Posted in writing

Tanka Try

I went down a complete WordPress rabbit hole the other day. One blog post and the comments sent to another blogger to another to another. I read for quite some time. I came across a “new to me” form of poetry. It is actually a centuries old Japanese non rhyme syllable based word play.

          

Time Rise

I love sunrises
Pastel swirls around the sky
Clouds unfurl downward
Time ticks along irregardless
Up to us to use wisely

Bernie

Posted in writing

Bone Weary

The clock said it had been only 12 hours but it had felt endless. A full shift of donning and doffing PPE, of monitors, codes and death.

Not just one death. That was always hard enough but to be followed so quickly by the second.

The drive home, dark and sullen, another calendar day surrendered to winter and the fight against Covid19.

I feel spent she thought as she walked up the sidewalk to her home. Sometimes the great bones of my life feel so heavy. I wish with all my heart that I could just walk through the door and collapse.

She eased her body into the steaming hot shower. Felt the cleansing force of the water drop the weight of work from her body.

Dried and dressed she put on her “Mom” face and opened her door for the nightly kisses ritual.

Photo by Felix Mittermeier on Pexels.com

144 word prompt with the sentence “Sometimes the great bones of my life feel so heavy”


27 + 18 + 17 + 40 +24 + 18 = 144 (I like double triple checked that ’cause math isn’t my strong suit). Very little editing as I realized once had to leave much to the imagination.

What initials does have after her name? Does she work in ER or OR or ICU? Does she know the names of her dead patients years later? Does she wish that she’d chosen another career? Does she regret missing full days in the life of her children to help others? Does she drink that glass of wine every night to help make things seem ok?


I had zero intention of writing this today as I am still writing the fourth section of Charlotte’s story. I guess this is what people call their “muse”. I read a post written by Louise at Dare Boldly using the word prompt and the 144 word limit; flash fiction prospery. The full link to the host site can be found here at https://dversepoets.com/2021/01/18/prosery-bone-weary/. I am still trying to figure out how to link myself to there to show that I participated. Oh technology why do we have this love hate relationship?

I went about my “business” for the day which actually just included being derailed by losing a piece of paper (the puppy’s health info sheet) and scouring (and cleaning as I went) the house looking for said piece of paper. The words kept coming back to my head and the concept was obvious to me.

I think often of my friends and colleagues as they go about their professional life during this difficult time. Those of us who are at home have it easy, those who go to work face challenges and those in health care give so much of their soul. This is my small homage to them and the many faces they wear.

Bernie

Posted in pandemic, Travel, writing

Home (3)

This is a fictional story; brought about by my wondering what you would do if you had no where to come home to even though Canada was home. It’s been brewing in my head since March. She’s changed her name and her job a few times since my original idea but the conflict she faced stayed the same. But she was always tall just because I could make her so!

BLOG POST 3

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Posted in pandemic, Travel, writing

Home (2)

This is a fictional story; brought about by my wondering what you would do if you had no where to come home to even though Canada was home. It’s been brewing in my head since March. She’s changed her name and her job a few times since my original idea but the conflict she faced stayed the same. But she was always tall just because I could make her so!

POST 2 HOME

Continue reading “Home (2)”
Posted in pandemic, Travel, writing

Home (1)

This is a fictional story; brought about by my wondering what you would do if you had no where to come home to even though Canada was home. It’s been brewing in my head since March. She’s changed her name and her job a few times since my original idea but the conflict she faced stayed the same. But she was always tall just because I could make her so!

It is my third attempt at fiction (two very short stories in the last couple of years). I struggle with thought and conversation (on paper not in real life) and while I think the character and the circumstances seem real enough I don’t know if her “conflict” qualifies as conflict. I would truly appreciate honest feedback from my wonderful readers.

POST 1 HOME


Continue reading “Home (1)”