Category Hope

Release – VisDare 61

freyathewriter 4 Comments

“Come with me now.”

I raised my head gingerly, recalling a night of chills, pain and fever-riddled dreams.

The girl smiled, joy flooding her eyes. “We make you better.”

I doubted it. Oh, the sickness would go – but I had been travelling for so long and still I woke each morning, desolate.

She shepherded me through tall grasses. I heard tinkling bells in the distance, laughter and chanting.

The entire community had gathered by the river, bearing lit paper lanterns. The tiny flames punctured the early morning mists like stars fallen to earth.

“Grandfather left our world last night for eternal happiness. Now we wish him safe travels. You must do the same. You must let your loved one go.”

I took the lantern, paused and then launched it into the air, watching until it disappeared.

Enveloped in the embrace of strangers, I had set myself free.

 

e3b7f6a762ef6eefe67b10cd16ee5611Photo Source

I’m back for another entry into Angela’s VisDare prompt, where the challenge is to respond, in 150 words or less, to the photo she puts up on her blog each week.The young lady is stunning, with such a winning smile, I just couldn’t resist!

I hope you enjoy it, please do take part. I’ll be linking up now and commenting on other contributions later!

Phoenix

freyathewriter 65 Comments

Who am I asking at the top of the tree
Self-affirmation does nothing for me
I can’t trust my instincts, they’re hay-wired and shot
The message is scrambled, my brain’s lost the plot

I’m down on the floor, scraping in dirt
A nod of acceptance won’t really hurt
You in your turret, with glories to share
Tell me, a poor wretch, that you do really care

For it is cold down below in the shade of your heart
I live for attention, I am broken apart
When you look to the beauty of others in sight
Ignoring my mewling, I cower with fright

That I have lost you forever, I am lost in the dark
The future is bleak, empty and stark
I must go on without you, craft self-belief
Strength, hope and glory must rise from this grief.

******

This is me, putting myself in the shoes of one of the people in my work in progress novel, in the form of a poem. So don’t worry, I am not broken-hearted so soon into the New Year! Of course, there are elements of my personal history woven throughout, but this is essentially a piece of fiction. The main female character has lost her brother, has been left responsible for the safety of her little sister and the love of her life has taken a path she can no longer follow. Personal stories don’t change much in quasi-apocalyptic worlds, it’s the catalysts that are different….

Hurrah for the return of Open Link Night on dVerse. I will be linking up later on. Come one, come all and join in!

Holiday High Jinks

freyathewriter 20 Comments

Hello, dear and faithful readers.

I had planned to write an amusing and witty poem to round off my pre-Christmas contributions to this blog, but like pie crusts, good intentions are made to be broken and blasted by other commitments such as work, which pays the bills.

I started this blog back in the spring this year with no idea in my mind that I would manage to attract such a wide readership, have so many visitors or expand my writing skills into poetry. I have met so many lovely and creative people, read wonderful work and felt my own craft develop over the weeks and months. Writing has probably saved my sanity this year. I have grown older, wiser and learned some very hard lessons along the way. I lost my dad in the summer, a pain more excruciating than anything I have felt before, and really don’t wish to repeat again for a long time. I hope this blog would make him proud. At the very least I’ve been brave enough to put myself out there and feel I can hold my head high.

Anyway, thank you to everyone who has stopped by, read, liked, commented or just trawled around to see what’s going on. You are all welcome.  I am taking a break in the countryside for the holidays, so the pages will lie fallow for a couple of weeks. I will recharge my batteries, recoup, soak up some calm and return, full of energy and food 🙂

See you all on the other side – 2014 is going to be a good one. I have already decided!