Another Snowy Scene

That is Willow's Magpie Tales topical choice for this week of less than tropical weather we are experiencing in the UK - and elswhere, I guess!

The steps to your door,
even when covered with snow,
spread warmth in my heart.

Microfiction Monday # 59

Thanks to Stony River for today's picture prompt.

Don't give me that load of bull, son! 

Leopards don't change their spots - you two timed my daughter!

Bug's Poetry Bus

There are multiple destinations on offer this time, but I couldn't resist the one which gave me a chance to wax lyrical, so my ticket will be for her third choice of route, for a Bug's Eye View of the scenery!

Unadorned
A pallid sky provides a perfect backdrop
for silhouettes of leafless branches. Black
and finely etched, trees' spirits dance
in the shadows of imagination.
Their summer ballgowns have long disappeared
and naked now, their beauty stands unclothed
but no less vivid. They reveal their souls
in ghostly shapes whose underlying promise
of latent rebirth will have until the spring
to gather forces before burgeoning.

Monday's Child # 22

By Marjorie Torrey 1945

Thanks for this week's photo prompt go to 
B K M  at Monday's Child.

Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!

The palace issued a Royal Decree
to Draco the dragon. "Come to tea!
Make sure you're here by half past three.

The Queen would like to shake your hand."
"Now, you behave, you understand?
came the advice from his old Gran.

"Show her that you have good manners,
no 'Um's" or "Er's" or mumbled stammers -
and don't set fire to her banners!"

Princess Pearl was not a-frighted,
said that Draco should be knighted
and Queen replied "I'd be delighted.

Arise Sir Draco Goldengreen -
by Royal Appointment to the Queen!"

Microfiction Monday # 58

Thanks to Susan at Stony River for this fun photo prompt!

"To wear or not to wear school uniform?
The decision can put one on the horns of a dilemma."

And I've just thought of another MM...

"This is not how I expected my stag night to end."

Magpie Tales # 41

Countdown

The clock ticks.
We have to pick
our moments well
for who can tell
which may be our last?

When grains have passed
through their hour glass until
the very last is about to spill
onto the waiting heap,
then no last-ditch leap
will save us. Time will follow
its course until the last hollow
tock of the clock
will bring life to a stop.

Magpie Tales gave us this ticking time picture of a 'past its sell by date' clock face for this week, which inevitably lead to thoughts of the eleventh hour we will all have to face at some point! Let's hope next week's prompt will be a less decrepit picture, therefore slightly more upbeat in its automatic associations! Nil desperandum, folks!

Microfiction Monday# 57

Pablo was prepared for all weathers; Heat = sunhat: Cold = poncho: Rain = waders.
Could that be why he also sported a Boy Scout's kerchief?

Do go and visit Stony River to see other's who joined this jamboree.

Monday's Child #20

With bag and tail draped over wrist
and boa made of feathers,
Lady Rat would sally forth
in every kind of weather.

She always wore a fancy hat,
the times she came to call
on humble Mrs Churchmouse,
who was quiet, shy and small.

Together they would chat and laugh,
tell tales of hanky-panky,
but Lady Rat laughed till she cried
and needed a big hanky!

It's taken me for ever to get round to writing this Monday's Child  post! Better late than never?!

Poetry Bus for 15th November

A Tramp's Tale

When I chose to leave my home
and start out on life's road alone,
I knew I'd need some eating tools -
I was not a child of fools!
I had a knife, a dented spoon,
but I could tell that very soon
I'd seriously need a fork
to stab the lamb or beef or pork
bangers in my frying pan -
or juicy peaches from a can.
With worldly goods upon my back
I sauntered on by lonely track,
up rolling hills and grassy down,
until I reached a country town
full of shops and rushing people.
In a church with crumbling steeple
I stopped and said a little prayer.
and took a rest while I was there.
'Dear Lord, a fork is all I need...
I wonder if You're paying heed?'
Then came a voice inside my head;
these were the very words it said:-

'When you come to  a fork in the road, take it!'


Thanks go  to this week's Bus Driver, Karen at Keeping Secrets

Magpie Tales # 40

 In Absentia

The spaces in my day
leave holes in the sky
where tears fall through.
Your thoughts are absent,
and build a fence too high
for me to see beyond.
I grieve for a lost time,
for I do not understand
where it has gone,
nor yet why, but its pearls
remain strung about me.

Thanks to Willow for this Magpie Tales picture prompt.

Microfiction Monday # 56

Young feet walk the path;
life and lane stretch out ahead.
To where will they lead?

The final destinations
remain in the arms of Time.






My Tanka today is in response to this delightful photo prompt at Stony River.

Magpie Tales # 39

Headless chickens we may be,
but never without laughter.
Like the chicken and the egg
one has to follows after...

A chicken rushing round and round 
in circulatory motion,
is just like us in certain states
when, minus head or notion,
we chase our tails to no effect.
For we are doomed to meet ourselves
back where we had started-
once the circle is complete...

But, do not be downhearted!
Shrug your shoulders, give a laugh,
(He who laughs last, laughs longest!)
and  remember this old saw -
The devil take the hindmost!
Now, kindly close the door...

N.B. A 'saw' in this context is a saying! 


For more fowl feathers see Willow's  Magpie Tales this week.

Microfiction Monday # 55

Old head on young shoulders,
pumpkin moon in the sky,
black cat and besom show
Halloween's nigh!





For a few more leftover spells, all using less than 140 characters, go and visit Stony River.    

Monday's Child # 19

Rabbiting On

At Roger Rabbit's party,
we were waiting to begin.
We sat down at the table,
napkins tucked under the chin.

But - he made us listen,
as he read from rustling pages,
to rather boring speeches
that waffled on for ages.

He talked so long the tea got cold
the sandwiches grew limp
and Mrs Bunny fell asleep
over the potted shrimp.

We tried hard to be patient
while Roger Rabbit read,
though we started to get worried
it would soon be time for bed!

Thanks to Monday's Child for this weeks prompt.

Flash 55 for 29th October

Halloween's coming!
The witches draw nigh
on hovering besoms
high in the sky-
see,  cloak and hat?
How their silhouettes fly!
A familiar black cat
is often nearby,
perched on the handle,
ears all a-twitch,
long tail a-dandle,
mewling spells to the moon.
It's best you steer clear
of fast flying brooms
once Halloween's here!    

For more 55's go and visit Mr Knowitall.

But because I was concentrating on 55 words, this effort didn't please me! The re-worked, tidier version can be found HERE

Magpie Tales # 38

A Tanka

In Memoriam.

Chiselled stone bears the two dates

which span a whole life;

stories between birth and death

an unwritten legacy.

For more obituaries this week, see others who heard the call from Willow at Magpie Tales.

Monday's Child # 18

When Lucy had a birthday,
her cards came in the post.
But can you guess
which one of these
young Lucy like the most?
Why, the one which held some money
that she could go and spend
on lollipops and ice-cream
for all her favourite friends!



Thanks to Monday's Child and the choice  of Cameron L Browne's illustration for this week's prompt.

Microfiction Monday # 54

The boys were hoping to acquire a tan to cover their naked torsos while scoffing beer and sandwiches. Fat chance!


 To join the picnic today, visit Susan at Stony River and write your story in 140 characters or less.

Poetry Bus for 25th October

Chance Encounter

I had not thought to meet another
who sought a place of solitude that day,
but fate had other plans. Although we met
as strangers, yet, with conversation,
began a seedling friendship. We recognised
an understanding- not one rooted in words -
where she and I were in agreement
on many levels. Had the Universe planned
this happenstance? Did our auras call
to one another across time and space?
Did they mark this place as a possible
intersection of our pathways?
Was this a sign, a crossroad made to force
a change of direction in our lives? Who knows?
But friendship, offered and accepted,
is a double sided currency
which pays unimagined dividends.

For Poetry Bus tickets to other Meeting Places, go and see Argent's Bus Route this week.

Magpie Tales # 37

Duvet still retains
our lingering body heat
on this cold morning.

Mirror reflects your absence
while memory treasures warmth.



For more wake up calls, go and see Willow who has set the alarm...

And because I've got out of sequence, I'm going to add a Monday's Child poem here too. At least the bed theme is carried on! 


Three little kittens tucked up in bed;
"Tell us a story" the smallest one said.
"Sing us a lullaby" the second one pleaded
but the third interrupted "I know what is needed
just a kiss and a cuddle to wish us good night -
That would be best !" And you know - he was right!