HH: Stonehenge Awe

Haiku Heights  #252 (Stone)

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ancient stone knows stars

architectural wonder

or other worldly

stones defy history

too heavy for human hands

mystery of earth

CD: Mijikayo (Short Night)

Carpe Diem #210

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sunlight stays longer

just for this first summer night

pink hues of sunset

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short night of summer

tortoise lingers in shadows

earth still feels so warm

Flash: Double Vision

Flash! Friday #26

Write a 350-500 -word story (minimum 350, max 500) based on the photo prompt.

Abandoned boy. Photo courtesy of Toni Frissell.

Brooke had a blessed life. Born into a family of means in England, living in an estate on the outskirts of London, she wanted for nothing. At 18, she was wise beyond her years, likely from her proper upbringing, although she was full of joy and embraced life within the bounds of decorum. 

Having been shielded from her family’s history which, of course, included war torn London, she feared asking questions. One day, while alone with only the staff who kept themselves invisible, she wandered into the library where she often browsed the classics for something new to read. A frayed scrapbook on an upper shelf caught her eye, something she’d not noticed before. Carefully she slid the wheeled ladder to where she could climb to retrieve it, making sure not to step on her hem or otherwise snag her handmade garment.  

The scrapbook was heavier than imagined but she managed to balance it in one hand to plop it on the top of the ladder and move it down with every few steps until she was back on solid ground. She curled up in the chair by the sunlit window overlooking the rose gardens fingering the worn plain leather cover in wonderment before opening it. 

She recognized her parents in their youth but most images were of strangers even though likely relatives since they appeared in the album. Yellowed newspaper articles of the war were tucked between pages along with some handwritten notes. Mostly Brooke was interested in the photos.

Within the pages of the scrapbook she found a photograph of a family. The note on the back of the photo indicated her father’s parents had taken them into their home for sanctuary during the war…a Jewish family. Why wouldn’t her father want her to know of her heroic ancestry? The next page stunned her. The odd stuffed animal she had been given as a child was being hugged by a young boy in what appeared to be a war ravaged place. The note on the back:  1945, London. Below was written 1935 – 1950. Polio. Brooke could see that the boy resembled her father from her father’s childhood photos. 

Continuing through the scrapbook she found a photo of the two of them together. They had been twins. Bobby and Brooks. Her father only ever was called Robert during her lifetime. She sighed and felt so sad for her father, but also realized her name went from being ordinary in her eyes to one of honor. 

After returning the album to its “hiding place” and moving the ladder back to its original spot, Brooke went to her room and curled up with her very worn but favorite stuffed animal waiting for her parents to return.

Words: 444 

CD: Follow the Path

Carpe Diem #209 (Future)

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follow wisdom's path

find the future meant to be

faith in spirit guides

plan for the future

without knowledge of next day

the universe knows

Toads: Safe Place

Words Count With Mama Zen

Describe your safe place using 53 words or less. Mine is 52 words. Having been a therapist and in therapy, I immediately associated safe place with internal safe place. So that is what I wrote about.

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My internal safe place is on the balcony of a mansion with overhanging gardens along Lake Como, Italy. The balcony is filled with gardens and statuary. I rock lazily in my hammock in the sun listening to the lapping waves below from the wake of boats and staring at the bluest sky.

Ancient Art

Nahaiwrimo (Art)

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ancient art of time 

eons within earth's canvas 

god's exhibition

FSF: Crashing Down

Five Sentence Fiction: Desolate

Polyvore by grace2244

Happy in her amnesia, not knowing the reality of her life, was not a choice made willingly. When the walls of amnesia began to crumble, the overwhelming memories, flashbacks, nightmares, panic attacks, and knowledge of her fragmented mind threw her into such a desolate state. Death must certainly be a better place than the living hell that so swiftly changed her life sending her spiraling into an unfathomable depression.

From a happy marriage and successful career to constant panic and search for the truth along with a need for intense therapy and support. Who knew her 18 year marriage would disintegrate when she most needed his love and understanding.

HMH: Mary's Chapel

Haiku My Heart

Photo by Grace Beam

sitting in chapel

feeling Mary's presence near

hearing bells above

Photo by Grace Beam

outside the chapel

Saint Francis stands guard

Mary smiles with joy

SHW: Sands of Time

Sensational Haiku Wednesday (Shift)

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 sand shifts beneath feet

fine crystallized energy

sparkles in the light 

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cosmic shift in world

wave of change across the globe

people seeking peace

 

Unknown Knowing

Carpe Diem #208 (Divination)

 

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divine foretells path

past, present, future unknown 

time on single plane 

prophets do not know

universe keeps its secrets

timeless messages

 

HH: Feeling the Change

Haiku Heights (Change)

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sometimes change not seen

shift in mind affects thinking

surprise self with thoughts

fear makes room for peace

unfamiliar change welcome

new feeling is good

 

 

Kyoshi Takahama's 'Shutting My Eyes'

Carpe Diem Special #39

while shutting my eyes

finally see the peaceful me

always meant to be

return to the sun

healing in sacred canyon

while shutting my eyes 

Safe Harbor

Picture It And Write

Reprinted from ermiliablog – Image by Jeffrey Smith

Long ago it guided ships to safe harbor

its bright beacon snuffed out by time

never to be replaced for legends endured

the stories of how darkness befell

of those who never returned

who had hoped to restore its glory

and now on stormy nights

some have seen a flicker and a figure

ghostly by momentary light

as intended by the blind man who resides within

The Universe

Carpe Diem #207 (World or Universe)

I chose to create haiku around Jung's view of universal consciousness or the universal subconscious.

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find enlightenment

thoughts enter unseen cosmos

our stardust mingles

we are all one thread

universe weaves thoughts and minds

single consciousness

Trifecta: Close Encounters (5)

Trifecta: Week Seventy-Nine

Write 33 to 333 words using the following definition of the word APPEAR: to have an outward aspect : seem .

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The sound of rollerbladers laughing and whizzing by jolted Libby from her internal close encounter with a man…a hallucination…a spirit guide…claiming to be her inner wisdom. She jogged staring into the deep pink sunset until she reached her door. Safely at home, she could meander into her mind without interruption. “He” seemed to feel there was some urgency to her discovering him. The language swirling in her mind for what had happened felt odd and familiar at the same time. That weekly group she had joined for understanding intuition back in Maryland had used language she really couldn’t relate to until now. Did everyone have a tuxedo-ed man inside their head?

Libby called her instructor from that group hoping for some answers. Elise felt assured everyone had an inner wisdom but not all chose to find theirs. Each person experienced their inner wisdom differently. Sometimes they might appear as human but others had objects present such as trees or angels or whatever the mind revealed to them. Perhaps not everyone would respond well to the presence of another person inside. At least Libby felt not so crazy after hanging up.

Before falling asleep that night, Libby allowed herself to climb the hill again where she saw the bench covered in cherry blossoms. “His” voice suggested she be seated which she did, noticing the tall flowers around her and the pretty sky. As she took in the view she began to feel the bench rise. The reassuring voice inside told her to remain calm and just watch. When the bench stopped in mid-air, she was asked what she saw. Libby described the distant hills she could now see as well as the village below. It was all such a peaceful setting.

“What does it mean?” Libby asked.

“It means, you now have the ability to see from a new perspective,” he said wisely.

Words: 312

 (The entire story of Libby to date can be found here.)

 

The Merge: Le Cirque (3)

Write At The Merge: Week 22

Write up to 500 words using the lyrics to the song Gold On The Ceiling sung by The Black Keys as inspiration.
 

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Phoebe sauntered past the entrance to Le Cirque to the bench further down the block knowing Nate would be wondering if she would show up for dinner. But she had to think things through carefully before she committed to sitting down with him, face to face, having a conversation that would surely lead to the reasons behind their break up two years earlier. 

Taking a deep breath, she let her mind wander back in time to their last conversation. Nate was confident and career-focused and living his dream. Had she always felt so insecure? Maybe it was a matter of trust. She trusted Nate but not herself to make the right decisions. Obviously she still had trust issues because of her wake of failed relationships. Nate was perfect. He still cared for her. She sensed that in his eyes and in his words. Mostly she hid from the world by delving into her own career. So little time for therapy, or at least she made it so. Did she really want to dig into why she avoided returning another’s love? 

“I thought that was you racing past the windows outside. Always on the run…still?” 

Phoebe looked up sheepishly. “Hello,” she whispered. 

He offered her his hand and she accepted. Together they entered the restaurant and sat at their table that was next to the window. She sighed at her failure to ask the cab to drop her off beyond the entrance. 

“You look well…happy,” she said as cheerfully as she could. 

“I am,” he said. “The investment world has been good to me.” 

“Obviously,” she remarked. “I can’t tell you how overwhelming it is for me to be in this restaurant with you. I feel like Cinderella at the ball. Or something like that.” 

“You? Part of your life is to wine and dine clients in upscale surroundings.” 

“That’s in my comfort zone,” she snapped. 

“Ah. I guess that’s what I was most curious to know when I saw you earlier today. I was hoping your insecurities might have lessened. At least that’s what I had assumed was why you had pushed me away.” He reached across the table for her hand to offer reassurance but not before she withdrew her hand into her lap. 

“Maybe dinner wasn’t such a good idea. We haven’t ordered. I could just slip out now. I don’t know why I came.” She spoke to her napkin in her lap never making eye contact. 

“No. Please stay. I’m sorry for saying that. I never stopped caring about you. I hear you and will respect your feelings. Just two friends then. Let’s have a nice dinner with no expectations. Afterwards, we go back to our lives as usual. Deal?” 

Phoebe found herself nodding as she swallowed down the tears. Damned tears. What did they mean? Maybe seeing Nate again was a sign.  A sign to look past her professional façade to the vulnerable little girl who seemed take over when she let her guard down?

Words: 500

(Previous segments of this story can be found in blog listings. All named Le Cirque with consecutive numbers, although written for various writing challenges.)

Toads: Leaf Haiku

Sunday Mini-Challenge

Write a poem or prose using the photo prompt which is original photography of L. Diane Wolfe.

dewdrop in leaf's heart

a gift from mother nature

our eyes to behold

 

OSI: Honor The Oneness

One Single Impression
Prompt 274: Weak

Write a poem or prose using the given prompt.

Photo by Grace Beam

strong mind weak body

sojourn led by guardian

to the ancient way

gentle spirit guides

with voices soft as whispers

offer sweet release

heart and mind unite

violet light from soul

honor the oneness

(The name of the statue above is "Changed Woman," which I thought appropriate for my journey and the prompt.)

Tarot: Judgement

Carpe Diem #126

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seeking light as child

praying those who preyed in hell

death forever safe 

those with evil path

surely must meet His judgement

children safe in death

 

Wordle: Mind Beams

Sunday Whirl
Wordle #110

Write a poem/prose using the following words:

mind and heart connect

anchor beams love and hope

yield security

current layers shift

consciousness fertile with change

keep healing phrase close

violet light is calm

stay within its pulsing range

wrap inside its warmth

Tarot: The Sun

Carpe Diem #205

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energy and light

cosmic dust in human form

following the sun

open heart to light

soul blooms like lotus flower

universal thought

 

 

 

HH: Exist In The Calm

Haiku Heights (Health)

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free from constant fear

shift in being from healing

exist in the calm

exist in the calm

wrap self in violet cocoon

focus on breathing

 

Toads: Letting Go

Fireblossom Friday -- Location, Location, Location!

Write prose/poetry where the image/place is 

an integral part of the writing.

Sedona, AZ ~ Photo by Grace Beam

Sitting at the bottom of this pile of boulders

which represented all that I wanted to release

I listened with eyes closed to my guide

taking me to oneness by letting go of the sludge

and inviting the joy of living inside 

The wind was still when we began

and I held tightly to a pebble in my hand

I felt the vortex winds begin to swirl around me

initially feeling my raven nestled 

on the top of my head

(the imagery I had of the me who wanted 

to be freed in the ancient canyon)

As my guide suggested I invited in the parts of me

who had been locked out

and then felt my raven soar to freedom

Vortex winds whipped around me

as tears fell from my eyes

silently letting her go knowing that was her wish

my reason for the journey

The joy of the hummingbird I had seen

in the morning

entered my being

along with other entities of life

Afterwards I held the pebble

representing my past

to my heart

I felt the need to hurl it over the pile of rocks

and stood to where I could throw it

with full force

Releasing it, I knew it would not fully clear

and wondered what would happen

if all I had just achieved bounced back at me

A definitive sound of pebble on rock was heard

Both guide and I cringed for a moment

until we saw it bounce in the direction of the

canyon behind and below

Cheers and tears for the healing

Although it was only one part of quest

Tarot: The Moon

Carpe Diem #204

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 beyond the moon's reach

the divine light of being

hold it in your heart

may's full flower moon

its guile seeking attention

while we search for sun

brother sun, sister moon
saint francis loved all beings
embraced universe

FF: Force Against Nature

Flash! Friday #25

Write a 300 word story based on the following photo prompt:

“The Little Mermaid,” sculpture by Evard Eriksen.
Photo courtesy of John Nyberg

She sat atop the rocks in the breeze of the sea watching the fiery sunset. But she had not climbed the rocks for she was a mermaid, an elemental. A force against nature had perched her on the rocks where it was too dangerous for her to lean into the water. The laws of her world forbade her to be seen by humans. She sat forlorn wondering what to do.

Praying to Mother Nature, she asked for guidance. Soon darkness hid her completely from the world and she succumbed to the heaviness of sleep. She dreamed of large waves carrying her out to sea to safety and the arms of a strong wind leading her to a soft landing in the water.

The beautiful mermaid awoke to torrential rains before dawn. The tide swelled and waves lapped just below her. Still, she feared landing on one of the rock outcroppings below the surface. Mother Nature had given her a tail to swim but it was not a gift when stranded on the high rock.

“I can help you,” said a young boy.

Aghast, the mermaid turned to see the youngster balanced on the rocks dressed in yellow rain slicker, hat and goulashes with a rubber raft.

“Please don’t be scared,” he said assuredly for one so young. “I know of your kind and saw you last night. No one knows I’m here. But we have to be quick before the sun rises. Lean this way and fall into the raft. I can push you away from the rocks.”

Grateful for the boy’s kindness, she let herself fall into the small rubber raft and felt herself moving away from the rocks. As she got her bearings to return to sea, she looked back to thank the boy, but he had disappeared.

Words: 300
Twitter: grace2244