Noses are sniffling
Hayfever hits as hard as
The magpies swooping
The searing sun burns
With heat like a thick blanket
I welcome the rain
Golden, amber, red
Leaves cascading like feathers
released from the tree
Steamy breath, cold cheeks
Frost crunches under my feet
Warm fire in the hearth
By Sarah ©2018
Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie, Heeding Haiku With Chèvrefeuille, September 26th 2018 – Chain of Seasons
I watched the swirling vortex of the rip, as it curled back out to sea. Sucking. Drawing every inch of sand and water it could drag with it. Me included.
I took a deep breath and struggled against it. Lashing out futilely with my arms and legs. Then I heard my nanna’s words echo in my mind. Go with it and swim back in once you’re out.
I quelled the rising panic, and closed my eyes. I lay flat on my back, bobbing like a cork as I floated, and let it carry me out to sea…
By Sarah ©2018
Sammi Scribbles, Weekend Writing Prompt, #73 – Vortex
On holidays and literally in our backyard (yes, with that view!) a friendly goanna wandered through (we’ve nicknamed him Gary). He looks like a relic from the time of dinosaurs…
Dutch Goes The Photo, Tuesday Photo Challenge, Week 127 – Our World
I am not here by design,
Nor by what you claim is my crime.
Nine years is too long
To maintain this disdain
It’s time, dear “brother”
To get off this train
For truly mischief is afoot
When you cannot even feign
a sliver of decency, or respect
You’ve chosen that line
Ignored your roots.
I won’t be bound by your chains
Be assured, I will continue to
SHINE.
By Sarah ©2018
Dressed in their finest, sleek grey suits, they glide along effortlessly. A graceful, yet determined southbound march. Playing follow the leader, they duck and weave around each other. Occasionally pausing to wave to those watching.
The parade is a long one, traipsing half the length of the globe.
Suddenly, with a mighty push, a mother leaps majestically from her position in the parade, and lands with a triumphant splash. Her newborn baby calf copies her in tandem, delighting those viewing from the shore. It’s learning. Every September, the kings of the sea, make their parade of nations to feast.
By Sarah ©2018
Author’s Note: Each September we holiday at Scott’s Head in NSW and enjoy the Humpback whales’ annual migration south for the summer. These were snapped and filmed just yesterday…
Carrot Ranch, September 20: Flash Fiction Challenge, Task – In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about a parade of nations. It can be literal, or it can be a phrase that you use to describe a situation. Explore what it could be. Go where the prompt leads.
Plucking pieces of shell from my foot, realising my beach walk, spoilt.
By Sarah ©2018
Sammi Scribbles, Weekend Writing Prompt, #72 – Shell
Spider silk clung at the doors, over
the windows, and over every
thing she had left behind her
– memories won’t linger.
Her reality
long forgotten.
Dusted off
and moved
on.
By Sarah ©2018
Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie, First Line Friday: September 14th, 2018
I’d been away for work at a beautiful spot, facilitating a retreat for carers. The aim – respite and pampering, for three days.
I’d worked hard to ensure they’d had everything they needed, and could truly unwind from the demands of looking after the person they cared for.
I opened up a package that had arrived for me in the mail that day.
I held a flat rock with a detailed image of the mountain landscape where we’d been.
“Thank you” the card read, “I’ve found the inspiration to paint again”.
What an epic workplace, I thought, choking back tears.
By Sarah ©2018
Carrot Ranch, September 6: Flash Fiction Challenge, Task – In 99 words (no more, no less) write about an epic workplace. It can be real or imagined. Go where the prompt leads.
Departing sunshine
Hinged on falling crimson leaves.
Signals season’s change.
By Sarah ©2018
Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie, Heeding Haiku with Chèvrefeuille, September 5th, 2018 – Departing Summer
I have chosen fear.
Allowed my past to poison
Hope. I choose again.
By Sarah ©2018
Ronovan Writes, Weekly Haiku Poetry Prompt, Challenge #217 – Poison and past
Call me outlaw.
I don’t follow the rules.
I don’t like them,
nor do I agree with them.
Call me outlaw.
Tell me your opinion,
And I’ll tell you mine.
I guarantee you won’t like it.
But that’s too bad.
The truth hurts sometimes,
You know?
Call me outlaw.
I don’t accept the behaviour
You walk past and condone.
I can’t. I won’t.
When all is said and done,
When truth, justice and integrity
Mean nothing.
I call you outlaw.
By Sarah ©2018
Sammi Scribbles, Weekend Writing Prompt, #70 – Outlaw
I twisted.
I urged.
Yet still, the cap wouldn’t budge.
I felt so frustrated. This liquid was yearning for release for human consumption and to be enjoyed.
It was a perfect summer’s day for a beer.
Not ready to concede defeat, I kept on trying. The effort began to hurt my hands.
Damn this thing, I thought.
Then suddenly, I felt it. A helpful force; working with me from the other side. Oh joy of joys, the cap began to move!
Finally it was released, and cool liquid amber gushed through the bottle neck.
“It’s a boy!” I smiled.
By Sarah ©2018
Carrot Ranch, August 30: Flash Fiction Challenge. Task: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about a bottleneck. You can be literal or use the term to describe congestion. Go where the prompt leads.
Summer died that night.
She gasped her last,
as the sun dipped below the horizon
and slipped beneath the blackened soil.
Her eyelids fluttered closed as
crickets began their enchanting song.
She knew no one would remember her,
They were already turned; looking forward –
Bracing themselves for what was to come.
As the first leaf let go and plummeted to the ground,
Autumn announced her arrival, and
Summer died that night.
By Sarah ©2018
Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie, First Line Friday: August 31st, 2018
By Sarah 