This meme was started by Delores a long time ago. Words for Wednesday are now provided by a number of people and has become a moveable feast.
Essentially the aim is to encourage us to write. Each week we are given a choice of prompts,which can be words, phrases, music or an image. What we do with them is up to us: a short story, prose, a song, a poem or treating them with ignore. We can use some or all of the prompts.
Some of us put our creations on the post and others post on their own blog. I would really like as many people as possible to join the meme, which includes cheering on other participants (definitely the more the merrier). If you are posting on your own blog, please let me know so that I, and the other participants, can come along and applaud.
The prompts are here this month.
This week's prompts are:
- False
- Moon
- Whispers
- Broken
- Lies
- Tree
And/or
- Body
- Night
- Black
- Cry
- Water
- Action
Huge thanks to everyone who has joined in the fun this month. This meme depends on you and I have been so very grateful.
Next month Lee will be hosting and I hope you will all visit her and continue to join in. Lee is also Australian so her posts will go up on our Wednesday - which is still Tuesday for many of you.
Nobody could have realised just how aptly Helen's parents had named her.
ReplyDeleteHer life had been hard, but she had learned from it (wisdom born of pain) and now her weak and puny body was stronger than the tallest tree. Her mind was stronger than that.
Cry? Water falling from HER eyes because of false friends, their lies and scurrilous whispers? ( I've heard it all before and no one's ever gonna keep me down again).
Hell no. She flatly refused to sink to an action as weak as that. She was going to roar instead. Roar and rage until the moon paid attention and rose again vanquishing the blackest night (bent but never broken)
And yes, the song nailed it. She was indeed strong. And invincible.
Here's to rising up and moving forward!
DeleteROAR! All right, yes!
DeleteNice work, E.C.
Woohoo! I love strong heroines!
DeleteThis is so excellent. Well written. You go, Helen. You go.
DeleteAnd, before I came to the end of your story, I found myself singing Helen Reddy's "I Am Woman"...followed closely by Katy Perry's "Roar"!!!!
DeleteWell done, EC...the power of being personified! :)
May she roar loud and always.
DeleteWay to go, Helen!
DeleteGood job. It sounds like Helen Reddy to me too in" I am woman"
DeleteE C. A Trojan Story of will and strength.
DeleteWell done! I feel like I know her and I want to be a true friend to her.
DeleteHooray for Helen! :-)
DeleteHooray for all the Helens.
DeleteWow. Well done! Too bad we can't achieve that strength and ability to roar through an easier path, but those who achieve it and rise above adversity are to be admired. I suspect there's more than a little bit of Helen in you... :)
DeleteHave a wonderful weekend, dear lady.
Fantastic!!!!
DeleteNot sure which set of words would result in a sadder story. At least yours had an upbeat ending!
ReplyDeleteAlex J. Cavanaugh: I hadn't seen them as sad prompts. We will wait and see.
DeleteThey are rather sad, I hadn't thought, but even my story ended up somewhat sad.
DeleteWhy it's a finished work of art in my eyes!
ReplyDeleteFalse Moon
Whispers Broken Lies
in a Tree.
Cloudia: I have an incredible visual picture from your use of the prompts. Thank you for joining us.
DeleteExcellent!
DeleteOoh... there's a story in that, Cloudia.
DeleteJust goes to show ya: it doesn't take a thousand words to tell a story. You give us the skeleton and let us add the flesh. Well done.
DeleteVery good!
DeleteCool!Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletebeautyqueen000.blogspot.rs
BeautyQueen: Thank you. Would you like to join us?
DeleteI weep beneath the Moon Tree as it whispers tonight of broken promises, false words and a lover's lies.
ReplyDeleteSandra Cox: Oh dear. You are proving Alex right - these ARE sad prompts. Hugs to you.
DeleteA very sad tale, well done.
DeleteYes, very sad. And very well done. It isn't easy to evoke emotion with so few words, but you nailed it.
DeleteHugs right back, EC:) Sad but excellent prompts. They really tied together.
DeleteThanks so much messymimi and Susan for the kinds words. Much appreciated.
Very moving Sandra! But, beautifully written!
DeleteJust stopping by to say Happy Wednesday :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Lowcarb team member ~Jan: Thank you. And a very happy Wednesday to you and yours.
DeleteSee you later.
ReplyDeleteSusan Kane: I am looking forward to it.
DeleteAnd there she lies in the shadow of the tall oak tree, her body racked with sobs. The black, moonless night befits her state of mind.
ReplyDeleteBroken by the whispers, the false stories, the innuendo, she thought her cry for action to be taken against those who had, for reasons unknown, maliciously turned against her would be heard.
Alas, nobody listened. Her desperate pleas went unnoticed like water off a duck’s back.
Lee: Oh dear. Yet another story which proves that Alex was right. I am sorry to finish my month on such a sad note.
DeleteVery sad, i hope she keeps trying and someone finally hears.
DeleteYet another sad story relating to injustice.
DeleteSadness...
DeleteWell done, Lee.
DeleteAnother bleak tale. Like Alex already said, these words do seem to lend themselves to sadness, but this one, like the others, is very well-written. (I kinda hope someone turns the words on their heads to create a piece of humor.)
DeleteMy story, taken from recent events around the place, will be over here.
ReplyDeletemessymimi: I look forward (as I always do) to your positive take on the prompts.
DeleteThe full moon was barely visible through the broken trees and branches covering her. Whispers of wind brought false hope that searchers were on their way.
ReplyDeleteJemi Fraser: This is a lovely take on the prompts. It is also very sad, reinforcing Alex's comment.
DeleteVery visual. Well done!
DeleteThank you both!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSusan Kane: Thank you for finishing your lovely poem on a note of hope.
DeleteAs I read the poem, I realized it wasn't me.
DeleteAt night, every bone in her body ached, with black bruises appearing. Sheila did not cry as she eased down into the warm water. Next time she resolved if her grandmother's obscene pornographic vase crashed on her toe, next time she would take no action. After all,Grandma had lived a bawdy life and she hated it. Sacrificing her toe to destruction of hideous art seemed the good thing to do.
Susan Kane: Now that is a change of focus. A pornographic vase? The mind fairly boggles, and I can imagine (which says things about me no doubt) the bruises that the protruberances would create.
DeleteYou put a smile on face, Susan. Well done;)
Deleteunder the moon beneath a tree
ReplyDeletelies and whispers were told
false promises were broken
In the black night a cry
emanated from the water
his body spurred into action
Linda Starr: Ooooh. I am wondering just what sort of action...
DeleteThank you so much for joining us again.
to rescue the cry emanating from the water
DeleteThis is new to me, but I'll be trying it next week. Take care!
ReplyDeleteButtercup: Welcome and thank you. I do hope you join us next week - the more the merrier.
Deleteyou boomers are shutting down the entire economy because you're afraid of a flu. Seriously, can you boomers kill yourselves? You are the most selfish generation to ever exist. You don't give a shit about climate change, why should we young people give a shit if you get sick and die of some virus? I HOPE the virus gets much stronger and kills you all.
ReplyDeleteDo you boomers realize how universally hated you are? There is not one single demographic that does not hate you- white people, black people, asians, mexicans, indians, chinese, millennials, GenX, GenZ. Something tells me that you boomers are not going to have a very comfortable or easy retirement, especially once you end up in the retirement homes.
Can you baby boomers hurry up and fucking drop dead? Enjoy your retirement homes cause we younger people will not take care of you even if we wanted to, due to the shitty economy you boomers created. Do you boomers realize that the younger generation is simply waiting for you to fucking drop dead?
You are all going to end up in retirement homes and we all know that the elderly gets treated pretty badly in retirement homes. Well, that's what you get for ruining your own children's lives. Even if your children WANTED to take care of you, they couldn't, due to you boomers destroying the economy. So I hope you enjoy the retirement homes, boomer scum!
Do you have a job?
DeleteSusan Kane; this is a spambot, popping up everywhere lately. Ignore it.
DeleteAnony mouse or Rat whichever suits. Have you tried castration. On behalf of all boomers someone in our midst was responsible for your birth-an intelligent boomer.
DeleteI am sorry that while I was occupied elsewhere this lazy little spambot got responses. He/she normally gets deleted quick smart.
DeleteI now feel ashamed that I bothered to reply to this deranged person. who attracted more attention from his/her rant than most of the other posts.
DeleteVest: Feel no shame. It is an infuriating comment which pops up on too many of the blogs I read. I think the one which you deleted from your site this morning was nastier though - more personal.
DeletePlease don't be disappointed if I don't have anything ready by Friday, I don't seem to be managing my time very well lately. Too much time spent walking and trying to sort the mess in various rooms while books and dvds call out to me.
ReplyDeleteI really like the words this week though, so something may come of them even as I do and think of other things.
River: I will be a little disappointed (on a selfish level) because I always like your stories but as you know participation is NOT compulsory.
DeleteI'm unsettled, that's why. I've spent a lifetime snacking and now I can't. I didn't miss is at first, but now I'm in the jittery phase, which I know will pass, but I can't get anything done.
DeleteHi, River. Snack on words! ...ack, that sounds like something you would hear on a health food commercial. Sorry!
DeleteRiver: I hope it passes quickly for you. That jittery phase is no fun at all.
DeleteI am thrilled to see this morning that River was wrong and has a story up on her blog this morning.
DeleteI've read the other stories here and will try to write a happier tale.
ReplyDeleteRiver: Thank you.
DeleteI have posted my story this week on my blog The Daily Gaggle
ReplyDeleteVest: I will be over the check it out in a minute.
DeleteI liked reading all the stories!
ReplyDeleteLove Affair with Food: I am glad. I do too.
DeleteWORDS ON WEDNES DAY.
ReplyDeleteWords This week are supplied By Elephants Child.
They are. Body, Night, Black , Cry, Water and Action.
This story is based on a true incident happening overnight within our household.
I was awakened during the *night about 4 AM by a strange noise which was followed and a *cry of 'Oh No' from my son. Following a visit to the loo, I drank half of the *water from the covered glass by my bedside; My *body now refreshed, I tiptoed down the hall to see that all the lights were on in the family room and my son sitting among the numerous parts of the large exercise bike which had been delivered in a large box the day before.
The main colour of this contraption was *black with chrome and red instruction panels. however, there were so many parts to the F er blessed thing which had to be assembled and knowing my sons bent for procrastination, despite his aptitude for fixing things, I was fearful of it ever being put together, so on leaving him to his misery, I toddled off to bed.
I was eventually awake at 8 30am but kept clear of him while he muttered and sighed during the *action-packed construction of this Oriental masterpiece. Notwithstanding the fact it may have originated from WuHan which was a worry - although he told me he sprayed the box with quality Woolies disinfectant.
After seven and a half hours this piece of oriental wizardry was ready for *action, it looks quite impressive, and should help my son in his search for weight loss. However, using it for two minutes left me exhausted.
Vest: I love your true take on the words. And don't think you need to lose any more weight - so your two minutes is more than enough.
DeleteI do hope the bike gets enough use to make the construction worthwhile. I used to have one back in the days when a ready-made one could be delivered and they were much simpler too. I wish I still had it now, but I'm not buying one of those monster sized computerised machines.
DeleteYour son gets a gold star for sticking with the project and getting it done, and you deserve a gold star for not jumping in there to help him. (A temptation very difficult for most parents to ignore.) Sue's right... you don't need to lose any more weight. :)
DeleteHi EC - I guess this is the time many will feel like this ... I am so grateful I don't ...
ReplyDelete"In the black night her only action was to go to bed, so her body could get some rest … but she cried and cried in the dark … her tear-water filled her pillows … such sadness and desperation prevailed … "
So glad you're helping people in need ... take care and enjoy what gardening you can get done - Hilary
Hilary Melton-Butcher: I am very glad to hear that you are not suffering with your protagonist. Take care. I HAVE been gardening but we have blissful rain today so the garden will get its benefits without me.
DeleteYou're right, Hilary. A lot of people are feeling like that these days, but I'm very happy to know you aren't one of them.
DeleteYou guys are so creative! Stay safe and healthy everyone ☺
ReplyDeleteNatalia: Thank you. You stay safe too.
DeleteNice tale EC.
ReplyDeleteMargaret D: Thank you. Despite them being my own prompts I struggled - until Helen Reddy popped into my head.
DeleteI wish I had more time to blog. This would be fun.
ReplyDeleteMelissa: Welcome and thank you. It IS fun and I hope you can find the time to join us some week.
DeleteThe night was black and I was just drowsing on my heap of gold when I heard a cry, for it to penetrate into my cave it must have been a loud and desperate call. It could also be a false alarm. I was lying there wondering if I should take some action when the moon decided to rise. Now it would be easier to see. I walked to the entrance only to see a broken body lying on the rocks below close to where the waters gushed down from the falls above. The body was lying just by the tree which had arrested its fall. Having decided the human was dead I was about to return to my rest when I heard whispers on the night air. More humans I thought with their mouthfuls of lies. I decided to lie in wait and see if they had the nerve to penetrate my lair.
ReplyDeleteI will return later to do some reading.
DeleteDark stuff, Jo! Well done!
DeleteJo: As always my sympathies are with the dragon. I hope that the humans don't penetrate his lair - and that they are very, very sorry if they do.
DeleteNice job. It's a tad sinister, but not sad. And Sue's obviously smarter than I. I wondered what sort of critter it was in that cave, but she already knew. :)
DeleteSusan, come on, there is only one creature that lies comfortably on a bed of gold. This is my third dragon story in WFW.
DeleteAnother round of intriguing prompts. Always interesting to see how the stories differ and how some have similar paths.
ReplyDeleteMason Canyon: It blows me away each and every week.
DeleteWhat's a BODY to do? She was just a short-term girlfriend anyway. But speaking of bodies......
ReplyDeleteAnd that hair was BLACK as NIGHT. I have to say she was pretty exotic, without a doubt the most interesting girl I ever dated. It really looked like it was going to work too, and I wanted it to. I may sound a little blasé, and you certainly won't see me CRY, but to be honest, the LIES really hurt. Who knew she could be quite so FALSE. BROKEN promises are always difficult to deal with. I think we all really want to trust someone and never to doubt that we are being told the truth, and that the feelings exchanged are genuine.
I remember so well that time when we had our first picnic under the TREE, with the WATER in the creek gurgling by. It was so idyllic, with barely a WHISPER of a breeze, just enough to freshen the air and keep the insects at bay. And the MOON was still visible in the sky. I had made the best lunch I ever made in my life and had splurged on a really good bottle of wine. It should have been a clue when we raised our glasses in a toast and she misspoke and used another guy's name.
Ah well, it's over now, WATER under the bridge as they say. I will get over it. In fact, maybe I'll go down to the dance hall tonight. There will probably be lots of ACTION there. After all two days of moping around is more than enough!
Damn, I could use some of that wine right now. I hope he finds someone trustworthy at the dance hall.
DeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: He moped for two days??? She must have been special. I hope he gets lucky tonight (and really enjoyed your take on the prompts).
DeleteLove it! There's a hint of underlying humor... it's nice to end with a smile. :)
DeleteOk...all of the sorrow was getting me down. I may have overdone it:
ReplyDeleteThe moon wasn't false. It shone with the glory of creation. What was it reflecting? She remembered something about the early scientists who figured it all out, but for the life of her could not recall how the moon shines on a dark night or how it lights her way. She whispered a prayer, a few broken sentences, and leaned against a safe tree. From where she stood in the green field she could see all that lies around in the night. The flowers. The rocks. The ground. All still there! Just hidden for a time. But once the body awakens at the end of the night, watch out! Her jet black hair swings as she awakes. She runs, crying out, for water, for action, for life! She will dance in the ocean and this night will end. Triumphantly!
Sandi: Not overdone at all. I love your triumphant dancer. Thank you for joining us with a much lighter touch.
DeleteOverdone? Not at all. I'd say it's just right. :)
DeleteI liked all the stories.
ReplyDeleteNew Release Books: Thank you.
DeleteAnother fine group of words to put together. A little too late for me to put two brain cells together and come up with something, but I enjoy what others have done with them.
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: You are never too late, but I am glad you have enjoyed the stories in the interim.
DeleteUn sereno giovedi a te.
ReplyDeleteGiancarlo: And to you.
DeleteThis is an interesting thing to read. And I will wait for the works of mr. Lee
ReplyDeleteHimawan Sant: I hope you enjoy the stories which will appear on Lee's blog next week. And the stories her prompts provoke which will appear on other blogs too.
DeleteSome fantastic literary skills here, Sue...oh I really enjoy reading these!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to everyone, and thank you so much!😊😊
Stay safe and happy!
Much love and hugs ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Ygraine: Thank you. You are always so supportive, and it is much appreciated. Some day I hope the prompts trigger one of your amazing poems.
DeleteMany hugs and much love to you.
I'm kind of doing it...I'm just using the prompts from last week :) I actually wrote a short story. It was so much fun and it got my creative juices flowing enough to get back to writing my WIP! I had a blast. Thank you, EC. I love your submission for this week.
ReplyDeleteStay healthy and safe,
Elsie
Elsie Amata: Woo Hoo. I am really, really looking forward to seeing where the prompts have taken you. Stay well, stay safe.
DeleteLaurie: I am beyond thrilled that some of your vision is returning. Long may it last.
ReplyDeleteI found this week’s prompts hard, so I resorted to a little fun finding song titles containing this week’s prompts:
ReplyDeleteAdieu FALSE Heart / Linda Ronstadt
MOON River / Frank Sinatra
Careless WHISPER(s) / George Michael
What Becomes of the BROKEN Hearted? / Jimmy Ruffin
Little LIES (Sweet Little Lies) / Fleetwood Mac
Lemon TREE / Peter, Paul and Mary
Work That BODY / Diana Ross
A Hard Day’s NIGHT / The Beatles
Paint It BLACK / The Rolling Stones
No Woman, No CRY / Bob Marley and The Wailers
Bridge Over Troubled WATER / Simon and Garfunkle
I Can’t Get No Satisf-ACTION / The Rolling Stones
Can you come up with some others?
SpikesBestMate: What a brilliant (and fun) use of the prompts. I am Woman popped into my head when I was writing my piece, but expanding that thought hadn't occurred to me. Yay you.
DeleteThank you so much for your encouragement, EC. I feel I cheated a bit with this one - I had to resort to Google for a little help. (Is that allowed, or is it cheating?)
DeleteSpikesBestMate: Not cheating at all. Research.
DeleteUn sereno fine settimana a te.
ReplyDeleteGiancarlo: Thank you. And to you - this and every weekend.
Deletei so enjoyed the input of participants here dear E C :)
ReplyDeletefalse moon of ego appeared
behind the tree of illusion
below in dark grave a broken soul
whispers
hearing none ,but herself
baili: Thank you so much for joining us. I love your poem (sad as it is).
Deletestay well and healthy my freidn!
ReplyDeletebaili: You too. Today and every day.
DeleteWell done everyone! Thanks EC! Big Hugs!
ReplyDeleteMagic Love Crow: I really appreciate you coming along to cheer. Thank you - and hugs to you too. Always.
Delete