Category Thoughts

Life Lessons – Līgo Haibun Challenge

freyathewriter 21 Comments

This week, I have decided to dip another toe in the world of the haibun – a piece of prose followed by a haiku poem. The Līgo Haibun Challenge is hosted by Penny, Ye Pirate and Nightlake – why not take a trip to their blogs to find out more?

This week’s two alternative prompts are the following words:

Paradise

Apathy

I have chosen ‘apathy’ – because I really couldn’t be bothered wih paradise… 🙂

Please do go and check out the other entries by visiting any of the co-hosts’ blogs and finding the InLinkz linky thing! There are some very talented writers out there…

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– Life Lessons –

Recently, there have been days when I have fought hard to just drag myself out of bed. There have been moments when I have wondered (sometimes out loud) ‘What’s the point?’

Life is never what we plan. Lucky is the old man who can look back on the decades and think ‘Yes, this is what I imagined it to be’. Did he achieve everything that he wanted, when all was said and done?

Probably not.

The trick is to pull yourself through the dark parts so that they don’t drag you down. Learn from them, don’t let them consume you, nor let them take control of your life. Don’t let your darkest predictions become your reality. Do not, do not become apathetic in the face of life’s tough stuff.

Life can be terrible and wonderful. It usually has elements of both for all of us. And yet, we can spend so much time focusing on the disaster, wallowing in it, letting it define us and allowing it to stop us in our tracks that the autumn and winter of our lives arrive like an express train, whilst we barely notice the joy of the spring and summer.

Not bothering, not experiencing, not being in the world – terrible choices, all. Take time to breathe when life knocks you sideways, because it surely will. Don’t take the choice of opting out. Regrets lie there, aplenty.

life lessons are tough

the trick is to learn them well

winter comes quickly

ligo-challenge_logo

The Old Life – dVerse Open Link Week 113

freyathewriter 12 Comments

Because I need to write these days in the same way that I need to breathe, because today has been different and because I like rules, but not too many, here’s my first (and not my last) entry into the dVerse Open Link. In honour of everyone who has lived a life.

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The Old Life

Today, we reminisced about old times:
Remember when
and
I’d forgotten how
and
Can you really believe?

Today, we laughed about how they
looked down on us
and
sneered at our clothes
and
told us to behave.

And yet as we shared our memories
of a hotel with ideas above its station,
I held a picture in my mind’s eye 
of a carefree girl with curly brown hair.
Giggling, wearing a shapeless shirt
and those jeans with the broken zip.

And I wonder where she went.
And I wonder.
And I wonder.

The Visitor – Five Sentence Fiction

freyathewriter 10 Comments

It’s time for my latest offering to Lillie McFerrin’s Five Sentence Fiction, a weekly prompt where there is no word limit, just a limit on the number of sentences. Plus, although she provides a word prompt, it is just for direction only – you don’t have to include the word itself in your contribution.

This week, the prompt is  – BEAUTY.

Do let me know what you think of my offering below – and whilst you’re at it, why not take a look at everyone else’s offerings (I’m sure they’ll be fabulous), and even give it a go yourself…

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– The Visitor –

His shimmering wings – iridescent, delicate, gossamer-light – flicker effortlessly as he dances above the limpid pool.

Lily pads lie heavy on the water’s surface, waxy blossoms opening their petals to embrace the day.

The dragonfly comes to rest, his copper coloured body flashing and glinting in the rising sun.

A second passes, the glade holds its breath; the dragonfly pushes off and away – the pool is bereft.

The slightest of ripples shudder across the water, a momentary memory of his jewelled presence.

 

Lillie McFerrin Writes