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.
The prompts will be here this month, but they are being provided by David M. Gascoigne. An additional prompt from Charlotte (MotherOwl) is to include in your take on the prompts.
This
week's prompts are:
- Villian
- Visit
- Bone
- Stork
- Memory
- Imprinted
- Human
- Kink
- Spring
- Faithful
A kink in the spring was imprinted by a faithful human once a shift at the factory.
ReplyDeleteLoved it;) Sandra
DeleteMike: What a good human. Many factory workers I have known would have lied low and said nuffin.
Deletevery succinct and nicely done!
DeleteYou make me smile with your succinctness.
DeleteMike - well done ... yes very succinct ... cheers Hilary
DeleteCurt i ben clar!
DeleteKarl, now a grown man, was still as thrilled as he was when he was a boy to see the storks return to his town to nest on the rooftops as they have done since HUMAN settlement first provided them with a suitable place for their home for the season.
ReplyDeleteVividly IMPRINTED in Karl’s MEMORY was the time a young STORK, close to fledging had somehow been pushed out of the nest, and had broken a leg on the fall to earth. The local wildlife rehabilitation centre mended the broken BONE, and Karl took care of the bird that winter since it had been unable to migrate with its parents.
The following SPRING the bird found a partner and bred successfully, but still remained FAITHFUL to Karl and visited him every day. Its leg had a bit of a KINK but that did not impair its movement in any way.
In the fall it was time to head south to escape the oncoming winter and it seemed to Karl that the stork paid him one last VISIT and stretched its leg as a way of expressing thanks for helping, and showing that all was well.
Who is to say that the inter-species boundary had not been bridged? Karl was convinced it had – and that’s all that matters. Humans don’t always have to be VILLAINS.
What a lovely story and use if the word prompts.
DeleteDavid, This is both touching and beautiful. Sandra
DeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: My heart just melted. Thank you.
DeleteI love this!
DeleteNicely done! Yes, sometimes we do things right.
DeleteExcellent story and I believe the inter-species boundary is often bridged; humans with their family pets, wildlife carers who bond with their animals, being hugged by lions and tigers who remember them, elephants who never forget etc.
DeleteGreat story David about the friendship between humans and animals! Perfect use of words! I liked that at the end you write that people don't always have to be bad!!
DeleteHi David - what a delightful thought ... I hope there are many Karls in this world - we so need them - thank you for this heartwarming tale - cheers Hilary
DeleteAnd the storks return just like sparrows.
DeleteUna bonica història. Gràcies!
DeleteTouching tale of boy and stork-bonding. Love it.
DeleteBart turned to his faithful sidekick, Jean when they found the cave in the woods. "Do you think we will find human remains in this one?" he wondered aloud.
ReplyDelete"What makes you think this cave will be different from the other two we visited this week? "
"This one has a spring about 100 yards south of it. Water source. And if my memory is correct the pond less than an eighth of a mile away has fish. Food source."
They crawled through the access to the very small cave. Bart had room to stand erect, but there was only enough room for Jean to stand in the entrance with her head cocked and one knee bent like a stork sticking through the cave opening.
She wanted to get out of the cramped space before her neck started to kink, but did not want Bart later casting her as the villain of their explorations so she stayed in the uncomfortable position while Bart sifted through the rubble.
Aha! Look at this bone! I knew we would find something."
Jean peered over his shoulder, saw the tiny bone in his hand then saw the remaining skeleton, which she pointed out with sisterly satisfaction.
"You made me come through this muck to find a lizard's skeleton. I'm going home. Mom probably has lunch ready now anyway." she said as she lowered herself to a crawling positing and backed out of the stupid cave.
And like a flash of lightning, a thought imprinted in her head. Just because Bart was three years older did not mean he was not always right, and it did not mean she always had to do what he wanted to do. Plus, since when was a water faucet a spring, and a coi pond a fishing hole?
She was seven now and could choose her own adventures.
Anne in the kitchen: I LOVE Jean's epiphany and hope she remembers it for a long, long time.
DeleteVery cute! I loved this and remember going on adventures like that myself!
DeleteA "faithful sidekick" has to volunteer, after all. Nicely done!
DeleteThis is great! I thought at first they were adult explorers who had found something important.
DeleteCute story!! Bart certainly wasn't always right!! Good use of words!
DeleteWhat fun Anne in the Kitchen - delightful ... just so right ...kids be kids and develop in their own ways - cheers Hilary
DeleteKids having fun...but not very safe.
DeleteAquesta nena va arribar a una bona conclusió. ;-)
DeleteSuch a great ending! Love it!
DeleteGreat story!
DeleteGreat story! Sandra sandracox.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteWorking on it.
ReplyDeletemessymimi: I look forward to your working.
DeleteWhen it goes live it will be over here.
Deletemessymimi:
DeleteFer una bona obra està bé... de tant en tant... ;-)
‘In the Spring Peter's fancy lightly turned to thoughts of love’. So did Lily’s. It seems to be imprinted on many species, including humans.
ReplyDeleteHowever, those thoughts and actions have consequences. When Lily didn’t receive the expected ‘visit’ her pretty flower pink face faded to ashen bone.
Her memory of her mother warning her about what she might find under the gooseberry bush or the ‘gift’ that a stork might bring her made her shudder. She had always liked storks but they were now the villains. Was this just a kink in the road?, Would Peter be faithful? Time would tell – and hopefully she would know before her fears could no longer be concealed.
Oh, poor Lily. I hope whatever the result, it goes well for her.
DeleteIt's a hard row to hoe, I do hope he does prove faithful.
DeleteOh dear, I hope Peter and Lily work things out.
DeleteBeautiful story leaves us wondering!!
DeleteOh wow! A not unfamiliar, fearful situation for many folks with a life altering impact.
DeleteHi EC - yes a tale that has a way to run ... I suspect sadness and finality ahead - but who knows. I hope she can remain strong ... cheers Hilary
DeleteExcellent story.
DeleteCleverly done, dear friend. Woot. Woot.
DeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
Un fet que passa sovint, el que és segur és que li canviarà la vida...
DeleteA take oft repeated, I fear. We can only wish Lily well.
DeleteThis chapter needs a follow up - what will happen to them?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMine has been posted here.
ReplyDeleteCindi: I have read it and shuddered.
DeleteI'll think on it, but there's a family problem going on so my mind is elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteRiver: Having read your email I am not surprised your mind and heart are elsewhere. You will be welcome whenever you can stop by but family has to take precedence.
DeleteNice tales. I've got a nonsense one again.
ReplyDeleteI’ve got a good MEMORY but does the STORK? He’s bit of a VILLIAN or VILLAIN you know, we never have any idea who he’s got a BONE to pick with. Maybe he’ll VISIT at the door and tell us.
Margaret D: Smiling - and hoping the stork does tell you who (and why) he has a bone to pick.
DeleteHi Margaret - memories bring us reminders of life ... Villian or Villain - spelling check not set up obviously for the poor chap ... I wonder if he knows who he's meant to be picking a bone with ... I hope his visit doesn't come here. Cheers a fun take for us to consider - Hilary
DeleteClever Margaret.
DeleteCuriosa i divertida. ;-)
DeleteIf he does tell, perhaps you can let us know.
DeleteHi EC and David ... here's mine ... David: any corrections happily accepted!!
ReplyDeleteThe villain of the piece came visiting bringing the usual stork bone for us to mull over … you'd have thought this human had been imprinted with those soaring wonders … he had stories, after stories about these amazing high flyers.
We could talk … yet storks' bills clattered to communicate … but we – oh yes the magical 'we' have song … performed by the Kinks or the Pretty Things, or even Rag 'n' Bone man … perhaps on The Village Green Preservation Society where the hedges were full of pink flowers, definitely not in the bath by so many in our society.
It doesn't look like storks are faithful … despite the mythology surrounding the folklore we've inherited … some are, some aren't … like us?
However I'd suggest that their memory is better than ours … again perhaps only pertinent to their family, while homo's memory has rather expanded … and who knows perhaps exceeded our brain's capacity – yet AI will never be as efficient as those mycelia that abound on our planet already.
Cheers everyone - I'll be back to read and comment anon ... interesting words David - thanks Hilary
Hilary Melton-Butcher: As always I was delighted to be made privy to some of your mind's perambulations. AI? Pffft to it.
DeleteI wondered how to use Stork and Bone but you figured it out.
DeleteNicely told!
DeleteGreat job, Hilary, different, quirky, interesting, entertaining. A mirror image of yourself.
DeleteBon treball!!
DeleteEncara que dubto que la IA no pugui ser més eficient que alguns humans. :-)))
The usual stork bone - a villain indeed!
DeleteDYLAN AND SUE
ReplyDeleteby Granny Annie
He was an outlaw human.
He was a definite villain.
There is little to her memory
Except his name was Dylan.
They met on a visit
One beautiful Spring
And Sue was quite certain
It was more than a fling.
Dylan held her tight
Like a dog with a bone
He filled her desire
Never to be alone.
He pretended to be faithful
But the story had a kink
It was wrapped in lies
That made Sue think.
The truth fell through
And was finely imprinted.
Grabbing every lie
Sue finally sprinted.
Truly a blessing since
Sue had been beguiled.
Never to be on her own
The stork left her a child
Granny Annie: Love it. And in rhyme too!!!
DeleteExcellent! How do the villains always hide it so well?
DeleteWell done, Granny Annie. Very creative.
DeleteM'ha agradat, és molt creatiu.
DeleteBrilliant Grannie Annie - so good, and I love the poetic rhythm ... then yes ... never to be alone ... cheers Hilary
DeleteBrilliant story! Thank you.
DeleteI loved the stories by David, Anne in the Kitchen, Elephant's Child, Hilary and Granny Annie.
ReplyDeleteMy writing is simple at my blog https://artmater.com/words-for-wednesday-may-28-2025/
artmater.com: Welcome and thank you - I am heading over to your blog to read your contribution now.
DeleteAQUÍ teniu el meu conte.
ReplyDeleteA un poble on la PRIMAVERA floria plena de colors, un VILLÀ anomenat Oriol es disposava a arruïnar-ho tot. Mentre tots gaudien dels somriures i les flors, ell planejava una VISITA inesperada. El seu objectiu: esborrar de la MEMÒRIA col·lectiva l'alegria HUMANA, deixant només tristesa IMPRESA al cor dels vilatans.
Però no comptava amb l'ajuda de ROSA, una CIGONYA FIDEL que coneixia la PERVERSIÓ dels seus plans. Amb un OS al bec i un gran sentit de l'humor va decidir fer una broma al senyor Oriol, omplint casa seva d'herbes que el feien esternudar. Amb la seva al·lèrgia, es va veure obligat a fugir mentre el poble reia lliurement. Junts van desentranyar els fils foscos del malvat, descobrint que la veritable força residia en la unió de les seves memòries.
A l'alba, quan el sol va il·luminar la ciutat, el mal va ser esvaït i els seus ressons quedaren com un xiuxiueig a l'aire. La felicitat estava fora de perill, una vegada més!
Gràcies!
sa lluna wrote: HERE is my story.
DeleteIn a town where SPRING was blooming full of colors, a VILLAIN named Oriol was preparing to ruin everything. While everyone was enjoying the smiles and flowers, he planned an unexpected VISIT. His goal: to erase HUMAN joy from the collective MEMORY, leaving only sadness IMPRESSED in the hearts of the villagers.
But he did not count on the help of ROSA, a FAITHFUL STORK who knew the PERVERSION of his plans. With a BONE in his beak and a great sense of humor, he decided to play a joke on Mr. Oriol, filling his house with herbs that made him sneeze. With his allergy, he was forced to flee while the town laughed freely. Together they unraveled the dark threads of the evil one, discovering that the true strength lay in the union of their memories.
At dawn, when the sun illuminated the city, the evil was dispelled and its echoes remained like a whisper in the air. Happiness was safe, once again!
I love it. Laughter cures so many ills.
Hi Sa Luna - a wonderful tale ... one we need to remember ... happiness needs to be safe always - cheers Hilary
DeleteSue, Hilary... Thank you very much!
DeleteI agree completely that laughter has amazing curative powers
DeleteStorks are good spitits. Thank for the story (and to EC for the translation).
DeleteAnne, Charlotte... Moltes gràcies!
DeleteEven though I am a non-participant, I still enjoy the stories. Thanks so much for all you do for this meme :)
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: Thank you so much for being a faithful reader.
DeleteWhat a fantastic idea for a meme. I love how collaborative and encouraging "Words for Wednesday" sounds, and the flexibility with the prompts is brilliant. It's truly inspiring to see a community built around the joy of writing and cheering each other on. Best of luck with your own take on this week's words – they certainly offer a lot to play with.
ReplyDeleteMELODY JACOB: It really is a fun meme and has been running for a number of years now.
DeleteFinally! I have written a bit more of Susan's story. I will return later and read.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte (MotherOwl): I have seen it and am thrilled that your muse has returned.
DeleteWell done, everyone! ❤️
ReplyDeleteFundy Blue: Thank you.
DeleteI shall not toss a bone about any villain and as a kind human I will invite a neighbor stork to visit me at teatime this spring so she can leave a faithful and loving memory without a kink of sorrow imprinted in my heart.
ReplyDelete21 Wits: I love this - and would happily invite neighbouring storks to join me. Any time.
DeleteSweet tale - will the stork leave behind a present?
Delete