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 colour for April is Missing Green.
This week's prompts are:
- Extra
- Wisdom
- Memories
- Corner
- Imposing
- Dark
- Shoulder
- Femininity
- Strength
- Manners
As always, have fun.
Working on it, back soon.
ReplyDeletemessymimi: I look forward to seeing where they take you.
DeleteRead it and loved it.
Deleteloved it loved it loved it!
DeleteThank you all, and I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get back here to read.
DeleteWonderful words and the dominant color of the era!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck, I hope you write wonderful texts!!
Katerinas Blog: Thank you.
DeleteNo? Did I hear you correctly?
ReplyDeleteYou did, brother mine. You are imposing on our relationship. I will not sign over my inheritance from our mother to you. Don’t think that you can back me into a corner on this one. I know that you were her favourite child but I didn’t see you shoulder any of the burden of her care. My memories of those dark years is very clear. You interpreted her intense femininity as brainlessness. You forget that one of her many strengths was commitment to justice. She didn’t confront you, that was not her way, but I think she showed wisdom when preparing her will (and didn’t have to argue with you). I worked for this inheritance, I earned it and I have plans for it.
And one extra thing. You are not going to win this battle so can I ask that when you make your exit you show some manners and close the door quietly behind you.
thecontemplativecat here. Too clever by half. I was hoping she also could slug him or some thing physical
DeleteWell done. If you are not there when things are rough you can't expect the goodies later.
DeleteI can picture that encounter. Clearly.
DeleteVery nicely done, I hope the brother accepts her decision with grace.
DeleteWell done, Sue. Probably a scene played out in many families.
DeleteOh my! Words I wished I'd once said...
DeleteWoot. Woot. Well done, Sue. Well done.
DeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
Hi EC - yes ... far too many probably feel this way - just glad we didn't when my parents died. Too many feel deserving ... as they've no idea or cannot think beyond self. Cheers Hilary
DeleteNicely done, E.C.! :-)
DeleteExcellent. Too often the ones who do the most work come out on the short end.
DeleteSue:
DeleteUna de les frases millor dites, la darrera. ;-)
Molt bo!
Aferradetes.
Definitely a very real scene!
DeleteVery good use of words!!
Now I realize I forgot to use color in my text!!
Second batch should produce some good stuff.
ReplyDeleteAlex J. Cavanaugh: The first doesn't tempt you?
DeleteMy brain is not cooperating with these words today, but I'm sure glad I stopped by to see you friend. Aloha
ReplyDeleteCloudia: Perhaps the prompts will percolate and inspire you later.
Delete
ReplyDelete"Hit the road Jack" blared from the radio sitting on the corner table. The wisdom of Ray Charles coming through the airwaves was sounding the necessity of moving on.
She had tried summoning the strength to pack up and leave taking just a little extra cash, her suitcase, and the not so great memories of their time together, a million times before.
But why should she be the one to shoulder the hardship of relocating, instead of imposing her will that he needed be the one to move out.
After all, it was his manner of chaos that created the dark times in their relationship.
It did not hurt that in spite of her outward appearance of extreme femininity, she was a shrewd woman who had made sure the lease was only in her name
Yep, it was past time for him to hit the road!
Anne in the kitchen: This is great. I am glad that she is shrewd and hope he does hit the road. Soon - and comes back no more, no more...
DeleteAdios Jack!
DeleteThis is familiar and he was the one who moved out, not me. Memories...
DeleteLife plays out like this far too often.
DeleteThis song was literally playing when I first read the prompt words and just wove their way into the little tale.
DeleteI love this!
DeleteWhat a great protagonist. I love reading about strong women. Sandra sandracox.blogspot.com
DeleteI hope she stands here ground.
DeleteUm, that was supposed to be "her" ground. Sorry.
DeleteLuckily she was also smart!!
DeleteNice text taken from life!!
Oh this is a great way to stay motivated as life has a way of getting in the way of blogging.
ReplyDeleteAllie of
www.allienyc.com
Allie: Welcome and thank you. Perhaps you would like to join us?
DeleteThe words made me think of Dobell's painting of Mary Gilmore, so I followed that idea.
ReplyDeleteDame Mary
J Cosmo Newbery: As I said at your site, I was not familiar with the painting and you used my words so well to describe it.
DeleteA wonderful poem! All women should be so honored.
DeleteI have noted down the words and will see what I can do. I seem to be quite brain dead lately, sleeping a lot as the colder weather chills its way into my home.
ReplyDeleteRiver: I have confidence in you. Any change in seasons often leaves me a little brain dead. You would not have enjoyed today here. The 'feels like' temperature didn't reach double figures.
DeleteHi EC - I'll be back to comment ... here's mine ...enjoy it?!
ReplyDelete"In the dark recesses of her mind she remembered the corner in the cave … the memories came flooding back, including the wisdom of her elders ... which they'd kept imposing on her … manners maketh man she'd been told … but now she was glad to be a cave dweller … away from the perils of life above … she'd become fed up with being cold-shouldered for embracing femininity.
She knew her ancestors had imbued her with strength, now as the community gathered in the caves … she'd need that extra toughness … to lead them forward into the depths of the cave system, from where they could escape back into a green world, that down here in the darkness was sorely missing.
Also she remembered the Just So Stories .. particularly how the elephant's trunk had got so long … they'd be fun to tell the clan's children. They'd seen the outline of elephants and other animals on the walls … there must have been an Elephant's Child in the centuries ahead … "
Cheers to one and all - Hilary
Hilary Melton-Butcher: Of course I love you including my blog name and inspiration this week. (I can still recite great slabs of The Elephant's Child - and some others of the Just So stories).
DeleteMore please. This is a wonderful story!
DeleteWell done, Hils. Well done. You had me at
Delete"In the dark recesses of her mind
Sandra sandracox.blogspot.com
I like this a lot, people going back to the old ways a bit and hopefully making progress towards a better future than the one they just left.
DeleteExcellent use of the prompts
DeleteWonderful, Hilary. The kind of story that only your mind could imagine!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sue ... glad you enjoyed my reference to your blog life; and Cindi - this is sort of a precursor to something I must draft up for tomorrow for Jacqui in CA and her 'Endangered Species' series ... it's brought a few things back for me to think about and of my time in South Africa; thanks Sandra, thanks River and then thanks David - my mind wanders happily along! ... cheers Hilary
DeleteI don’t know how many times Julia and I went to that DARK restaurant on the CORNER when we first met. The food was always great, with an EXTRA dose of efficiency from the serving staff. They were mostly students from the two local universities, possessing a degree of WISDOM beyond their years. Julia had a less than favourable acquaintance with acne and she fussed about it more than was necessary, and the subdued lighting appealed to her. Ah, the MEMORIES I have. Her SHOULDER-length hair cascading down, her gentle MANNERS. She had so much inner STRENGTH and it was always a bit of a puzzle that a few facial blemishes bothered her unreasonably. Her FEMININITY was grounded in respect for both genders, but she could become an IMPOSING figure if her values were challenged. She was one of a kind. I miss her to this day.
ReplyDeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: I love Julia and hope that she continues to thrive - somewhere.
Deletewhat a beautiful memory and story. thank you for sharing.
DeleteExcellent, David. Your Julia certainly captured my imagination. Sandra sandracox.blogspot.com
DeleteHi David - oh those lost loves ... wonderful story telling - cheers Hilary
DeleteShe sounds like an amazing woman.
DeleteWell written text David!! Very good use of words (all of them)!!
DeleteMy mother always stressed femininity, strength, and good manners. But I forgot all three and, cursing, plowed right into the person in front of me as I glanced over my shoulder at the dark creeping in. Where, oh where, was the missing green door I planned to use as an escape hatch?
ReplyDeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
Sandra Cox: I do hope that the dark can be stopped - or escaped...
Deletean opening paragraph to a series of stories? Please?
DeleteHi Sandra - yes - what next? Well done ... that missing green ... it'll be there - cheers Hilary
DeleteEscape can be elusive. Nice use of the words.
DeleteThe extra memories in the corner of my brain impart wisdom while not imposing wasted space.
ReplyDeleteI wish the corners in my brain would impart wisdom. Instead they act like a Bermuda Triangle!
DeleteThe corners of my mind bring back my mother and I never realised much of her wisdom until those corners opened.
DeleteHi Mike - I suspect and know there's a lot of wasted space somewhere here! - great thought though - cheers Hilary
DeleteMike: There is definitely some wasted space here and some Bermuda Triangle corners too.
DeleteMy corners are a bit cobwebby, I think.
DeleteMike: Molta saviesa hi ha a les teves paraules. ;-)
DeleteGreat job of combining minimalism with word usage. Love it.
DeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
Comienzo de unas vacaciones que se las prometía felices.Ya habia recibido la paga extra de verano y previamente había concertado un apartamento en un lugar de playa.
ReplyDeleteNo era la primera vez que visitaba ese lugar. Los recuerdos acudían a su mente de cuando era niño y caminaba por esas mismas calles de la mano de sus padres.
Al volver la esquina precipidamente choca con una imponente mujer de finos modales y alta feminidad. Con la fuerza del choque, se le cae del hombro el bolso que llevaba en su trayecto y él como buen caballero, se apresura a recogerlo.
La mujer llevaba un traje oscuro, se veía que estaba arreglada para ir a una fiesta. Su buena sabiduría le hizo actuar con perfecta cortesía y no le hizo ninguna pregunta indiscreta.
Después de una breve presentación y una buena conversación intercambiaron sus teléfonos y quedaron en llamarse al día siguiente.
Con fortaleza cogió de nuevo la maleta y llegó al apartamento siempre pensando en la desconocida.
¡Ohh! ¡Un romance de vacaciones!
DeleteVENTANA DE FOTO: Romance in the offing? I hope so. I really hope so.
DeleteI hope they at least become good friends.
Delete¿Quién sabe como terminará ese tropiezo?
DeleteBuen relato, Antonia.
I liked your text Antonia,
Deletealthough I had to translate it,
it was worth the effort!
Apologies for the late contribution, it has been a busy 48!
ReplyDeleteCindi: It has been a busy day here too. I will be over to read your story shortly.
DeleteGenial la d'avui!! ;-)
DeleteIt’s truly wonderful to see your home taking shape—what an exciting phase of the journey. The framing and roof trusses really bring the vision to life, and those enclosed walls give such a strong sense of structure and progress. I can only imagine how meaningful it must be to walk through and picture each room in place. Wishing you continued smooth progress and good weather as the next stages begin.
ReplyDeletewww.melodyjacob.com
MELODY JACOB: I think you meant this comment for another post.
DeleteI have written yet another chapter in my tale of Bill, Sue and the seventh son.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte (MotherOwl): I have read and enjoyed it.
DeleteΤο κείμενό μου είναι εδώ: https://peripetiazois.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-old-book-of-fairy-tales.html
ReplyDeleteKaterinas Blog: I have read and enjoyed your take on the prompts.
DeleteThese always make wonderful reads, thanks so much! I am back after my blog break. Great to be catching up again.
ReplyDeleteCANTÓ FOSC
ReplyDeleteEls RECORDS la portaven a aquell CANTÓ FOSC, on no hi volia entrar de nou, com sempre IMPOSANT la FORÇA damunt la seva voluntat. Anava passant pel seu cap, minut a minut, segon a segon aquella trobada. Ni la presumpta SAVIESA del seu amic, ni les seves MANERES pogueren fer-li oblidar aquella ESPATLLA nua fins on l'ESQUENA perdia el seu nom, com el vestit VERD i uns talons alts i prims que allargaven molt més aquelles impressionants cames... —Prou! No podia perdre la seva FEMINITAT— Mentre ell l'acaronava, ella pensava que aquell home era tan sols un EXTRA a la seva vida... i es deixà estimar.
Aquí vos deixo el meu, no sortirà publicat al blog fins el dilluns dia 5 de maig. Moltes gràcies!!
sa lluna:
DeleteI have taken the liberty of translating (with google) your stunning piece.
DARK SIDE
The MEMORIES took her to that DARK SIDE, where she did not want to enter again, as always IMPOSING FORCE over her will. That meeting was going through her head, minute by minute, second by second. Neither the presumed WISDOM of her friend, nor his MANNERS could make her forget that bare SHOULDER to the point where the BACK lost its name, like the GREEN dress and high, thin heels that lengthened those impressive legs much more... —Enough! She could not lose her FEMININENESS— While he caressed her, she thought that that man was just an EXTRA in her life... and she let herself be loved.
Thank you so much, Sue!
DeleteJa el teniu aquí:
Deletehttps://elraconetdesalluna.blogspot.com/2025/05/canto-fosc.html
Un detall: Cantó = Corner. ;-)
Me ha gustado tu buen relato, pero antes he tenido que traducirlo.
ReplyDeleteTienes una gran capacidad, para componer historias,
VENTANA DE FOTO: Thank you. I am so grateful that so many people join this meme (and that we are able to translate).
Deletethecontemplativecat here.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Grady was elderly, those around him knew that Grady had great wisdom obtained through years of dark adventures and imposing strength. No one questioned his advice. Grady had been sitting in the pub for more years than anyone could count.
From Grady’s corner in the crowded pub, he could see and be seen.
Then one day, a woman appeared in their quiet town. Sylvia was the epitome of femininity with long dark hair draped over her shoulders. She carried herself with dignity and the manners of someone whose experiences were secreted away in the past.
When Grady met Sylvia’s eyes, there was an immediate reaction. Why are you here? Where did you go? The thoughts crossed between them stirring up memories from the past.
When Sylvia crossed the room, walking slowly up to Grady’s chair, Grady felt a surge of desire.
“Well, Grady. What do we do now?” She smiled down at him, and he at her. “Let’s get the hell outta here. I been waiting for years for your return. My buttocks are killing me.”
When they left, no one noticed the corner was empty. It had always been empty, hadn’t it? No one knew for sure.
Susan Kane: A mystery - and a love story. Colour me impressed.
Delete