Category Life

Undertow – dVerse Meeting the Bar

freyathewriter 28 Comments

– Undertow –

I stand and stare at you
in the moments after you stop living;
there are no more words to say to you,
under my breath.
I can no longer pretend or hope or believe or pray
that you can hear me,
that you can smile somewhere deep inside
at the sound of my voice,
and be glad that I’m with you
at the end.
I resent you for it;
for not saying goodbye,
for cutting free so unilaterally.

*****

So, for me, an unsurprising choice this week, when we are invited to write about the difficult or spicy subjects that we tend to swerve, given half the chance. Death yet again is my theme. The death of my dad. Today in particular has been pretty bad. There’s no rhyme, no reason for it. That’s grief, I guess. Tomorrow will be different, I know.

You can read and discover many more slices of life right here.

Lineage – dVerse Open Link Week 115

freyathewriter 31 Comments

Here’s my latest entry into the dVerse Open Link – why not take a look at everyone else’s wonderful responses?

This piece is in honour of family – mine, yours, past, present and future. I’m a September baby, as was my dad. Autumn is my favourite season, it’s my season, my family season. For me, it’s a time of looking forward and back. I hope you enjoy my short but hopefully sweet piece.

*****

– Lineage –

I trace the lines from me to you
The DNA meanders through
the decades separating us
Reflected in our eyes.

I trace the names repeatedly
The warp and weft of history
binds us closely, centuries old
Hearts linked across the years.

I trace the lines around your eyes
The crooked smile points to the ties
that show us to be family
Connected for all time.

Trace your future to my past
The generations move so fast
Enjoy your life, be proud, be strong
Your history lives in you.

We Are Family – Alastair’s Photo Fiction

freyathewriter 11 Comments

Here is my offering for Alastair’s Photo Fiction this week, inspired by the photo below.  Why not take part? And why not visit his photography and writing blog to take a look at his other photos…?

Copyright - A Mixed Bag

Copyright – A Mixed Bag

– We Are Family –

“There’s a pike in there you know. It’s got really sharp teeth!”

I rolled my eyes over my little sister’s head as she giggled, grasping Dad tightly around the waist. He winked at me, as I knew he would.

“How big is it, Daddy?”

“Ooooh!” He gripped his pipe between his teeth, screwing up his eyes against the tendrils of smoke curling around his head.  He stretched his arms wide. “It must be this big by now – it’s very, very old!”

“And very, very hungry!” I chimed in, unable to resist joining him on the joke.

Sadie peeked at me from underneath her heavy fringe, eyes sparkling and a grin forming like sun winking from behind the clouds. She poked Dad in the stomach. “Da-ad! You’re teasing me again!”

He picked her up, swinging her high above his head. He let go, and she squealed, excited, yet knowing she was safe. He caught her mid-air, pulling her close to his chest with one arm, enveloping me with the other.

“That’s because I love you. Both of you.”