Birds on a Wire

Well, here we are again. 

Yep. 

What should we do today?

I don't know. 

Should we fly over to that fence?

Sure.

Well, here we are.

Yep. 

Can't see as much from down here. 

Nope. 

But it is a little more comfortable than that wire. 

Yep. I guess so.

That crow sure is loud over there. You'd think he'd keep it down so that mockingbird couple doesn't come after him again. Some birds never learn.

Nope.

You think the mockingbirds will hatch a nest this year?

Don't know. Guess we'll find out soon enough.

After last year's disaster with that cat, you'd think they'd take a year off. 

Guess that's their business.

Maybe. I'd just like a little peace and quiet in the neighborhood for a change. With their constant chattering, I can barely concentrate on what I'm doing. 

Yep.

I sure wish that crow would shut up. Should we fly back to the wire do you think?

Up to you.

I like being able to see what's going on. You can't see anything from down here.

Nope.

Well, here we are.

Yep. 

You see anything we can eat? I'm kinda hungry.

Nope.

Is that a french fry in the middle of the road? Oh, I love french fries. Should we go down and get it?

Up to you.

I think we should. There haven't been many cars yet. I think we'll be safe.

Watch out!

Ah!

Let's go back!

Well, here we are.

Yep.

Guess we shouldn't have gone down after all. 

Nope. Probably not.

I just really like french fries.

Yep. Me too.

But I guess it's not worth it.

Nope. Probably not.

Betcha that crow will go after it. Mark my words. 

Yep. Guess he probably will.

Crows have all the nerve.

Yep. They sure are brave.

Brave!? Ha! They're just stupid. Flying down to the middle of the road to get some dumb french fry. Like they don't have any sense at all. No wonder the mockingbirds chase them.

Yep. Guess you're right.

Of course I'm right. I'm always right. So, what should we do today?

I don't know.

Should we fly over to that fence?

Sure.

Author's Note: Our task at Lightning and the Lightning Bug this week was to write a story using only dialogue. Come join us by linking up and checking out our fantastic community of fantastic writers!

 

This Rain of Life

It rained last night. I think I know before I even wake up, or maybe I’ve just dreamed it. For the last few weeks, I’ve dreamed of it nightly, only to wake time and again to the bitter disappointment of yet another dry day.

Papa worries about the rain, and so must I as well. He paces back and forth across the field in some kind of attempt to summon the rain gods, and I follow closely behind him, trying to match each step with my much smaller stride. I see the worry in his eyes below the brim of his straw hat, as he stares from the sky to the ground and back again.

We measure time and success by the whim of the rain, and now as I struggle to come awake, I believe I can nearly smell the scent of rain, and the hope that comes alive in me so suddenly is overwhelming and bittersweet.

As I crawl out of bed, I rub the sleep from my eyes and swear that I can smell rain. I run to the window, push back the thin curtain, and see the ground still wet from the overnight showers. The shout I give wakes the entire house, and before long, we’re all out on the front porch, marveling at the puddles in the yard and the beauty of our red wheelbarrow glazed with rain water.

The gift of the rain will save our crops for another few days, maybe even a week. Soon enough, we’ll be hoping for it again, praying and worrying because so much depends upon this, this rain of life.

But for now, we celebrate.

via

Join us at The Lightning and the Lightning Bug for writing prompts and fellowship! 

For this week's prompt, I'd like you to be inspired by the poem below by William Carlos Williams. "The Red Wheelbarrow" has long been a poem that holds an air of mystery and intrigue for me. For it to be so few words, I feel it tells a complex tale with a lot hidden just below the surface. Take any word, image, or feeling evoked from "The Red Wheelbarrow" and turn it into your masterpiece. Oh, and like Williams, let's do things short and sweet. Write your piece in 300 or fewer words.

so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens.

Jar Full of Sorrow

Flicker of Inspiration Prompt #1: Lightning or a Lightning-Bug

Write a blog post that focuses on either lightning or a lightning-bug. This post can be fiction, memory, or poem. Let these words and images carry your post to its destination.

Word Limit: 800

"Jar Full of Sorrow" 

Genre: Fiction

At seven years old, she was a murderer. The thought kept repeating in her head like a bad song. She couldn't stand herself. She couldn't believe she had been so childish, so foolish. Looking down at her tiny hands, she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders.

She stood on the wide front porch of the house she loved, a slip of a child with an unkempt pony tail, dirty clothes, and scraped knees.The sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon, a new day approaching, the world spinning on in the face of her sadness and self-disgust. It was mocking her, casting its light and shadow over the life and death that surrounded her.

A tear snuck down her dirty face, exposing a trail of pale skin. She hated crying, but the overwhelming sorrow she felt was taking over. She crossed her skinny arms over her chest and hugged herself. The jar stood at her feet, its lid sitting askew atop it.

She heard the screen door open and shut behind her, its creak stretching out and breaking the silence of the summer morning. She felt the hand clamp down on her shoulder, a solemn reminder of the gravity of her deed. How could she bare to look up at him? How could she face anyone ever again?

"Livvy." His voice offered some comfort, but she refused to take it.

Her arms tightened around herself, and the tears flowed freely. At their onset, the hand pulled at her shoulder, and suddenly, she found herself in the warm embrace of her father. "You didn't mean to." He whispered, his hand clumsily rubbing her back. "It was just an accident."

An accident, yes, but a costly one. The price was down by her bare feet in the bottom of the jar, a jar that had been full of light and life only the night before, a jar that was now only full of sorrow. The memory of chasing the lightning-bugs across the yard, catching each of them in her carefully cupped hands, and dropping them into that pretty class jar, was eclipsed now by the enormous feeling of remorse.

She imagined the tiny light inside them blinking, fading, blinking, fading. Fading, fading, until it was finally gone. The sobs wracked her tiny body, and the morning sun rose higher and higher in the sky, while her father held her on that pretty white porch, with that pretty glass jar down by their feet.

She was seven years old, and this tragedy would be only her first taste of sorrow.


Author's Note: Surprisingly, I struggled with this prompt. It's surprising, because I have so many lovely childhood memories of catching lightning-bugs. I could have chosen any of them and put them into words, but somehow, that didn't seem to be quite enough of a challenge. I always associate lightning-bugs with happy feelings: perfect memories, the beginning of summer, long nights playing outside with my friends. I wanted to challenge myself and tease out some sadness and tragedy with the word lightning-bug. 

Become a Lightning-Bug!

Well, another weekend's almost over. Tomorrow it's back to the real world and the real work. All the more reason to end your weekend with a bang! This weekend I, along with my fellow blogging buddies Mary Lauren and Kelli, launched a new Writing Community called The Lightning and the Lightning-Bug. This community will be a collaborative effort, featuring writing prompts, contests and challenges, and a platform for submissions. We welcome writers of all skill levels and types to join and become a part of a caring, supportive community of fellow writers and friends.

The first Flicker of Inspiration Prompt is up already! We plan to post a new prompt every Sunday and also to host a link-up on Sundays, so that you may share your work from the previous week's prompt.

Become a Lightning-Bug today, and be sure to grab a button!

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