Personal Essay, poetry

The Send Off

close up of woman working
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The Send Off
a haibun

Preparing poems for a manuscript is a daunting experience. Just when you think they are all ready to send, you take that last look and there you see it. One has a stain on his shirt, she has jelly circling her mouth, an untied shoe, a shirt not tucked in and so it goes. Back to putting the kids in order and making sure they do nothing to embarrass you. There will be one who belches and is rather proud of it and another who gets gassy and lets everybody know in more ways than one. Alas… as soon as everything is in good form and functional and relatable and all the other ables you put them in the minivan and take them off to deliver them to the judges, experts, or whoever has devoted never enough time to look them over. I just hope that they behave while not under my watch. Somehow, I trust they will, but oh my I hope that chili last night didn’t stir things up. Such is the life of a poet, preparing the way for her children to have a review. Wish us all lots of luck!

taking a fat chance
life has many turns and quirks
hope Stanley behaves

poetry, short story

Staying the Course

sailboat on body of water during sunset
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Staying the Course

Waging the war with the tides of life, bringing on waves of emotions, challenges, and joys, I am met with at once the desire to sail away and to remain ashore. Sailing beyond the shores, allowing risk to be abandoned, feeling the breeze flowing while knowing there are at least planks beneath my soles, is tempting. Staying the course of the foundation of the sands, only adjusting to the effects of the tides, I can still stand while being sure of not going too far. To go astray has such appeal as much as being on solid ground. Oh, to be grounded, but in movement is even more.

Staying on life’s course
Keeping my feet on firm ground
Moving as I will

…..

Written in response to the Living Poetry August Visual Prompt

 

 

poetry, Short Fiction

Briefly Speaking

cup alcohol drink whiskey
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Briefly Speaking

Carrying his father’s worn, leather briefcase, Henry walked into the bar, “Set me up Jock, I need relief,” and off Jock went to fetch Henry’s favorite, on the rocks, and placed a napkin and the drink in front of the sad-looking gentleman, Jock knew all too well, as a regular in the bar, Henry divulged many secrets to his bartender and they were kept well in Jock’s memory bank, although there had been brief moments when he wrote them down, just in case Henry needed to retrieve something in his gray matter, that’s what friends are for, to keep things safe for when you need them and, well, so much more, Jock was that kind of friend, Henry knew this and depended on Jock’s wisdom from time to time, longing for answers to questions left in the dust of Henry’s life, even more nagging at his soul, so that’s why he needed scotch and Jock and the bar and bar mates and his dad’s briefcase, that was where he kept the secrets that only he could share, when he shared them, so that’s what Jock helped him with – keeping secrets – Jock being such a good friend and all.

Jock wrote a story
it was called secrets I know
it was very brief

……

Wednesday Poetry Prompt from Robert Lee Brewer’s Poetic Asides

For today’s prompt, write a brief poem. Sure, the poem itself can be brief (in the sense that it’s very concise). But the poem could be about a brief event. Or it could feature a briefcase or involve a media briefing. As always, take it wherever you wish!

poetry, Short Fiction, short story

Mountain Climbing – Six Sentence Story

waterfalls during sunset
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Mountain Climbing

Approaching mountains challenges my inner ilk; What force would propel and what would cause slouching at angst of faltering, of falling down and never getting up? Classified as an elder, gray woman, will my will to be more become too overwhelming or would the fence allow a reasonable gate to let me inside? Cast away within the shadows of fear, it is easy to fall back and find solace in the coolness and the warmth of simply being. Until anxiety allows a surge of action, this fear takes hold and rules every decision made for my own demise. With this it is clear that the only way to take on a mountain is to get up, take my rod, tread forward, one step at a time, spiraling to the top.

taking in the light
permitting the light to glow
follow me on high

…..
There you have it! This is my Six Sentence Story for this week in Haibun style. You can join in by going to this LINK

Here’s the challenge:
Rules of the hop:
Write 6 Sentences. No more. No less.
Use the current week’s prompt word.
Come back here on Thursday, link your post…
Spread the word and put in a good one to your fellow writers 🙂

PROMPT WORD: MOUNTAIN