FF: Safari Gone Awry

Friday Fictioneers

Copyright – EL Appleby

Five-year-old Katie was so excited about her summer vacation on safari with her parents. She loved all kinds of animals and even liked to hold the snakes at the petting zoo. Two weeks prior to the trip, her father broke his leg and had to be in a cast for two months. 

To make up for having to wait another year for her safari, Katie’s father had a specially made stuffed animal representing as many safari animals as possible ordered as a gift. Katie was thrilled with her present and looked forward to the real vacation when she was six. 

Words: 100

CD: Hatsugatsuo (first Bonito)

Carpe Diem #214

This kigo refers to the first early summer catch of a fish that lands on the beach of Kamakura, Japan. In earlier times, the fish was a particular kind of tuna that, when caught, was offered to the deiities to ensure a good fishing season.

Fly Fishing In Kamakura

 

sacred rose of the sea

sacrifice for fisherman

good season's catch

deep in the ocean

rose of the sea stays hidden

dislikes sacrifice

 

SHW: Save the Sea Turtle

Sensational Haiku Wednesday

 

Photo Source

 sea turtle hatchlings

scurry to ocean en masse

unaware of threats

graceful sea turtles

travel all the world's oceans

species endangered 

 

CD: Tango-no-Sekku (Boys' Festival)

Carpe Diem #213

In early summer, Japanese families celebrated Tango-no-Sekku, the Boys' Festival. With its special customs and observances, it is Japan's way of celebrating the healthy growth and development of her young boys. It is now celebrated May 5 but is still considered an early summer kigo (season word) for haiku.

Photo Source

 proud family

displays four carp kites

for each son

Japanese boys play

samurai battle as Shoki

prepare to be men

Japanese iris

awesome boys' samurai swords

young warriors play

 

Trifecta: Close Encounters (6)

Trifecta: Week Eighty

Use the word FREAK with the following meaning from among its various meanings: one that is markedly unusual or abnormal. Write between 33 and 333 words.

While having the close encounter with her inner wisdom was amazing, Libby also felt like a freak. Who could she tell about her experience without feeling and being deemed crazy? And what did it mean now that she had connected to this part of herself? She didn’t want to call Elise again. They hadn’t been friends. Elise had been her intuition group facilitator. It felt as if she would be taking advantage of her continuing to ask questions.

Libby hadn’t really made any new friends since relocating to Boston, although she found several friendly people at work. Maybe it was time to initiate a test drive for a new out-of-office friend. The clouds of thoughts swirled through her head just as she arrived at her office building. Walking inside balancing her briefcase with her Starbucks coffee, she squeezed into the elevator dutifully looking up at the numbers avoiding all eye contact as elevator protocol requires.

“Pie,” she heard in her mind as she stepped out of the elevator. She shook her head as if flipping her hair back thinking inside, “Not now…I have to focus.” Libby felt annoyed and wondered if she could close the door she had opened. Besides, what the heck was that supposed to mean?

Settling into her office, Libby saw Becca pass by waving, her first choice for new best friend. Quickly Libby motioned for Becca to come into her office. They were peers and often collaborated on assignments. They both laughed at the same things. She had a quiet unpretentious way about her that put Libby at ease.

Becca walked in questioningly and Libby offered her a seat. “I’ve been in Boston nearly six months and still don’t know this city. I take the train to and from Melrose and hide out there. Any chance you’d like to get together and do something this weekend?”

“Sure,” said Becca unhesitatingly. “I'd love to see that movie, Life of Pi. What about you?”

Words: 326

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

 

CD: Kikusha-Ni's 'In the Teabowl'

Carpe Diem Special #40

 

Photo Source

 clouds reflect in pond

wondering if they can see

as i sip my tea 

steam rising from tea

swirls memory clouds around

daydreams fill senses

 

MWM: First Encounter with Mary

Mornings With Mary

Photo Source

chapel on campus

alone at night with Mary

tears from her beauty

I was raised in a Jewish home but chose not to formally embrace any religion once leaving home, although I had always felt drawn to images of Mary. In my late 40s, I earned my graduate degree from Seton Hall, mostly online, but spent two weeks on campus for a course. I stayed next to the tiny chapel longing to go inside but afraid not knowing what would be expected of me. I didn't know if it was open at night. One evening I was brave enough to walk across to the chapel. The door opened. It was candlelit and empty. A statue of Mary, so beautiful, was very close to the front and I was able to sit in front of her and just feel that sacred moment. Was so happy to find an image of her online to share.

Edge: Quick! The Bubblegum!

Write On Edge

Write no more than a 200 word post about bubblegum:

Such a picturesque view along 17-Mile Drive of Monterey, California, passing through Pacific Grove, along Pebble Beach Golf Course, through Carmel and a dramatic view of the lone cypress. With several lookout points, Audrey just had to stop and put her quarter in as she used to as a child when on a trip.

After begging her boyfriend to pull over, she hastily put a quarter in the view finder. Turning the knob the quarter wouldn't budge. She tried digging it out with her nails, but that didn't work either. Dean tried pushing the coin in further and again tried the knob. Nothing. It was their only quarter. 

Suddenly Dean said excitedly, “Gum! Give me a piece of your bubblegum!” Not knowing what was wrong with him, Audrey frantically looked through her purse and felt a piece of gum at the bottom. She pulled it out and handed it to Dean who quickly tossed it in his mouth chewing rapidly for about 30 seconds. He then pulled out the gum, smooshed it on the quarter, and proudly removed the gum with the quarter attached.

Fortunately, one more view finder stood next to them.

Words: 193

CD: Shincha (New Tea)

Carpe Diem #212

Photo Source

tetsubin heirloom

rejoice harvest of new tea

quiet revery

ancient observance

ceremony for new tea

tetsubin awaits 

(I have a beautiful cast iron deep aqua tetsubin with a dragonfly design. If they weren't so expensive I'd love to collect and display them. )

 

Wordle: No Man's Land

The Sunday Whirl
Wordle #111

Write a poem or prose using the following words:

Photo Source

wind on the prairie

so nimble swirling 'round limbs 

crave cooling rapture 

 

train of tumbleweeds

down the halls of no man's land

vault cactus with ease

parched throat from hot sun

pausing to reach for canteen

embrace desert view

OSI: The Myth of Me

One Single Impression
Prompt 275: Myth 

 

Image Source

 at my birth there was no Google

propaganda made my life a myth

but, now, declassified

the public can know

Senate Hearings in 1972

exposed the secret program of the CIA

yet no one heard or wanted to hear

I am a child of the horror that was that program 

intentional amnesia created

the mind's natural response to overwhelming trauma

they knew and they used that knowledge

only constant horror causes the mind to fragment

in mid-40s my amnesia broke

my life fell apart

decades of therapy

even before "knowing" was seeking help

my life is still mostly mystery

and mostly no one believes

intentional propaganda arises

each time a new truth is released

the public doesn't know fact from fiction

myth from conspiracy

my feeling compelled to let the truth be known

has fallen on deaf ears

and so I let go

to focus simply on healing

to have a good rest of my life

I am a child of the cold war

my birth planned to be part of a secret project

evil incarnate

handed over to Nazis of Operation Paperclip

with permission of the person who was "my father"

and now, having written my truth,

may it rest in peace

and may the world

at some point

open their minds to what our government

still does to children trapped in the programs

CD: Koromogae (changing or switching clothes)

Carpe Diem #211

Photo Source

days become warmer

shedding of layers from skin

change season and clothes

 body size has changed

smaller clothes for new season

summer dance for joy

 

Trifextra: In Tandem

Trifextra: Week Seventy

Write 33 words using the following photo prompt:

Photo Source

“I can’t get a cell signal. Can’t call for help.”

“I just can’t.”

“If you don’t, you’ll die. You’re having a heart attack. Tandem jump or death.”

“The fear might kill me anyway.”


 

Toads: Oil Rant

Imaginary Toads: Get Ready To Howl

Write a poem or prose inspired by Allen Ginsberg's Howl.

Photo Source

have we learned nothing from fruitless war

sending young men into battle

to make the wealthy more rich

disavow climate change

disavow the poor

oil is savior

make no changes to shift deity

better to die with mountains of wealth

than live with fortunes built on saving lives