Princess Murano
her face framed in furnace fire
slowly raised her eyes
memories of fragrant blooms
fragile, fading, as of glass
Category Archives: Temperatures rising
Sue Vincent’s #Thursdayphotoprompt #Writephoto
Filed under As you read it, Otherworldly, Self compositions, Tanka, Temperatures rising
First Line Friday: January 4th, 2019
The borderlands grew wider and wilder every year. Old Seth had had plenty of years in which to note the changes. Now he felt tired. Of working, of the burning desert sun, of his aching limbs, failing eyesight and his life in general.
Every year there were more repairs needed in the shack and since his two, now adult boys never thought to visit no-one was able to give him a hand. Neighbors never called, in fact it had only just dawned on him that he had no neighbors. The encroaching desert sands and ever increasing summer temperatures had cleared the land far more thoroughly than a team of property developers ever could.
He was beginning to regret the lack of trees. Nowhere to organise a good hanging, even if it was your own. He sat down on one of the scorched boulders and idly ran the sand through his fingers, perhaps he could will himself to death in the way the old occupiers of the land did.
Resolved to try he closed his eyes.
Whether by accident or design the midday sun saved him the effort. Four days later the body was discovered when a real estate team happened to be passing on their way to his farm.
Sue Vincent’s #Thursday photo prompt: Setting #writephoto
And all those gathered on the Plain of Saarkand breathed a sigh of relief as one.
For as they looked to the East, the first rays of the New Sun arose over the hill that was called The Old Maid’s breast.
The harsh days of the cold season were past until the dark days arrived once more, as ordained by the Spirits of Earth and Sky.
With the rising of the sun the dark shadow of the beast, which the more superstitious among them had perceived as Kerhaan, the Dragon of Darkness, began to fade and crumble into glowing silver clouds. Soon to fall as life-giving rain on the high mountains. The rivers would flow freely once more down to the barren plain.
So would begin the new life phase.
Encouraged by the daily, ever-rising heat of the sun and the watering of the beast’s blood the farmers could once more begin the tilling of the earth and the sowing of the seed.
The Elders would continue to offer the sacrifice to the Ancestors and if they were not displeased once more would they fill the grain stores and feed their flocks.
Life for all would be good again.
#Alphabet haiku ‘W’
Woefully we watch
worldwide waters warm within,
wandering whales weep
MLMM’s #Heeding haiku with Chevrefueille November 28 2018 long night (yonaga)
cold fur-lined branches
weep in the gaze of the sun
elements battle
Filed under Haiku, nature inspired, Self compositions, Temperatures rising
Q haiku
Morning frost has cleared
golden boughs implore blue sky
warming Winter sun
Filed under Factual, Haiku, nature inspired, Self compositions, Temperatures rising
MlMM’s #Heeding Haiku With Chèvrefeuille, October 31st 2018, raindrops shimmer #Haibun #Trapdoor
Perspiring raindrops
shimmer in the warm sun’s glow,
soon to form rainbows.
Her trap is set. Grasping the last strand she sits motionless in the dark, cool sand at the bottom of her burrow and waits. She feels a vibration and tensing her legs prepares to grasp and pierce her prey. The trapdoor springs up and a flood of raindrops rush in soaking the fur that covers her black, bloated body. A desert flash storm. She leaves the trapdoor open knowing that it will soon dry in the bright sun then she can continue her lonely vigil.
Sue Vincent’s magical #Thursday photo prompt: Glimmer #writephoto
I gazed at the ashen faces and tired expressions of my companions. For three days we had been hiding atop this rocky outcrop. Shivering in the dark of the cold nights and crouched among the rocks by day, reluctant to light a fire for food and warmth in case of discovery. We had seen no aircraft overhead for the last forty-eight hours which we all agreed may have been a good sign or perhaps a sign of something worse to come.
Far below, the dark, oily, clouds of smoke drifted lazily across the plain where only a few days before there had been green, lush fields and trees. Now all was a scorched , brown, devastated wasteland.
There was no way of knowing if it would be safe to descend and although we could obtain fresh water from the numerous springs our food supplies were running low and would soon be extinguished.
There was still no phone signal and the batteries would soon be running out leaving only the radio from which we had heard nothing since we saw the bright glow in the Eastern sky with the ominous mushroom shaped cloud that could only have meant one thing.. We could only hope that there were others down below but it had all happened so fast that we could not be sure we were not the only survivors.
Had we few not been members of this expedition we also would have been victims of the catastrophe. unleashed in such a brief time.
We decided to take a vote on finding volunteers to make a descent into the valley. This would be the only way to check if there was a glimmer of hope for our and the rest of mankind’s survival.
Filed under Flash fiction, Self compositions, Temperatures rising
RonovanWrites Weekly #Haiku #Poetry #Challenge #221 Peace&Love
When the pair made love
the neighbours could get no peace
a hard loving man
Filed under As you read it, Haiku, No offence intended, Self compositions, Temperatures rising, Whimsical
Sue Vincent’s #Thursday photo prompt: Pillars #writephoto, Pyroplastic surge
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, due to the sun having been smothered by the dark cloud, began to fade for the second day we heard a strange noise. It was like a low moaning 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 flowing 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 starting incantations. Before long even the chanting ceased.
Wrapping my cloak around my shoulders \I took my wife and daughter in my arms. We huddled against the wall and the stifling air grew steadily hotter. I can write no more. I will sleep and hopefully return to my beloved Pompeii home in the morning.
Filed under As you read it, Factual, Flash fiction, History, Self compositions, Temperatures rising
