Category Archives: As you read it

#writephoto-fresco #The shelter

It was frustrating. For two days we had been sitting down in the hot, humid cellar. Our wine was warm, our food was cold. At least we could breathe down here, unlike in the street above. The choking fumes clogged our nostrils, the tiny wind-blown cinders got into our throats. Everyone was coughing and the stench was unbearable.

From what they said it seemed to be getting worse outside. Last night only a few of us had come down but today more and more people started arriving. Most had not brought anything down with them in their panic. They were just concerned with getting away from the ash cloud that sat like a dragon atop the hill. The very ground had started to groan and shudder as if all the denizens of the underworld were on the move.

My father had told us that we need not worry as this had happened many times before.He stayed in the villa thinking that it would soon pass but the Gods appeared to be really angry this time. No-one was sure how to placate them. Even the priests from the temple had decided to join us.

As the daylight, what there was of it, Helios having been smothered by the dark, impenetrable cloud, began to fade for the second day, we heard a strange noise as if the very rocks and earth beneath our feet was moaning in pain and it seemed to be getting louder.

I shouted for everyone to be quiet and as our babble subsided we realised that the sound was coming from a great wind that was blowing through the passageways. Some of the women started to wail and before long both men and women started to sob as we realised something terrible was about to happen. Strangely there was no panic and I could hear my companions muttering low incantations. Before long even the chanting ceased.

Wrapping my cloak around my shoulders I took my wife and daughter in my arms. Their eyes were wide with fright and tears in the warming air. We huddled against the wall and the stifling air grew steadily hotter. We will try to rest, perhaps sleep and with the aid of the Gods return to our beloved Pompeii home in the morning.

 

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Filed under As you read it, Factual, Flash fiction, History, Self compositions, Temperatures rising

Ronovan writes #362

The weighted drag net

makes the seabed desert dust

Ocean’s Silent Spring

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Filed under As you read it, dystopian view, Factual, From the heart, Haiku, Self compositions

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #55

burlingham-henge-1

I looked at my neighbour

and she looked at me

then she smiled, bowed her head

and asked if I could see

that we and all the the other posts

were painted quite brightly.

I asked her for the reason

and with a smile of glee,

she said tonight when the park is closed

we will dance round the old dead tree

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Filed under As you read it, Humorous, Inspired by fable, On the lines of romance, Self compositions, Singalong

Colleen’s 2019 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 155 #SynonymsOnly End/Hurry

1FC18AC1-FC35-4973-A8CF-18EEC7FFD143Hare, knew the result

was a foregone conclusion

no point in rushing,

the triumph of the tortoise

became the stuff of legend.

 

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Filed under Alternative history, As you read it, Inspired by fable, Self compositions, Tanka

Sammiscribbles Weekend Writing Prompt #133 ~Thoughts of Yew.

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I stand in silence exuding the dignity expected by my infrequent, reluctant visitors. Casting long shadows over the darkened windows, the black lace veils and dark suits so seldom aired. Offering comfort through familiarity to the grief-stricken, the respectful onlookers, the older ones knowing what best to say and do. Inwardly I smile for have I not, like many of my kind, stood guard at the cemetery gates for half of my two hundred year life.

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Filed under As you read it, Factual, Flash fiction, On the lines of romance, Self compositions

mindlovemiserysmenagerie first-line-friday-november-22nd-2019/

Eden saw doubt in their trembling smiles, they never expected her to recover. She had never seen compassion in anyone’s eyes before and was confused and frightened at their touch. Although not unpleasant it felt strange to have gentle hands running down her back and over her flanks. She yawned and felt she had to try and stand, if only to take a small sip of water. A privilege denied her for the past two days. Unsteadily, she shook her head and stretching her legs made as if to stand. It was too difficult but she heard an unfamiliar babble of sound. The tones were gentle, reassuring and somehow she understood that today would be the first day of a new life. When she opened her eyes she heard a loud cheer and looking into the eyes that stared down at her she could make out the tears running down. She too wanted to cry but it was with happiness not the pain she had often felt as she was taken out of her crate for yet another mating. She was sure this would be different and she did not resist as she found herself being lifted. She felt a soft blanket cover her and instinctively knew she was being rescued from her life of hell.

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Filed under As you read it, Factual, Inspired emotion, Self compositions, Short story

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Nov. 23/19 ~flyer/ad

I scan the shelves and my eyes alight upon a magazine I haven’t read for a couple of months. To encourage my desire to maintain a reasonable level of fitness in my advancing years and on the advice of my GP. I remove it from the shelf. As is customary nowadays it is encased in a clear polythene wrapper. Oblivious to the current concern about single use plastic the publishers appear to share my own irritation at the number of people I see reading all the magazines without a thought of purchase, thus leaving the merchandise in second-hand condition, creased pages and dog-eared corners and all. After purchase I get the magazine to the car and head home. Eagerly I tear my way in and as I turn the first page an avalanche of paper leaflets fall onto the table thence onto the floor. Upon retrieval I glance at the inane sheaf of brightly coloured sheets. Amidst the promises of untold riches if I am willing to make a telephone call for a mere two pounds a minute I notice one extolling the virtues of a home stairlift, a winch to raise me from the bathtub and a host of ingenious ideas to make life easier in the home. Very helpful to an expected clientele of people considering conquering all the long distance footpaths in Britain or walking holidays in the country of their choice. At least they haven’t been clogging up the hard-pressed postal system.

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Filed under As you read it, Factual, From the heart, Self compositions

Crimsons’s Creative Challenge #54

priory-undercroft-I’d like a photo in there said Anne

so off we went, camera in hand

but first I had to pee,

she held it for me

and that’s how our romance began

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Filed under As you read it, Comic verse, Humorous, Limerick, On the lines of romance, Self compositions

Ronovan Writes #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #280 Valley#Peak

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From the highest peak

down to the deepest  valley,

see Nature’s wonders

 

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Filed under As you read it, Factual, From the heart, Haiku, nature inspired, Self compositions

saturday-six-word-story-prompt-6wsp-12-november-16-2019/

Rather than marriage they chose fun

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Filed under As you read it, Factual, Self compositions