘com’ is a loaded when you add it to -pathy.  For this word’s etymology we turn to the Latin ‘com-‘ or ‘cum’ which means “together with, similar, extremely, completely.”  Compathy contains an intensity that the other two words do not.  Compathy is defined as “feelings, as happiness or grief, shared with another or others.” There is no detachment here, no standing on the sidelines. To have compathy means to feel the intense emotions of another with that other person or persons as if you share the same heart.

I can understand why compathy is more obscure than the other two words. Have you ever heard of it? I know I hadn’t.  And my ignorance allowed me to be quite content, considering myself a caring, feeling, empathetic person…which is a good thing, right? The fact is my ability to care has now been challenged to rise to the next level; to allow myself to enter into the suffering and joy of others whole heartedly and with abandon.

We call a person who acts and feels this way an “empath”, but I believe we have it wrong. Empaths are truly Compaths when you get right down to it. And it’s something to aspire to. Not because I’m a masochist but because I believe having compathy is the one true way to connect with another person in a deep and meaningful way. It’s where love and healing and true joy happen.

Have a great weekend. Peace and love to you and yours.

sympaths say “poor you”
empaths say “poor you, I know…”
but compaths say “we”

~kat – 14 April 2017