Words for Wednesday will be here for the Month of April. All the way from Newfoundland, Canada, which has its own time zone - 30 minutes ahead of the rest of Canada. Thanks as always to Elephant's Child for keeping this feast going.
This meme was started by Delores a long time ago. Computer issues led her to bow out for a while. The meme was too much fun to let go, and now Words for Wednesday is provided by a number of people and has become a movable feast.
Essentially the aim is to encourage us to write. Each week we are given a choice of prompts: which can be words, phrases, music or an image. What we do with those prompts is up to us: a short story, prose, a song, a poem, or treating them with ignore... We can use some or all of the prompts, and mixing and matching is encouraged.Some of us put our creation in comments on the post, and others post on their own blog. I would really like it if as many people as possible joined into this fun meme, which includes cheering on the other participants. If you are posting on your own blog - let me know so that I, and other participants, can come along and applaud.
From "The Book of Longing" by Leonard Cohen. Art by Leonard Cohen.
Canopy*
Thorn*
Machine*
Charity*
Limp*
Aisle*
Nothing*
Sneak*
He'd been a thorn in her side for so long, she'd lost track of the times he'd teased and belittled her. And now here he was, all grown up, she sneaked a look, the slight limp from the long ago motorcycle accident giving him a roguish slant. Their childhood battles all but forgotten, falling away into nothing.
He'd come back into her life installing a machine - the new printing press for her company that ran the children's charity.
And incredibly, here she was, walking down the aisle, moving under the white canopy, leaning on her father's arm, smiling up at Luke her childhood enemy, as he held out his hands and grasped both of hers, smiling, solid, as if he'd always been standing there. Waiting.
This is very, very sweet. Very heart-warming.
ReplyDeleteThank you River!
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What a touching use of the wonderful words you supplied us with this week. The last line really tugged my heart strings!
DeleteThis week’s prompts were written for Jazz. Including the image – though it could perhaps be more accurately written ‘I believe that you are attempting to sit in the place where I am supposed to be lying…’
ReplyDeleteCharity (and compassion) start at home. With that in mind please tell me why, just when I am getting comfortable, you sneak in and start the suck monster machine (I believe you call it a vacuum).
It roars as me as you chase me up and down the aisles of the house. My house.
When you have finished and dragged it away I am capable of nothing more than lying limp and leffargic in a patch of sun.
You are soooo selfish. I don’t ask for much, and certainly no more than I deserve (my modest requests are nothing like as much as I deserve).
What you should be doing (and I have had to tell you this more than once) is bringing me morsels of delectable food which you should hand feed me as I lie on my velvet cushion on the canopy bed. Since this is a lesson you have failed to learn it is my sad and solemn duty to be the thorn in your side, and your ankle, and your leg…
Heeheehee! EC, you are channeling your cat very well indeed.
DeleteDelightful EC - but yes ... they will always be so ... but one we can't resist ... just not feeding them on their velvet cushion under the canopy! Wonderful ... cheers Hilary
DeleteWritten like a true cat!
Deletehahaha, my cats echo those sentiments!
DeleteOh, our cats would certainly get along! (Or NOT!) I love your description of the vacuum!
DeleteRiver is right. Your story is lovely. A real awwwww moment.
ReplyDeleteThank you EC!
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Lovely story WWW, it reminds me of old songs and rdried rose petals hidden in a book ... these are positive connotatons for me.
ReplyDeleteWhile writing the nest chapter of my story (SUsan this time) I discovered that I accidentally had forgotten to publish one installment last time around. Now I'm struggling to bring order in chaos. I hope to publish something around 9 pm my time. What time in your part of Canda that means? No idea but half past something ;)
I believe we are 4-1/2 hours behind you time wise Charlotte. Thanks for your kind words!
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Yes, you're rigth. I found out how to change the clocks in my calendar on the computer. Now one shows my time, one New Foundland time, and the last Sydney time. This will make my life a bit easier :)
DeleteIt's now 10.13 your time, 14.43 my time and 22.43 in Sydney. Yay for technology!
Marvelously compact story incorporating all those words in a very touching tale.
ReplyDeleteThank you Joared!
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Your story is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteMine is finally up, over here.
A light story for a change Mimi!
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Yours is a beautiful story Mimi, I really enjoyed it
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A wonderful story!
DeleteI was hoping for a good ending! You wrote an entertaining and enjoyable story.
DeleteHere's mine - using all the words:
ReplyDeleteHi Wisewebwoman – how do they always sneak up on her … especially at the moment just as she’d managed to limped into Church and now sat quietly at the edge of the aisle … with just space in her head – nothing – just trying to relax, escape for a few moments of peace. Interruptions always frustrate her.
The canopy of the dome was meant to protect her … from these thorny people … charity – they did not offer … while the machinations of life … droned on outside. She new machines would improve life … but it was too fast – and she needed to get off the bandwagon for a while.
The church was too near … she’d need to find a quieter place, where she couldn’t be found … for a while, until she could adjust to the hustle and bustle of the outside world once again.
All the best - I'll be back to read the others ... cheers Hilary
Hilary - this is so sad. This poor woman definitely needs sanctuary - and I hope she finds it.
DeleteThanks EC ... she just needed her 'brain space' as I like to call it - something I needed when my Mum was ill - and people would come up to me, when I was just taking a little switch-off time ... always annoyed me - but they weren't to know.
DeleteBut I like 'brain space' ... cheers and yes - the sanctuary is here now! All the best Hilary
Oh, how I know that feeling. Hope she finds her quiet space.
DeleteThat is so beautiful Hilary and the sadness resonates with me. We've all had those moments of wanting to tune out from all the noise.
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Oh, I can relate to this one. Wonderfully written.
DeleteI think we have all seen someone (or been) the person of whom you write. I'm hoping to be sensitive to her needs, should I encounter her. You took the words and created a reality with them.
DeleteMay she find a church that will welcome her and give her what she needs. There are some out there.
DeleteHi WWW - your story is wonderful - I love that concept of life 'waiting' for the right moment for them to be together ... well crafted - thank you ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThank you Hilary, I tend to write "darkly" so it was lovely to find this lovely couple inside me.
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Thanks for these great prompts. Here is my story for this week.
ReplyDeletePANDEMIC GLORY by Granny Annie
The pandemic sheltered me under a canopy of quiet. It was not a thorn in my side because I became a well oiled machine, allowed to concentrate on hobbies and charity.
Exercise took away my limp as I walked every day. The length of my home was my aisle for pacing on days that cold and rain would not allow me outside.
If it was my desire I could do absolutely nothing. Sometimes I could sneak an occasional treat and not worry about the calories. Over the year I managed to lose 34 pounds.
Fantasticjob Granny Annie, I love how you brought the pandemic into it all so seamlessly.
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Wonderful! And congrats on the 34!
DeleteSocial distancing has been hard in many ways, yet I think we've all seen some benefit to slowing down. I love your use of the words, and your ending!
DeleteLove your own very sensitive story. Great job.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
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These days our sky canopy is made of geese. Canada geese and snow geese. There are no thorns on this rose! The machine of spring deigns to surround me with the charity of her beauty. I’ve been a limp nothing all winter, with barely enough energy to sneak up the aisle of life.
ReplyDeleteWell done!!! I love watching the geese fly in their V formations!
DeleteStubblejumpers Cafe: How I would love to see the sky filled with geese. Enjoy your Spring.
DeleteWell done Kate, a very interesting take on spring and winter. Well captured!
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I've heard snowgeese overhead and they create quite a din! What a beautiful image of springtime you have created with these words. I enjoyed it!
DeleteSounds like a beautiful spring is upon you.
DeleteOh, how I love that! Mine has been published here
ReplyDeleteI could almost smell the colors and scents of springtime as I was reading your writing. Well done!
DeleteLovely take Cindi on the prompts. I encourage readers to visit.
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I just published my response to this challenge on my blog: He Wasn't Standing Where He Was Supposed To Be
ReplyDeleteI encourage everyone to visit Susan and read her marvellous and surprising take on the prompts!
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Thank you, WWW. Sorry to be so late finishing mine!
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