Tag Grief

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

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Small Friend – Līgo Haibun Challenge

freyathewriter 22 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 photos – of a goat and a group of penguins. I have chosen the penguins, for no particular reason at all! I hope you enjoy it. 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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– Small Friend –

“Does your Daddy like penguins?”

I look down at the little face raised upwards like a smiling flower. Her small, sticky hand grips mine tightly as we watch the trio waddling around the penguin pool. The innocent question stabs at my heart, so delicately protected by a tissue of time. The words slice through, finding their target.

I smile, determined not to crumple in front of this cheerful four year old, lost in the excitement of her day out at the zoo.

“Who doesn’t like them? Don’t you think they look like old men, waddling around?”

She extracts her starfish hand from mine, holding out both hands – her signal for a ‘carry n’ cuddle’.

“Please, I’m tired now.”

I crouch down noticing the mild ache in the small of my back, a remnant of too many days spent in unforgiving hospital chairs. Picking her up, I relish the warmth of her grasp around my neck. One arm releases as a thumb slips into her mouth, and her index finger hooks over her nose, rubbing gently, comfortingly.

“Don’t be sad,” she says. “You can ask him when you get home.”

 

little girl in spring

her life beginning, sees pain

inside, gives comfort

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Kriah – Trifecta Week 85

freyathewriter 28 Comments

Below is my offering for week 85′s challenge word, which is ‘fly’. As you will see from the relevant blog post, the challenge is to write between 33 and 333 words of fiction, non-fiction, poetry or prose, based on the 3rd definition from the Merriam Webster’s Online Dictionary.  This week the 3rd definition of ‘fly’ is:

3a : to move, pass, or spread quickly
b : to be moved with sudden extreme emotion
c : to seem to pass quickly

Here’s my offering below – I hope you like it! Please check here for the other entries!

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– Kriah –

I will give wings to my rage and let it fly.

I will shout, scream and vent my pain –

in silence.

The sounds in my head will deafen me,

drowning out the joy of you.

 

This is not what you want

for me.

 

Trifecta