Wednesday August 31st, 2011

The exercise:

Welcome to the final day of August, 2011. My, how time does fly.

Today we shall write about: the tribe.

Yet another big harvest for the restaurant this morning - we were pleasantly surprised to find that the blackberries had bounced back so enthusiastically. You just never know.

Mine:

His tribe follows his lead,

Without question or hesitation;

His commands never meet

With demands for an explanation.

He keeps them safe and fed,

Their laughs bring him such jubilation;

Two daughters and a son,

They've brought him such inspiration.

Tuesday August 30th, 2011

The exercise:

This week's Two Haiku Tuesday would like you to play pretend - gimme a couple of haiku, as written by James Bond.

Don't ask me where that came from, because I have noooo idea.

Mine:

How inglorious,

I'm stuck waiting for the bus -

bloody budget cuts.

*     *     *

An exciting life,

filled with guns, girls, and fast cars,

still leaves me lonely.

Monday August 29th, 2011

The exercise:

Today we shall write about: the slave.

Fairly quiet day in the garden here. Kat's teacher friend left for home just after lunch, and then we spent the rest of the day getting things ready for the book club meeting Kat hosted this evening. It sounds like it went well, and everyone enjoyed the berries, veggies, and fruit Kat put together for them.

Back to weeding tomorrow.

Mine:

Though he's been searching for it for weeks, he still can't find the chain that has tethered him to his desk. He knows it's there, he can feel its secure grip and its heavy weight, but still he cannot see it.

He is certain that if only he can lay eyes on it he'll be able to find a weak link, a way to break free. Surely, he tells himself for the hundredth time, there must be a way to escape.

His supervisor drops in to see how the report is coming along and he responds without thinking. The conversation follows the same tired path as all the ones that came before. The deadline has been moved up again, but he'll find a way to be done in time. He always does.

Alone once again with his invisible chain, he allows himself a moment to daydream of freedom, of blue skies overhead and green grass beneath his feet.

And then he begins typing again.

Sunday August 28th, 2011

The exercise:

Today's location shall be: the swamp.

Very relaxing day off. One of Kat's former teaching colleagues is staying with us for a few days so we spent some time with her at the beach this afternoon before joining her for dinner out.

Back to harvesting for local orders tomorrow morning.

Mine:

Kevin swam lazily through the dark waters, following the rowboat at a safe distance. Two of the occupants were working the oars while a third was busy baiting their fishing hooks. It was tempting to give the boat a nudge, causing a hook to catch a finger or two, but Kevin resisted the temptation.

The silent pursuit continued for another ten minutes before the rowboat's anchor was dropped overboard. Flies flew in noisy circles overhead as the fishermen grabbed their rods and looked for a direction to lay claim to, their voices loud in Kevin's ears as he moved ever closer.

Three lures hit the water, one after the other, but none of them came even close to Kevin's position. With a wide smile he glided the rest of the distance to the boat. Unseen, he came to a stop beneath it.

Diving deeper, he turned and came rushing back toward the surface as fast as he could manage. With a muted thunk his head hit one side of the boat with enough force to tip it over, spilling the three men into the water with him.

"Holy hell!" One of the fishermen hollered when he laid eyes on Kevin. "Crocodile!"

Saturday August 27th, 2011

The exercise:

A four line poem about: family.

We had a pretty good market this morning, after which we dropped in for a short visit with some of Kat's family who live in Penticton. It was good times and we're hoping to do it more regularly.

Mine:

Full of rotten apples,

As dysfunctional as can be;

But I would never trade

My one and only family.

Friday August 26th, 2011

The exercise:

Four lines of prose about: the peak.

Because this evening's harvest confirmed what I already suspected: the blackberries peaked for Wednesday's pick.

I always find it a little depressing to do the first pick after peak, but hopefully they'll stick around for a little while longer.

Mine:

He had been training all year for the championship event. All eyes were on him and his competitors but he knew he was ready. His body was at its absolute peak, he had made sure of that.

"All right everyone," the announcer called out to the eager audience, "the hot dog eating contest will begin in just five minutes!"

Thursday August 25th, 2011

The exercise:

Write something in or about: the ruins.

Found inspiration in a National Geographic article about the search for Cleopatra's tomb I was reading earlier this evening.

Mine:

Once,

Many years ago,

A temple stood here,

Though most wouldn't know.

For the desert,

Patient as Death himself,

Has reclaimed these holy grounds

For itself.

There,

An altar gleamed,

Brighter than the sun...

Or so it seemed.

Behind its shelter

Priests shouted and swayed,

Demanding their fickle flocks

Nod and obey.

Once,

Not so long ago,

A temple stood here,

Though only I know.

Now all around

Looks exactly the same;

But in this very spot

They worshipped my name.