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. And huge thanks to those of you who come back, sometimes time after time to cheer other contributors on.
Huge thanks to T Powell Coltrin for providing the prompts last month. The prompts will be here this month, but they are being provided by David M. Gascoigne.
This
week's prompts are:
- Temperature
- Hope
- Roost
- Gentle
- Humidity
- Change
and/or
- Cope
- Reality
- Carcass
- Landscape
- Light
- Weather
Charlotte (MotherOwl)'s colour of the month is May green. If you can find a way to include it in your story please do.
Have fun.
The TEMPERATURE soared well into the thirties and the HUMIDITY was oppressive. Everyone was lethargic, most were ill-tempered. John was no exception. After years of petitioning politicians and utility company executives to commit to upgrading ancient infrastructure the proverbial chickens were coming home to ROOST. Equipment built for smaller populations and more moderate WEATHER was unable to COPE with the days on end of searing heat. So many in authority had denied climate CHANGE for so long it was becoming increasingly difficult to catch up. People were dying, hospitals were overwhelmed, cooling centres were ineffective as blackouts and power outages became routine events, reservoirs were drying up, animal CARCASSES littered the LANDSCAPE and food shortages were becoming the norm. Rain was infrequent, and when it did come it was catastrophic. Gone were those GENTLE days of LIGHT rain to restore life to parched soil. Rain only came in deluges causing flooding and additional devastation to an already degraded landscape. Wildfires caused by lightning strikes followed floods. Some might say, “Never lose HOPE” but hope was an illusion unfortunately in this new REALITY. John picked up the book he was reading for the third time. It was called “Apocalypse Now.”
ReplyDeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: Ouch. How true it is - and how frightening.
DeleteWell done and unfortunately has so much truth in it.
DeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
Nice little dystopia on its best way to become reality.
DeleteScary and too much what we are seeing now.
Deleteapart from the carcasses, it sounds a lot like Australia. Excellent story.
DeleteHi David - sadly proving to be so true for normal life ... perhaps his book has HOPE in it ... I wonder if the human race has established life in space. However you remind us of how poor planning by our regulators rules our life ... no long-term thinking. Cheers Hilary
DeletePoor planning is almost worse than the catastrophes themselves. Well written.
DeleteMay Green was a gentle soul. When she saw that landscape around the cottage and noticed that the colour of the fields matched her name she knew she had to have it. She, her cat and the chooks lived together contentedly, puttering around her garden, content with a simple life. Her home grown vegetables sustained her and the chickens and she swapped her fine fresh eggs for food for Demon, and anything else she could neither grow nor make. They coped well, and at the end of each day when the light dimmed and the chickens retired to their roost they were all content.
ReplyDeleteThe only blight on her landscape was her sister-in-law. Audrey always knew best and somehow even the weather changed when she came to visit. The air felt sticky somehow, as if the humidity had increased and the temperature rose too. The animals knew it too – the chickens went off the lay, and Demon vanished until the coast was clear.
Audrey wanted to change things. She prided herself on being a realist. ‘Realistically speaking’ was one of her favourite phrases. Realistically speaking you need meat she said each time she visited. May stood firm. She would not eat animal carcasses. Demon ate meat, but Demon needed it. She did not.
Realistically speaking you would be better off in town. Hell no, May thought while she politely demurred. That latest visit was over and May, Demon and the chickens all hoped it would be a very long time before duty brought Audrey to visit them again…
I think there is an Audrey in every family, unfortunately.
DeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: I hope I never become the Audrey in the family,.
DeleteI admire May's countenance. ;-)
DeleteThe people who know better than we do what we need make me very sad -- for them.
DeleteExcellent story EC, I hope May Green continues to live her happy life for many years.
DeleteI hope I never become an Audrey, I hope none of my family see me as an Audrey. I try very hard to not push my own ideas onto others.
Hi EC - lovely ... far too many interfering people in our lives - who believe they know better than we do ... I sincerely hope I'm not an Audrey ... but being polite in 'their company' can be challenging!!! Cheers Hilary
DeleteYikes! Good on May for standing firm. Darn in-laws:)
DeleteHugs Sandra sandracox.blogspot.com
Well written, my toes curled just from the reading.
DeleteGreat characterization. I wouldn't like that Audrey woman too.
DeleteAh, yes. Some people bring joy when they arrive; others when they leave. Nice one, EC! :-)
DeleteI'll be working on it.
ReplyDeletemessymimi: I look forward to seeing your always positive take on David's prompts.
DeleteMy story is over here.
DeleteWhew. Glad the visit is over. Sandra sandracox.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteHi EC and David - I'll be back tomorrow ... to comment on everyone's entry. Mine mostly resonating from the first set:
ReplyDeleteI remember, I remember the May Honeysuckle … so much prettier in name than May green … but today we depend on the temperature – and hope that our climate seasons change appropriately, so that the May green honeysuckle will sprout and spurt happily … letting us share that beautiful scent.
The humidity won't harm the plants … and it's great to see so much growth … and I note that tiny wrens appear to be happily roosting in the fuller foliage.
It's bliss the atmosphere has turned into the expected British weather – yes … damp, humid … but the sun warms us … and we know Summer is a-coming.
It's 2023 I remember, I remember the May green …
Cheers to one and all - Hilary
Hilary Melton-Butcher: I really enjoyed this - much as I dislike humidity. And equally hard as I try to eradicate the honeysuckle that is trying to take over parts of my garden.
DeleteA very nice take on the words!
DeleteWell done, Hils. Woot. Woot.
DeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
Nice, and thanks for using my colour.
DeleteWell done, Hilary. I am looking forward to more tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading everyone's entry!
ReplyDeleteNas: So am I.
DeleteCarcass! Now that's a creepy word choice.
ReplyDeleteAlex J. Cavanaugh: I suspect that some people at least will decreepify it.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLon Anderson: I have seen your story - and applauded.
DeleteLon Anderson: I am very sorry that you took your story down.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteLon Anderson: Thank you.
DeleteThe temperature and humidity were high so my plan was to roost in a gentle swinging hammock and hope for change.
ReplyDeleteMike: It is good to see that Captain Succinct hasn't lost his touch.
DeleteHi Mike - that's good ... well done - very appropriate for the words - cheers Hilary
DeleteNice!
DeleteNicely done!
DeleteI'll set my mind to work on these and see what pops out by Friday.
ReplyDeleteRiver: As always I look forward to seeing where the prompts take you.
DeleteEnjoyed your story very much and it was fun reading all the others.
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: This is such a fun meme - and I am always awed at the different directions the words take us.
DeleteThe temperatures are around 14 degrees this morning and that gives us hope for a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteWhen I left my sleeping place I made myself a cup of coffee, walked through the garden and drank it in the bright sunshine... you know... the birds are singing, the tulips are blooming, the rapeseed is beginning to bloom my heart is rejoicing in the gentle morning breeze. I'm wearing a thick jacket because the dampness of the night is still in the air. I'll change my plans, I'll take a walk in the woods... it's going to be a wonderful day... I'm looking forward to it with all my heart. Nature awakens.
Barwitzki: Welcome and thank you for joining us. I hope your day lives up to its promise.
DeleteExcellent job, Viola, especially meritorious since English is not your first language. We're all glad that you joined in.
DeleteHi Viola - delightful take - and as it is ... cheers Hilary
DeleteYou describe my morning ;) well done.
DeleteThat's a wonderful change of plan.
DeleteYou're welcome! Love your story and the others. Imagination is amazing. Helps us create our stories.
ReplyDeleteTeresa
T Powell Coltrin: Thank you. Imagination is a gift isn't it?
DeleteThe May green grass in our yard reflects the change in the temperature and humidity as spring continues its gentle move toward summer. I hope the birds roosting in our trees will return next year.
ReplyDeleteHi Carol - I too hope next year is similar to this year ... gentle and as we expect - thanks for your entry ... Hilary
DeleteCarol Kilgore: I hope the birds return too. My life would be diminished without them.
DeleteShort and sweet - and thanks for using my colour.
DeleteYou've described a beautiful time of year, and used the words perfectly.
DeleteI can cope with just about every reality, but when that carcass turned up on my front porch, under a light dusting of snow, I panicked.
ReplyDeleteAs I looked out across the landscape, it was already a blinding white--the sky filled with ominous black clouds. The weather was turning mean, and we were in for a major storm. I had a dead body to bury and fast.
cleeckenzie: What sort of a carcass I find myself wondering? Or is the correct question Whose carcass?
DeleteUgh, I share ECs wonderings.
DeleteLovely - a dead body to bury. Argh!
DeleteAn excellent use of the prompts, and a bit scary, too.
DeleteLoved it! Sandra sandracox.blogspot.com
DeleteHi Lee - wonderful (?) take on the prompts ... I'd love to read a full story along these lines. Sounds gruesome! Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteTwo words jump out to me. Landscape and temperature. It's been too cold here to work on the landscaping, but oh does it need it. So much so, hubby and I were talking about it a week ago, told him I've never seen it look so bad and didn't know if I had enough energy to work on it this year. He got an estimate and I'm thrilled to say it's going to be professional done. I've worked so much on it these past couple of years, but have 2 neighbors who have enormous weed patches, so I'm not able to get rid of mine as they blow from their yards. Finally it looks like the worst of the neighbors is doing his yard, so....maybe if we get ours done and he does his, we'll make headway. Fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteSandy: Thank you for joining us. Sadly at the moment the weed patch is in my garden - so I really, really empathise with your take on the prompts.
DeleteI hope your garden does get sorted, as well as the neighbors. There does come a time where it's worth the money to let someone else handle that much work.
DeleteAt long last I have been writing again here is my WfW post.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte (MotherOwl): As you know I have already delighted in your take on David's prompts.
DeleteSuch wonderful stories. It's always a treat to visit your site during WFW challenge. Reading them is inspiring. Happy IWSG Day.
ReplyDeleteJoylene Nowell Butler: Thank you - that is a truly lovely thing to say. I am sorry that blogger sent you to spam, and glad that I rescued you.
DeleteIt's been a while since I last visited here. And even longer since I commented, but I was inspired by this week's words. Here is my story:
ReplyDelete~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How could she COPE with this dreadful REALITY? The wolf's CARCASS turned her tiny garden's manicured LANDSCAPE ugly and surreal. Especially in the morning's dappled LIGHT. And in this WEATHER, the dead flesh would turn GREEN and start reeking in no time. She had no choice. Straining mightily, she heaved the corpse over the fence into Mrs. Smith's garden. Let the old witch deal with the problem. She had probably originated it in the first place. She always killed the poor beasts.
Olga Godim: Thank you so much for joining us again - though I am feeling a bit queasy after reading it. I have a soft spot for wolves too.
DeleteI am very happy not to live next to Mrs Smith.
DeleteThis was great, Olga. Loved it.
DeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
Not having nice neighbors is a burden greater than the carcass would be. A very well done take on the prompts!
ReplyDeleteThe second set of prompts could have come in handy for the post I just wrote regarding visiting my dad's house recently. Hope all is well with you, E.C. x
ReplyDeleteBea: Having read your post I can well see how the words could have been used. Perhaps next time? I am just about over the pneumonia (just a lingering cough left) and feel much better. Thank you.
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ReplyDeleteI will catch up on reading all the posts tomorrow, but mine has been posted here.
ReplyDeleteCindi: I have read your story and love that you were able to use David's prompts to continue your story.
DeleteDavid provided some great prompts. I hope all is well with you, Sue!
ReplyDeleteFundy Blue: He did didn't he? I continue to muddle along - and thank you.
DeleteLovely story
ReplyDeletehttps://www.melodyjacob.com/
MELODY JACOB: Lots of intriguing stories.
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