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.
Charlotte (MotherOwl) has selected New Start Yellow as the colour of the month.
This week's prompts are:
- ancient
- life
- water
- melody
- lied
- medal
- speaker
- cords
- paper
- false
As always, have fun.
Robin knew that the old adage ‘you are only as old as you feel’ was false. Her mind was fine and felt quite young but her body was ancient and it insisted on reminding her of that fact. Often. She lied to it from time to time saying ‘just a little bit more’ but it ignored her paper thin excuses and paid her out. Painfully. Its reminders couldn’t have been clearer if they had been broadcast on a speaker.
ReplyDeleteShe was determined to have a life not an existence so her mind and body had come to a reluctant compromise.
Her home was now perfect for her needs. The cords that connected her electronics had been rationalized and tidied and were no longer a trip hazard. She had water views from the kitchen, her bedroom and the living room. Birdsong was the melody at the start and end of each day.
Yes, the feature wall in her living room was now New Start Yellow to brighten the dullest of days, but she had hired painters to do the work. It hadn’t been an easy decision for her, but it had been the right one. Mentally she patted herself lovingly on the back, awarded herself a medal, and settled down with her book.
This is excellent and I wish I could do the same with my home, though I have put the cords out of trip range.
DeleteShe deserves a medal for arranging things exactly as she needed... and accepting help. Sometimes that's the hardest part. :-) Well done with the prompts, EC!
DeleteSo good!
DeleteAncient life lied that it must wallow in water until new start yellow appeared with its lilting melody and banished all that was false.
DeleteEC, may we all come to such a place and such a compromise.
DeleteJanie Junebug, I like it!
Janie Junebug: Too many things lie to us. I am over it. Yay for you joining us though.
DeleteHi EC - lovely tale ... the yellow will definitely brighten things up here ... settling down with a book sounds good. Well crafted tale using all the words ... I can see her home. Cheers Hilary
DeleteHi Janie - looks like you've given us a succinct take on the words ... well done - and good to see you - cheers Hilary
Deletevery much enjoyed this. and I agree with Mimi.
DeleteJanie Junebug... Yellow is such a good color for banishing a lot of things! I wish the yellow sun would banish this cold and the ice and snow that surround me!
DeleteUn fort aplaudiment, molt ben filada, Sue.👏👏👏
DeleteThis makes me want to paint something yellow.
DeleteVery well done EC and an excellent reminder about hazards in our homes. I am mindful of that all the time as a fall could be fatal. And appreciating the birds and view is a plus.
DeleteXO
WWW
Settling by with a book, after all, has seldom be a bad idea. ;-)
DeleteI love this, EC. And feel it comes from the heart.
ReplyDeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
Aquí et deixo el meu, un altre moment passaré a llegir el teu amb més temps. Gràcies! ;-)
ReplyDeleteNa Neus vivia una vida molt tranquil·la, a prop de l'aigua. Li agradava el mar i aquell xiuxiueig de les ones en tocar la roca, li semblava com una melodia blava. Aquella tarda li arribà un sobre blanc amb un paper dins, on li deien que hi havia una cursa al dia següent sobre la platja. Sempre havia somiat emportar-se la medalla d'or, el grog era un dels seus colors preferits i s'imaginava com lluiria damunt del jersei negre que li havia regalat la seva àvia.
A la nit va tenir un somni molt estrany, una cursa de colors. La sortida era millor que un Arc de Sant Martí, feia goig veure'ls tots tan nets i tan lluents. No sé qui ni quan va donar la sortida per un altaveu, els colors sortiren disparats cap a la meta, ara anava davant el vermell, molt seguit del verd, el blau no els treia l'ull, mentre el taronja amb un pam de llengua no es volia rendir. El marró i el gris anaven a la par i van ser depassats pel lila, que venia de darrera amb una velocitat fantàstica...
Va obrir els ulls i no va saber on era. Mirà el despertador i s'aixecà com un llamp, escoltant la veu de sa mare dient-li que arriba tard a l'escola. Estava tan nerviosa que no encertava amb els cordons de les sabates, al final agafà la motxilla antiga perquè hi cabien més coses i sortí cap a la cuina. Donà un petó a la mare i se'n dugué l'esmorzar per menjar pel camí. Quan sortia, la mare li va preguntar on anava tan de pressa i ella li va mentir, dient-li que a l'escola, on si no?
Quan va arribar a la platja no hi havia ni una ànima, tragué el paper de la motxilla i s'adonà que era fals, no hi havia cursa, ni medalla d'or i ella arribà tard a l'escola.
I em preguntàveu quin color voldria ser?...
El lila, és clar!!
https://elraconetdesalluna.blogspot.com/2025/01/si-fossis-un-color-quin-series.html
sa lluna: Thank you for joining us again. I really liked your use of colours. This story also appears on her blog - which has a translate function.
DeleteI enjoyed your story very much.
DeleteUna història meravellosa i l'ús de les paraules ràpides!
DeleteSue: Moltes gràcies a tu per fer-ho possible i també per dir que el blog traductor. ;-)
Deletemessymimi: Estic contenta que la gaudissis. Gràcies!
DeleteAixò va ser molt bo. Trist, però. Qui faria un volant així?
DeleteTwo birds with one stone again. ;-)
DeleteAnd so well done.
Aferradetes, Paula.
Cindi: Molt agraïda!
DeleteSandi: Moltes gràcies!
DeleteCom et vaig dir, s'ha d'aprofitar tot, sinó no hi sóc a temps. ;-)
DeleteHugs, Sean.
Yellow is a bright color for a living room wall.
ReplyDeleteAlex J. Cavanaugh: It is - but sometimes we need cheery. Mind you before we bought this house we saw one that had a RED kitchen. That I couldn't cope with. Red tiles, red walls and a red fridge.
DeleteIt is very bright, but I've read that yellow kitchens help to wake you.
DeleteGood words and I'll get to them after I get home. I'm taking my camera to the Botanic Gardens today.
ReplyDeleteRiver: I look forward to seeing where they take you. Have fun at the Botanic Gardens. It is too hot to do much here today.
DeleteOff to the races.
ReplyDeletemessymimi: Where you will undoubtedly bring home a winner.
DeleteMy story will be over here.
DeleteVery well done!
Deletemessymimi: Una història molt interessant, massa vegades ens oblidem de tot el que tenim avui dia, sembla que sempre ha estat igual i no, res més lluny.
DeleteCindi, thank you.
DeleteSa lluna, Tens tanta raó!
It ought to be repeated: ;-)
DeleteMimi, you are about to surpass yourself ... if this should be possible. Excellent!
Here is mine, all words and colour used. I'll be back tomorrow to read all of yours. Thanks EC for the prompts!
ReplyDelete----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Remember!The ancient melodies have to be played in the ancient manner,” said Dr. Aloys, ”Now pay attention!”
And he demonstrated on the old badly repainted yellow piano. A gifted man, with many awards and medals. The orchestra took up their instruments, rattling their sheet music.
Tina took a sip of water from her bottle and stood in front of the microphone preparing for her spoken piece. She hoped the speaker in front was working. She snuck a look at the paper in her hand.
She needed to bring some life to the ancient old English words. She had lied about learning the words by heart and felt her heart pound. But this was only the rehearsal hall. Tomorrow she would be note perfect in her performance. She smoothed her sweaty hands on her black cords.
There was a false note from the clarinet player and some stifled nervous giggles. Then the opening stanza played and then it would be her recitation of the first verse of the poem in Elizabethan English. And clearly her voice rang out to the empty hall -
“And if aught else great bards beside
In sage and solemn tunes have sung
Of turneys, and of trophies hung,
Of forests and enchantments drear,
Where more is meant than meets the ear."
Not as the orchestra took up their second stanza she snuck another read of the next verse. She could do this.
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XO
WWW
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Love this and am sure that Tina CAN (and does) do this.
DeleteHi WWW - lovely and how true probably for some. I wonder if I'll remember these words next time I hear the song. and yes I can see the rehearsal going ahead ... it'll be all right on the night. Well done - cheers Hilary
DeleteHi WWW - lovely and how true probably for some. I wonder if I'll remember these words next time I hear the song. and yes I can see the rehearsal going ahead ... it'll be all right on the night. Well done - cheers Hilary
DeleteOh, I love this!
DeleteOh this was so much fun! Thanks, Wisewebwoman;)
DeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
Nicely done! She can and she will.
DeleteTa ta ta taa! Beautiful and melodious!
DeleteDon't eat the new start yellow snow.
ReplyDeleteMike: I am not in the slightest bit tempted by yellow snow.
DeleteOh gosh no ... yugh! Cheers Hilary
Deletewise words!
DeleteI hope to never have such here in the swamps, anyway, but thank you for the reminder.
DeleteThanks for warning!
DeleteThe words are good, stories well done.
ReplyDeleteMargaret D: Rescued you from spam again. Blogger seems to dislike you. Thank you re the prompts - and I agree, there are already some great stories.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi EC - this is a ridiculous attempt ... but here's my take:
ReplyDeleteThat yellow bellied new start speaker lied to us … honestly … that medal can't be so ancient, the water where it was found will have tumbled it about.
The paperwork too would have been falsified which the national archives would, once again, confirm in twenty years time … but we have to wait.
When the records were found they'd been tied with a cord … yet – here were records of a life that we don't know much about – but from reports written in his lifetime – he was obviously yellow bellied … a splat in the universe.
Now I'm going back to my melodic earwig … I'm listening to the Jelly Roll Stroll … I didn't know what was going on … and still don't … c'est la vie ...
Cheers to one and all - I'll be back to read ... I must get to my Magna Carta talk prep ... which is distinctly older than this rubbish I've written!
Take care and another Happy New Year - Hilary
well done for some challenging words!
DeleteHilary Melton-Butcher: Not rubbish but the usual intriguing dive into your cluttered mind. Good luck with your Magna Carta talk.
DeleteA terrific and unusual take on the words Hilary, I really enjoyed your piece!
DeleteXO
WWW
Good story. Don't go faking antiquities!
DeleteTake it as a compliment, Hilary:
DeleteYou're even crazier than me. ;-)
In some ways yes - Sean, otherwise no!! Thanks ... I was out of body recently ... cheers Hilary
Deletean early start for me today. Mine is posted here.
ReplyDeleteCindi: I have read and enjoyed your take on the prompts - and look forward to reading more of this continuing story next week.
DeleteNew Start Yellow
ReplyDeleteYellow Hambridge was a shy girl. She hid her inner turmoil behind curled locks of orange hair and a floppy hat made of paper cords. In her voice hid a melody, the tune of ancient times when false lies told the truth. Yellow was a speaker of the truth. Are you? She received a medal in praise of her dedication to it, but dropped it into the water like the wise old woman in Titanic. She sang the song of yesterday. In a too modern world where everything is nothing, Yellow reminds us to toss these meaningless things away and cling to the only things that matters, the truth.
Sandi: Yellow Hambridge might be shy but her mission is huge. And yes, the truth, no matter how little we like it, is very important. And to be embraced.
DeleteHi Sandi - as EC says ... her mission is huge ... I just hope truth will prevail in this world of ours ... cling to the things that matter - so true ... cheers and well done - Hilary
DeleteA challenging mission but she seems well able for it.
DeleteXO
WWW
I like your story, we do need to find and stick with truth, always.
DeleteOh oh oh. Truth in 2025. ...
DeleteLa vida transcurre igual que siempre, en el antiguo barrio en donde todos los vecinos se conocian.La vida del barrio era muy tranquila. La ventana abierta dejaba escuchar el alegro sonido de las cuerdas de una guitarra española. El sonido procedia del piso primero, nuestro simpático protagonista se estaba preparando para un concurso de talentos que organizaba un programa de tv. Además de la medalla que se otorgaba al ganador , había una gira de conciertos por todo el país.
ReplyDeleteLa vecina del segundo, decidió salir a la calle y llevaba un trozo de papel, en donde había apuntado todo lo que tenía que llevar. Iba vestida muy sencilla y de adorno solamente llevaba una medalla al cuello.No tuvo un buen día, ya que cuando fue a pagar en el supermercado le dijeron que el billete era falso y tuvo que volver con el carrito de la compra completamente vacío.
En el camino hacia su calle comenzó a llover. No llevaba ni paraguas ni chubasquero y la cantidad de agua iba en aumento a cada metro que andaba.
De regreso mintió a su marido, de haber vuelto a casa sin la compra hecha. No quiso contarle a su marido lo del billete, falso, para que no la tomara por tonta.
VENTANA DE FOTO: 'Life goes on the same as always, in the old neighborhood where all the neighbors knew each other. Life in the neighborhood was very quiet. The open window let one hear the joyful sound of the strings of a Spanish guitar. The sound came from the first floor, our friendly protagonist was preparing for a talent contest organized by a TV program. In addition to the medal awarded to the winner, there was a concert tour throughout the country.
DeleteThe neighbor of the second decided to go out into the street and carried a piece of paper, where she had written down everything she had to take. She was dressed very simply and only had a medal around her neck. She did not have a good day, because when she went to pay at the supermarket they told her that the bill was counterfeit and she had to return with the shopping cart completely empty.
On the way to his street it started to rain. He didn't have an umbrella or a raincoat and the amount of water increased with every meter he walked.
On the way back she lied to her husband, about having returned home without making the purchase. She didn't want to tell her husband about the fake bill, so he wouldn't take her for a fool.'
This is such a sad story. I do hope tomorrow is a much better day.
It is a sad story, but very well done.
DeleteMuy buen relato, Antonia. ;-)
DeleteA woman should never have to fear her husband: and vice versa.
DeleteGood on you, Antonia!
Yellow is the color of the moon.
ReplyDeletesnobe casamang: Welcome. Sometimes the moon is yellow, sometimes white and I have seen it red too. It is a multi-coloured marvel.
DeleteSpiel mir das Lied (sic!!) vom Tod. / Play me the song of death. Nice melody, by the way. [Whistling]
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning was the word, later lots of words became written on paper; in the 20th century of the present era broadcasted even and televised. Since ancient times false gods have benefited from a widespread sense of fear, envy, greed and stupidity.
Nowadays unsocial media have become the new start yellow El Dorado of those with above mentioned widespread sense. Speakers Corner where now and then false prophets in front of a handful people vociferously are raging against the cords of vice, is everywhere on this tiny planet by now.
Well, and it is, of course, logical that the number of meanies and morons is a tiny bit higher with eight billion people than with 1.5 billion.
Without water no life? Fake news!
Oh well, all intelligently designed primates, most of you living in the Ununited States of America and Turkey: I am comforted by the scientific reverse of the medal:
Ratio human : animal
98.5 % chimpanzee
48 % fruit fly.
;-)))
The peace of the night!
The meanies and morons give me a headache. Excellent use of the words.
DeleteSean Jeating: The peace of the night to you too. Sleep well. The meanies and the morons have always been with us but have not I think had such large voices before.
DeleteI encara no ha acabat això, cada cop va a més. I si els enviéssim a tots a la lluna? :-(
DeleteMés que un relat, em sembla una reflexió.
A tad bit late but here tis.
ReplyDeleteWater lied an ancient melody, winding its way through the sphere.
Sun strewed the sky with new start yellow, sparkling in water's wake.
Water and sun: bringers of life.
Sandra sandracox.blogspot.com
*lied used in the musical sense vs the deceitful sense:)
Sandra sandracox.blogspot.com
And now imagine several million intelligently designed idiots screaming; FAKE NEWS!
DeleteFeel yourself hugged, Sandra,
Thanks, Sean:) Sandra
DeleteSandra Cox: Sorry I am so late to the party. I love this = and water's ancient melodies stir my heart.
DeleteAncient life began in
ReplyDeletewater. The melody continues!
Cloudia: I am reading a biography of Rachel Carson at the moment. She (and I) agree with you.
DeleteShort and good.
DeleteI have thoroughly enjoyed reading all of these. Happy weekend to you my friend :)
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: Thank you so much for coming back week after week to cheer us one.
Deletethecontemplativecat....Here is a heartfelt write.
ReplyDeleteThe best of days, and a darn worse that is we say. We are now ancient, Life hurts more. Taking a shower hurts, too. Water must be right temperature, or it hurts.
A simple melody is unheard, as our hearing is uncertain. We make our bed, knowing that simple exercise is silly, as we will be going to bed shortly after
Heck, we should get a medal for getting up off the floor. And music on the speakers is fuzzy and we hum along with the tune. The cords that raise and close the curtains are hard to grip, so we just leave them open.
Reading the newspaper requires us to find reading glasses.
Good luck with that.
Basically, when someone asks how we are feeling, we have a false preplanned answer:
Oh, we’re fine. Just getting older. (smirk here, with a slight giggle)
Susan Kane: Ouch. You have really gone to the dark side here - an all too familiar dark side.
Delete