prompt

blue face (impromptu prompt)

blue face

look at the blue face
do we ever get that close
and the feathers for a crown
as peacocks have
too
this is an impressive bird
no wonder Franklin wanted it
rather than eagles
for a nation’s emblem

c l couch

Melissa’s Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge #244

this was my response to Grace’s response to the prompt she received from Melissa’s blog (whew); Grace suggested I send it along to Melissa’s blog via posting it here (whew)

Grace’s work, https://graceofthesun.com/gobble-gobble/?sn=c&c=76158#comment-76158

thanks, Grace! thanks, Melissa!—Christopher

Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash

(the photo here is not the prompt; please use the link above, that is, from Melissa’s blog; read Grace’s response as well because it’s enthused and endearing)

December 1, 2023 11

Trees

Trees

(for an October prompt)

Tolkien liked trees

Robin Hood, too;

Tinkerbell and Tiger Lily,

I imagine,

Providing shelter

And playing fields

For lost boys

I like trees

Two of these peaked

High like towers from

The wide suburban plain

Of the backyard,

Splindly reaching toward

A clouded sky on

A Pittsburgh summer day

There was wind

At night, and upon the

Morning in the yard

One tree had fallen

Large across the lawn,

Tall on the ground

Sibling standing over

As if to demonstrate their

Name,

Weeping willow

For many days

I had climbed into the

Guard now dying,

Onto a lumbered platform

That my father built

That lay square among

Round branches

Inside uprooted, plodding

Blocks

Of grass

First time for me

With something monstrous

So close, so wrong

C L Couch

October 21, 2016 9

Jacki K’s Free Writing Prompt—What Makes You Grateful?

A Free Writing Prompt for You: What makes you grateful? How do you say, “Thanks”?

from Jacki K

response and illustration

Is that free writing or freewriting? I’ll probably respond to both. And with. Okay, I start.

Finding something lost makes me feel grateful. And I say thanks. To hear good news from family makes me feel grateful, too.

Longer time on earth—and I like being here, by the way—means loss. Someone dying is not about me, but I can’t help but take it personally. I think we’re supposed to, actually. After all, after death the issues are for those us remaining.

With losses that are severe—yes, loss of life but also loss or lessening of health and means and prospects—the small things to be thankful for mean more. I mean, I suppose losses in life could lead to bitterness, though as a lifestyle I try to move myself away from that. Maybe when I’m old and all alone, I’ll give in.

So lost keys, then. And that one piece of paper with information on it that I need. Sleeping a number of hours without obvious break. A day of color, whatever the season. Which would include a cardinal on the snow. Something new and interesting I see when I drive by. A new-to-me old building to admire or a community announcement that shows the town alive. Remembering to have grabbed exactly what I needed on my way outside the door.

There are many things. Imagine yours.

I do say thank-you and perform small courtesies in kind. Whatever the reaction is matters, though not so much. The joy is in the giving. And so is thankfulness. Small things to be thankful for are gifts and courtesies. I’m a better person when I know these and acknowledge them.

Aren’t we better people for saying and receiving thanks? Giving or receiving? Both? You’re welcome. And thank you.

C L Couch

for the image, kennethkeiferphotography.zenfolio.com (from Google Images)

November 16, 2015 4