Sammi’s WWP
“You can use any format or style you like; go wherever your inspiration takes you.”
Take a look, see, books everywhere!
Under my bed, over couches and chairs
Could they be breeding under the stairs?
I must rectify this untenable nightmare
Another book I’ll not buy, even on a dare!
I could feel her soft, wrinkled hand tightening on mine. I don’t know how long we stood before she finally spoke.
“I was looking out that window over the sign. I saw your grandfather’s mother kill mine. Just because she wasn’t the same color. It’s been seventy years now. It feels like just yesterday.”
I got my tongue working. “Grandma, how could you marry him?”
She turned, soft brown eyes wet with tears. “It wasn’t easy but love won. Hate lost. You’ll be going off to college soon. You won’t forget that, will you?”
“Like the sign says, Grandma, ‘NOPE’!”
word count: 100 written for Rochelle's Friday Fictioneers click on Rochelle Wisoff-Fields's hand-drawing of the frog for more tales of a hundred words or less. And join the fun!
I can’t see the stars
For too long.
They hurt my eyes with longing
For the unseen.
I can’t see the people
For too long.
They hurt my eyes with longing
For what could have been.
Long years built walls and ceilings
Dressed-up plaster neighbors
Who do not hurt or rob me
Arcana to surround me
Where blue skies cannot spurn.
But somewhere in the concrete
My hardened heart lies buried.
No tender arms will hold me
No twilight rays enfold me
In twinkling eyes of love
And I can’t see the stars.
word count: 94
written for Rochelle's Friday Fictioneers
click on Rochelle Wisoff-Fields's hand-drawing of the frog
for more tales of a hundred words or less.And join the fun!
Some of you have noticed the tagline to my site title “This Jolly Beggar”: “In Absolute Joyful, Dependance on the Grace and Love of God.” The story behind that is on my “C. S. Lewis on Jolly Beggars” page.
So when I saw these tiny sparkling blue flowers in an out-of-the-way patch of dirt down an alley, I recognized in them this quality of joyful dependance on God. Nothing dimmed their sparkle. And eyes that were open to their presence were blessed beyond all reason. Why? Because languishing here in this little patch where no one noticed them, these little stalks of blue stars, these jolly beggars boldly testified to God’s faithfulness.
Today I read of another “jolly beggar,” Rika Theron, who lives in South Africa. As the author of the article on Rika writes:
This. This is a life of suffering. And this is a life of breathtaking beauty. . . . .
In a world that worships fame and productivity, indulgences and self-sufficiency, Rika’s life may seem unbearably difficult. She has not enjoyed the fleeting pleasures afforded to most people and has spent her life in relative seclusion, in pain and dependent on others. Yet watching Rika live in joyful dependence on God, touching the seen and unseen world, I realize she’s changing the universe as she fights her daily battles – perhaps having a greater impact on the kingdom of God than celebrities with large ministries. In heaven, the people who have suffered alone, in a small corner of the world, will shine more brightly than we can imagine.
Vaneetha Risner, “A Remarkable Life”
Rika knows that she is seen and known and loved by God. Do you have this same knowledge and joyful dependance on the God who suffered and has offered Himself for you?
Bear pain for one moment at a time; there is patience enough in Jesus for the next moment. You cannot exhaust God; and your work is to be, not in your might or power, but by his Spirit. — F. B. Meyer
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10: 13
Photo for Cee's Flower of the Day (FOTD) Challenge. Be sure to visit Cee's Photo Challenges for amazing photography and fun photo challenges.
Night brought Fear
Stayed you nearby.
Dawn emblazoned Hope
Your Voice to hear
Calling down an endless Day.
Dora A. K.
Fandango's Dog Days of August #FDDA "time of day"
Sammi's Weekend Writing Prompt #172 "endless"
Cee’s FOTD Challenge
These were growing by a deer trail underneath a bridge. The trembling water and pale orange blooms just made for a magical discovery. No trolls here.
For Cee's Flower of the Day Challenge. Be sure to visit Cee's Photo Challenges for amazing photography and fun challenges.
Cee’s FOTD Challenge & Jude’s Saturday Symphony #7
Green is the color of my stonecrop’s leaves
And leaves are the petals of its flowers.
The sun on my stonecrop shines fairest
Whilst summer roses fall by and by;
Its rose-bloom leaves gleam like emeralds
With a fire that will never die.
If I give you an emerald rose, dear,
As a promise my love will stay green,
Tell me weathered years will never dim
The love light in your eyes;
Else I shall be like a twice-doomed rose
That falls to the ground and dies.
Dora A. K.
Captain’s Log, Stardate 2020.8, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)
On the surface of Planet IX, Trapexoid Syztem 939, our landing party was surprised by Trapexoidians into a Death Match with the Grand Champion Trapeze Trio in the Mirror Arena.
Bones and I conferred on how to get Spock into a spangled costume: an artful injection of FloraSpora21 from Omicron Ceti III did the trick. As for Bones, he didn’t suspect opiate in his Sweet Tea Mint Julep. Naturally athletic, I remained in full possession of my faculties.
Triumph! Eyes glowing, the Trapexoidians graciously endowed us with diplomatic immunity.
The appended photograph demonstrates their unique visual capabilities.
We. Were. HOT.
word count: 100
written for Rochelle's Friday Fictioneers
click on the frog for more tales of a hundred words or less.
Something about ferns cheers me. Like seeing dandelions growing in pavement cracks, spotting ferns in bursts of green under shady trees or hanging under shady porches is like seeing familiar friends. This one hangs out on our deck enjoying the summer sun.
The Victorians dubbed the zinnia, “the Cinderella in the garden.” She usually presages the close of summer and autumn’s imminence, but there is nothing forlorn about her, given her lavish burst of color.
Zinnias by Valerie Worth (1933-1994)
Zinnias, stout and stiff,
Stand no nonsense: their colors
Stare, their leaves
Grow straight out, their petals
Jut like clipped cardboard,
Round, in neat flat rings.Even cut and bunched
Arranged to please us
In the house, in the water, they
Will hardly wilt–I know
Someone like zinnias: I wish
I were like zinnias.
This Jolly Beggar 