This
meme was started by Delores a long time ago. Computer issues led her
to bow out for a while. The meme was too much fun to let go, and now
Words for Wednesday is provided by a number of people and has become a
movable 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 those prompts 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, and mixing and matching is encouraged.
Some
of us put our creation in comments on the post, and others post on
their own blog. I would really like it if as many people as possible
joined into this fun meme, which includes cheering on the other participants. If you are posting on your own blog - let me know so that I, and other participants, can come along and applaud.
The prompts will be here again this month but are provided by Hilary Melton-Butcher.
This week's prompts are:
- Paucity
- Inglenook
- Heft
- Yew
- Pergola
AND / OR
- Greed
- Madness
- Myth
- Traveller
- Visualise
Have fun. And huge thanks to those who come back (sometimes time and time again) to offer encouragement to others.
Paucity. A word which I suspect is never used by those who live in Poor City. Instead, it rolls off the tongue of those with inglenook fireplaces, pergolas and stately yews in manicured gardens. They simply cannot visualize a life where the basic necessities (much less the luxuries) of life are in short supply. Greed ensures they support the myth that policies which add to the heft of their bank balances will also trickle down to travelers on the other side of the river. Sadly they also seem to believe that everyone can live their lives - if only they put a little effort into it. It is a kind of madness (and definitely sadness) that the word is so commonly misused.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteHi EC – yes I can see where you’re coming from with your meaning – ‘paucity’ – few would use it correctly. Few are able to live in poverty, comparing their lives with those on the other side of the river. We do need to think and be aware of how others live … cleverly done … thank you. Hilary
DeleteElephant's Child, I suspect you are right about the word paucity. A great use of today's prompts. I had to look up the word paucity and inglenook. lol...
DeleteA sad truth (and excellent use of the prompts)
DeleteOh, that's good. I'd seen the word paucity before but never looked it up. You've brought me to a better understanding of it with your use and it's ever so true.
DeleteLove,
Janie
Profound and skillfully crafted as always.
DeleteExcellent point, and use of the words.
DeleteBravo E.C. You certainly wove the words into quite an epic use for them. I had to struggle something awful to get mine done.
DeleteI like your philosophy, EC. A very good paragraph of today's world
DeleteLove it and sooo true. You wield words well.
DeleteWell done and very true, if a bit bitter.
DeleteExcellent use of the prompts, as always. And skillful wielding of the truth, too.
DeleteA paucity of greed would help a lot.
DeleteExcellent EC!!!!
DeleteHi EC - I'd forgotten my selection for this week - better get thinking ... and to reply to your entry! thanks for posting ... I'm ready to read the others ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHilary Melton-Butcher: I often struggle with my own prompts. I thought it would be easier, but it isn't.
DeleteWow Hilary, you really gave us some unusual prompts. I made it through but wasn't sure that I could. You are doing wonderful for our March words.
DeleteHi Granny Annie - gosh ... they were going to be more challenging ... I changed a few! Still - I hope they challenge and help us all remember other words and ideas - but so pleased you're happy with the words so far, however difficult they might be! Thanks!
DeleteHere's mine - 2nd set:
ReplyDeleteEveryone beware … madness is about to begin … travellers will be swamping this little land, and probably what will be worse will be the greed as people escape to eat and drink their way to freedom …
… how will this time be visualised … what myths will be promoted … Time will tell …
Hilary Melton-Butcher: Love it - though I am a bit worried by people eating and drinking their way to freedom. That doesn't sound healthy.
DeleteIt would to me ... but I'm restrained!! Thanks - H
DeleteHilary, a good use of the prompts also. It might be a bit risky to drink and eat their way out to freedom. I think a lot of people are already doing that during Covid lockdown.
DeleteI took the eat and drink their way to freedom as a metaphor. Nice use of the words.
DeleteMadness of travellers to your land might not be a good thing, especially if their greed works to your disadvantage. Very thought-provoking.
DeleteThanks Anne - that's right ... we can get away from our own kitchens ...
DeleteHi Messymimi - sadly the traffic and thus people are going to get out and about much more fairly soon ...
Covid is stretching us all ... stay safe ...
I like this a bit cryptic piece.
DeleteThanks Charlotte ... cryptic = yes! Cheers Hilary
DeleteNice work! My reading was colored by the pandemic. I thought, No, I don't want travelers swamping anyone's land just yet! :)
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ReplyDeleteI had begun my afternoon by getting my favorite treat from our secret hiding place. My husband and I always kept a few of our treats there because you just never knew when you might want a little indulgence. and if we kept it in the kitchen the boys would find it and scarf it down.Don't get me wrong, this was not greed on our parts, but we had 4 teenage sons who would and could eat us out of house and home. We kept a well stocked kitchen, but we also had a few, very few I might add, things we reserved for ourselves. Fortunately they never thought to look in the yew inglenook.
ReplyDeleteI took my treats and sat beneath the pergola and began reading the myth of Tantalus. A book, a light breeze and a bowl of chocolate covered peanuts made it a perfect day. And not just any chocolate covered peanuts! These were double dipped milk chocolate peanuts for the maximum amount of chocolate deliciousness and the perfect heft for tossing them one at a time into my mouth. I was in heaven. I could be a traveller in another place and time and eat delicious confections without leaving my comfortable spot in the garden.
I was lost in the book, sated (or overdosed?) by chocolate and drifted off in an unplanned but satisfying catnap. Too bad I did not have a real cat with me.
I had a paucity of information about their behaviors, but with a little more detail I might have been able to visualize where the madness might end and I would still have my coated peanuts instead of losing them to marauding squirrels. Bastards!
Hi Annie in the Kitchen … good for you … I’m sure you have to hide sweet treats from kids, especially boys! Hiding things in the Yew Inglenook makes sense … as long as not too big a fire is built up.
DeleteDeliciousness as double dropped chocolate … I’m not sure I’d tempt fate and miss my mouth. Ah ha – I pre-guessed you … sorry about the peanuts going to the squirrel.
Loved your thoughts … particularly as we are getting some warmer sunshine in the Spring … thank you for participating … Hilary
Anne in the Kitchen: I love it. And yes, despite having no children I have been known to hide sweet treats. My increasing girth suggests that someone should hide them for me too.
DeleteOh, i can see this in my mind. Yes, the boys and the squirrels alike would maraud the treats.
DeleteWell done!
DeleteGive me a good book, chocolates and a cat (dog) nap. Good job Anne.
DeleteAnne in the kitchen, I really enjoyed your delightful story and felt a bit envious. You made it sound so heavenly.
DeleteWhat a perfect way to spend a day, too bad about the squirrels. Well written.
DeleteJust dropping by to say "hello" and I'm sorry to not participate. I don't even know half the words on the first list. I do appreciate an expanded vocabulary - going to look up "Inglenook" now.
ReplyDeleteLove and well wishes.
Hi Robyn - sorry you're not joining in ... but am glad you enjoy the 'extra' words ... all the very best - Hilary
DeleteRawknrobyn: I am very glad that you came by - and yes Inglenook is a particularly English term isn't it?
DeleteOnce you discover the meanings of all the words, you might be more enthusiastic to join. I had to look them all up before I wrote my short story.
DeleteThanks Granny Annie - thanks for the reminder ... I often look up words, just to check the meaning ... so pleased you joined us ...
DeleteThanks for the visit, always enjoy them. I am not at all good with words, but looking at your prompts, I am reminded about the book I'm currently listening to. The Splendid and the Vile. The words greed and madness jump out at me. In reading about Winston Churchill and his daughter (info from her diary often), it strikes me how even in war torn England with bombs dropping nightly, lives being lost; people becoming homeless how much greed there was with those that partied from one country estate to another....entertaining, obtaining more rations while much of London suffered horribly.
ReplyDeleteSandy: I haven't read that tale (and must track it down). Just the same I have read other books which suggest that some people thrived in war time - socially and economically. A sad truth isn't it?
DeleteThanks Sandy - the book sounds interesting ... I'll look it out ... thank you for the review about the book ... all the best - Hilary
ReplyDeleteGot an idea, i'll be back.
ReplyDeleteGot it, over here.
Deletemessymimi: I am. as usual, looking forward to it.
DeleteMy heft, not paucity, has created a pergola over my inglenook that yew wouldn't believe.
ReplyDeleteHeeheehee! Excellent, Mike.
DeleteMike: Snort. Well done.
DeleteBrilliant Mike - short and very funny - thank you ...
DeleteNow that gave me a chuckle.
DeleteYew are funny Mike:-)
DeleteLaughing!
DeleteMike, I'm still laughing. What a treat.
DeleteVery funny and good!
DeletePaucity is one I haven't heard or read in a very long while.
ReplyDeleteRiver: It is rare now isn't it?
DeleteThe word is, but paucity itself isn't. I've enjoyed reading the stories here today, didn't have time yesterday. I would love to have an inglenook, the mother of a friend of mine has one in her Tudor styled home, but the real fire has been replaced with a safer gas log fire model.
DeleteNot heard of Paucity at all....Visualise Pergola Madness. x
ReplyDeleteaussie aNNie: Paucity isn't a common word is it? Pergola Madness on the other hand is common - particularly in a long hot summer.
DeleteHi Aussie aNNie - hope you enjoy the words though ... they were going to be distinctly worse! Cheers Hilary
DeleteHi Hilary, well now I know I was not as dumb as thought I was...x
Deleteaussie aNNie: Please never feel stupid. We all learn from these prompts, each and every week.
DeleteHi EC - 1st set:
ReplyDeleteIn Medieval times ‘paucity’ would not have been a word that was known … in those days it was ‘them’ and ‘us’ …
‘Us’ had to heft stone for the building of the Inglenook in the big house …
‘Us’ used various woods for the Pergola we built for ‘Them’, where the young lovers could hide in the various bowers of flowers.
While the Yew had to be left in the Churchyard to continue growing before it could be used for a longbow in the 1250s-1550s.
1st set – very English words …
Thanks for participating though … Hilary
Hilary Melton-Butcher: How very true your tale is - then and now. Us now cleans the big house (and sometimes much smaller ones as well).
DeleteYou did a good job with your first and second tale and we would expect that since you picked the prompts. Good job Hilary.
DeleteNice, nice, nice! These were not easy prompts to work into a tale!
DeleteThat's the way it was, and sometimes still the way it is, in varied form.
DeleteThanks for the explanation Hilary.
DeleteSettings for a tale of Robin Hood? I like it, There's something distinctly hobbitish over these words.
DeleteI'll have to lurk awhile, to figure out how this challenge works.
ReplyDeleteHi Anne (Cornucopia) ... each week - someone, approved by Sue of Elephant's Child!, gives her some word prompts, or photo prompts ... and anyone participating composes a little story around the words given. EC always gives us the concept with each Wednesday post - it'll be fun if you can join us ... stay safe - Hilary
DeleteAnne (cornucopia): Hilary describes it well. I do hope you will join us some week.
DeleteAnne; not all of us give our words to EC, when it is our turn, we post the words on our own blogs.
DeleteThat is true, but at the start of the month I will tell you where to find the prompts. Sorry River, I should have made that clear.
DeleteWow! Those are some challenging words.
ReplyDeleteOh dear - Alex you're exposing me! Hope you can work something up for us! Cheers Hilary
DeleteAlex J. Cavanaugh: Hilary's prompts are no more challenging that yours were - and I echo her hope that you will join us.
DeleteThe other day, sitting under the PERGOLA, I couldn’t help but reflect that all things considered I have had a pretty good life. The Cedar Waxwings feeding on the YEW berries appeared as satisfied as I was.
ReplyDeleteIt’s hard for me to VISUALISE the sheer GREED displayed by some, a characteristic that seems to define the MADNESS of their lives. They have bought into the MYTH that money, and more of it, equates to happiness, and nothing in reality could be further than the truth. Naturally, we all need enough to be free from want in life, but sharing experiences and displaying kindness to our fellow TRAVELLERS on this planet are what really counts.
I have a PAUCITY of possessions, books being my main obsession, and there is a certain pleasing HEFT to the feel of a book in your hand, the pleasure of the words, the joy of turning the pages. Clothing is something I care little about, with comfort and utility taking precedence over style and fashion every time.
This evening it will get a little chilly and I’ll be happy to nestle down by the INGLENOOK, nature book in hand, sipping herbal tea from my new Sulphur-crested Cockatoo mug. Now that’s something to look forward to.
Hi David – brilliant use of the words … thanks for making them into a delightful story – and I can really see it – and equally believe it’s you, as you are … especially the ‘heft of a book’ over a computer device … loved it: thank you – cheers to that herbal tea in Sue’s (EC’s) Sulphur-crested Cockatoo mug she sent you … lovely! Great thoughts … Hilary
DeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: I much prefer the heft of a book to the electronic variety and would very happily join you and Miriam in that inglenook. You will be shocked and surprised (not) to learn that I agree with all your sentiments.
DeleteYour story is great, as always, David. However you must shoo away the Cedar Waxwings because the Yew berries are poisonous.
DeleteOnly to humans, Annie. Birds eat them with impunity.
DeleteDavid, I enjoyed your story and a good use of the prompts... I too prefer the heft of a book to the electronic version. Turning the page is a satisfying ritual.
DeleteThat is something to savor and enjoy. You are correct that the one who dies with the most toys, dies. Having more won't bring happiness.
DeleteI enjoyed reading this very much. And not just because books are your main obsession.
DeleteTHis sound like a good life to me. And well written too ... of course I agree with you as well ;)
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ReplyDeleteGreed and madness seem drive
ReplyDeleteThe world, the traveller said.
It is no myth, the paucity
Of love and joy and empathy,
Yet visualize that in the end
We all will end up dead.
The Blog Fodder: Sadly true. Empathy and kindness are in short supply. And desperately needed.
DeleteBlog Fodder, I sadly agree with you.
DeleteA warning we need to take seriously.
DeleteHi Blog Fodder - another fun piece of doggerel - so clever ... thank you ...
DeleteSad truth. Very clever use of the words
DeleteI agree, clever use of words!
DeleteThe power had been out for far too long but I felt fortunate to have survived the blizzard.
ReplyDeleteI moved closer to the inglenook to warm up as I looked at the paucity of food on my plate but realized that I needed to fetch more wood as the fire had dies down. The only thing I could find were pieces of yew from the old broken pergola. As I looked for paper to burn, I found an old traveller magazine, and to my delight, and a bottle of wine on the buffet.
Now I could at least visualise places I would like to visit and for a little while as I warmed myself up by the fire, while sipping wine, I could make believe that greed and madness was only a myth.
When the power is out, discovering wine and a nice magazine to read can make the evening.
DeleteJulia: This is a beautiful take on Hilary's words. Fantasy, a fire and wine sound pretty blissful to me.
DeleteHi Julia - that sounds like an 18th C short story - loved it ... thank you - excellent take on the words ...
DeleteGreat job, Julia!
DeleteLovely use of the words!
DeleteDespite the adversity this sounds like a good life too.
DeleteGood job! Excelent!
Deleteit should be "as the fire died down" and oops, one too many "and" Sorry for not editing first before clicking Publish
ReplyDeleteProofreading is overrated! Our minds do the corrections while reading. Thats my story and I am sticking to it, especially since I never remember to proof!
DeleteYay! Good ones from Hils.
ReplyDeleteBeing a traveller I witness that even when visualised greed and madness are shrugged off: Paucity? A myth! Sheep just need to be hefted, eh?
ReplyDeleteAfter all, our inglenook and our yew-pergola would not come from nothing, would it?
We often ignore what we do not want to see.
DeleteSean Jeating: Depressingly true.
DeleteWell written and sadly true.
DeleteHi Sean - sadly yes ... so true - and thanks for a great take on the prompts ... wonderfully put together - thank you ...
ReplyDeleteOoh, I like the second set of prompts. They could inspire a real Stephen King type story!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth Varadan, Author: I am endlessly surprised and delighted by the very different directions the prompts take people. Perhaps you could join us some week?
DeleteFInally I have typed a small part of the story in my head. It is over here.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte (MotherOwl): As you know I love your continuing story and very much enjoyed this week's addition.
DeletePerfect idea❤
ReplyDeleteKinga K.: It is a wonderful meme and I am endlessly grateful to Delores for inventing it.
DeleteBuon fine settimana.
ReplyDeleteGiancarlo: Thank you. And to you.
DeleteGracias, por la magnífica labor que llevas a cabo, fomentando la escritura y lectura, además de la importancia que para mi tiene, el conocer aunque sea virtualmente, a personas de otros países y culturas muy diferentes a la mía.
ReplyDeleteAcabo de visitar y comentar a Charlotte, y voy a seguir leyendo la de otros participantes.
Un saludo, amiga, y que disfrutes de un feliz fin de semana.
Manuel: Thank you. I am also very, very grateful to be invited into other people's cultures and lives. It is a wonder. Have a truly wonderful weekend.
DeleteWell done everyone! Big Hugs EC!
ReplyDeleteMagic Love Crow: Thank you. I really appreciate you coming by to cheer us on.
Delete