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.
This week's prompts are:
- Bird
- Lifetime
- Impossible
- Days
- Dreams
- Meet
And/or
- Spider
- Thread
- Secret
- Thing
- Author
- Recesses
Have fun.
And for those that celebrate it, a very, very Happy Christmas to you all.
It is crowded in my head. Half remembered (and probably misremembered) facts and stories. Concern for families, friends, the environment. Bad jokes. Conversations I have heard or been part of. Rather too much guilt and shame. It is cluttered with never completed to do lists. Awe. Wonder. Curiosity. There are cherished memories of perfect days. Buckets of beauty. There are also dark things secreted in hidden recesses, lurking like the spiders of your worst nightmares. Which is silly because I am not afraid of spiders. The dark corners of my mind are another thing . I know that they are there, but I avoid them. I am not brave enough to meet their dark denizens face to face.
ReplyDeleteThe common thread? They are all facets of me. While I believe that to a large extent I am the author of my own destiny some days I would love to achieve my impossible dream. I yearn to be able to spread my wings and take to the skies like a bird (or some days a dragon). It won’t happen in my lifetime but a girl can dream. A girl should dream...
You have such grace with words, EC. I very much enjoyed this. "Buckets of beauty" indeed. And yes, a girl SHOULD dream. That's sometimes all we have to cling to.
DeleteGo gently and know you're loved.
Happy solstice week. =)
We can always dream. Flying would feel so freeing.
DeleteI love this and echo Rawknrobyn.
DeleteDefinitely, a woman should dream. And why not a dragon? If you dream, you should dream big, right?
Delete...; and as long as they don't turn into nightmares, girls* should do their best to let their dreams come true.
DeleteSame goes for boys.
Sometimes it works.
Excellent reflections and use of your prompts.
DeleteWell done EC. We all should dream and often of things we'd like to do. I would like to fly not as a dragon, but on a dragon.
DeleteHow wonderful to read this story made up of words you needed to use. I think you already HAVE faced a lot of your dark fears and you are now dream BIG!!
DeleteWonderful EC - just a delightful meander with you - while we too can dream ...
DeleteAs Sean says, boys too! Well done, Sue. Masterful, as always.
DeleteYou are such a wonderful author! Dreams are what make us.
DeleteThat was beautifully written with a wonderful flow!!
DeleteKeep on dreaming, and when you are up there soaring, may those dark recesses lose their strong hold and get dropped in the ocean, never to be a bother to you again.
DeleteWell written.
Julia
Very well done.
DeleteLove,
Janie
Love it! Everyone should dream. :-)
Delete"It is crowded in my head."
ReplyDeleteI felt that.
"Rather too much guilt and shame."
And that.
Sandi: I am sorry you know that too much guilt and shame thing. Both bite.
Deletehug
DeleteI hope this is just fiction Sandi! ♥
DeleteRain, not fiction. I didn't used to deal much with guilt or shame, but recent times brought things to remembrance. The Lord is setting me free from painful memories. It has made me lighter in many ways, heavier in others. Sometimes we don't see our chains until they snap. 😊
DeleteIf you have any of your own, may they crumble at your feet. If you don't, well...that's even better.
I love how you worded that Sandi "We don't see our chains until they snap". That is very true. I wish you to be free of all painful memories. I worked on that a lot for a good 15 years and I can say that I'm pretty much free of any painful memory that used to control my thoughts, emotions and actions! Thanks for the response! ♥
DeleteIt's impossible to meet lifetime dreams these days until you can believe you can fly like a bird.
ReplyDeleteWhen you believe, you make it come true.
DeleteMike: I wish, how I wish...
DeleteBelieve!!! ☺
DeleteHi EC - back later on - i.e. next day!! The second lot:
ReplyDeleteThe recesses of my mind … the threads of life hid the secrets … oh could an author bring my memories to the fore … oh probably not – the spider needs to keep her own safe. Those things that need to be left unsaid let's leave life as is.
Cheers ... Hilary
Ah, the recesses of the unsaid ...
DeleteSome things you don't want the author to share.
DeleteHilary Melton-Butcher: A powerful piece - and true of most of us I believe...
DeleteGreat job, Hilary. I don't think I want to probe my recesses too closely!
DeleteThe recesses of my mind can stay recessed.
DeleteThanks to you all ... my recesses are very happy where they are! But some things can be dredged up! I'll keep my memoir tucked away!
DeleteLovely Hilary!
DeleteI like this Hilary! ☺
DeleteWell done.
DeleteJulia
Slowly, from the secret recesses of the patio, the spider was author of a silken thread, part of a web, a thing of beauty in the morning mist.
ReplyDeleteShort and good.
DeleteSpiders do beautiful work.
DeleteMarie Smith: DEFINITELY a thing of beauty - like your word picture.
DeleteHi Marie - that's so true ... they are things of beauty, especially reflected in the dewy morning light. Well done - Hilary
DeleteGreat job, Marie.
DeleteVery nice! :)
DeleteDreams.
ReplyDeleteLinda had been waiting a lifetime to do the impossible. Days and dreams always rested just beyond her reach, as a bird perched on the highest branch. Was there a secret dangling on a thread? Like a spider? She sighed, defeated that the thing that hung in her brain, dimly hidden in the recesses of her brain. What to do? Taking a mental leap, Linda stretched to grasp that ephemeral branch. It snapped back in place, empty of secrets and dreams. Linda would come back tomorrow. Surely, she would catch and hold those in her hands.
May she grasp those dreams and make them come true.
DeleteSusan Kane: I love her perseverance and hope she succeeds.
DeleteHi Susan - she's never giving up that's for sure ...
DeleteTo dream the impossible dream ... to reach the unreachabble star ...
DeleteYes she will hold them in her hands. Good job of flowing out a lovely thread.
DeleteSo well written Susan! ☺
DeleteA great job.
DeleteJulia
I have flown like a Bird through a
ReplyDeleteLifetime of
Impossible
Days.
Dreams Meet me as I fly
Lucky you. ;-)
DeleteMay the dreams keep meeting you as you fly.
Hope those are all good dreams that you meet.
DeleteCloudia: Lucky, lucky you. Though your attitude is a contributor to that luck.
DeleteOh Cloudia, that is just lovely! ☺
DeleteMay you get to soar like the eagle.
DeleteJulia
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOn my way to think and ponder.
ReplyDeleteThe words worked out just right.
Deletemessymimi: As always I look forward to reading your take on the prompts.
DeleteA bird on her left, a spider on her right shoulder, the protagonist had majestically entered the secret thing site, to once in her lifetime meet the lawmaker of days and dreams, when the author lost the thread and retreated to the recesses of the impossible.
ReplyDeleteAuthors do sometimes lose the thread, it can be slow work finding it again.
DeleteSean Jeating: Smiling. I have been lost in works like that - and have sometimes enjoyed the journey.
DeleteHi Sean - no wonder the protagonist has lost her way - with the weight of the spider on one side, and less on her right shoulder ... an imbalance.
DeleteAh, the mystery of life!
DeleteWow Jean, great job.
DeleteVery good, well written!
DeleteThank you all. May we all improve in 2022. ;-)
DeleteI wrote a short flash fiction story to this week's prompts. Here it is:
ReplyDeleteIt is almost IMPOSSIBLE to MEET an illusion BIRD during one's LIFETIME. They flit around their magical garden, high in the mountains, and venture down to the plains as infrequently as possible. The birds trail fairy dust from their rainbow-colored plumage all over the explosion of blooms and the lush variegated foliage of their garden. The contrails of bright dust crisscross the flower beds like a cat-cradle of colorful mist. Inspiring DREAMS, good and bad, is those birds' primary occupation.
They had another SECRET ability, too. An illusion bird could grant your wishes, if you were willing to meet its price. Marina, an aspiring fantasy AUTHOR, was willing.
"I brought what you asked for," she whispered to the pink and gold bird and opened up a small aquarium. Inside, the industrious SPIDER had already used its blue and turquoise silk THREAD to weave a tiny tapestry of its web. The gossamer-thin filaments sparkled in the sunlight, so the entire THING gleamed like a minuscule magical mandala.
"You're not going to eat it?" Marina asked anxiously.
The bird tweeted a mockery. "Of course, not. We decorate the RECESSES in our stone walls with these spiders' webs. It was my turn to do the house chores. Follow." It took flight, and Marina followed the pink bird to a small empty niche in the wall. She carefully coaxed the spider into the niche and sprinkled the seeds for its fodder.
The bird watched her labors with its shiny black eyes.
"Uhm. What about my wish?" Marina asked timidly.
"What do you want?" the bird chirped. Its trill sounded suspiciously like a snicker.
"All I want is to become a bestselling author."
"Granted," the bird piped and flew away.
"When?" Marina asked faintly, but nobody could hear her anymore.
Ha ha! Good one.
DeleteSometimes you get more than you ask for when you make a wish.
DeleteOlga Godim: Hmmm. Be careful what you wish for... I love the illusion birds decorating style though.
DeleteDarn! No one could hear. Great job on this story.
DeleteThat's really cool Olga!!!
DeleteOh, I forgot one word - DAYS. It goes into the second sentence of the story:
ReplyDelete~~~~~~~~~~~
They flit DAYS and nights around their magical garden, high in the mountains...
Ah - I never counted! But well done ... but you've reminded me I must gather my wits and get on with some things ...
DeleteBehind me is a lifetime of days spent in secret dreams of meeting wonderful people and doing impossible things.
ReplyDeleteRiver: I hope your dreams come true.
DeleteI have scheduled my story for tomorrow, since I have something else planned for Friday.
ReplyDeleteRiver: I look forward to reading it - and also to seeing what you have planned for Friday.
DeleteSpiders do beautiful work.
ReplyDeleteAzka Kamil: They do. They are incredible architects.
DeleteEntro, para desearte tembién una Feliz Navidad.
ReplyDeleteVENTANA DE FOTO: Thank you. And to you and yours.
DeleteGood prompts, I actually had some ideas when looking at those words. Usually my mind is blank slate. Our nickname for our daughter is Bird. Long story behind it. Perhaps I blog about it sometime.
ReplyDeleteSandy: I hope you will blog about it sometime. It sounds fascinating.
DeleteIt has been the greatest pleasure of all to have spent a LIFETIME with BIRDS. It is IMPOSSIBLE to overstate the satisfaction I have derived from an association with these feathered dinosaurs. There is no SECRET to their magic; they are colourful, sometimes musical, bold, confiding, devoted parents – yes, all of that, but best of all, they can fly. Who among us has not spend DAYS when sadness inhabits the RECESSES of our mind, DREAMING that we too would fly away were it only possible. Oh to be the AUTHOR of our own destiny, to MEET the people and circumstances that would make us happy. That would be a THING to celebrate. Even as I write these words, I see a SPIDER hanging by a THREAD. Strange that it has become a metaphor for a precarious state, yet the spider can cast itself into the wind and be transported to realms unknown. It’s good to be a spider.
ReplyDeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: Lovely - and words which seem to be made to be used to mirror your mind.
DeleteWhat fitting words by a lover of birds.
DeleteBirds and spiders are so amazing, and yes, it would be lovely sometimes to cast ourselves to the wind and land on happy shores as yet unexplored.
DeleteGreat story as always David. Who knew it would ever be "good to be a spider". I would be happy flying or floating on the wind.
DeleteI can feel your happiness David, great writing!! ☺
DeleteOne can always dream. I did. A good gob.
DeleteJulia
Dreams were impossible things. Her foster mother told her so every few days. She would fritter away an entire lifetime if she didn’t get her head out of the clouds and start doing something useful, like doing the dishes or washing the clothes, not leaving food on the windowsill for that silly bird that always sang to her every morning from its side of the pane.
ReplyDeleteBut she’d written her letter to Santa and snuck out to mail it. If she didn’t get her wish on Christmas eve, she would put her dreams aside and acknowledge that her foster parent was right. Dreams were impossible things.
Christmas morning dawned and, filled with hope, she raced downstairs. She looked under the tree and didn’t see any packages or more importantly any correspondence from Santa. She sank down in the worn chair. Hope emptied from her heart and she tried not to cry.
A knocked sounded on the door. She opened it and stared in surprise at her caseworker who stood beaming at her.
“I know it’s early but I couldn’t wait to meet with you and give you the good news. We’ve finally found your aunt. She had no idea your mother had died or that you were in foster care. She said to give you this and tell you she would be coming to pick you up in two days. From now on you’ll live with your aunt and be a family. She said to give you this and a Christmas kiss.” The caseworker pulled a doll, wearing ribbons and lace, from behind her back then placed a kiss on her forehead. “Merry Christmas, Belinda.”
Belinda smiled, hugging the doll to her heart. Her foster mom was wrong. Dreams weren’t impossible. They did come true. Especially at Christmas.
Now that's a heartwarming Christmas Carol, after all, Sandra Dickens ... uff! ... Cox. ;-)
DeleteSandra Cox: This is lovely. And hooray for a caseworker who is prepared to go the extra mile.
DeleteThat's the kind if Christmas story i really enjoy!
DeletePrecious story.
DeleteIsn't that sweet...how nice!
DeleteWhat a charming story.
DeleteWell done.
Julia
My story (corny as it is) is posted on my blog page.
ReplyDeleteGranny Annie: I have just read it. Tidings of comfort and joy to you (and to your birds). Well done. Again.
DeleteHello my dear friend!
ReplyDeleteI hope all is well with you and your family!
I miss so much visit you and I think always on you.
Wishing to you and your Family a Happy Christmas and a Wonderful New Year with Peace, Health and Joy.
Lots of HUGS and much LOVE!
Sonia.
sonia a. mascaro: How lovely to see your name. I love your wishes - and return them to you. Wrapped in a hug.
DeleteIn the dark recesses of her mind, her secret raged hidden. Her sanity dangled like a thread caught in an impossible wind during the blustery days of autumn. The author of her torment spent a lifetime torturing her mind. Could she meet this fear head on? No, only in her dreams, nightmares and now in her daydreams. The dreaded memory was thick and dense like the web of a spider in a horrid and gloomy cave - weighing her down more and more each moment she lived. If only she could face the very thing she feared, the torture would end and she would escape, as free as a bird. Until then, she was trapped in the unspeakable horrors of her mind.
ReplyDeleteI scared myself lol! ;)
Rain: You scared me too. I do hope that your brave protagonist finds peace. And soon.
DeleteCareful with lots of laughter, Rain. Horror is often pretty vindictive.
DeleteRain: Oh my, this is great. I like how you use the prompts just so perfectly suited for this little story.
DeleteHave a lovely day.
Thank you!!! ♥♥♥
DeleteThat is well done and quite frightening!
DeleteAlways enjoy reading these and enjoyed your tale :) I'll be back participating in the New Year.
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: Thank you. We look forward to seeing you back again next year.
DeleteSpiders and their webs are miracle. We, Humanbeing always love them.
ReplyDeletebread&salt: I love them too, but quite a lot of people don't. Their loss.
DeleteOf all my dreams, this is one that I will remember for a lifetime or until I meet my maker.
ReplyDeleteI was given the ability to soar in the sky like a bird though it is impossible for humans. I could hover above water and go where I pleased just by leaning my body this way or that way. I could have spent days doing this. An incredible feeling of freedom.
When I woke up, my body was firmly weighted down on the bed and in the corner of my eye, I saw the same spider as the day before outside my window hanging on a thread, keeping her secret of how she caught food in her web, but the thing that I discovered was the author of this amazing lacy web anchored in the recesses of the window frame was the most patient little creature. I learned an important lesson from this little spider. Good things comes for those who patiently wait.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
PS. These are true stories.
Julia
Julia: Thank you for these beautiful (and powerful) true stores. The very best of the season (and every season) to you and yours.
DeleteJulia: This seems like a very vivid dream. I like it. Thank you for sharing it.
DeleteHave a lovely day.
That must have been a most fabulous dream indeed.
DeleteI wrote something, a few days late. Here's the link: Waiting for Joy
ReplyDeleteThanks for the prompts. Have a lovely day.
lissa: Thank you. I have just read it and am still smiling. I wish...
DeleteI read you delightful story and I still smiling too.
DeleteYou write beautifully.
Julia
Hey There EC! I'm sending you a lifetime of good wishes and good cheer, and Merry, Merry Christmas! I haven't been able to visit as often, but thoughts of you are always in my heart. Many hugs, RO
ReplyDeleteRO: You are welcome whenever you come round. Always. I hope that you have been well and that your holiday period is packed with love and laughter.
DeletePopping by to wish you a very Merry Christmas!!! 🎄🎄
ReplyDeleteRain: Thank you. Our Christmas was very low key, which suits us. I hope yours was wonderful.
Delete