The exercise:
Let us usher 2012 out the door by writing about: the turning point.
Here's hoping that 2013 is a great year for all of us, and that many of our writing dreams come to fruition before it is time, once again, to place new calendars on our walls.
Mine:
It is... difficult for me to pinpoint the moment you speak of. That precise instant that I stood safely beyond doubt's grasp and knew that there was no turning back. Forward, forward, from then on... there could be only forward.
Had I recognized that line as I crossed it, would I have paused to look back? One last survey of all that my next step would leave behind? Would I have wavered, wondered, wished for more time?
Would I have gone back?
It is... so very difficult for me to say. Who can imagine what thoughts would have filled my mind, what emotions swelled my breast? It is possible that fear my have even entered the equation. Unlikely... but possible.
It matters not, though. That line was as invisible to me then as my mother's ghost is to you now. And the road ahead calls for my attention, with questions of its own. Interesting questions. Confounding questions.
And, yes, some very... difficult questions.
Sunday December 30th, 2012
The exercise:
Write about: the hydra.
Feeling much better today. Even managed to get in to town for the first time since Wednesday. And it seems as though both Kat and Max have dodged the various illnesses that have been floating around here lately.
I consider that to be easily the best news of all right now.
Only one day left in 2012! How will you spend it?
Mine:
The mighty Hydra,
A beast most feared,
Is not quite as scary
As he (they?) first appears (appear?).
Sure there are many heads
With which he (they?) can bite,
But not a single one
Can agree on dinner tonight.
Write about: the hydra.
Feeling much better today. Even managed to get in to town for the first time since Wednesday. And it seems as though both Kat and Max have dodged the various illnesses that have been floating around here lately.
I consider that to be easily the best news of all right now.
Only one day left in 2012! How will you spend it?
Mine:
The mighty Hydra,
A beast most feared,
Is not quite as scary
As he (they?) first appears (appear?).
Sure there are many heads
With which he (they?) can bite,
But not a single one
Can agree on dinner tonight.
Saturday December 29th, 2012
The exercise:
Write a four line poem about: the melody.
Gradually feeling better. Today's milestone was eating three proper meals.
Who knows what excitement tomorrow has in store.
Mine:
He sings a simple song
To move the time along;
Perhaps the tune will make him think
His son's diapers don't really stink.
Write a four line poem about: the melody.
Gradually feeling better. Today's milestone was eating three proper meals.
Who knows what excitement tomorrow has in store.
Mine:
He sings a simple song
To move the time along;
Perhaps the tune will make him think
His son's diapers don't really stink.
Friday December 28th, 2012
The exercise:
The final Friday's worth of four lines of prose of 2012 would like you to write about: the miner.
Still feeling pretty tired and weak, but at least I'm starting to trust my stomach again. Hopefully another night of decent sleep will finish the job.
Mine:
Everything he touches is black. No matter how long he scrubs and tears at the flesh of his hands, a smudge of coal marks his progress through the town, through the shops, through his home.
There is no hope of escaping the mines.
For his entire world, touch by reluctant touch, is transforming into one.
The final Friday's worth of four lines of prose of 2012 would like you to write about: the miner.
Still feeling pretty tired and weak, but at least I'm starting to trust my stomach again. Hopefully another night of decent sleep will finish the job.
Mine:
Everything he touches is black. No matter how long he scrubs and tears at the flesh of his hands, a smudge of coal marks his progress through the town, through the shops, through his home.
There is no hope of escaping the mines.
For his entire world, touch by reluctant touch, is transforming into one.
Thursday December 27th, 2012
The exercise:
Today's (belated) topic shall be: in sickness and in health.
In case you're wondering why this is getting posted so late...
Mine:
A few days before guests started arriving for the holidays, Kat's mom came down with a cold. First one she's had in years.
The day before Kat's brother and his family were meant to come, we spoke with them on the phone and discovered that he and his wife were both just getting over the flu. Their little girl Natalie was also dealing with a bit of a cough.
Though my parents managed to get in the door healthy, they both came down with a 24 hour flu while they were here.
Which I came down with yesterday. It actually struck around 5 in the morning and in the following 29 hours the only solid food I consumed was: one egg, and a few bits of turkey and veggies in a soup. That's it.
I had a somewhat proper breakfast this morning, but I'm still feeling very weak. And dehydrated.
Kat's dad has now come down with a cold as well, most likely the one his wife is just getting over.
That's a whole lot of sickness. So the health portion of this prompt?
So far: Kat and Max.
*BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM*
Considering I spent most of the last day and a half worrying about whether or not I'd given my flu to either of them, that's plenty enough healthiness for me.
Oh, and sorry about all that banging earlier. That was just me knocking the crap out of any and all wood that was within reach.
Today's (belated) topic shall be: in sickness and in health.
In case you're wondering why this is getting posted so late...
Mine:
A few days before guests started arriving for the holidays, Kat's mom came down with a cold. First one she's had in years.
The day before Kat's brother and his family were meant to come, we spoke with them on the phone and discovered that he and his wife were both just getting over the flu. Their little girl Natalie was also dealing with a bit of a cough.
Though my parents managed to get in the door healthy, they both came down with a 24 hour flu while they were here.
Which I came down with yesterday. It actually struck around 5 in the morning and in the following 29 hours the only solid food I consumed was: one egg, and a few bits of turkey and veggies in a soup. That's it.
I had a somewhat proper breakfast this morning, but I'm still feeling very weak. And dehydrated.
Kat's dad has now come down with a cold as well, most likely the one his wife is just getting over.
That's a whole lot of sickness. So the health portion of this prompt?
So far: Kat and Max.
*BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM*
Considering I spent most of the last day and a half worrying about whether or not I'd given my flu to either of them, that's plenty enough healthiness for me.
Oh, and sorry about all that banging earlier. That was just me knocking the crap out of any and all wood that was within reach.
Wednesday December 26th, 2012
The exercise:
Write about: holding on.
Mine:
This year's holiday whirlwind has drawn to a close for us, as all our visitors will be gone by the time we wake up tomorrow morning. Kat's brother and his family will be on a plane heading for Vancouver (unless we manage to sleep in a little bit - then they'll be on a plane heading north) and my parents will be on the road heading for Vancouver Island.
Hopefully everybody is fortunate enough to get good travel weather and to avoid any unpleasant delays.
So things will be returning to normal for us here on the farm. I think we'll be spending some time sorting through and organizing Christmas presents tomorrow, maybe even get a few ignored chores done. I'm sure Kat's parents will be tidying up their house after the holiday chaos involved with hosting family - especially when one of those family members is a rambunctious fifteen month old.
It's been nice having so many extra willing hands to hold Max the last few days, as he just loves falling asleep in a warm set of arms. I suspect that, even if he isn't fully aware of what's going on, he's going to miss his aunt, uncle, and Vancouver Island grandparents.
His cousin too, though she was never convinced to hold him.
I'm willing to bet that some part of him enjoyed having another youngster around. And I'm very much looking forward to seeing them together as they get older.
Write about: holding on.
Mine:
This year's holiday whirlwind has drawn to a close for us, as all our visitors will be gone by the time we wake up tomorrow morning. Kat's brother and his family will be on a plane heading for Vancouver (unless we manage to sleep in a little bit - then they'll be on a plane heading north) and my parents will be on the road heading for Vancouver Island.
Hopefully everybody is fortunate enough to get good travel weather and to avoid any unpleasant delays.
So things will be returning to normal for us here on the farm. I think we'll be spending some time sorting through and organizing Christmas presents tomorrow, maybe even get a few ignored chores done. I'm sure Kat's parents will be tidying up their house after the holiday chaos involved with hosting family - especially when one of those family members is a rambunctious fifteen month old.
It's been nice having so many extra willing hands to hold Max the last few days, as he just loves falling asleep in a warm set of arms. I suspect that, even if he isn't fully aware of what's going on, he's going to miss his aunt, uncle, and Vancouver Island grandparents.
His cousin too, though she was never convinced to hold him.
I'm willing to bet that some part of him enjoyed having another youngster around. And I'm very much looking forward to seeing them together as they get older.
Tuesday December 25th, 2012
The exercise:
Merry Christmas to all of you fine writers! I hope Santa was kind and generous with you and yours.
Christmas Week, the 2012 version, comes to an end here at the blog with a request for two haiku about the: Unlikely Angel.
I know, I know - I could have easily found a much darker title to finish things off. But it just didn't seem right on the big day itself. So here we are.
Max was spoiled with abandon today, as was his cousin Natalie. The rest of us did pretty well for ourselves too, but I think it was really about the kids this time around.
Mine:
He offers guidance
to men who have gone astray,
like: That one's a cop.
* * *
An angel in name
only; the Dominions still
hunt for her halo.
Merry Christmas to all of you fine writers! I hope Santa was kind and generous with you and yours.
Christmas Week, the 2012 version, comes to an end here at the blog with a request for two haiku about the: Unlikely Angel.
I know, I know - I could have easily found a much darker title to finish things off. But it just didn't seem right on the big day itself. So here we are.
Max was spoiled with abandon today, as was his cousin Natalie. The rest of us did pretty well for ourselves too, but I think it was really about the kids this time around.
Mine:
He offers guidance
to men who have gone astray,
like: That one's a cop.
* * *
An angel in name
only; the Dominions still
hunt for her halo.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)