Saturday Mix – Double Take, 30 September 2017

The challenge for this week…double take

Mindlovemisery's Menagerie

This week we are seeing double again. That’s right, it’s time for another…

Double Take

The ‘Double Take’ challenge focuses on the use of homophones* to build your writing piece. You have two sets of homophones and you are challenged to use all four words in your response – which can be poetry or prose.

Our first homophone set this week is:

straight – not crooked
strait – narrow waterway

Our second set of homophones is:

discussed – talked about
disgust – sickening

You may be thinking to yourself, How can I use homophones in my writing?
Luckily, Kat at Literary Devices, has some examples for you.

Example of Homophones in Literature
This poem is filled homophones (marked in bold). They create a humorous effect in the poem through having the same pronunciation but altogether different meanings.

“Sole owner am I of this sorry soul…
pour out…

View original post 156 more words

Crossroads

I cannot rest when the moon is full,
its wintery presence keeps me wakeful.

Playful shadows dance across the wall,
Illuminated by pale ghostly light on this,
All Hallows’ eve.

Despite locked door, I quake in my bed,
Shivering, hoping, I’ve remembered the chain.

Is it real or faux fear that chases me this night?
I brace myself for the unknown darkness.

Drawing deep within the covers, I create a pen around myself,
A distant bell dings, worming into my sanctuary, calling my name.

My conscience rebels because at the bottom of all this,
is just a crossroads between madness and truth.

By Sarah ©2017

Prompt: The Sunday Whirl, Wordle 318;

Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie, First Line Friday – September 29th 2017; and also, Sammi Cox, A Month Of Mini Writing Challenges, Day 30 – final challenge!, Task: Write a spooky poem in 13 lines for Halloween.

Quagmire

Image credit Bryan Minear via Unsplash

She never saw the quicksand until it was too late, and now she was chest-deep.

She gasped as her head was sucked under – reaching out her hand, desperately hoping for someone to see her.

And as her fingertips slid under the slippery muck it only took a few seconds before the pond stilled and no trace of her could be seen at all.

 

By Sarah ©2017

Prompt: Only 100 Words, Three Line Tales – Week 87

Fooey Pooey

As I walk my two pooches, I pop in some earbuds and switch on my iPod hoping for something motivating. It randomly selects ‘Foo Fighters’ – excellent choice! I listen to the gravelly voice of Dave Grohl and find it ironic, as I bend down to pick up the steaming heap, that he can be a Foo Fighter, while I am being a Poo Fighter.

By Sarah ©2017

Prompt: Sammi Cox, A Month Of Mini Writing Challenges, Day 29. Task: Pick the name of one of your favourite bands / groups / artists. Use that as your inspiration to write a story in 50 words.

Menzies Creek Station

Image credits By Sarah ©2017

Prompt: Norm 2.0, Thursday Doors – September 28, 2017

Comings and Goings

Our two pampered pooches like nothing more than to gaze out the window and watch the comings and goings of the neighbourhood…

Image credits By Sarah ©2017

The Castle

There once was a castle in the middle of a field. It loved being the centre of attention. The grass bowed to it in the breeze, and travellers were drawn to it, like a beacon. For many years it was so.

But slowly, a town began to spring up around the castle and the field disappeared. At first, the castle was glad for the company, but in time, the town became a city and the castle was swallowed up by the busy-ness around it. Sometimes, it would still catch a glimpse of travellers’ eyes, but now they hurried past in their vehicles. The castle felt sad that in the midst of such hustle, it could feel so lonely.

By Sarah ©2017

Prompt: Daily Post Daily Prompt – disappear, swallow; Bikurgurl, 100 Word Wednesday, Week 38; and also Sammi Cox, A Month Of Mini Writing Challenges, Day 28. Task: Write a story in less than 100 words that opens with, “There once was a castle…”

Graceful Giant

Earth’s graceful giant;
a free spirit roaming seas,
singing songs of joy.

By Sarah ©2017

Image credit Pixabay

Prompt: Colleen’s Weekly Poetry Challenge, #52 Anniversary Special – spirit and joy

Haunted Window?

This photo was taken at the old Mayday Hills Lunatic Asylum in Beechworth. Over 3,000 people died in this place and at times in its history, the treatment and conditions for the patients was nothing short of horrific. I took this picture on a ghost tour and noticed something in the window. What do you see? Is it the face of a boy peering in? Or simply pareidolia?

Image credit By Sarah ©2017

Prompt: Daily Post, Weekly Photo Challenge – Windows

Criminal Heart

The sweet scent of you
lingers; clinging to my skin
as your fingers did.

A crime of passion.
Forbidden love can ne’er be.
I push you away.

Broken in pieces,
before my eyes, and I curse
my criminal heart.

By Sarah ©2017

Prompt: Ronovan Writes, Weekly Haiku Poetry Prompt, Challenge #168 – sweet and scent; and also, Sammi Cox, A Month Of Mini Writing Challenges, Day 27. Task: The prompt is “crime”. The length and format are your choice.

Ahu

Sign “Follow the Ahu (Stacked Rocks)”. Kilauea Iki trail, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Big Island, HI

By Sarah ©2017

Prompt: Dutch Goes The Photo, Tuesday Photo Challenge, Week 76 – Signs

Hobbiton This Way!

The Hobbiton Movie Set was a location used for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy and The Hobbit film series. It is situated on a family run farm 10 kilometres southwest of Matamata, in Waikato, New Zealand. It is now a tourism destination, with guided tours of the set.

Image credit By Sarah ©2017

Prompt: Dutch Goes The Photo, Tuesday Photo Challenge, Week 76 – Signs

Mirror Lakes

Mirror Lakes are a set of lakes lying north of Lake Te Anau and immediately to the west of the road from Te Anau to Milford Sound in New Zealand.

Image credit By Sarah ©2017

Prompt: Dutch Goes The Photo, Tuesday Photo Challenge, Week 76 – Signs

Rejuvenation

The pain is exquisite.
Flesh opens as sharp metal slices;
Tearing through tough exteriors,
revealing spongy insides.
Tears splash earth below.
As bounty is snatched and plucked.
Left; bare and exposed
With a promise –
After pruning, comes rejuvenation.
Always.

By Sarah ©2017

Image credit Pixabay

Prompt: Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie, Sunday Writing Prompt #221, September 24, 2017 – The pain is exquisite; and also, Sammi Cox, A Month Of Mini Writing Challenges, Day 26. Task: Write a poem on the theme of “rejuvenation” in less than 10 lines.

Patchwork Quilt

caught in a whirlwind
frenzied and falling to earth
Autumn’s patchwork quilt

By Sarah ©2017

Prompt: Sunday Photo Fiction – September 24th, 2017; and also, TJ’s Household Haiku, earth and whirlwind

One Job

Author’s note: Sometimes my writing is based on my real life experiences. This is one of those stories and is an actual account of a costume I was responsible for, whilst working at an exclusive all girls college a few years ago. 

Oh, how I wish it were fiction…

The girls usually looked like seraphic supplicants, in their polished shoes, ecru stockings, petticoats and navy blue tunics. My job on the dramatic arts team, was to source a neutral, yet eye-catching costume for the production. I didn’t want to squander the funds, and bent over backwards to find a freely-licenced image and reasonably priced t-shirt manufacturer.

The free image and design on the front of the shirts – chosen due to the ‘caring for the environment’ theme of the production…

As I unpacked the boxes, I realised with alarm, the disastrous outcome of my work.
(However it did tickle the amusement of at least one stranger in the crowd, as 150 female students took their final bow, I could hear his guffaws from backstage…)

The unfortunate outcome once the shirt is worn. Especially by someone with breasts!

I had ONE job…By Sarah ©2017

* supplicant (noun) – A supplicant is a person who prays to God or respectfully asks an important person to help them or to give them something that they want very much.

^ seraphic (adjective) – characteristic of or resembling a seraph or seraphim|seraphim:an angelic being, regarded in traditional Christian angelology as belonging to the highest order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy, associated with light, ardor, and purity.

^^ ecru (adjective) – the light beige color of unbleached linen

Prompt: Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie, Wordle #173;

and also Sammi Cox, A Month Of Mini Writing Challenges, Day 25. Task: Write a story in 75 words or less about an encounter with a stranger.

Bad Thing

Did a bad, bad thing.
Ashamed and broken. Exiled;
never to return.

By Sarah ©2017

Image credit Pixabay 

Prompt: Sammi Cox, A Month Of Mini Writing Challenges, Day 24. Task: The prompt is “return”. Any length, any format.

Summer’s Coming

Golden
glow warms
my pale skin.
What’s this alien feeling?
Sunshine.

By Sarah ©2017

Image credit By Sarah ©2017

Prompt: Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie, Saturday Mix, Lucky Dip – 23 September 2017;  and also, Sammi Cox, A Month Of Mini Writing Challenges, Day 23. Task: Write a poem about an alien. Any length.

Saturday Mix – Lucky Dip, 23 September 2017

This week’s challenge

Mindlovemisery's Menagerie

Welcome to the Saturday Mix, 23 September 2017!

This week I have reached into my mystery bag and pulled out an Elfje! Your challenge is to write an Elfje poem on the topic of one of the seasons.

You may be thinking to yourself, What on earth is an Elfje? 
Luckily, Mick E Talbot (who introduced me to the Elfje) has an explanation…

How to write an Elfje
An ‘Elfje’ counts as five sentences.
Line 1 – One word. This word symbolizes a colour or feature. The word symbolizes the atmosphere.
Line 2 – Two words. These are something or someone with this colour or feature.
Line 3 – Three words. Giving more information about the person or the object. You describe where the person or the object is, who the person or what the object is, or what the person or object is doing. This sentence usually starts…

View original post 138 more words

Rainbow Falls

Image credit By Sarah ©2017;  Rainbow Falls, Big Island, HI

It was a rainy day and my sisters and I had decided to go on an expedition to explore Hilo, HI. We saw a sign declaring ‘Rainbow Falls’ and discovered this beautiful oasis; cascading and emerging out of the rainforest. Unfortunately though, no sunshine equals no rainbows. Maybe next time.

By Sarah ©2017

What we’ll be hoping for next visit…

Image credit Viator

Prompt: Sammi Cox, A Month Of Mini Writing Challenges, Day 22. Task: Write a 50 word story that includes the words expedition, rainforest, discovery.

Cotton Club

Welcoming in 2016, we stepped back in time at the remarkable nightspot ‘The Cotton Club’ at State of Grace. We saw in the New Year, living a night of luxury among the sophisticated scene of the 1920’s.

Prompt: Norm 2.0, Thursday Doors – September 21, 2017

Temptress

Seductive. Playful.
A furtive glance, then eyes lock,
hinting at promise.
Bestowing a coy smile just
to leave you wonting and cold.

By Sarah ©2017

Image credit Pixabay 

Prompt: Ramblings Of A Writer, Weekly Tanka Prompt Challenge, Week 63 – playful and cold

Once Upon A Time

Once upon a time, a girl opened a book, and began reading, ‘Once upon a time, a girl opened a book, and began reading’, “Once upon a time a girl…”

By Sarah ©2017

Prompt: Sammi Cox, A Month Of Mini Writing Challenges, Day 21. Task:Write a story in 25 words or less about a book.

Layered

Apartment building, Gold Coast QLD

Image credit By Sarah ©2017

Prompt: Daily Post, Weekly Photo Challenge – layered

Cold Reality


Image credit Mark Harless

needles of conscience
prickle to touch; I miss this
cold reality

By Sarah ©2017

Prompt: Ronovan Writes, Weekly Haiku Poetry Prompt, Challenge #167 – touch and miss; and also, Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie, Photo Challenge #181

Amaltheia

Prompt: Sammi Cox, A Month Of Mini Writing Challenges, Day 20. Task: Write a poem in under 20 lines inspired by a myth, legend or fairy tale.

By Sarah

Image credit Ooberxandxdavie6

The warm honey glow of the late afternoon sun, was a contrast to the prickling cool of the mountain air on her skin. She climbed to her vantage point, high above the valleys. The ‘T-tree’ had been formed one night when Zeus’ lightning bolt had cleaved it in two – destroying the wine-red leaves of Autumn. The remaining limbs had sagged and sighed their defeat, for it was Winter now and the cornucopia were full for the cold months ahead. It was from here she loved to watch over the world below. The mountain goats were drawn here also and she liked to imagine it was because they were summoned by her power; taking their place beside her in the stars.

nourishing earth’s child
Amaltheia; Capricorn;
goat goddess endures.

By Sarah ©2017

Author’s note: In Greek mythology, Amaltheia is the she-goat Goddess who nourished Zeus as an…

View original post 86 more words

The Larrikin

Image credit By Sarah ©2017

Unexpectedly you fly in. A true Aussie larrikin*, bursting into the party. Your costume for the festivities is brown and white, peppered with accessories of brilliant blue. You want to be seen, but not necessarily stand out. Your watchful gaze misses nothing; hawk-like eyes alert and piercing, scanning the room. You may be waiting for a friend. Or maybe, you are the friend they are waiting for. Suddenly you throw back your head and a peel of laughter erupts. A chuckling, joyful sound that makes us stop in our tracks, turn and see what is so funny. But before you can answer, you leave as suddenly as you arrived, already looking for the next party to crash.

majestic bird perched
on branch, you witness the world
gifting us your song

By Sarah ©2017

* larrikin (Australian/NZ slang) – a person with apparent disregard for convention; a maverick.

Author’s note: The Laughing Kookaburra is instantly recognisable in both plumage and voice. It is generally off-white below, faintly barred with dark brown, and brown on the back and wings. The tail is more rufous, broadly barred with black. There is a conspicuous dark brown eye-stripe through the face. It is one of the larger members of the kingfisher family and is native to Australia. They are used to interacting with humans and some can be quite tame.

Source: Birds in backyards

Prompt: Daily Post Daily Prompt – laughter, Suddenly, expect; and also, Colleen’s Weekly Poetry Challenge, #51 – gift and song

V-Wall

The V-Wall at Nambucca Heads, NSW is famous for its diversity of artistic graffiti. It has become a significant tourist attraction. There are now hundreds of artworks within a stretch of about 500 metres. Every day many visitors come especially to inspect the stone gallery.

Image credits By Sarah ©2017

Prompt: Daily Post Daily Prompt – famous; and also, Dutch Goes The Photo, Tuesday Photo Challenge, Week 75 – Stones

The Horn Picnic Area

Stone wall and hut, Mt Buffalo ‘The Horn’ Picnic Area, Victoria 

Image credit By Sarah ©2017

Prompt: Dutch Goes The Photo, Tuesday Photo Challenge, Week 75 – Stones

Belgrave Emporium

It’s the morning after my brother’s wedding and we are feeling a little…seedy, at best. After a wholesome recovery breakfast of bacon and eggs, my husband and I meander down the Main Street of Belgrave, a tiny outer suburb of Melbourne, in the Dandenong Ranges. I notice a shop I haven’t see before: Belgrave Emporium.

“Let’s go in!” I plead with my husband.

As it turns out, Belgrave Emporium is a exciting retail space in the heart of the little village. As we wander and browse, I am struck by the eclectic mix of wares on sale.

I mention to my husband that it seems as though this is not just one store, but many stores. And it turns out I’m right.

Belgrave Emporium indeed, houses seventy hand picked boutique stalls, ranging from vintage clothing, handmade accessories by local jewellers, artisan home wares, quirky art and prints, and much more.

We ended up spending an hour (and a fortune in the store), and with so much to look at, our hangover woes were soon forgotten. I highly recommend a stop in if you’re ever in the area!

By Sarah ©2017

Prompt: Daily Post Daily Prompt – meander; and also, Sammi Cox, A Month Of Mini Writing Challenges, Day 19. Task: You’re on your way to work and a new, strange-looking shop has opened over night. You are drawn to it and go in but what – or who – is inside? Tell us in less than 100 words.