Greetings, poets and storytellers. How are things
in your bit of the world? Peaceful? All right, stop laughing already. I know
these days peacefulness seems to be something that happens to other people...
people no one even knows. Two days ago, I made the mistake of picking up a newspaper,
and just minutes later I had read about murder in the subway, a toddler getting
shot in the face, and... well, you get horrible the point. Still, if you have peaceful
news in your life, share some in the comments—New York City (and I) can use all the peacefulness we can get, even if vicariously through friends.
But we aren’t here to discuss terrifying news. We are
here to write, share, and read each other’s words. So, let’s get to it. If you
are in search of a prompt, I invite you to create poetry or prose
inspired by a conversation you’ve overheard. If the optional prompt does not
speak to you, then you’re welcome to write about a topic of your choosing. Let
your contributions be new or old, short or longish (prose pieces
should be 369 words or fewer). One link per
participant, please. Visit other writer, delight in their words.
next
week, for those looking for a prompt, Rommy
suggests writing about what comes to mind after reading the phrase “feast or
famine”.
photo by Christian Wiediger, on Unsplash
We aren't very peaceful here in the Houston area, shooting killings are way up, last almost by half again. Last weekend we had six killed, ten shootings. Today three teenagers shot to death, two killed and one suicide. Ages 15, 18, and 18. Two boys and one girl. We've had some in between too. Drive by shootings are the most type prevalent right now, houses and cars. But we don't need gun permits or training anymore, that helps folk to shoot their guns. Sells more guns too, and NRA gets more members and $$$. I haven't dared driving around on main roads with my top down for the last several years.
ReplyDeleteOur pool started running already tonight, it is below 38F. That's peaceful. As long as the power stays on.
..
Sigh. It seems the madness is crawling around everywhere.
DeleteHere is hoping the power stays on!
Alas, not very peaceful here either. A lovely and much-loved nine-year-old girl was murdered a few days ago by her mother's boyfriend, and the community is feeling collectively shocked and sad.
ReplyDeleteWhich, now I come to think of it, may have helped inspire my poem in response to your prompt, in gratitude for my own more protected childhood ... and the ability to find my peace in poetry.
That is awful. Poor child. And poor mother--I can't even imagine what how she's feeling right now.
DeleteThank you for your poem. It set me on a similar thinking path.
Not sure if my first effort went through? If it did, then please feel free to delete this - what will be a largely repeated comment!Hi there Magaly and All,
ReplyDeleteGreetings from the UK, where there is a sense now we are through the worst and all beginning to look forward to more freedom and less anxiety, as Spring is not now far away… I trust this finds you all well individually and although we’ve all been through some testing times, more hopeful about the future ahead…
Speaking to these themes, here is my latest offering only just published on the website this month – hope you like it.
As ever, It feels good to be back here again and to see what you’ve all come up with, as we set sail into 2022!
Hope is always a good thing to have... and cultivate.
DeleteMy tea school had their remote Hatsugama celebration via zoom. I was thrilled that one of my tea teachers sent along some nice thick tea and thin tea to have (as well as pressed sugar treats). I find my bowls to tea fairly peaceful. LOL, not sure if I would call my current big push in the editing process for my novel peaceful, but I am sticking to my goals and making good progress. That's something. :D
ReplyDeleteProgress in editing and good tea is awesome!
DeleteCall me looney, still rejoicing in the awesomeness of the Wolf Moon earlier this week. 5:45am shining brilliantly thru our tall pines.
ReplyDeleteLooney is really good! Also, I'm closing my eyes and imagining that glorious moon...
DeleteHi wordsmiths. Wishing all a good weekend
ReplyDeletemuch love...
Good weekend to you, Gillena.
DeleteWent back 11 years for one of my pieces that had been called to my attention last week. I still hold the same belief today as I did then — even more strongly.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rob.
DeleteLocked out of Mr. Linky again. Here's mine:
ReplyDeletehttps://purplepeninportland.com/2022/01/22/birds-overheard/
Sara, I just tried to copy this link into Mister Linky fir you, and I too failed to get any result. Then I pasted into Google the link you have posted here, and got this:
DeleteYour search - https://purplepeninportland.com/2022/01/22/birds-overheard/ - did not match any documents.
Suggestions:
Make sure that all words are spelled correctly.
Try different keywords.
Try more general keywords.
My next step was to go to your blog, find the post, copy the correct link and then try Google. Same result!!! I have no idea what is happening your end, but can only confirm you are doing everything right and the problem is mysterious. Searching the general link to your blog home page, however, does work. We usually ask people not to do that but link to the specific post. But if you run into trouble again, it would be your best course – unless/until you can find an expert who can sort out the underlying problem for you. In fact, I'll add that link to Mister Linky now. And if you post anything else in the near future, maybe you could add a note asking people who are looking for your 'overheard' poem to scroll down to previous posts?
DeleteSara, I've updated your direct link. I still don't know why it isn't working for you and now for Rosemary. Will continue to keep an eye on it.
DeleteMany thanks, Magaly!
DeleteThanks to you both for your help. I don't know why it no longer shows up/
DeleteYou're very welcome.
DeleteVile, violent acts seem to be on the uptick everywhere, not just here. What gives? The drop in civility took a leap about five years ago and keeps getting worse. When did it become "ok" to be an ignorant asshole?
ReplyDeleteI meant to say hello but guess I didn't. So hello and thanks for all you do here. I'm a shameless eavesdropper but did something else instead. Swinging my sword!
ReplyDeleteHello, Yvonne! You aren't alone in the shameless eavesdropper department. Goodness knows is one of the things I miss these days, when COVID forces us to keep our distance.
Delete