Friday, March 15, 2024

Friday Writings #118: Strange Springs

 

In my bit of the world, Old Man Winter is melting away and the Spring Maiden is blooming in. There are so many things I love about this time of year: starting seeds, celebrating my birthday, visiting graveyards… If you think the latter strange, you aren’t alone. I’ve been visiting graveyards, to celebrate the arrival of spring, for many decades. And every year, at least one person tells me: “You’re very strange.” Fine, they don’t always say it aloud, but I can hear it in their eyes…

I don’t mind the reactions one bit. I delight in strange. And for that reason, my dear poets and storytellers, for today’s optional prompt, I invite you to write poetry or prose inspired by strange spring traditions. Nothing peculiar springs to mind? Well, you can find some inspiration HERE and HERE and HERE.

Required: Add the direct link to your response to Mister Linky. One post per participant, please, 369 words maximum (excluding title), for prose and for poetry.

Optional: You may share old or new pieces of poetry or prose, and you may write to the prompt or to a topic of your choosing.

Requested (not compulsory but recommended): Visit other poets and storytellers. Read their contributions. Let them know what their words bloom out of you.

for next week, Rommy will be asking us to find inspiration “In memoriam”: write about a person, place, or thing that is gone.


photo by elmimmo
from The Shinto Kanamara Matsuri (Festival of the Steel Phallus)

 

Friday, March 8, 2024

Friday Writings #117: Sensual Clothing

 


Hello, dear Wordsmiths –

and a happy change of season to you all! With, hopefully, relief from extreme weather. Here in Australia we’re much looking forward to Autumn bringing an end to stinking heat and violent rain. In the Northern Hemisphere, I expect you are glad to get out of the cold as Spring begins.

Meanwhile, a friend just sent me a startling message. Going through her past poems, she was disconcerted to find an erotic ode to a new sock! (Begging the intriguing question of why ONE sock and  not the pair – she has two feet) I realised I could easily wax lyrical about my latest bedsox.

How about you?

(Then I read my friend's sock poem and understood why it’s just one – the sock is addressing the foot, enumerating the services it will give and the comforts it offers, and even noting that it must bring its sister too. It’s a brilliant and wonderful poem, which I am not sharing with you here as she plans to publish it at some point.)

Your prompt this week is to write a sensual piece about an item of clothing.

Guidelines:

You’re free to write to the prompt or to ignore it and give us something else.
We accept poetry or prose, new or old.

Word limit: 369 (excluding title and BRIEF notes).

Link ONE post per person on Mister Linky: the particular post, not your whole blog.

 Next week, Magaly will invite us to write poetry or prose inspired by strange spring traditions. Dont happen to know any? No problem! According to her, we can find some interesting choices HERE and HERE and HERE.



My sensually satisfying, warm and tender bedsox.