Poetry, Writing Workshop

Just a Second: Ode to a New-found Loved One

This post is written in response to the prompt at the ‘Writing Workshop’ here.
Essentially, this is to use the word, the theme, the concept… ‘Second’ in a composition.
Here is my attempt. If you look here you will find other responses, including Josie’s own.

I thought no-one would give
My life a second glance.
I couldn’t face
The tasks I had to do.
I wondered when
Or if – I’d love again;
Yet struggled on
And then – life gave me you.

You made me give
My life a second chance.
You helped me face
The way ahead of me.
You showed me how
Life’s worth another try,
And now I find
I’m tied to you, but free.

You made me give
My life a second look.
You helped me leave
The past, that left me blue.
You showed me how
To overcome the fear,
And now I find
I’m free, but tied to you.

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100 Word Challenge

It Wasn’t My Fault

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To understand the point of this post, First look at the ‘100 word challenge’ here
(if you haven’t already) where you will find an explanation of the prompt,
and also a list of links to other responses. 

An explosion  shook the ground outside the main factory. A cast-iron manhole cover rose smartly, yet gracefully, into the air as if it had been a champagne cork, described a perfect arc, and descended onto the tailboard of a nearby dray, smashing it in half. The driver of the dray came close to spontaneous evacuation of the bowels.

In synchronism with further bangs, several more iron lids followed suit in the ensuing seconds. On a hunch, a supervisor walked round to the rear of the plant, where an analytical chemist, holding a carboy over a gulley, looked up.

“It wasn’t my fault!” he said…

Believe it or not, this account is substantially true. I have added a little colour – only a little – for which there is no extra charge. The story was told to me by a much older employee of the company for which I worked for a time (my first job) who remembered the incident. The son of the chemist worked in the same department as I did!

Linked to #chucklemums 19 July 2016.

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100 Word Challenge

A Platinum Jubilee?

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This week, our ‘100 Word Challenge’ which you will find explained here, along with
links to all the responses, is to write a piece including the word ‘Wednesday’
along with a further 100 words. 

Today is the sixtieth anniversary of The Queen’s accession. But there is another anniversary, in August this year, that is noteworthy.

Seventy years ago, as part of Operation Pedestal, the American tanker SS Ohio entered Valletta Harbour, Malta. Badly crippled and assisted by two other ships, she had brought  fuel oil and kerosene to the island whose people had shown tremendous courage.

On Wednesday, 15th August, 2012, let’s remember the brave men of the Ohio and all who served in that operation, which had great strategic implications. Their platinum medal should be in our hearts.

To all of them: THANK YOU.

All of you who are interested should look up more of the history of the
incredible achievement that was ‘Operation Pedestal.’ 

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100 Word Challenge

You Bought Her What?

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If you haven’t already done so, then please read the ‘100 word challenge’ prompt for this
post here, where you can also find links to other responses to it. And then read on.

“You and Sal going to come to the party, then, Geoff?”
“Hey, is that an official invite? To what do we owe the pleasure?”
“Anna’s twenty-first.”
“Help! What you bought her, then?”
“A piece of corundum.”
“You bought her WHAT?”
“You heard. And yes, it’s what she asked for.”
“But… hang on… that’s what they call that stuff we use in the polishing shop…”
“That’s right. So, are you coming, or not?”
“Too right, we’re coming. I can’t wait to see this.”

***

“… And this lovely girl – Anna here – has said she’ll marry me.”

On Anna’s finger was a beautiful, pink sapphire, engagement ring.

Mummascribbles

Mumzilla
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100 Word Challenge

Critique: ‘Translation Issues’

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If you first of all look at our ‘100 Word Challenge’ prompt here, you’ll see we are to compose a critique of any entry from the previous week.

This is a late entry this week. Serves me right for bragging about being quick off the mark last time! I could (truthfully) make excuses about duty calling, but the real reason is that I found this challenge the most daunting yet, calling, as it does, for honesty, generosity, and constructive suggestion. When we write, we expose a part of ourselves, in some sense, to others. I am reminded of the words of the poet, W. B. Yeats: 

“I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.”

After some consideration, I selected the contribution of ‘Taochild’ here.

This response to the challenge is ingenious. It is a story, written in the first person, which meets the criteria given. But it is so much more than that. It sets out, so beautifully, a moral issue, namely, that honesty, openness, and sincerity count for much more than linguistic accuracy, especially if the latter is accompanied by overbearing haughtiness. This is done in a clear and humorous way, by comparison and contrast across the Atlantic Ocean.
If I might make one constructive suggestion, impact could be added by giving emphasis to the last word, perhaps with an ellipsis:

said… ‘ALUMINUM!’

I hope I have been fair, and trodden softly.

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That Firefly Phil bloke, still knocking out photography and other stuff.