We who with songs beguile your pilgrimage / And swear that Beauty lives though lilies die, / We Poets of the proud old lineage / Who sing to find your hearts, we know not why ... (James Elroy Flecker)

3.4.21

Shorts (April '21)

 Shorts


The blankets on this couch –

I think of my little cat

getting cold at home.


******


Silence

full of thoughts —

Zen fail.


******


Pain unexpressed

hurts longer.

******


You swallow your rage.

Your dog snarls at me.

******


Who walks

the dark street?

Leaves rustle.


******


tide’s edge –

one sandal

sloshes


******


She screams at him

for not helping.

He has turned away

to call the ambulance.




Workshop writings from a meeting of the LitChix. We were attempting on-the-spot haiku, senryu and aphorisms.


Shared with Writers' Pantry #67 at Poets and Storytellers United



32 comments:

  1. How easy it is to visualize all these situations as I read them ...very good indeed.

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  2. I enjoyed spending these little moments with you, Rosemary. I haven’t been away from my cats for a while, but that’s how I am, thinking about them so much of the time. I love contrast of sound in these two:
    ‘Silence
    full of thoughts —
    Zen fail’
    and
    ‘tide’s edge –
    one sandal
    sloshes’

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Kim. I was trying for the sound effects, particularly in the sandal piece. So glad to know they worked.

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  3. Love it how you locked up whole stories in a few words

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  4. What an intriguing selection of haiku etc. It is so good to read these poems and let your mind imagine each scene.

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    Replies
    1. Just what I hoped would happen. Thank you so much for this encouraging comment.

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  5. Such sharp snippets full of thoughtful wisdom. One after the other. Clip clip snip.

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    Replies
    1. Well, there were a few pauses, sucking the end of my pen.... I'm glad you found the thoughtful wisdom I hoped might be there to be found.

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  6. I can totally relate with "Zen fail". I have never been all that good at Zen. The unexpressed pain made me sigh--so true. And the last one is just sad; so many things go wrong when we fail to understand each other's behaviors.

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  7. Replies
    1. Glad you enjoyed them dear Magaly, and could relate to them.

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  8. You are a master of saying much with few words. (I know I repeat myself, but I'm ever amazed).

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    Replies
    1. I am ever delighted (and a bit surprised myself) that you think so.

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  9. these little snippets of life are so real, so honest.
    sometimes, if one is not a trained first-aider, it is better not to touch the victim/patient, and to just call for professional help.

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    Replies
    1. (a) Yes, that kind of immediate focus does make for honest impressions.
      (b) Some people keep calm in an emergency, others get hysterical. It's the calm who can best take action. (For myself, I am usually very clear and efficient while the situation lasts, then fall to pieces as soon as it's safely resolved.)

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  10. Now I'm so sad thinking of that little cat, cold without a blanket! Then, I'm left afraid. Rage, rustling in the dark, a lone sandal, a call for an ambulance... Oh, no, the poor little cat. His owner will never come home, will she?

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    Replies
    1. I love that you made a story out of them all! But I did go home to my little cat, and she wasn't cold (she has a way of finding good spots to curl up in).

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  11. "Who walks the street?"
    a cat
    a dark robe
    with a hat
    ...

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  12. These are wonderful snippets ... zen fail my favorite.

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  13. These were interesting Rosemary - loved the spontaneity!

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    Replies
    1. We had been discussing these short forms for some little time before writing; I think that must have helped with the immediacy.

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  14. The second one made me giggle a bit as I've had those moments when the quiet that supposed to come during meditation turns into a din from all the thoughts demanding my attention. The third was a rather good reminder that there isn't much virtue in false stoicism.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Rommy. I think lots of us can relate to the Zen fail, but perhaps not so many understand the point I'm making in #3. I'm glad you not only got it but articulated it here.

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  15. The last one is so vivid. The pain, and the mistaken thought so poignant

    Have a good week Rosemary. Thanks for dropping by my blog

    Much💛love

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  16. That last one is bringing up a lot of questions for me.

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